| Tails of Iron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Odd Bug Studio |
| Publisher(s) | United Label |
| Engine | Unity [1] |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Tails of Iron is an action role-playing video game developed by Odd Bug Studio and published in 2021 by United Label. Players control an anthropomorphic rat who must kill frogs that have invaded his kingdom.
After invading frogs kill his father, young King Redgi, an anthropomorphic rat, attempts to defeat the invaders and rescue the rest of his family. Tails of Iron is a side-scrolling Soulslike game, a genre that focuses on boss fights in which players must carefully time their attacks and defense. Players can customize Redgi with different skills and change their build to fit specific battles. There are three main hand-to-hand weapon types spears, swords, and axes. All these weapons play differently from each other and have their own advantages and disadvantages. these weapon types are used in the light weapon category and the heavy weapon category. there are also ranged weapons with three main categories those being bows, crossbows, and firearms. Each have different fire rates which effect your play style and when you use the ranged weapon. [2] Using heavy equipment can slow down players' movements but provide better attack and defense values. As Redgi defeats enemies and progresses through the story, the kingdom slowly recovers. It has a hand-drawn art style. [3]
Odd Bug Studio is based in Manchester, UK. Tails of Iron is their second game. Unsure they would have the opportunity to make a third, they said they wanted to make something that appealed strongly to them: a gory, open world fantasy role-playing game with challenging combat. Redgi's attempts to save his kingdom were influenced by their worries about the studio itself. [4] Doug Cockle narrates the game. The art style was influenced by Eastern European block printing. Gameplay influences include The Witcher , God of War , and Dark Souls , [5] though Odd Bug said Tails of Iron's difficulty was influenced more by Hollow Knight than Dark Souls. For the story, they were inspired by Redwall , Mouse Guard , The Wind in the Willows to create anthropomorphic characters in peril. The characters themselves are derived from the game director's pet rats. Unlike other Soulslike games, Tails of Iron lacks a stamina bar to limit attacks. Odd Bug originally implemented this, but they found that combat was not as fluid and dynamic as they wanted. [4] United Label released it for Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Windows on September 17, 2021. [6]
Tails of Iron received very positive reviews on Metacritic. [7] [8] [9] While giving the game a positive review, Rock Paper Shotgun criticized some of the boss fights as "barely disguised" padding. [3] GamingBolt called it "functional and serviceable", but they found the combat and platform elements to not distinguish themselves beyond what other Soulslike games have done. [10] NintendoWorldReport praised both the combat and the world-building, which they said was good enough to carry the game by itself. [11]
A sequel, titled Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, released on January 28, 2025. [12]
Tunic is a 2022 action-adventure game developed by Isometricorp Games and published by Finji. It is set in a ruined fantasy world, where the player controls an anthropomorphic fox on a journey to free a fox spirit trapped in a crystal. The player discovers the gameplay and setting by exploring and finding in-game pages of a manual that offers clues, drawings, and notes. The backstory is obscured; most text is given in a constructed writing system that the player is not expected to decipher. Tunic's isometric perspective hides numerous pathways and secrets.
Death's Gambit is a side-scrolling action role-playing game developed by White Rabbit and published by Adult Swim Games. It was released for Windows and PlayStation 4 in August 2018. An expanded edition of the game titled Death’s Gambit: Afterlife released in September 2021 for Windows and Nintendo Switch, in November 2021 for PlayStation 4 and in May 2022 for Xbox One.
Grip: Combat Racing, often shortened to Grip, is a racing video game developed by Canadian studio, Caged Element and published by Wired Productions for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Warp Digital ported the title to console, and was released for all four platforms on November 6, 2018.
Mortal Shell is an action role-playing video game developed by Cold Symmetry and published by Playstack. The game was released on 18 August 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. A remastered version titled Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition was released on 4 March 2021 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and on 18 November 2021 for Amazon Luna. A port for Nintendo Switch with all the DLC included titled Complete Edition was released on 19 December 2022. It received positive to mixed reviews from critics and has sold one million units as of September 2023.
Narita Boy is a 2021 action-adventure video game developed by Spanish team Studio Koba and published by Team17. The game is an action platformer that follows the titular Narita Boy as he tries to save the Digital Kingdom from the Stallions. The game was released on March 30, 2021 for Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and for Amazon Luna on April 29, 2021.
Dolmen is an action role-playing video game developed by Massive Work Studio. Prime Matter published it for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Windows in May 2022. It is a science fiction-themed Soulslike set on an alien planet.
Grime is a 2021 Metroidvania video game developed by Israeli independent developer Clover Bite and published by Akupara Games. The game was released on August 2, 2021 for Windows and Google Stadia, followed by versions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in December 2022, and a Nintendo Switch version in January 2024. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is a 2021 metroidvania video game developed by TiGames and published by Bilibili. It was released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on September 7, 2021, followed by a Windows port on October 3, 2021. The game launched on the Nintendo Switch in July 2022. It also released for Xbox Series X/S in June 2023. The game follows Rayton, an anthropomorphic rabbit and former ace pilot who, using a giant mechanical fist, rises up against the robotic Legion that has invaded Torch City in an effort to liberate it from its oppressors. The game received positive reviews from critics, citing its graphics, world and gameplay.
A Soulslike is a subgenre of action role-playing games known for high difficulty level and emphasis on environmental storytelling, typically in a dark fantasy setting. It has its origin in Demon's Souls and the Dark Souls trilogy by FromSoftware, the themes and mechanics of which directly inspired several other games. The "Soulslike" name has been adopted by a number of critics and developers. However, there have also been questions whether it is a true genre or a collection of shared mechanics. A subset of these games, named Soulsborne, refers to most of the Soulslike games developed by FromSoftware.
Salt and Sacrifice is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Ska Studios. As the sequel to Salt and Sanctuary, the game was released on May 10, 2022, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows. It was later ported to Nintendo Switch on November 7, 2023.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a historical fantasy action role-playing video game developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo. The game was released on March 3, 2023 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an action role-playing video game developed by A44 Games and published by Kepler Interactive. The game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on July 18, 2024. Upon release, it received mixed reviews from critics.
Thymesia is an action role-playing video game developed by Taiwanese developer OverBorder Studio and published by Team17 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S alongside a cloud-based version for Nintendo Switch on August 18, 2022. Another cloud-based version for Amazon Luna was released on September 15, 2022. The game borrows mechanics from the Dark Souls series with both critics and the developers referring to the game as a Soulslike.
Moonscars is a 2022 platform game developed by Black Mermaid and published by Humble Games. The game was released on September 27, 2022 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. In the game, players control a warrior named Grey Irma, who searches for her maker, the Sculptor. The game received generally positive reviews on release.
Nine Sols is a 2024 action-platform game developed and published by Red Candle Games. The game is set in an Asian fantasy-inspired futuristic world which Red Candle Games describes as "taopunk", a combination of Taoism and cyberpunk, stating that “we had a clear goal of combining Taoism with cyberpunk, melding sci-fi elements with Eastern mythology." In gameplay, combat emphasizes the player deflecting attacks from enemies to build up energy to perform special attacks. It features a hand-drawn animation style. The game was released on Microsoft Windows and macOS on May 29, 2024, which was followed by home console ports on November 26.
Atlas Fallen is an action role-playing video game developed by Deck13 Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment. The game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 10 August 2023. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Stray Blade is an action role-playing video game developed by Point Blank Games and published by 505 Games in 2023.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is a 2022 Soulslike video game developed by Over the Moon and published by Coatsink. It parodies other role-playing video games, especially FromSoftware games.
Hammerwatch 2 is a 2023 action role-playing video game developed by Crackshell and published by Modus Games. It is the sequel to Hammerwatch and Heroes of Hammerwatch. It is available for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Ports to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Series X/S were released on April 23, 2024.
Achilles: Legends Untold is an action role-playing game by Dark Point Games in which players control the Greek mythological hero Achilles.