Thymesia

Thymesia is a Soulslike that rewards aggression and precision; more methodical or sword and board players might want to look elsewhere.

Behind its souls-like mask, Thymesia hides a gameplay surprisingly dynamic, engaging and full of fun challenges. Even if it cannot really punch above its weight and reach the high levels of some of the greatest (due in large part to a story that doesn’t really shine), this OverBorder Studio game shouldn’t be overlooked, especially by the fans of the genre.

Thymesia is a game that I expected to flop so hard given my initial impressions of the demo. But I am happy to say that the full release is much more polished and fleshed out thanks to OverBorder Studio diligently taking in the feedback of the players. Out of a sea of Soulsborne clones, it exudes just enough flavor to stand out thanks to the aggressive combat loop, robust plague weapon system, and dual health mechanic. Still, the two parry options, which require near perfect timing yet give little to no reward, need a complete rework. But hey, it’s a janky and clunky love letter to its big brother Bloodborne.

Even with these blemishes and moments where the admiration for what’s come before gets in the way of basic consistency and much-needed fluidity, OverBorder Studio have at least landed in a much better position with a foundation that’s challenging and entertainingly so.

Still, at 10 hours, Thymesia is short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome. You wind up feeling more like a general badass than a vastly overpowered killing machine for the most part, and the game's great ideas culminate in some intense, memorable boss fights. While a few elements of the overall experience don't gel, Thymesia understands what matters most about its inspirations, while adding a few spins of its own to create a small, smart, and rewarding Souls-like experience.

Thymesia is one of the best Souls-likes to enter the genre in years and is worth your time, attention, and occasional rage moment. If you played too much Elden Ring and are looking for something to provide a relatively bite-sized but tightly packed Souls experience, this is the game for you.

Thymesia is a confident, good-looking Soulslike that arguably ranks among the best of the non-From Software titles in the genre.

Plague infested Thymesia is a moody soulslike title, filled with only the most aggressive of moves and relentlessly badass playstyle. If you master the quick pace of sword slashes, parries, claw attacks and dodge without panic in your fingers, you won’t be able to take a break from the satisfaction every successful duel gives you. Occasionally the game stumbles, but the epidemic atmosphere, badass protagonist and most importantly the visceral combat, will suck you back in right away.

Thymesia reminds me the feeling of playing sekiro and bloodborne, its unique combat system have brought me 10 hours of refreshing and exciting experience. However in the meanwhile, the game's plot, map design and other parts are rough. if you are a souls-like game fan, this is a game worth your time.

A soulsborne that lacks refinement, but manages to entertain thanks to an interesting combat system - even if the challenge is certainly not the most difficult ever to appear in this subgenre.

Thymesia falls into that bracket of indie souls-like games that fail to fully convince. It knows how to entertain and, fortunately, the combat system has its own distinct identity, more original than many other experiments released in recent years. At the same time it is a game with few areas, few enemy types, and a difficulty level that should be slightly refined. The visual presentation is also far from refined. Fans of the genre might give it a chance, without too much of a rush.

By now we’re definitely starting to feel the effects of genre fatigue amongst soulslikes. And Thymesia certainly reaches a point where it can’t separate itself from the games that came before. However, there is still a lot of originality in its combat systems and world design so that the game doesn’t feel too derivative. It’s just a shame that clunky controls and awkward bugs hold it back.