Demonschool

Yeah, it’s a small release and it is unlikely to take all of the air out of the room in a year that has already seen some incredibly strong RPG releases, but if you love this genre? Get yourself in to Demonschool. I give it full marks and a fair helping of extra credit, but I still want it to see me after class because it impressed me.

If you’re a fan of charming RPGs with unique systems, great music, and a fantastic use of pixel art, you really owe it to yourself to pick up Demonschool.

Demonschool is a stylish indie tactics RPG from Necrosoft Games that stands out for its creative combat and bold visuals but struggles to deliver a cohesive story. Its unique planning-based battles offer satisfying puzzle-like encounters, and its cast brings energy and humor. However, uneven pacing and late-game bloat undermine the narrative, and technical issues can disrupt progress. Demonschool has clear strengths, especially in its gameplay loop, but misses the mark on emotional depth and polish.

Demonschool cleverly blends Persona's social mechanics with tactical RPG combat and B-movie giallo horror, creating a distinctive experience fueled by humor and an excellent soundtrack. Although its puzzle-like turn-based battles are dynamic, the game's pacing falters, sometimes feeling prolonged with repetitive encounters and a notable absence of modern quality-of-life features.

Demonschool 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.