Zarie: The Story of Sin

About

Zarie: The Story of Sin is a single player action game. It was developed by MOON USAGI and was released on September 29, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

A story of sin and 'the girl'. You find yourself in a world of monochrome, alone, until you meet Zarie, a girl with white hair, red eyes, and black clothes. She tells you she is a deity of death, this is Hell, and that you are a sinner. Guided by Zaire, you travel to meet Emma, Hell's Judgement, to be tried. What awaits you at the end of this short, yet arduous journey? Features ・A short visual …

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a good story and interesting concept, providing a unique experience as you navigate through the Afterlife with Zarie.
The art style and soundtrack are well-executed, creating a pleasant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
For a free game, it offers a short but engaging narrative that can provoke thought and reflection.

Choices in the game have little to no impact on the story, leading to a lack of meaningful replayability.
The writing quality is inconsistent, with some dialogue described as poorly written and cringeworthy.
The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more depth and character development.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
"Zarie: The Story of Sin" is a short and linear visual novel that takes players through the afterlife, guided by a shinigami named Zarie. While the story is generally well-received for its intriguing premise and visuals, many players express a desire for deeper character development and world-building, as well as a more impactful narrative structure, given that most choices have little effect on the outcome. The final twist has garnered mixed reactions, with some finding it underwhelming compared to the buildup throughout the game.
- “Good story, good visuals; I love this visual novel.”
- “Short but very good story.”
- “Would love to have seen this narrative expanded upon, but it manages to tell a complete story as is.”
- “The story of Sin is not a game, it's an e-book that's been dumped on Steam masquerading as a game.”
- “Rather short, so lacking in any meaningful story or character depth.”
- “The story of Sin; the concept itself has an interesting prospect, however, it does not really play on it much.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game is praised for creating a warm atmosphere that enhances the player's journey and introspection, particularly through its fitting jazz soundtrack and engaging conversations with the character Zarie. However, some users noted that the background music and sound effects can be overly loud, and the noticeable looping of tracks can be distracting, despite the overall sound design effectively supporting the game's experience.
- “The excellent soundtrack that follows your travels and conversations with Zarie through your last destination creates a warm atmosphere where the 4th wall is crossed, and you become the player, embarking on a personal trip of inner reflection.”
- “Along with the chill conversations you have with Zarie, you're able to experience a pleasant soundtrack that fits the vibe of the game exceptionally well.”
- “The art, sound, and music design were fine for the experience it was looking to deliver.”
- “Similar to the background images, all of the music is from online resources.”
- “In addition, you can hear exactly the point at which the music loops, usually fading or cutting out.”
- “This is true even for music that sounds like it should be loopable, so it can be a bit distracting, but nothing major.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are well-received, with users appreciating the art style and overall visual presentation. While some expected a longer story, the visuals contributed positively to their enjoyment of the game.
- “The art style is impressive, and the background music complements the visuals beautifully.”
- “I love the graphics; they really enhance the overall experience of the game.”
- “The visuals are stunning and add a lot of depth to the gameplay.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- “I found myself spending hours on grinding for resources, which took away from the enjoyment of the actual gameplay.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes strong emotions, often leading to tears, and appreciate its nuanced writing that captures subtle emotional shifts. However, there is a desire for these emotional expressions to be visually represented as well.
- “The real sin is that it made me cry.”
- “The game often brings up subtle emotional or expression changes in writing, and I really would have liked to see it with my eyes as well.”
gameplay
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is criticized for being minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue that detracts from the overall experience, raising concerns about its quality and suitability for publication.
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the reviews is characterized by a sharp wit, exemplified by a clever remark about the minimal demand for the book, suggesting that only a few copies would suffice for the entire world. This type of humor adds a layer of irony and satire to the overall experience.
- “The funny thing is, if you wanted to print this book, you'd only need to print 4 copies to satisfy the entire world's demand for it.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by an excellent soundtrack that accompanies players on their journey, fostering a warm and immersive experience. This unique blend of narrative and music encourages personal reflection, effectively breaking the fourth wall and making the player feel deeply connected to the story.
- “The excellent soundtrack that follows your travels and conversations with Zarie through your last destination creates a warm atmosphere where the fourth wall is crossed, making you feel like the player on a personal trip of inner reflection.”
- “The excellent soundtrack that follows your travels and conversations with Zarie through your last destination creates a warm atmosphere where the 4th wall is crossed, and you become the player, embarking on a personal trip of inner reflection.”