Yes, Your Grace
- June 26, 2020
- Brave At Night
- 7h median play time
Yes, Your Grace tells a decent story in an enjoyable way, and there's really nothing else like it outside of a certain fantasy TV show with a terrible ending
In "Yes, Your Grace," you are the king of a medieval kingdom, making decisions on how to allocate your resources to help petitioners in the throne room. Manage your family's affairs, hire generals, witches, and hunters to aid you, and navigate the politics of the realm. The game features a fictional world inspired by Slavic folklore, with a focus on storytelling and character development.
Reviews
- The story and soundtrack are amazing, creating an engaging and emotional experience.
- The game features beautiful pixel art and charming characters that players can easily connect with.
- The decision-making mechanics provide a sense of tension and moral complexity, making players feel the weight of their choices.
- The game is very linear, with many choices feeling like an illusion and not significantly impacting the overall story.
- Some major plot points are predetermined, leading to a lack of replayability and a feeling of helplessness in decision-making.
- The resource management aspect is simplistic and can become tedious, with little challenge as the game progresses.
- story2,667 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Yes, Your Grace" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, drawing players into a medieval setting filled with tough moral choices and character-driven plotlines. While many players appreciate the compelling storytelling and character development, some express disappointment over the linearity of the plot, noting that significant choices often lead to predetermined outcomes, which diminishes replayability. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy rich narratives and character interactions, despite its limitations in gameplay mechanics.
“An excellent and deeply engrossing strategy game with a compelling story, beautiful artwork and music, and fantastic characters.”
“The story is gripping and is definitely worth a play-through!”
“The story is very well written and draws you in.”
“The story is surprisingly mature with some of the choices and decisions that they chose to make, but I can't recommend this because after a second playthrough of the game, none of your choices really matter.”
“One may not realize this in the first playthrough, but if you go for a second round, it becomes obvious that very little of what you decide has an impact on the storyline.”
“The game has been criticized by some reviewers for railroading you into one specific storyline with few choices of real consequence to the plot.”
- gameplay568 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Yes, Your Grace" is primarily centered around resource management and decision-making, where players interact with petitioners and manage their kingdom's needs. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, many players find them repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a sense of monotony as the game progresses. The narrative is engaging and emotionally charged, but the gameplay often feels secondary, with limited impact from player choices, making it more akin to a visual novel than a traditional management game.
“The core gameplay loop was for me enjoyable and scratched that kingdom management itch.”
“I really like the gameplay and story (heartbreaking as it can be).”
“The gameplay is smooth consisting of moderately difficult kingdom management and decision prioritization.”
“The gameplay is mostly trial and error with unskippable dialogue and certain story points you can either fail or win, but you gain nothing by how much better or worse you did.”
“The gameplay mechanics are painfully shallow.”
“The railroading of the story becomes laughable at times, like how you can have an army larger than the enemy's and the dialogue will still make it sound like you're horribly outnumbered and an inch away from defeat because the writers made no concession for the gameplay.”
- music522 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack, often described as beautiful and immersive, features a mix of styles, including folk and medieval influences, which resonate well with the game's themes. Overall, players find the music to be a standout element, significantly contributing to their enjoyment and engagement with the story and characters.
“The music is beautiful, emotive, and fitting.”
“The soundtrack is amazing and adds a lot more flavor to the game.”
“The music fits the game perfectly and I couldn't ask for a better soundtrack for this game.”
“The music is above average but mostly unremarkable; most of the characters are flat and there's a lot of clichés.”
“The music was very annoying to me, so I just turned it off.”
“The music in this game plays an important role, in most situations and creates the right atmosphere of the middle ages, but where it’s needed more drama or more sorrow, you will be surprised.”
- graphics342 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively complements the narrative and atmosphere. Many reviewers appreciate the beautiful artwork and detailed animations, noting that the visuals enhance emotional engagement with the story and characters. While some mention that the graphics are simple or reminiscent of older games, they generally agree that the aesthetic is appealing and well-executed, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“The graphics are amazing, I am truly a fan of pixelated games!”
“The graphics are often utterly gorgeous, the dialogue is well written and each character has a clear and unique voice that makes them interesting and fun to watch.”
“The pixel art style is very pleasing, the music fits perfectly and the story has been done well.”
“Maybe if the graphics were better, I would feel more invested.”
“Awful graphics, a mediocre story with no real choices that actually matter, characters that are mostly unlikable and a boring and repetitive slog disguised as making meaningful decisions about your kingdom make this game a very mediocre and unenjoyable experience without any real replayability value.”
“The graphics are very simple which was expected; however, the choices you make affect the storyline in almost no interesting way.”
- replayability307 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally viewed as low, with many players noting its linear story structure and limited choices that do not significantly alter outcomes. While some appreciate the potential for different endings and the enjoyment of the initial playthrough, most agree that once the story is known, there is little incentive to replay. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game offers a compelling narrative experience, its replay value is minimal, making it more suited for a single playthrough rather than multiple runs.
“All of the endings are interesting, so there's a lot of replayability even when you know the general plot.”
“The music, art style, and storytelling are amazing; I love that there are different endings and different paths you can take throughout the game - makes it replayable and refreshing.”
“The replayability seems quite high, and I'm excited to play through it a few more times.”
“Just be warned that replay value is relatively low compared to other similar games.”
“The one con I have found about this game is its non-replayability; once the game is finished, it's hard to play it again since you have to start from the very beginning and the same sequence happens in every playthrough.”
“There's no real replayability since most choices don't actually change what happens other than the possible text endings.”
- emotional285 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players reporting a profound connection to the characters and story, often leading to laughter and tears throughout their playthroughs. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its narrative, challenging choices, and character development, making it a memorable emotional journey. Overall, it is described as an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact, with players expressing surprise at how deeply they became invested in the game's events and characters.
“Be ready for an emotional roller coaster - this game actually got me trembling in anger and tears.”
“The story made me cry multiple times and I really got to know the characters.”
“This game is emotional and will make you feel a plethora of good and horrible emotions, of course if you are emotionally invested in the game you’re playing.”
“If you like a boring storyline that's incredibly predictable and very linear, this is for you.”
“What seemed to be 'Reigns meets Mount & Blade and Kingdom' in the marketing just really ended up being 'Papers, Please' with a crown, less impactful choices, and a boring story that drags itself more than it has any right to.”
- humor97 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of quirky, dark, and sometimes unintentional comedy, with many players appreciating the amusing character interactions and witty writing. While some found the humor to be a refreshing counterbalance to the game's serious themes, others noted that it could feel forced or inconsistent at times. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with emotional depth, creating a unique narrative experience that resonates with players.
“The game is sometimes funny, too, with one rather amusing throughline that pays out in spades.”
“This is an entertaining, engaging, interesting game with a narrative that's alternately both tragic and hilarious.”
“There are a lot of funny moments that I enjoyed tremendously, especially some long-running jokes of some quirky characters that surprisingly turned out to also have significance in the overall story.”
“Not funny.”
“Not funny.”
- atmosphere65 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of pixel art, immersive music, and strong narrative elements, which together create a rich medieval ambiance. Players appreciate the emotional depth and character investment fostered by the atmospheric design, although some note that the soundtrack could benefit from greater variety. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both charming and engaging, enhancing the player's experience despite its relatively short length.
“The game's soundtrack and sound effects enhance the atmosphere and enrich the overall feel of the game.”
“From the gorgeous pixel art to the sublime soundtrack, from the well-written plot to all the little choices left to the player, from the humor of some dialogues to the dire atmosphere of the war accurately represented.”
“The art style and soundtrack build a nice atmosphere, even if that atmosphere is dark and gloomy most of the time; bright spots shine through and there's many touching moments with your family.”
“Elements such as sound and music strengthen the atmosphere of the game, but could have had more potential in terms of variety.”
“Music in this game plays an important role, in most situations and creates the right atmosphere of the middle ages, but where it’s needed more drama or more sorrow, in this case you will be surprised.”
“All in all... while most concepts of this game are executed better by some other titles, I think the charm and atmosphere of this game make it stand out and generally worth the purchase.”
- grinding31 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling forced to endure lengthy sections before progressing. The lack of manual save options exacerbates the issue, making replaying the early game a slog. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay and art style, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding being a significant drawback that detracts from the experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You're forced to go through these sections before you can proceed, which makes replaying the early game a tedious slog. You'll have to replay the early game if you want to replay any of it because there is no way to make manual saves, and the only way to go back past the last five autosaves is to purge everything and try again from the start.”
“The second half of the game was outright tedious, and unless this sort of thing is really your jam, I wouldn't recommend buying it at full price. Maybe at 50% off, I would consider it worth the investment as it does have some good moments.”
“The plot is super linear, and the mechanics are very slow and tedious.”
- character development19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and emotional engagement, particularly regarding the king and his family members, with players appreciating the impactful storytelling and tough decisions that shape their journeys. While some reviewers noted limitations in character complexity and emotional connection, the overall consensus highlights strong character design and immersive narratives that enhance player attachment. The combination of simple visuals and effective writing contributes to a captivating experience, making character development a standout aspect of the game.
“The game gives us the opportunity to have massive character development for the king himself.”
“I enjoyed the storyline and character development that occurred, as well as the tough decisions one needed to make along the journey.”
“But where the game really shines is in plot and character development.”
“I feel a little let down by the visuals; it is impressive how the developers were able to convey emotion with the simple pixel character designs and monosyllabic noises in place of spoken dialogue, but when looking at some of the other art they have, I feel a little robbed.”
“Either through lack of character development or said characters, I didn't feel emotionally connected.”
“The second reason is how the game played out; I was hardly ever left disengaged with the flow of events regarding the character development of your family and colleagues.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews indicate mixed feelings about the game's optimization and performance. While some players report stability and engaging gameplay, others experience notable performance issues, including lag and input delays, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these technical shortcomings, many find the game's decision-making mechanics and visual style compelling, though the lack of meaningful consequences for performance may lessen the tension and enjoyment.
“Can't speak to performance, but stability is 100%.”
“More of an optimization sim than anything; I'm not sure if you can actually lose in the end, though.”
“This is fine by me, as for the hours of enjoyment I got fretting over my decisions was far more engaging than a mindless grind and optimization of numbers.”
“However, some users may experience issues with the game's optimization and performance.”
“While its visual style, gameplay, and decision-making mechanics draw players in, some technical inadequacies or performance issues may limit their experience.”
“There are performance issues, lag, and input issues, but these are trivial and can be solved by a restart of the game.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some players experiencing minor bugs and glitches that can detract from the experience, particularly when navigating the interface. However, others report no significant issues during their playthroughs, highlighting the game's overall charm and artistic merit despite its rough edges. Overall, while there are some frustrating technical flaws, they do not appear to be game-breaking for most users.
“Some bugs and glitches can be frustrating, impacting the overall gaming experience.”
“Clicking the side of the screen in order to exit a room can be a bit buggy.”
“This is just one example of minor annoying glitches (the rest being graphical glitches) messing with an otherwise outstanding game.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, leading users to feel that it detracts from the overall experience and potential of the game.
“At first, I thought this game was just another point-and-click cash grab.”
“It had the potential to be an awesome game, but the monetization strategy ruined it.”
Critic Reviews
Yes, Your Grace review
Yes, Your Grace tells a decent story in an enjoyable way, and there's really nothing else like it outside of a certain fantasy TV show with a terrible ending
80%Yes, Your Grace Review
An interesting combination of kingdom management and point-and-click adventuring that doesn't always form into a cohesive whole. Yes, Your Grace has a flavour all of its own, though, and you'll genuinely come to care for the royal family at its core.
70%Yes, Your Grace Review
Yes, Your Grace is a fascinating game with heart. Its short length might turn away some players, but it will be perfect for anyone who loves regret filled choices or was burned badly by the Game of Thrones finale last year. If you like your games with emotional variety and anxiety, you’ll enjoy your brief time with Yes, Your Grace.
80%