Pyre

Pyre is Supergiant’s best work to date. A perfect mix of shocking writing, a memorable cast of characters and fantasy and balanced sport gameplay.

The artists and designers at Supergiant are so studied that they manage to ground their most interesting ideas in a shell that makes them smooth and accessible. It’s our favorite game of theirs, and that says a lot.

Gamers will talk about Pyre for a good while. Vivid visuals pair well with energizing audio, and both complement the subtle, mechanical gameplay; Pyre, a stunning package, provides with aplomb a depth of strategy not found in some AAA titles, and couches the experience in an engrossing narrative. Supergiant Games’ strongest showing to date, Pyre is a must play, a delight that can’t be recommended highly enough.

Even if players aren’t excited by its sports-like gameplay features, Pyre has a wonderful cast of characters and an engaging story that make it hard to put down. It’s easy to get lost in Pyre‘s world, and it is the kind of game that will leave a lasting impression on those that play it.

A highlight of the game’s design is that no matter how decisive a loss might appear, the story rolls on in an interesting fashion with no “Game Over” screen in sight.

Pyre teaches you to fight tirelessly for your freedom, but to question the definition of that freedom as well. I like the sports-combat a little more each time I play. And Pyre fetishizes the tools of the writer's trade, but more importantly focuses on the art and dialogue of good storytelling.

It's all too easy to fall in love with Pyre. It's immediately attractive. Its songs dance in your head long after they debut. And before you know it, you find yourself driven to get better at rites and perform at the top of your game. Likewise, you can't help but reflect on your partners in the Downside--those you trained, as well as those you neglected.

Pyre is a picturesque little masterpiece that impresses with its dense atmosphere as well as with its gameplay qualities.

One of the major Pyre’s features is that you can’t die. Sure, a fight to the death is nothing if not stimulating, but death is still a release – and no one escapes Downside that easily. Actually, inability to die is akin to a curse, because, although you can’t die – you still can lose. And you will have to find strength to keep going despite that loss, despite having let down your teammates and friends. [Issue#222, p.56]

A unique example of a sports simulator in which you do not always want to win.

After a bumpy start with its combat, Pyre lives up to its predecessors with its rich lore, stunning art design, and interactive narrative. With the choices that you carry out altering the story, Pyre‘s diverse cast of characters in such an imaginative world makes it one to return to after you beat it, possibly again and again.

I enjoyed my time with Pyre; I'm glad I played it. The world inspires thought and curiosity, and I'm left with something to mentally chew on for a while. I already miss my new friends. Due to the "check box" nature of getting to know characters and building relationships, I have considered giving it another go with vastly different decisions, but I think I got what I needed out of this. I also wish the history wasn't delivered through chronologically discordant segments of text. Initially, the game feels like a lore dump and there's a lot to know if you want to dive in. I had difficulty wrapping my head around the world's history, and it seemed relevant. The sports matches are fun, but lack the depth or intensity I think the developers were trying to accomplish. I could easily see this being the type of game some people will adore and obsess over, while others will struggle to finish.

A beautiful, melancholy, emotional sports RPG visual novel thing. [Issue#265, p.51]

An imaginative, fresh and fun mix of sport RPG, adventure and picture gamebook. It offers a sophisticated storyline, well-written characters, and a great playability in its action parts. Everything is enhanced by a fresh visual style and fantastic music. The absence of an online multiplayer or a little slow mid-game pace are the only tiny flaws you can forgive easily.

Pyre takes on a fresh and unique approach to the RPG genre with some wonderful storytelling and incredible art design. It might not be enjoyable for all kinds of gamers as it sometimes focus too much on storytelling, but nevertheless it’s an unforgettable experience that every single Action RPG fan should play.

Pyre is not a game for everyone, and maybe in a way it does not want to be, and yet we feel good to recommend it.

Quotation forthcoming.

Pyre has an interesting combat system, though it does become a tad repetitive. The beautiful visuals and audio more than make up for any shortcomings.

I find the illustrations of Pyre to be beautiful and do not need photo-realistic graphics to put me in a setting.

A great looking game that successfully blends different genres and offers the most distinctive setting from all Supergiant’s titles. Its ending and lack of online PvP along with framerate drops disappointed me though. [10/2017, p.48]

Pyre is an admirable attempt to create a new hybrid -- part sports, part RPG -- but only one of the game’s halves is a true success. Surprisingly, that’s the sports half. Pyre’s world is an enticing one, it just isn’t conveyed in the best way. If you’re a sports game veteran willing to try something a bit different or somebody who mostly enjoyed past Supergiant games for their sumptuous audio and visuals, Pyre should light your fire. Unfortunately, those hoping for another full-bodied action-RPG experience similar to Bastion or Transistor may be left a bit cold.

A wonderful world awaits you with beautiful art, superb soundtrack and a unique gameplay. Unfortunately Pyre loses itself after a few hours, becoming repetitive and losing appeal. It's a shame that online multiplayer is missing, it would have been one of the best feature to keep alive the game after the single player campaign.​

Pyre's campaign is repetitive and its combat never quite clicks, but a touching and thoughtful story makes it worth sticking through to the end.

When Pyre shines, it shines immensely. I haven’t been this invested in the lore of a game for a long time, and was left craving more. What’s the process that connects the Downside to the Commonwealth? What history do the two mysterious minerals share? How on earth is communication between these two worlds possible? I have countless questions about Pyre‘s setting. However, considering where the game’s strengths lie, the structure they chose to couch it in feels uncharacteristically off-target. Pyre could have been a great text game, or even a fantastic TV series or Netflix show, but as a sports game? It’s a misfire.

The unusual combination of virtual sport and text narration that does not fit everyone but definitely will find its fans. Moreover, it has an excellent sound and visuals. [Issue#277]