Tyrant's Realm

About

Tyrant's Realm is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by TeamTyrant and was released on January 16, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

"Tyrant's Realm: Origins" is a souls-like action game with a retro 3D aesthetic, offering melee combat, weapon and armor collection, and exploration. The game includes customizable character armor and two weapon slots, with approximately 15-20 minutes of gameplay spread across two stages and a final boss battle. Keyboard and mouse are supported, but controller usage is recommended.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 659 reviews

gameplay58 positive mentions

grinding23 negative mentions

The game combines elements of Dark Souls and Dead Cells, creating a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
The PS1-era graphics and aesthetic are charming and nostalgic, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
The combat feels satisfying, with a variety of weapons and armor that allow for different playstyles.

The game lacks enemy variety, leading to repetitive gameplay after a few runs.
The parry mechanic is inconsistent and difficult to execute, making blocking a more viable option.
The game can be completed quickly, resulting in a lack of long-term replayability and content.

gameplay
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
The gameplay of "Tyrant's Realm" is a blend of dark souls-inspired combat and roguelite mechanics, offering a fun yet simplified experience that appeals to fans of both genres. While the combat is generally enjoyable and features a variety of bosses with unique mechanics, players have noted issues with clunky controls, a challenging parry system, and a lack of depth in enemy variety and progression, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience. Overall, the game provides a solid foundation with potential for improvement, particularly in enhancing gameplay diversity and mechanics.
- “The combat is tightly designed, the atmosphere is authentically haunting, and the blend of retro aesthetics with modern mechanics gives Tyrant’s Realm a distinct personality among indie action-roguelites.”
- “The gameplay itself is fun and fast enough to keep you engaged.”
- “It's the perfect combination of Dark Souls gameplay with a mix of Dead Cells roguelike progression.”
- “The gameplay loop is really boring, and unlike Dead Cells, since the gameplay is slower, there is no adrenaline and reason to go faster.”
- “Base game is lacking in content so the runs feel fast repetitive and even the worlds share the same enemy pool; there is almost no gameplay difference between the worlds, so it's basically just a different background.”
- “Not being able to dodge out of an attack animation is probably the worst mechanic ever thought of.”
graphics
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
2%
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic homage to PS1-era visuals, featuring low-poly models, coarse textures, and moody lighting that effectively evoke a dark fantasy atmosphere. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and its charm, others note that the visuals may not impress in terms of modern standards, with some technical imperfections present. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unique identity, appealing particularly to fans of retro gaming.
- “Developed by Team Tyrant and published by Skystone Games, it immediately distinguishes itself through its aesthetic: a deliberate throwback to PS1-era visuals, complete with coarse textures, angular models, and moody lighting that conjures the atmosphere of long-lost fantasy and horror titles.”
- “The low-poly PS1 graphics and refined soundscape perfectly capture the harsh world of the game, despite minor technical imperfections such as delays in battles and the interface.”
- “The graphics and art style are great and filled with nostalgia.”
- “The one thing this game has is the PSX graphics, and it does not redeem the experience.”
- “It's not a fun game; the graphics aren't as good as PlayStation One. I also know it's not supposed to have great graphics, but these are sad.”
- “The PS1 visuals are simply a lie; it's typical standard 3D stuff with maybe a filter over it.”
replayability
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
42%
19%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its roguelite structure, multiple paths, and diverse weapon and armor options that encourage repeated playthroughs. However, others criticize the environmental repetition, lack of meaningful progression after completing the game, and a tendency to favor certain builds, which can diminish the overall replay value. While many find it enjoyable and worth the price, there is a consensus that additional content or mechanics could enhance its longevity.
- “There are multiple paths to choose from and 3 distinct difficulties, which give the game great replayability.”
- “Wasn't too tough but the presentation and bosses and addictive nature of the game makes this the best roguelike game I've played for some time. The next difficulty levels not only make this game infinitely replayable but also satisfying to get more equipment and make progress as you go.”
- “Tons of replay value with the ramping difficulty and the plethora of stuff to unlock.”
- “Procedural generation, while offering replay value, also leads to environmental repetition—many rooms rely on the same architectural assets and patterns, making long sessions blend together visually.”
- “Seems like an asset flip charging $10 for barely 40 minutes of story, half-assed roguelite elements but without any replayability value for multiple playthroughs to want to unlock anything.”
- “After reaching the finale of the game, I found myself really frustrated with a lot of the mechanics and lack of replayability.”
atmosphere
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
28%
10%
The atmosphere of "Tyrant's Realm" is widely praised for its haunting, retro aesthetic reminiscent of PS1-era visuals, characterized by coarse textures and moody lighting that evoke a sense of nostalgia and immersion. Players appreciate the eerie sound design and the game's ability to create a distinct, grim charm that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the indie action-roguelite genre. The combination of atmospheric environments, engaging combat, and stylistic graphics contributes to a compelling escapism that resonates with fans of dark fantasy.
- “Developed by Team Tyrant and published by Skystone Games, it immediately distinguishes itself through its aesthetic: a deliberate throwback to PS1-era visuals, complete with coarse textures, angular models, and moody lighting that conjures the atmosphere of long-lost fantasy and horror titles.”
- “Tyrant's Realm is an action roguelite with a dark fantasy atmosphere and retro PS1-style graphics.”
- “The atmosphere is enhanced by sound design that leans into eerie ambience rather than swelling music.”
- “As previous reviews have stated, there is no dialogue and realistically no story, you're only playing the game for the gameplay and the atmosphere.”
- “What the game nails for me is the atmosphere (especially when you turn on all the additional filters that make the game feel even more late 90's / early 00's - which is how I play the game), the game looks gorgeous, not in a fidelity sense, as it's not going for that (obviously) but in a stylistic approach and the design of the enemies and the environments are great.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the challenge of unlocking items and achievements through repeated boss battles and farming, others feel it becomes tedious and repetitive over time. The grind for currency and unlockables can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially when the gameplay lacks variety and the rewards feel insufficient. Despite these criticisms, many still appreciate the game's nostalgic atmosphere and the fun that can be had during the grind, particularly for those who enjoy roguelite mechanics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding boss battles to unlock their weapons (and achievements) is a little tedious, but I enjoyed playing the game, so I am not complaining too much about it.”
- “Unlocking new items is tedious, and because unlocking items uses the same currency that upgrades your flasks, you can't justify unlocking any items until you're hours into the game already despite accumulating dozens of blueprints for them.”
- “The bosses act essentially the same as normal monsters with little to no variation; this combined with huge HP pools makes fighting them over and over boring and, again, tedious.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric tension and ambient sound design, while others find the soundtrack dull and forgettable. Although certain areas feature enjoyable and immersive music, many users note a lack of variety and presence during gameplay, leading to a perception of sparse audio elements. Overall, while the sound design contributes positively to the atmosphere, the music itself is often seen as inadequate or lacking in impact.
- “Yes, it can be completed fairly quickly, but personally, I got my fill of escapism, because the locations, atmosphere, and music are amazing.”
- “Funny how a small, cheap, indie game beats the AAA games as far as gameplay immersion, cool systems to discover, atmospheric tension music, etc.”
- “The bosses are fun, the music is cool, the game is addicting, and the PS1-style graphics really scratch that nostalgic part of my brain.”
- “Very enjoyable 'turn your brain off and have something on YouTube in the background' sort of game, especially because what story does exist is very bare bones, and the music is just kind of there.”
- “Music is largely forgettable.”
- “The only downsides for me: no music during the main gameplay.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a gameplay experience than a narrative-driven one. While the simple and straightforward plot is easy to follow, it leaves players wanting more, and the absence of dialogue further diminishes the storytelling aspect. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for casual play but fails to deliver a compelling story or significant replayability.
- “The story is simple and easy to follow, and it leaves me wanting more.”
- “The rogue-like mechanics are implemented into the story itself, and each run helps to make us stronger and unlock new armor, weapons, and perks to help us in future runs.”
- “The developer has said they plan to support the game post-launch, and I hope said support includes stuff like new biomes and story content.”
- “As previous reviews have stated, there is no dialogue and realistically no story; you're only playing the game for the gameplay and the atmosphere.”
- “Seems like an asset flip charging $10 for barely 40 minutes of story, half-assed roguelite elements but without any replayability value for multiple playthroughs to want to unlock anything.”
- “Very enjoyable 'turn your brain off and have something on YouTube in the background' sort of game, especially because what story does exist is very bare bones, and the music is just kind of there.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many users reporting smooth performance, especially on the Steam Deck. However, some players experienced initial bugs, such as issues with fullscreen mode and graphical glitches like seeing through walls. While the game is fun and enjoyable, it does exhibit clunky mechanics and a lack of polish in certain areas.
- “It runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “For those wondering, the game runs great on the Steam Deck, and it’s fun as hell.”
- “The game has a very well put together visual personality, and runs great on both my average PC and Steam Deck.”
- “The game launched in buggy fullscreen, with me fighting to change the resolution and window mode for 10 minutes.”
- “The first 10 minutes of the game are fun, but when you realize the lack of variety of not only weapons but also enemies, the game starts to get super boring and even annoying in some maps. Not to mention the fact that the game looks like it has 0 love put into it, since it lacks polishing; you can see through walls sometimes and get some buggy textures.”
- “Fun, very replayable and enjoyable, but very clunky, buggy, and the parry system is pointless.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its solid performance across various platforms, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly even at maximum settings. While the visuals are well-received for their nostalgic appeal and lightweight design, some players noted issues with enemy behavior and the need for balance changes to enhance gameplay diversity. However, minor performance hiccups in specific areas were reported, indicating room for improvement.
- “The late 90’s visuals are perfect and the performance/feel of the game is really good and responsive.”
- “(Really well optimized and polished for the Steam Deck, love it!)”
- “It runs super well, all my time has been on Steam Deck but it's been perfect with no performance woes at all at what I believe is max settings.”
- “The game isn't easy by any means, but the enemy behavior and player toolkit need balance changes to improve diversity and prevent players from committing repeatedly to the same tactics when going for an optimized run.”
- “The optimization in this game feels lacking; there are too many instances where performance drops significantly, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I often find myself struggling with the optimization of the game, as the loading times are excessively long and the frame rate drops during critical moments.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Tyrant's Realm" emotionally engaging, likening it to a unique blend of medieval therapy infused with humor and chaos, as they navigate battles against quirky enemies. The retro graphics enhance this emotional experience, evoking nostalgia reminiscent of classic PS1/PS2 games, despite frustrations with gameplay mechanics that can disrupt the flow of combat.
- “Tyrant’s Realm made me feel like I had accidentally wandered into medieval therapy, except the therapy involved swords, monsters, and me screaming at skeletons who clearly didn’t respect personal space.”
- “The graphics are part of the charm, as they made me feel like I was playing on a PS1/2 with the charming retro feel.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by over-the-top boss personalities and absurd enemy attack animations that elicit laughter, often distracting players from the gameplay. Players find the comedic elements, such as dramatic entrances and exaggerated attack charges, to enhance the overall experience, making even challenging moments entertaining.
- “The bosses were dramatic divas who entered the arena like they were auditioning for a villain fashion show, and half the time I was too busy laughing at my own terrible dodges to notice I was about to die.”
- “Anyway, I also think it's pretty funny that it's the least beaten biome, according to the achievements.”