- Publisher: Ysbryd Games
- Release Date: Nov 19, 2025
- Also On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
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Nov 19, 2025For a Persona fan, this game might not be exactly what you’d expect. Many of its simplified mechanics and the lack of more meaningful consequences for your choices may disappoint those looking for a deeper social experience or a calendar system that demands strategic planning. Even so, it clearly demonstrates qualities that make it a game worth recommending: its narrative is intriguing, the combat is extremely well executed, and the world it presents is full of personality. It’s worth giving Demonschool a chance, especially if you’re looking for a lighter, stylish game with thoughtfully designed battles.
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Nov 18, 2025Demonschool is a peculiar tactical RPG that draws on many different inspirations: Japanese role-playing games, strategy titles, and, finally, the Italian cinema of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Even so, the whole thing feels more like a season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In fact, its refusal to take itself too seriously, its school setting, and its humor-filled characters end up creating a narrative that is more amusing and ironic than unsettling. Its crown jewel is undoubtedly the combat system, at times so interesting it almost feels like a puzzle, though unfortunately it gets squeezed dry as an interlude between one dialogue and the next. Despite all its limitations, Demonschool remains an enjoyable debut work, with a rich cast and a very appealing artistic identity.
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Nov 18, 2025Demonschool is an interesting title with a unique, puzzley approach to turn-based combat and phenomenal art direction and aesthetics. The story in this story-driven game, however, is all over the place and fails to feel cohesive or satisfying, while also playing more into laughs than solid characterization. If the game has caught your eye, I still suggest trying it out, but beware that you may also find the writing disjointed, confusing, and whacky in a not-so-intentional-feeling way. But maybe you’ll find more fun in the randomness than I did.
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Nov 18, 2025Demonschool stuffs itself with activities that achieve only the suggestion of meaning.
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Edge MagazineDec 24, 2025The island and its minigames, side conversations and beautiful backdrops hold their charm, and part of us earns to remain in Demonschool's world. Unlike Faye, though, we begin to resent that demons keep tearing us out of it. [Issue#419, p.114]
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Dec 19, 2025Charmingly unique, and extremely stylish, Demonschool is a game of several interesting ideas. Unfortunately, despite its deep combat system, as a whole, the game fails to stay consistently engaging.
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Nov 20, 2025Demonschool flirts with brilliance in its tactics and aesthetics but can’t keep its coursework consistent. You might enjoy the vibe but expect the semester to feel twice as long as it actually is.
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Nov 18, 2025Demonschool is a game I appreciated more than I enjoyed. It’s a collection of great ideas, brilliant artistic choices and fun moments but they don’t quite stitch together into a game as good as the one you imagine from the screenshots and GIFs. There’s definitely something here; when I’m not actually playing Demonschool, I think of it more fondly than I do when the controller’s in my hand. It’s still worth playing if you have a soft spot for cool indie games with impeccable style, and can forgive them when they don’t quite hit the mark.
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Nov 18, 2025Demonschool is definitely going to be a “your mileage may vary” kind of game, and I suspect fans of classic Persona games or Necrosoft titles may end up appreciating it most. The art direction and design looks gorgeous. The concept is good, and handling demons each week leading up to a possible apocalypse is interesting. But it does feel more like the script takes more cues from sitcoms than dramas with occasional comedic moments, which may not appeal to everyone. This take on a tactical combat system also involves some design choices that might be off-putting and not appeal to everyone. It’s an interesting concept for a game, but also quite niche.
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| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Nov 18, 2025As it is, battles just start feeling tedious and poorly paced. I stopped caring after a few hours and accepted my less-than-stellar combat grades without any negative repercussions. Maybe it's some kind of commentary about how worrying about things like schoolwork is futile since grades don't really matter in the end. But I think I'd rather just skip class altogether, thanks.
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Nov 18, 2025Demonschool has a very clear intent in its design, and it succeeds in that intent with perfect marks. I adore the characters, setting, combat, side content, design, music, everything. As soon as I finish writing this, I’m going straight back to playing more of it. There’s just nothing that looks, sounds or plays quite like Demonschool, and I feel very fortunate to live in the same demon-free world as it. [RPS Bestest Bests]
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Nov 18, 2025It has plenty of replay value, particularly for folks who enjoy achievement-hunting and collecting endings, and the world-building was solid from the get-go. If you’re a fan of b-horror movies, demon-slaying, and goofy one-liners, this is a title worth keeping an eye out for.
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Nov 19, 2025Demonschool has rough edges, particularly in how it balances its excellent writing with slightly-too-frequent (though still interesting) combat. But in its open approach to its influences — while avoiding feeling like a lesser copy — its wit, and its charm, it builds a unique identity from its melting pot of inspirations to leave its deficiencies far outweighed by how much there is to love.