Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Aug 24, 2018
    100
    The Lion’s Song is a masterful collection of independent yet interconnecting tales of individuals determination to succeed in their respective craft. This is accompanied by beautiful pixelart and the wonderful titular Lion’s Song. These tales will stay with you for some time.
  2. Sep 10, 2018
    90
    This is a charming little interactive story that warms the heart even if it doesn’t necessarily challenge the brain. If you like your games to be story driven with characters you’ll end up caring about, this is a must-have.
  3. Aug 29, 2018
    90
    The Lion’s Song is a great point-and-click game that focuses mostly on the narrative. The choices you make in one chapter can not only impact the other chapters (both later and earlier chapters), but seeing all of these choices have connections to each other in the Gallery is a nice touch. With its unique art-style and use of music throughout the game, The Lion’s Song was a great experience.
  4. Jul 24, 2018
    90
    The Lion’s Song is a unique take on the narrative genre. While it displays point and click elements, they only drive what is three excellently told stories and a fourth that ties everything together in a nice, neat bow. The gorgeous art style and the tremendous writing draws you into late 19th Century Austria and proves that games that tell stories about art can be excellent pieces of art themselves.
  5. Jul 10, 2018
    90
    The Lion’s Song is a masterclass in storytelling and a great fit for fans of portable Switch gaming, especially those looking for a narrative-driven experience.
  6. Jul 30, 2018
    85
    All in all, The Lion's Song achieves what is intended at a very high level. It masterfully tells and blends three separate stories about culture, creativity, and social influence into a cohesive story to paint the picture of an early 20th century Vienna. It's a niche project that won't appeal to everyone, and it has a few pacing issues and an undesirable control method for an adventure, but it is a good game that knows its strengths and plays to them.
  7. 85
    The Lion’s Song is a fun journey through and through. While I did wish that it explored certain themes more, I can’t be overly grumpy at the end result. It offers an engaging experience that instantly struck a chord with me. The presentation, choices and flow just feel incredibly well crafted by its developers.
  8. Jul 19, 2018
    85
    I would have to nitpick to come up with anything else. I suppose The Lion’s Song isn’t what you’d traditionally call a “game,” but it works as an engrossing experience that you’re bound to relate to in one way or another.
  9. Jul 10, 2018
    85
    The Lion’s Song is a beautiful narrative-focused game if you get passed the sluggish cursor and the slow character movement. Each episode contains its own beautiful story which are woven together to form a satisfying conclusion. Any fans of the art scene in the early 20th century or anyone hungry for a good narrative should definitely board the train on this one.
  10. Sep 19, 2018
    80
    Though I can’t tell if The Lion’s Song is any better on Switch than it is on PC or mobile, I can say that it’s a unique and brilliant narrative adventure that offers an artistic journey into the hearts and minds of creators amidst a singularly dynamic time in history.
  11. Aug 27, 2018
    80
    Featuring a marvelous story telling and a healthy variety of characters, this game will easily appeal to players who are looking for a good story, despite the game's lack of voice acting which might feel a bit strange sometimes.
  12. 80
    The Lion’s Song is a touching game that highlights individual’s creative struggles and how they overcome these hurdles in their lives. The struggles of the 20th century can still be seen in today’s society, so it is inspiring to see them discover themselves and overcome these hurdles.
  13. Jul 10, 2018
    80
    An emotional story that weaves big themes across its episodes, The Lion’s Song is a poignant point-and-click adventure with excellent audio, a beautiful art style and great writing. The exploration of its subjects isn’t muddied with obstinate riddles or ill-fitting mechanics and it’s a satisfying, albeit brief, experience that is absolutely worthy of your time.
  14. Sep 10, 2018
    75
    The Lion’s Song is a great point and click game with a focus in the story. With a nice visual that features a retro pixelated style. The gameplay on the TV it’s OK, but no support to the Touch Screen function is unacceptable, since the iOS version already has that function. Finally, The Lion’s Song does not please everyone, but those who like the genre will love the game.
  15. Jul 19, 2018
    72
    I must mention that this new Switch version of The Lion’s Song is $9.99, while the iOS version is only $6.99. There is no obvious advantage in playing the game on the Switch as opposed to on an iPad, especially since the retro visuals do not gain anything from being played on a TV-sized screen.
  16. Sep 7, 2018
    70
    If you enjoy a slower game with a brilliant and touching story or stories in which, to get the most out of it, you have to give it your full attention, then The Lion’s Song may very well be a game that you will love and think about for months to come. The unique art style and its attention to the smaller details only add to the intrigue. It has its problems, sure, and they do start to become a bigger issue as you progress further, but none will make you want to put the game down, as, by that point, it will already have its hooks into you.
  17. Jul 10, 2018
    70
    The Lion’s Song is certainly a unique story from start to finish. Those that enjoy a relaxing point-and-click are sure find this one to their liking. It requires a bit of patience in those cumbersome moments in the middle, but it’s well worth it for the beautiful art style, harrowing soundtrack, and truly creative take on the point-and-click genre.
  18. Jul 10, 2018
    70
    Overall, The Lion’s Song presents a poignant narrative adventure that aims to invoke strong emotions. While not every tale was fun to play, they each told fascinating character pieces focused on passionate creativity that actually drove me to introspection. Even for a point-and-click game, it is light on interaction and more akin to reading a book with dialogue choices. The drab presentation and dry plot may bore some, but those who appreciate good historical fiction will find there’s more to this game than its cover.
  19. Jul 16, 2018
    60
    A narrative with tortured characters and defiant women, in a beautiful pixel art sepia style, spoiled by certain uninspired aesthetic decisions and a questionable translation. Also, it doesn’t make the most of the capacities of the console.
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. Jul 5, 2022
    9
    A heartwarming story. Beautiful music. I wish I paid more attention to the story and the characters in the first half of the game. It’s likeA heartwarming story. Beautiful music. I wish I paid more attention to the story and the characters in the first half of the game. It’s like reading a great novel. You have to be in the right mental state, and I wasn’t at first. Full Review »
  2. Jun 19, 2022
    2
    I only played the episode with the mathematician.

    The graphics of the game are gorgeous and the reason for the 2 points I give this game.
    I only played the episode with the mathematician.

    The graphics of the game are gorgeous and the reason for the 2 points I give this game.

    The game itself, though, is an oversimplified point & click adventure that tries very hard to push a feminist agenda. In the case of the (female) mathematician, it is, of course, the evil male mathematicians who don't take our protagonist serious at all and her struggle for approval. The mathematicians are depicted as idiots who don't really know what they are talking about and the female mathematician is -- what a surprise -- intellectually vastly superior to each of them. The gameplay itself is just boring and it is just pushing the developer's agenda fully into your face -- constantly.

    The mathematics depicted are also totally off what was at interest at that time, but of course you cannot expect that in a game.
    Full Review »
  3. Apr 16, 2022
    10
    One of the best story-driven games I've ever played. Game is crafted ingeniously and all episodes are interconnected. Stories are touching andOne of the best story-driven games I've ever played. Game is crafted ingeniously and all episodes are interconnected. Stories are touching and interactive, and the player can choose multiple routes at points. Music and imagery are phenomenal, both immersing the player in the game's atmosphere. Full Review »