TUNIC

About

"Tunic is a single-player, fantasy role-playing game featuring a small fox on a grand adventure. Explore a ruined land filled with ferocious monsters, ancient powers, and long-lost secrets while enjoying its wonderful visuals and immersive music. Armed with only your curiosity, collect strange items and confront colossal beasts to unravel the mysteries of this once-great civilization."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,596 reviews

gameplay574 positive mentions

grinding149 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanics that encourage exploration and puzzle-solving
Beautiful art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience
Challenging yet rewarding combat and puzzles that provide a sense of accomplishment

Combat can feel clunky and frustrating at times, especially against bosses
Some puzzles are overly cryptic and may require external help to solve
The game can be tedious with backtracking and hidden paths obscured by camera angles

gameplay
1,865 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
4%
The gameplay of "Tunic" is characterized by its unique mechanic of collecting pages from an in-game manual, which gradually reveals game mechanics and lore, creating a sense of discovery and engagement. While it draws inspiration from classic titles like "The Legend of Zelda" and incorporates challenging elements reminiscent of "Dark Souls," players often find the combat mechanics to be less polished, leading to mixed feelings about difficulty and control responsiveness. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals, atmospheric music, and rewarding exploration, though some players may find the lack of clear guidance and occasional clunkiness in combat frustrating.
- “The gameplay is a sweet blend of the legend of zelda and dark souls, integrating aspects of both very well in not only the combat, but the exploration too.”
- “The manual mechanic is, in my opinion, probably the best thing about this game. It's such a creative way to ease you into the game's mechanics, and it keeps gameplay fresh because learning the controls is part of the mystery.”
- “The core gameplay is really fun, too. The instruction manual mechanic is a very interesting mechanic because it made me look forward to finding pages, and learning a new tidbit of information.”
- “Devoid of personality, tedious gameplay, a twist one can see coming from orbit, and barely functional controls.”
- “The gameplay can feel a tiny bit clunky at times, but I don't think it detracts from the experience overall.”
- “The parry mechanic might as well not be in the game; it is awful.”
music
1,114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in "Tunic" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the game's exploration and emotional depth. The soundtrack, composed by Lifeformed, is described as beautiful, soothing, and fitting for the game's whimsical yet mysterious aesthetic, often evoking nostalgia. While some players found the music to be less memorable or too mellow at times, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and experience.
- “The music and atmosphere are great.”
- “The music is incredible, the atmosphere is amazing, the puzzles are subversive, the exploration is great, and the combat is... well, it's serviceable.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the art is beautiful, the gameplay is refined.”
- “The music is very pretty, with an electronic sound that is reminiscent of old game music without being chiptune.”
- “The soundtrack is a total banger as well, gets stuck in my head all the time.”
- “The soundtrack by lifeformed is perhaps the most forgettable part of the whole experience and that’s a shame.”
graphics
1,063 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The graphics of "Tunic" have been widely praised for their charming, low-poly art style that evokes nostalgia while providing a modern twist. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, detailed environments, and the unique in-game manual that enhances the visual storytelling. However, some have noted minor issues like visual clarity during gameplay and occasional performance hiccups, but overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's enchanting atmosphere and immersive experience.
- “The visuals are stunning and the music/sound design is fantastic all the way through.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is outstanding, the story is pretty standard with the obvious plot twists here and there but nothing too fancy (and it needn't be).”
- “The art style is charming and the isometric view really shines.”
- “The graphics are not cutting edge and can be rough at times.”
- “The graphics seem really minimalist at first and you might think 'damn, this thing looks cheap as hell, I could probably beat it in 2 hours tops'...then you look up 10 hours later and you're still figuring stuff out!!!”
- “The only downside I've noticed with the game is that while it provides 'instruction manuals' to pick up as you go, the graphics can be a tad difficult to get their meaning across, when the text is done as symbols.”
story
977 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
4%
The story in "Tunic" is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and an in-game manual that players piece together as they progress, creating a sense of mystery and discovery. While some players appreciate the indirect and cryptic nature of the narrative, others find it lacking in depth and clarity, often leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling experience that rewards exploration and curiosity, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional, linear narrative.
- “The minimalist storytelling, conveyed through an indecipherable language, lets players piece together the narrative on their own, creating an engaging sense of discovery and intrigue.”
- “The story is great and follows the soulslike pattern of allowing you to unravel it yourself.”
- “The way the story is all connected with the puzzles and gameplay makes this game 100x better than it already was and if I was to choose to play a game again for the first time, it would be this.”
- “Multiple endings is a crutch for bad storytelling.”
- “This game story is basically nonexistent.”
- “The story is very vague and can essentially be ignored.”
atmosphere
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting visuals, captivating music, and immersive world design, creating a unique blend of charm and mystery. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia and wonder, while the sound design enhances the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the atmospheric music can be hit or miss, with a few players finding it less engaging. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of exploration and puzzle-solving.
- “The game is a masterclass in creating atmosphere.”
- “The world itself is an absolute gem to explore, from visual design, atmosphere, sound design and music; through to the incredible level design and myriad of secrets and paths to discover.”
- “Tunic has the best atmosphere, music, and sound design I've ever experienced in a game.”
- “The atmosphere is charming, and the challenge was just enough to keep me wanting to come back and try again.”
- “It doesn't do all that much to set and maintain the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and aesthetic of the game alone would warrant me recommending the game, but everything else thus far experienced is just as phenomenal.”
grinding
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
6%
93%
The reviews highlight that while the early game offers engaging gameplay, the latter stages become increasingly tedious, with repetitive combat, cryptic puzzles, and excessive backtracking. Many players found the combat mechanics frustrating and the puzzles overly complex, leading to a sense of grind rather than enjoyment. Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of pacing and rewarding gameplay, particularly in the final segments, making the experience feel more like a chore than an adventure.
- “This might sound problematic but the world is well-made enough for it not being tedious.”
- “Unfortunately, the combat is extremely tight to the point of not being fun at certain points; in particular the mid-game bosses to retrieve the keys and the end game heir were tedious.”
- “Towards the end, I could not believe that the dev team that respected me so much in the beginning would subject me to such tedious busywork.”
- “The puzzles required to obtain the true ending were ridiculously obtuse and unfun, and even if you knew the solution, executing on it was difficult and tedious enough that I cannot recommend this game in good conscience to anyone.”
emotional
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional aspect of the game as a deeply nostalgic and heartfelt experience, evoking feelings of childhood wonder and exploration reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda. Many express a mix of joy and frustration, highlighting moments that made them feel both clever and challenged, while the game's art, music, and storytelling contribute to a rich emotional atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, from excitement and nostalgia to sadness and fulfillment, making it a memorable journey for players.
- “Despite my initial expectation of a cute and relaxing game, it turned out to be both exciting and heart-wrenching.”
- “I didn't expect to get so emotionally invested in a small little game like this, but here I am.”
- “This game made me feel the immense childlike wonder of looking at and exploring something you don't fully understand, which is especially common when you're playing your first video game.”
humor
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
8%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky elements, such as the amusing interactions with NPCs and the protagonist's antics, which often elicit laughter. Players appreciate the clever design choices, like the game manual's nostalgic presentation and the humorous surprises hidden throughout the gameplay. However, some find the humor inconsistent, with certain aspects feeling tedious or overly complicated, contrasting with the light-hearted tone expected from a game featuring a funny fox character.
- “It's kind of funny that you can just buy throwing dynamite to take out new enemies from afar.”
- “The amount of times it made me laugh was way higher than I thought it would be.”
- “The game constantly kept me on my toes, laughing, smiling, and yelling 'oh you cheeky devs' when discovering secrets.”
- “This game is not funny or clever; the glyph system is ridiculous, and the combat is a complete joke.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off, leaving me disappointed.”
replayability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
65%
8%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting limited value after the initial playthrough due to the nature of puzzles and secrets. However, features like New Game+ modes, collectibles, and speedrunning options provide additional incentives for replaying. While some find the replay value lacking, others appreciate the depth and exploration opportunities that enhance the experience.
- “The endless content, the replayability, the easter eggs, everything is so good.”
- “This being a game that only moderately instructs you and lets you roam freely and choose, or perhaps find, your own path (to a degree) is awesome to naturally adjust the pace and the difficulty and adds to the replayability of the title.”
- “The game is designed with sequence-breaking and replayability in mind, and it paces out the reveals of shortcuts and puzzles better than just about any other game I have played.”
- “However, maybe wait for a sale to make up for the game's un-replayability.”
- “I suppose that is one of the potential weaknesses of the game; the replayability is somewhat limited outside of speed running or challenge runs.”
- “There's very little to no replay value, and the novelty is lost after the first experience.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
4%
73%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report minor bugs and glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay, some experience more frustrating issues like collision problems and freezing. Most users agree that the game runs well on various platforms, with a few noting that certain mechanics can feel clunky or poorly implemented. Despite these issues, many players find the overall experience enjoyable and commend the game's visual and audio design.
- “Lovingly crafted world, story, gameplay, visuals, sounds, and software (was bug free for me).”
- “Runs great on deck.”
- “It's amazing that a single developer can deliver a more well polished, bug free, compelling experience than giant studios with teams of developers, testers, and piles of cash.”
- “Collision glitches where you fall out of the map.”
- “Game freezes at least twice an hour on average.”
- “It's buggy, the hit boxes are terrible and the difficulty lies mainly in the cheap animation frames that tend to pull you in the direction most advantageous to the enemies.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance and stunning graphics across various systems, including lower-end hardware. However, some users experienced occasional stuttering, camera issues, and performance drops in crowded scenarios, indicating that while the game is well-optimized, there are still areas for improvement. The default control layout has also been criticized for being poorly optimized, particularly for mouse use.
- “The graphics are really beautiful and the game runs perfectly (like seriously I didn't encounter a single bug or performance hitch), and the vibe and art style are something special.”
- “In terms of performance, it runs excellent on both my PC and my Steam Deck.”
- “Very well optimized, had zero lag spikes throughout the game.”
- “My only complaints are I experienced random stuttering (about 3 or 4 different times in my ~18 hours) and the camera got me killed a few times from being unable to see an enemy.”
- “The default control layout is pretty poorly optimized, feeling cramped and not using the mouse at all.”
- “I do have some performance problems, even after fiddling with the graphics options, on a computer that can run very high quality games, but the game is literally so good that I chose to ignore a sluggish framerate in certain maps.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
38%
19%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming and adorable character designs, particularly the protagonist, which evoke comparisons to classic titles like Zelda and Final Fantasy. While the overall character design is praised for its creativity and appeal, some critiques point to a lack of originality in enemy designs. The engaging combat and immersive atmosphere further enhance the character experience, although the game's world can feel somewhat desolate.
- “The combat is engaging, the character design is fascinating, and the world feels alive.”
- “The music, character design, combat, and story pull you in immediately and only get better.”
- “You get to play as a little fox; 10/10 character design.”
- “The only real complaints I have about the game are that the character design is a little basic and unlike a trip to Hyrule, Tunic's quest is a lonely adventure in a mostly dead world.”
- “One of the flaws of the game, in my opinion, is the enemy character design; there is very poor creativity as they are just Zelda monsters.”
- “It is possible to play this game without uncovering the secrets beneath the surface, and players who appreciate an adventure game with exceptional gameplay mechanics, ambient soundscapes, and cute character design will be very happy with this game.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for misleading advertising, particularly regarding its genre and gameplay style, which has left some users feeling disappointed. While the isometric style was appreciated, the overall marketing strategy has led to skepticism about the game's true nature.
- “Don't be fooled by advertising calling it an action-adventure game.”
- “Maybe when they get English in the game, I'll try it again, but it's super misleading advertising.”
- “Ever since I first saw the announcement of the game, I've been skipping pretty much all advertisements for the game to go in as blind as possible.”