User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 406 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 65 out of 406

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  1. Jul 31, 2022
    10
    A great tribute to Zelda and the indie industry in general, as well as a story of effort and determination according to its developer and creative mind.
  2. Mar 20, 2022
    9
    Great fun gane, if Zelda and souls games had a baby this would be it. Colorful world, secret paths is just and amazing game. Go play it now.
  3. Mar 21, 2022
    9
    Beautiful, engaging and just outright tremendous game. Everything feels handcrafted and a work of love. The combat is engaging and difficult. The exploration is rewarding and the soundtrack is amazing. This is a must play for any fan of the genre. And even for those who aren't!
  4. Mar 23, 2022
    10
    Playing this game simultaneously with a friend sparked all the joy of childhood school lunchtimes discussing the secrets of Mario64, and Ocarina of Time. The digital in-game instruction booklet is a wonderful expression of something lost in the modern AAA video game experience - The excitement and wonder of what to expect in a modern game. I had anticipation for this game, and even after aPlaying this game simultaneously with a friend sparked all the joy of childhood school lunchtimes discussing the secrets of Mario64, and Ocarina of Time. The digital in-game instruction booklet is a wonderful expression of something lost in the modern AAA video game experience - The excitement and wonder of what to expect in a modern game. I had anticipation for this game, and even after a couple of hours I wasn't fully convinced - Once I discovered some of the secrets in the manual I was hooked. I completed almost everything (bar the full booklet translation) in collaboration with a friend via discord, GOTY for me. Expand
  5. Mar 23, 2022
    9
    This is a very high 9, but not a 10 because the combat isn't perfect. It's pretty good, don't get me wrong, but it's not perfect. that said, This game is good. Really, really good. The music is incredible, the atmosphere is amazing, the puzzles are subversive, the exploration is great, and the combat is... well, it's good. There were several times through the game where I had the "What? IThis is a very high 9, but not a 10 because the combat isn't perfect. It's pretty good, don't get me wrong, but it's not perfect. that said, This game is good. Really, really good. The music is incredible, the atmosphere is amazing, the puzzles are subversive, the exploration is great, and the combat is... well, it's good. There were several times through the game where I had the "What? I can do that?" reaction, and the game naturally introduces it all in such an elegant way, and it completely changes how you see subsequent play throughs. Go into this game blind with a yearning for exploration and puzzle solving, and you will have an amazing time. Expand
  6. Mar 18, 2022
    10
    A great video game, fun, challenging with a very good duration, an interesting campaign and a beautiful artistic section, highly recommended
  7. Mar 23, 2022
    7
    Fantastic world building and design ruined by poor combat. Tunic had a great idea, to combine Zelda and Souls, but failed in the execution. The combat design fails to understand what makes Souls combat challenging but fair. You can cheese or brute force through some early fights, but eventually it's just a lot of cheese. I eventually turned on God mode and unlimited stamina, and still feltFantastic world building and design ruined by poor combat. Tunic had a great idea, to combine Zelda and Souls, but failed in the execution. The combat design fails to understand what makes Souls combat challenging but fair. You can cheese or brute force through some early fights, but eventually it's just a lot of cheese. I eventually turned on God mode and unlimited stamina, and still felt some boss fights were complete BS. The game becomes a lot more enjoyable with the cheats.

    The instruction manual system was an absolute gem. You could do everything from the start, but you could discover the "secrets" yourself, or find a page and find out about it. Both are rewarding in their own way.
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  8. Mar 18, 2022
    8
    Good-
    The art style is absolutely outstanding. The game design is also amazing. The audio is amazing to listen too and very relaxing.
    Bad- The combat feels a bit too shallow and uninteresting after a while. Lacks any sort of true innovation Thoughts- Overall, Tunic is one of those games that totally leans into its execution to tremendous effect. It doesn’t reinvent or
    Good-
    The art style is absolutely outstanding. The game design is also amazing. The audio is amazing to listen too and very relaxing.

    Bad-
    The combat feels a bit too shallow and uninteresting after a while. Lacks any sort of true innovation

    Thoughts-
    Overall, Tunic is one of those games that totally leans into its execution to tremendous effect. It doesn’t reinvent or revolutionize its core concepts as much as I would have liked, nor does it bring any one gameplay component into the fold that I haven’t seen before, but the way it does patch everything together with its own sense of style is something to behold for the genre. Despite being a little light on depth and lacking a major gameplay hook of its own, I suspect most who pursue this adventure will find little, if anything, they don’t admire about it.
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  9. Mar 19, 2022
    9
    A mix between Zelda and deaths door. Fantastic little gem made by only one person!
  10. Mar 23, 2022
    10
    [SPOILER FREE REVIEW]

    It's a nostalgic throwback to early Zelda games. However this game has collectible "manual pages" scattered all across the world that give you information on the mechanics of the game as well as how to solve certain puzzles. This was a core mechanic I haven’t seen before. The illustrations in the manual are beautifully retro and it fits thematically in the game
    [SPOILER FREE REVIEW]

    It's a nostalgic throwback to early Zelda games. However this game has collectible "manual pages" scattered all across the world that give you information on the mechanics of the game as well as how to solve certain puzzles. This was a core mechanic I haven’t seen before. The illustrations in the manual are beautifully retro and it fits thematically in the game (because old adventure games used to have these types of physical illustrated manuals) and the way the manual reveals the secrets of the game to you was at times very rewarding.

    The game has a medium sized, but very packed open world. Sadly the progress route through the game is actually very linear, but not necessarily very clear and traveling around the world is a bit slow. I got stuck in the middle of the game because there was one specific location I needed to go to get a certain item (something straight out of the Zelda games) to proceed, but it was hidden in a way that I walked past it 2 times and used several hours just going around in circles (I managed to solve some endgame puzzles while doing this though). Multiple entrances or a subtle hint telling me that this was the next location I was supposed to go to would’ve made this part of the game less annoying.

    There was also an area (Lower Miasma) that you can drop down to that has a locked door and if you don’t have the key, you’re stuck and you have to either kill your character or reload the game to get out of there. I consider this a design flaw. A shortcut elevator from the checkpoint would have sufficed. Maybe they’ll patch this later.

    Some of the puzzles were pretty hard, but I managed to solve them all without help by systematically going through the world and writing down notes or taking pictures with my phone when I encountered something suspicious. There are some mechanics in late game that help you find the unsolved puzzles/areas that are required for the true ending, but you need to do some exploration and write down notes to get the true ending. Puzzles themselves are pretty good - all of them (except the optional ones) are solvable if you pay attention to your surroundings as well as the game manual. The most obscure ones are optional and actually require you to put some time into figuring them out. I’m pretty sure very few people will solve them without guides, but I don’t mind just reading about them online (just reading about them blew my mind because solving them really requires effort and solving them reveals one final secret message that is definitely worth checking out).

    Bosses were quite easy for me (they usually took 3-5 tries which for me is pretty optimal), but I can see them being hard for someone who doesn’t take the time to find all the upgrade materials around the world. The way you beat the bosses is somewhat similar to Soulsborne games, so experience with their mechanics and slower combat will give you a slight advantage. They’re easier than Soulsborne bosses, but you still need to recognize openings between enemy attacks and mashing buttons will get you killed. One enemy encounter seemed to spike in difficulty, but after a couple of tries I bought some single use items and cheesed the fight.

    Game also shares Soulsborne’s minimalistic, ambiguous storytelling. To have any idea what the story was about, you need to go to the forums or watch a lore video. I prefer stories with character development and understandable goals and motivations. Games like Dark Souls or Inside at least gave me slightly more concrete themes I could latch on to. But then again, I didn’t expect there to be ANY story so I was happy that they at least tried to add some bits of lore for the community to figure out.

    The secret mechanics of this game were so fun that I wished it had more of them! Because of them I’d also recommend not to read about the game too much and just play it. Because of its unique mechanic of collecting the manual pages, this might be one of my favorite Zelda-like games ever. I did get stuck once which was really annoying because I felt I was just wasting time running around areas I had already been to. Using guides for this game is not recommendable so I wish they’d at least make the main path of the game more visible and add a few more shortcuts so that backtracking to some areas wasn’t so time consuming.

    I’d give the game 9/10 (strong recommendation) but because this is a disadvantageous time for smaller adventure games, I’ll give it one bonus point.
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  11. Mar 26, 2022
    10
    An absolute joy to puzzle through. I loved every minute of it. 2022 is the year I avoided spoilers and walkthroughs for amazing games and I couldn't be happier.
  12. Mar 19, 2022
    9
    Tunic is really something special. I think the combat isn't quite good enough to justify its high difficulty but the world is very well designed. I loved finding pages of an instruction booklet and piecing together what I was supposed to do next. I also found the lore and story to be quite compelling (although too mysterious to fully understand).
    Overall this is an extremely cool game and
    Tunic is really something special. I think the combat isn't quite good enough to justify its high difficulty but the world is very well designed. I loved finding pages of an instruction booklet and piecing together what I was supposed to do next. I also found the lore and story to be quite compelling (although too mysterious to fully understand).
    Overall this is an extremely cool game and one of the most enjoyable indies I've seen for quite some time. Definitely pick it up or check it out on gamepass :)
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  13. Mar 23, 2022
    9
    Gorgeous art, solid controls. it really is very similar to a Zelda game and deserve all the praise to follow with great competence so big of a shadow. To the developer, don't mind the haters. You made alone something comparable to some of the great games of all times
  14. Mar 21, 2022
    10
    Nice little surprise on Game Pass this month. Super charming and wears it's influences on its sleeve. Well worth your time!
  15. Mar 22, 2022
    10
    when i first saw this game's trailer i thought it's just another zelda clone but i said why not giving it try and literally from the first gameplay minute i saw a completely different game with a very beautiful atmosphere and a unique art the level design is also very impressive i think i already got my goty indie game
  16. Mar 22, 2022
    10
    Great game. Don’t know why people here claim it is like a mobile game and give it a literal zero. Yes sure it is a Zelda rip off but it really is good fun and has a sweet tone throughout.
  17. Mar 21, 2022
    10
    The game is not easy at all! But it's extremely satisfying discover by yourself reading the pages of the manual that your find, what you have to do! For sure a very nice suprice!
  18. Mar 18, 2022
    9
    I'm typically terrible at souls-like games, but this isometric zelda/souls hybrid has peeked my interest. I still suck at proper timing, but the game is fun regardless, without feeling like I'm hopeless. I believe there is the ability to switch on invincibility, but that's something I will avoid in order to get the proper feel for the game.

    I'm a little shocked at some of the user
    I'm typically terrible at souls-like games, but this isometric zelda/souls hybrid has peeked my interest. I still suck at proper timing, but the game is fun regardless, without feeling like I'm hopeless. I believe there is the ability to switch on invincibility, but that's something I will avoid in order to get the proper feel for the game.

    I'm a little shocked at some of the user reviews here, cause it kinda feels like they didn't actually play the game.

    All I know is that I am have a great time with this so far.
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  19. Mar 19, 2022
    10
    Very good zelda-like game do you like to death's door earlier this year you will enjoy this game lock on system could have been better and a little more variety of weapons the art style is amazing the combat gets Souls like at times and it's very enjoyable I highly recommend!!
  20. Mar 19, 2022
    10
    I loved the game graphics
    I loved the gameplay
    I loved exploring
    I loved the world
    And ready to see your next game
  21. Xbd
    Mar 20, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A very good game, I enjoyed it and I recommend it to everyone. The game world is very beautiful and the sounds are great Expand
  22. Mar 18, 2022
    9
    A fun indie game base off the old legend of Zelda games. If you like the older Zelda games you will love this type of game
  23. Mar 19, 2022
    10
    Great game!wonderful graphic and so much challenge to win. Recommendation for Zelda and souls gamers and even free in XGP.
  24. Mar 19, 2022
    10
    Very good game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  25. Mar 20, 2022
    10
    What starts out as a cute Zelda lookalike very soon gets more and more difficult and mysterious, with tons of both more and less obvious secrets to be found.
    The gameplay is fun, combat is challenging (very Souls-like, there's a godmode setting for people who want a more chill ride), exploration of the world is fun, and the story is very intriguing. Also it just looks adorable, and the
    What starts out as a cute Zelda lookalike very soon gets more and more difficult and mysterious, with tons of both more and less obvious secrets to be found.
    The gameplay is fun, combat is challenging (very Souls-like, there's a godmode setting for people who want a more chill ride), exploration of the world is fun, and the story is very intriguing. Also it just looks adorable, and the music is great, too!
    Definitely a must-play!
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  26. Mar 21, 2022
    10
    TBH, the game isn't perfect and is not for sure a 10 out of 10. But the score is just do balance the user score since some reviews are really awfull or pure stupidity. No, the game is not a "cheap zelda knockout". It borrows many elements from old Zelda game, that is true. But every single element works as intendend.

    I can get it that most modern players are used to be held by their
    TBH, the game isn't perfect and is not for sure a 10 out of 10. But the score is just do balance the user score since some reviews are really awfull or pure stupidity. No, the game is not a "cheap zelda knockout". It borrows many elements from old Zelda game, that is true. But every single element works as intendend.

    I can get it that most modern players are used to be held by their hands when playing, and it's ok. But don't pretend that in a game intended to use old school mechanics. Is not the game for you, but saying is a cheap ripoff of zelda (when probably most of you don't even played the original 2d zeldas) is just gratuitous hate.

    Tunic is a well made tribute to old 2d zelda games, where each element will help you understand more and progress in the game. It's not for sure an easy game, but it's not even a "hardcore elite" type game.
    The graphics are particular and remind a lot of the recent remake of Link's Awakening. Seeing the nature of the game I guess it does it's job.

    Good game to relax from bigger AAA titles.
    8/10
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  27. Mar 21, 2022
    10
    Tunic is adorable and fun. Doesn't hold your hand. It is indeed much like the original Zelda on NES, but it's all the better for it. Fantastic game. Absolutely try it out. EXPECIALLY if you have PC or XBOX Game Pass.
  28. Mar 22, 2022
    9
    An incredible action-adventure game! It's fun, challenging and satisfying. The world is fun to explore, and the boss fights are tough but exciting. I've gotten lost many times, but the instruction booklet pages are a brilliant way to guide the player, and I've had many great "Aha!" moments. Overall, the game is designed incredibly well. Highly recommend!
  29. Mar 22, 2022
    10
    This is one of the best indie game i've played in a while, really captures the feeling of playing a game as a kid before you learn how to read in a good way. It's an absolutely gorgeous looking game, and the difficulty is definitely there, for both the puzzles and the gameplay, the puzzles feel very similar to Fez and the Zelda + Dark Souls influence is obvious. Overall, it's a great gameThis is one of the best indie game i've played in a while, really captures the feeling of playing a game as a kid before you learn how to read in a good way. It's an absolutely gorgeous looking game, and the difficulty is definitely there, for both the puzzles and the gameplay, the puzzles feel very similar to Fez and the Zelda + Dark Souls influence is obvious. Overall, it's a great game and more people should be playing it, it deserves to be played. Expand
  30. Mar 23, 2022
    10
    The game is fun, challenging, and can be hard at times. I enjoy figuring out the mechanics and getting the feeling of accomplishment for completing a fight or figuring out a puzzle that had me stumped. The game heavily draws from Zelda and Dark Souls games and has a wonderful art style that I enjoyed greatly.
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 60 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 60
  3. Negative: 1 out of 60
  1. Jan 25, 2023
    78
    Tunic is a wonderful Dark Souls alternative that fails to strike a fair balance.
  2. Jul 13, 2022
    90
    Tunic is truly a masterpiece of game design: a modern day Zelda with all the complexity it needs to thrive with gamers today. If you like running around a beautiful fantasy land, sword fighting fantasy baddies, or translating ancient languages, Tunic will have something for you to sink your teeth into. If you haven't already, I'd highly recommend picking this foxy little gem up.
  3. Jun 26, 2022
    85
    If you were looking for a foxy answer to the question "What would happen if Zelda was a Soulslike?" (I don't know why you're looking in a foxy way), you found it.