Info about Tombwater:

Official game description:
Play as a lone gunslinger who arrives in the accursed ghost town in search of a lost friend. The residents of the once-prosperous mining town have been afflicted by madness. Monsters and horrors roam the streets and there are few souls remaining with a sound mind. If the Eldritch beasts of the town can be overcome– there may be hope yet for Tombwater.
Dash and slash your way through unsettling Eldritch beasts. Wield an arsenal of firearms, blades, spells, apothecary items, and cursed charms to protect yourself from a madness taking hold. Strike with a cavalry saber before casting a spell, or, equip yourself with a flame-imbued shotgun and a mining pickaxe to just tear the monsters apart.
Tread your way through the interconnected world of Tombwater. Metroidvania elements allow you to discover canyons, scrublands, forests, mines, and more. Find many secret, optional areas full of strange NPCs and their quests, or dangerous enemies guarding rewards.  
A ancient curse, a mining disaster, a missing sheriff, and a darkness permeating everything. Uncover the secrets that Tombwater’s deranged inhabitants are trying to keep buried.
*   **2D Top-Down Souls-Like**: Experience punishing Souls-Like combat from a new perspective. Nostalgic, gruesomely detailed pixel art in a top-down view with every classic Souls-Like mechanic. 
*   **Map & Quest Log**: Track your progress through the twisted, Wild West world of Tombwater with a map and quest log. 
*   **Gruesome Boss Fights:** Experience 20+ horrifying boss battles that will push you to madness.
*   **Weapons & Spells:** Arm yourself with over 50 weapons, 40 spells, and 40 charms to survive relentless combat and ghoulish beasts.
*   **Apothecary Crafting:** Helpful tonics, explosives and more can be crafted from materials you find while exploring to help aid you in battle

Release date: Mar 31, 2026

Categories: Metroidvania, Soulslike Combat, Top-Down Shooter, Action RPG, Exploration, Crafting, Boss Fights, Weird West Setting

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 5; verdict: Works well on Steam Deck / SteamOS; summary: The available feedback is uniformly positive for Steam Deck/SteamOS compatibility. Users report that the game runs great on Steam Deck OLED, works without tinkering, and delivers stable 60 fps at modest settings. No Linux-specific launch failures, Proton tweaks, anti-cheat blockers, or graphical issues are mentioned.
- Steam Deck: score 15; verdict: Seamless; summary: Overall, the game delivers a seamless Steam Deck experience with stable performance, no tinkering required, and good controller support. A single report of stuttering and frame drops is unverified and not Steam Deck-specific, posing minimal friction.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Across the provided Windows cohort, performance feedback is divided: higher-VRAM users report patch-improved play with some map frame-rate issues, while lower-VRAM users report frequent stuttering and frame drops.
  - Sample size: 25 (8% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (mixed, 9 reports): 8GB VRAM Windows 10 users describe patch improvements but still note map scrolling dropping to about 10fps, while 4GB VRAM Windows 11 users report frequent stuttering and frame drops.
  - Caveats: 25 of 328 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $14.99 - $19.99
  - Reasoning: The strongest direct price signal is a reviewer paying $17.99 and calling it worth every penny, while another reviewer describes roughly 250 Mexican pesos as fair for 15-20 hours of play. Other positive comments endorse full price and say the game is worth the price and then some. However, one translated review warns against buying above half price, and another calls it significantly overpriced, which suggests the community fair range sits below a premium full-price point. Taken together, the acceptable fair base-game range is about $15-$20, with $18 receiving explicit support.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 24.5h
  - Story completion: 16.5h
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The explicit main-story range supports storyCompletion at roughly 16.5 hours, with a separate 17-hour good-ending playthrough falling inside that range. The completionist range supports gameCompletion at roughly 24.5 hours for full content. The three-hour absorbed-play quote is the clearest numeric session-length evidence, so sessionLength is set to 3 hours. No review gives a separate post-game/endgame duration, so endgame is null; unrelated or hypothetical long figures such as a 60+ hour map guide or 200 hours were excluded.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Tombwater is described as immediately hooking players, especially through its demo and first hour, with fun driven by tool-based progression and exploration. Early confusion, limited starting options, and map/navigation friction are common complaints but do not outweigh the immediate appeal in most reports.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Early disorientation about where to go; Limited early weapon selection and only stamina/life leveling; Early deaths feel instantaneous and encounters feel frantic; Map is easy to get lost in and secret entrances are easy to miss; Opening the map to place uninformative markers is boring and frustrating; Fast travel is a late-game convenience rather than a major help
  - Unlock drivers: Acquiring tools that bypass previously impassable obstacles; Exploring the map to find power-up pathways; Combat tools such as the hook caster that pull enemies into melee range; Tool-based progression that supports the exploration loop
  - Conditions: Tolerance for soulslike difficulty; Patience for map navigation and marker limitations; Willingness to explore thoroughly; Playing the demo; Tolerance for limited early weapons and leveling options; Affinity for Weird West, top-down Zelda, or metroidvania styles
- Player Archetypes:
  - Metroidvania/Souls Genre Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing a fresh fusion of classic exploration-driven Metroidvania and Souls-like design, and mapping a handcrafted interconnected world.
    - Playstyle: Exploration-focused; compares systems to genre classics, hunts secrets, and values atmosphere and map coverage.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: A Link to the Past; Bloodborne; Dark Souls; Hyper Light Drifter; Elden Ring
  - Hardcore Challenge-Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Testing skill against demanding bosses and wanting a punishing, rewarding difficulty curve.
    - Playstyle: Aggressive boss-rush play; measures the game by encounter difficulty and critiques undertuned fights.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Build and Class Optimizer (buy)
    - Motivation: Discovering synergistic class builds, loadouts, and stat combinations that unlock powerful playstyles.
    - Playstyle: Theorycrafts around classes, equipment loadouts, and 'OP' builds; experiments with respecs and focused combat options.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Difficulty-Slider Adventurer (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying the atmosphere, exploration, and western-horror vibe at a comfortable, low-pressure pace.
    - Playstyle: Plays casually on reduced difficulty, uses accessibility sliders, and values relaxing exploration over hardcore challenge.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Bloodborne


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Extremely fun and enjoyable (weight 0.35): Players consistently describe the game as very fun, great, and enjoyable overall, with many calling it fantastic or phenomenal. This broad positive sentiment highlights the game's strong appeal across multiple aspects.
- Varied weapons, spells, and build options (weight 0.35): A wide arsenal of weapons, spells, guns, and charms enables diverse playstyles and build experimentation. Players highlight the massive variety and freedom to tinker with different setups.
- Fun and rewarding exploration (weight 0.35): Exploration is consistently described as very fun, incentivized, and rewarding, with plenty of secrets and cool areas to discover. The large world encourages players to wander and find hidden content.
- Fast-paced satisfying combat (weight 0.26): Combat is frequently praised as fun, fast-paced, and mechanically sound, with satisfying difficulty and smooth feel. Players appreciate opportunities to learn enemy behavior and find the combat fair.
- Excellent music and atmosphere (weight 0.26): Music and sound design are frequently praised as great, fitting, and even perfect, contributing strongly to the game's atmosphere. The soundtrack enhances the overall experience.
- Excellent level and world design (weight 0.2): Level design is described as the best in a while, with very good world design and a large, explorable world full of cool areas. The layout and interconnectedness are standout features.
- Well-designed engaging bosses (weight 0.14): Bosses are described as enjoyable, well-designed, and fun, often forcing players to use game mechanics. They are considered a highlight of the combat experience.
- Great graphics and art style (weight 0.11): Players find the graphics impressive and the art style great, contributing to the game's visual appeal. The visuals are often mentioned as a strong point.
- Unique Western meets Bloodborne aesthetic (weight 0.11): The blend of old west and Bloodborne aesthetics is highly appealing, described as a win without feeling like a ripoff. This distinctive vibe sets the game apart.
- Fresh Zelda/Souls-like blend (weight 0.11): The game is praised as a fresh take on the Zelda/Soulslike formula, comparable to old-school Zelda mixed with 2D souls. This unique combination resonates with players.
- Solid 2D souls-like experience (weight 0.11): Players consider it a really good 2D souls-like, solid among its peers and a good pick in the genre. It delivers a satisfying souls-like experience in 2D.

Common complaints:
- Map navigation is terrible (weight 0.49): Players consistently complain that the map is awful, confusing, and bogs down exploration. It is described as atrocious, horrendous, and a nightmare to use.
- Map lacks useful details (weight 0.38): The in-game map is considered woefully inadequate, lacking paths, markers, and detailed routes. It becomes meaningless as progress is made and requires manual marking of important locations.
- Weak map guidance causes confusion (weight 0.12): The map's guidance is weak, with no local map option or indication of where to proceed. This leads to incredibly confusing navigation that is painfully bad and convoluted.
- Fast travel unlocks too late (weight 0.12): Fast travel and respec are locked until mid-to-late game, which frustrates players. One review mentions fast travel is behind a paid unlock.
- Combat feels stiff and clunky (weight 0.11): Combat is described as a little stiff with clunky elements, though manageable. Boss fighting can be awkward and frustrating.
- Game is overpriced for quality (weight 0.09): Several players feel the game is significantly overpriced for its quality. The price is considered too high.
- Unfavorable comparison to Hyperlight Drifter (weight 0.08): The game is slower, not as cool looking, and not as well designed as Hyperlight Drifter. Players expected more based on that comparison.
- Easy to get lost and miss content (weight 0.07): Players find it very easy to get lost and miss hidden areas due to poor map design. Some areas are easy to overlook.
- Map makes 100% completion a chore (weight 0.07): The map issues make achieving 100% completion a nightmare and a chore. Players find it tedious to track down all content.
- Boss hitboxes feel off (weight 0.07): Boss hitboxes can feel weird, sometimes lingering or feeling slightly off. This adds to frustration in boss fights.
- Player melee limited to 4 directions (weight 0.07): Enemies can attack in 8 directions while the player is locked to 4 in melee. Melee attacks are limited to four cardinal directions while enemies have 360-degree and area attacks.
- Story and art are predictable (weight 0.06): The story is fairly flat and predictable, and the art is also seen as predictable. It lacks originality.

Gameplay feedback:
- Soulslike and Metroidvania blend (weight 0.59): The game is widely described as a Soulslike Metroidvania, combining challenging combat with exploration and ability-gated progression. Many reviewers highlight its fusion of Soulslike mechanics with classic Zelda-style navigation.
- Rich combat with varied weapons (weight 0.41): Combat features melee weapons, guns, spells, bombs, and throwables, offering multiple playstyles. Players appreciate the abundance of weapons and spells that support different builds.
- Exploration and secret discovery (weight 0.31): Exploration is a major focus, with a sense of mystery driving players to find secrets and hidden paths. The game features interconnected areas and shortcuts that reward thorough exploration.
- Map system with custom markers (weight 0.26): The game includes a map system that allows players to place custom markers for navigation and identifying points of interest. Reviewers find the map design solid and useful for tracking progress.
- Challenging boss fights (weight 0.22): Boss fights are a core part of the game, requiring players to learn attack patterns. Enemies and bosses are noted for their difficulty and telegraphed moves.
- Fast travel and shortcuts (weight 0.11): A fast travel system is available, and shortcuts unlock as players progress, making navigation more convenient. This quality-of-life feature is frequently highlighted.
- Top-down action RPG perspective (weight 0.09): The game is presented as a top-down action RPG, offering an overhead view of the action. This perspective is noted as fitting for the fast-paced combat and exploration.
- Western and eldritch horror theme (weight 0.09): The setting combines a Western frontier with cosmic horror elements, creating a unique atmosphere. Reviewers often mention the eldritch twist on the classic Western genre.
- Class-based attributes at start (weight 0.09): Players choose a class with different base stats at the beginning, such as strength and dexterity. These stats are mostly fixed from the start, influencing build choices.
- Varied enemy designs (weight 0.09): The game features a variety of enemy designs, keeping encounters fresh and challenging. Reviewers appreciate the diversity in enemy types.
- Four-directional attacks (weight 0.08): Player attacks are locked to four directions, which can feel restrictive to some. This design choice is noted as a limitation in combat fluidity.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.17): Multiple users report the game runs smoothly on Steam Deck without tinkering, including the OLED model. It also performs well on desktop and modest configurations at a stable 60 fps.
- Frequent stuttering and frame drops (weight 0.12): Players experience constant stuttering, especially when dodging or during screen scrolling, and frame drops occur even on capable PCs. The issue is present in both full-screen and windowed modes.
- Frequent crashes and lost progress (weight 0.07): The game crashes quite often, with some crashes occurring early and costing progress. This significantly disrupts gameplay.
- Input delay affects controls (weight 0.06): Input delay is reported, making aiming and movement feel off due to the engine. This impacts overall responsiveness.
- Game slows down noticeably (weight 0.06): Some players report the game going into slow motion, which can cause dizziness. This slowdown may be related to performance issues.
- World Map scrolling lag (weight 0.04): The World Map suffers from significant framerate drops while scrolling, which detracts from the experience.
- Lack of display settings (weight 0.04): There are no in-game display settings available for troubleshooting, limiting players' ability to address performance issues.

Recommendations:
- Overwhelmingly Positive Recommendations (weight 0.54): The vast majority of clusters express strong positive recommendations, with many reviewers highly recommending the game to anyone. This sentiment is widespread across multiple clusters, indicating high overall satisfaction.
- Worth the Price (weight 0.29): Numerous reviewers find the game well worth its asking price, even at full price, and consider it a valuable purchase. Some mention it's worth picking up on sale.
- Appeals to Souls-like Fans (weight 0.26): Reviewers frequently recommend the game to fans of Souls-like games, highlighting its challenging combat and rewarding exploration. It is praised as a worthy entry in the genre.
- Not for Everyone (weight 0.16): The game is not recommended for players who dislike certain genres or mechanics, such as challenging combat or extensive backtracking. Some negative reviews stem from mismatched expectations.
- Mixed Opinions on Price (weight 0.14): While many find the game worth the price, some reviewers feel it is not worth the full price and recommend waiting for a sale. A few suggest it's only worth it at a lower price point.
- Challenging but Rewarding (weight 0.14): Reviewers often describe the game as challenging but rewarding, appealing to those who enjoy difficult combat and exploration. It is recommended for fans of challenging games.
- Atmospheric and Immersive (weight 0.13): The game's atmosphere and immersive world are frequently praised, with reviewers recommending it to those who appreciate a captivating setting. The western, horror, and Eldritch themes are highlighted.
- Great Indie Souls-like Metroidvania (weight 0.12): The game is highly praised as an incredible indie title that successfully blends Souls-like and Metroidvania elements. Reviewers consider it one of the best in this hybrid genre.
- Technical Issues Cause Negative Reviews (weight 0.12): Some negative reviews cite technical problems like constant stuttering, which severely impact the experience. These issues have led to refunds and warnings.
- Try the Demo First (weight 0.11): Several reviewers suggest trying the demo before purchasing, as it provides a good sense of whether the game suits your taste. If you enjoy the demo, you'll likely enjoy the full game.
- Recommended for Zelda Fans (weight 0.11): Fans of old-school Zelda games are encouraged to try this game, as it shares similar exploration and puzzle elements. It is often described as a Zelda/Souls-like fusion.
- Tips for New Players (weight 0.09): Experienced players offer tips such as using a fan-made map, marking the map, and trying specific builds to enhance the experience. These suggestions aim to help newcomers.
- Level Design Criticized (weight 0.09): Some reviewers criticize the level design, finding it confusing or frustrating. This has led to mixed recommendations, with some suggesting improvements.
- Good for Casual Players (weight 0.06): Some reviewers recommend the game for casual play, noting that it can be enjoyed without intense commitment. However, others caution that it may be too challenging for casual players.
- Demo Encourages Purchase (weight 0.06): Some reviewers purchased the game immediately after playing the demo and were highly satisfied. The demo serves as a strong incentive to buy.
- Support Small Developers (weight 0.03): A few reviewers encourage purchasing the game to support the small development team behind it. This is seen as a positive reason to buy.

Other player notes:
- Bloodborne meets top-down Zelda (weight 0.77): Many reviewers describe the game as a fusion of Bloodborne's combat and horror with classic top-down Zelda gameplay, often in a weird west setting. This comparison consistently highlights the game's core identity.
- Weird west eldritch setting praised (weight 0.2): Feedback frequently mentions the game's unique blend of Wild West and Lovecraftian horror, with comparisons to Bloodborne and Hunt: Showdown. This setting is a standout feature for many players.
- Larger than expected map and content (weight 0.16): Reviewers are surprised by the game's scale, noting a massive map and a wealth of content. The game offers more than initially anticipated, adding significant value.
- Demo available before release (weight 0.13): A demo was released prior to launch, allowing players to try the game early. This was appreciated by those who used it to gauge their interest.
- Compared to Hyper Light Drifter (weight 0.13): Some reviewers draw parallels to Hyper Light Drifter in terms of graphics, gameplay, and depth. This comparison highlights the game's stylish presentation and engaging mechanics.
- 10-20 hour playtime (weight 0.12): Players report a playtime of around 10 to 20 hours, with more time needed for full completion. This suggests a substantial but not overly lengthy experience.
- Affordable price and good value (weight 0.11): The game is often described as low-priced or discounted, with content volume that justifies the cost. Reviewers feel it offers good value for money.
- Made by small dev team (weight 0.11): The game was developed by a two-person team, which is impressive given its scope. This fact is often mentioned alongside praise for the developers' ambitions.
- Responsive devs on Discord (weight 0.06): The developers are active on Discord, communicating with players and addressing feedback and bug reports. This engagement is positively noted by the community.
- Accessibility options for damage (weight 0.06): The game includes accessibility settings that allow players to adjust incoming and outgoing damage. This feature is praised for making the game more approachable.
- True ending present (weight 0.06): Reviewers mention that the game has a true ending, adding replay value and depth. This is seen as a positive for those who enjoy completing games fully.
- Built with Solarus engine (weight 0.06): The game utilizes the Solarus engine, which is noted by some reviewers. This technical detail may interest those familiar with the engine's capabilities.
- From developer of Ocean's Heart (weight 0.06): The game is from the same developer as Ocean's Heart, which is mentioned as a point of reference. Fans of that game may find similarities in quality and style.
- Excitement for future projects (weight 0.06): Some reviewers express eagerness to see what the developers do next, indicating a strong positive impression. This suggests the game leaves players wanting more.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players frequently cite poor map design and navigation as major sources of frustration, with an unhelpful in-game map, late fast travel, and maze-like levels causing them to get lost and miss content. Combat frustrations stem from restrictive four-directional attacks with long uncancellable animations, inconsistent enemy hitboxes, and enemy hyperarmor, making fights feel unfair. Other issues include clunky platforming, bugs causing lost progress, and a lack of clear direction or respec options.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the well-crafted gameplay, fast-paced combat, and rewarding exploration filled with secrets and optional bosses. The atmosphere, including the spooky western setting and sound design, adds to the experience, and many appreciate the variety of weapons and spells. Overall, the game provides a fun and engaging souls-like experience that exceeds expectations.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): Disappointment arises from weak level design, underdeveloped areas, and lackluster late-game content, including an easy final boss and tedious bonus zones. Technical issues like constant stuttering make the game unplayable for some, while others find the combat mechanics flawed, the map atrocious, and the story unoriginal. Limited build variety and restrictive class systems also contribute to a sense of missed potential.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Satisfaction comes from a streamlined yet challenging souls-like experience with smooth combat, rewarding exploration, and strong build variety. Players appreciate the balanced difficulty, well-designed bosses that require learning patterns, and the power progression that makes them feel powerful late-game. The game's convenience features and guides further enhance the sense of accomplishment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.06): Enthusiasm is driven by the unique combination of Zelda-like gameplay, Bloodborne aesthetic, and wild west setting, which players find fresh and exciting. The strong combat, rich weapon variety, and excellent map design, along with the eldritch horror atmosphere and substantial content, make it one of the best genre mashups. Fans praise the music, bosses, and overall execution.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement stems from the game's incredibly fun and addictive combat, exploration of a vast and mysterious world, and the desire to see everything it offers. Players are thrilled by the fast-paced action, the blend of old west and Bloodborne themes, and the discovery of hidden bosses and zones. The prospect of future content and sequels also fuels their excitement.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation focuses on the game's great music and atmospheric presentation, which nails the eerie western vibe. Players value the love-letter approach to souls-like staples, the variety of bosses, weapons, and secrets, and the accessibility settings that tailor the experience. The labyrinthine exploration and well-laid-out locations are also commended.
- Love (weight 0.03): Love for the game arises from its successful fusion of cowboys and souls-likes, with fast-paced movement and a satisfying combat loop of shooting, meleeing, and dodging. The atmospheric eldritch horror aesthetic, deep-yet-simple mechanics, and the clear passion of the developers create an experience that resonates deeply with players, making it unlike anything they've played before.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is expressed for the game's addictive combat economy, brilliant spatial design, and the equipment loadout system that refreshes on campfires. The immaculate vibes, atmospheric music, and unique mix of themes and systems, along with the pixel art and world size, showcase the developers' craftsmanship. The game is seen as a love letter to its inspirations.
- Fun (weight 0.03): Fun is derived from the engaging blend of SNES Zelda and souls-like gameplay, with combat mixing melee, gunfights, and dynamite. The overall gameplay, including spells, weapons, maps, secrets, and boss fights, provides a solid and enjoyable top-down shooter/melee experience with souls-like elements.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance is caused by technical glitches such as frequent crashes, aiming issues, and a tinnitus-like sound when taking damage. Combat frustrations include instant 360-degree enemy attacks, animation canceling, and hits that prevent dodging, while the missing map makes orientation tedious and backtracking unnecessary.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Frustration is primarily due to the terrible map design, which lacks detail and is maze-like, leading to excessive time spent navigating and getting lost. Combat issues like four-directional melee, enemies respawning on zone reload, and uncomfortable controls add to the frustration, as do platforming sections in areas like the Mining Camp.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.02): Mild frustration stems from the map being difficult to use, long weapon windups, and the adjustment to directional attacking. Moments of struggling with where to go and the lack of better map hints, along with finicky shooting and hitbox/framerate issues before patches, contribute to this feeling.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Disappointment arises from the built-in map being useless, flat graphics and weak lighting, and combat that is not enjoyable. Having to quit due to frustrating platforming and fast travel unlocking too late also contribute, making the game feel middling overall.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.02): Mild disappointment is felt because combat could be more fluid, the story is pretty mild, and the map is not useful enough. Magic trivializes the game, some mechanics are not explained clearly, and non-boss enemies are too easy, leaving players wanting more challenge and clarity.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion is achieved through the western gunslinger atmosphere, especially when playing alone at night, and the old-west-style boomtown setting. The forlorn 19th century mining town atmosphere and isolation, combined with surprisingly well-done pixel art, make players feel deeply engrossed in the occult western vibe.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from enjoying the game immensely despite being a snob about stiff combat in soulslikes, and from boss transformations and fast early-game enemies. The final game vastly exceeded expectations set by the demo, and the reviewer was taken off-guard by how well it worked out.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom is caused by the repetitive loop of running away, waiting for an opening, and attacking once or twice in boss fights, as well as becoming too overpowered and destroying bosses without engaging with mechanics. Wandering aimlessly through the town and a lifeless map with empty space and a boring palette also contribute.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from not knowing where to go or whether on the intended path, and early-game feelings of being lost. The inability to level strength or Gunslinging despite the starter class mentioning them, and a strange teleport system not unlocked even at 60% progress, add to the bewilderment.
- Pleasant surprise (weight 0.01): Pleasant surprise is felt when the game catches players off-guard with its quality, especially when starting with no expectations and being kept hooked for a while. The game turned out better than expected despite some missing details, and its quality exceeded expectations.}