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Tales of the Black Forest

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2019

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Quick resume

In a world filled with yōkai, a surging dark power has overshadowed a Japanese town. A group of 2 developers have produced a Japanese pixel adventure game to tell a tale that dates back to the Heisei era...In the name of dreams and passion.

Global score

98/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging and emotional story
    • Beautiful pixel art and music
    • Blend of japanese folklore and real events
    • Accessible gameplay with mild puzzles
    • Excellent value for price

    Cons

    • Linear and guided gameplay
    • Some awkward translations
    • Limited gameplay depth
    • Short game length
    • Lack of fullscreen option in menu

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Survival, Thrill.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players have freedom to explore, interact with objects, and choose endings, though gameplay is mostly linear and guided."

    • Competence
      2

      "Gameplay involves simple puzzles and some chase sequences that require basic skill, but mostly focuses on story and exploration."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements; experience is single-player and narrative-driven without comparison to others."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report wanting to return to the game and characters; story and atmosphere encourage extended engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can explore and uncover hidden story elements and secrets, but limited creative modification or building."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and equal narrative experience."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong immersion in a fictional world blending Japanese folklore and real events provides escape from reality."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story, folklore, and atmosphere rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some exploration and puzzle solving encourages trying new things, but overall gameplay is guided and linear."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore different environments and uncover hidden story elements and lore throughout the game."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization; players experience preset characters and environments without personal modification."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strong fantasy elements with yokai, supernatural events, and time travel blended with real historical events."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Solo experience focused on individual narrative engagement with minimal social interaction."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop understanding of story, characters, and cultural context; some puzzle solving and learning."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of visual novel and RPG Maker style games; no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -4

      "Requires focused attention on story and puzzles; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Emotional connection to characters and story creates some sense of closeness despite lack of social features."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements; purely single-player narrative experience."

    • Progression
      2

      "Progression through story chapters and unlocking endings; minimal item or upgrade accumulation."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Atmospheric music and art create a soothing experience balanced with some suspenseful moments."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and evocative soundtrack provide sensory and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or recognition systems; gameplay is private and individual."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with rich characters, emotional depth, and integration of folklore and history."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Simple puzzles and some problem solving present mild mental challenge but no complex strategy."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Some suspenseful chase sequences and eerie moments provide mild thrills within a mostly calm experience."

    • Value
      5

      "Highly praised for delivering excellent story and atmosphere at a low price; considered a great value."

    • Violence
      -3

      "Minimal violence; game focuses on story and exploration rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some chase and escape sequences introduce mild survival elements, but mostly stable and safe gameplay."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026