I’m not the biggest fan of visual novels. They struggle to keep my attention, and I’ve not had luck with the many recommendations thrown my way. Slay the Princess might be the first one that I couldn’t stop playing, and was enamored with it throughout. In my review, I’ll try my best to share my thoughts about a game that’s hard to talk about.
Gameplay and Story
On the surface, the main gameplay loop is quite simple. You interact with dialogue choices, listen to the responses, and act accordingly. You don’t need sharp reflexes to play this game, and the game progresses as you click through the dialogue. There are no trivial mini-games, or filler content here to bore you and bring the tension to a halt.
The hook, here, is the story, character work, and voice acting. In Slay the Princess, you’re instructed by the Narrator to slay a princess locked in the basement of a cabin in the middle of nowhere who apparently has the means to end everything. This simple, yet dark premise serves as the catalyst for numerous possibilities on how you deal with your current predicament. You’re told early on that no decision you make is the incorrect one, but it’s hard not to constantly think about the consequences of each dialogue option you’re choosing, and what action you’re making.
There’s a real sense of questioning your morality, as you’re often asked to make difficult decisions that left me feeling uncomfortable. You’re aided by your thoughts which are denoted by different voices and states like “Skepticism”, “Smitten”, “Hero” and an unreliable narrator who continues to steer you into the one fatal direction he knows. The game does loop, and you will be going through the same beginning. Saying anything beyond that would go into spoiler territory, but trust me, there is A LOT going on.
It’s hard to talk about this game because it’s an experience that’s worth taking with little to no information, especially if you’re a fan of horror stories that don’t use shock value to evoke a sense of uneasiness. It’s a story about trust, love, and ultimately about confronting your feelings. After arguing with the voices in my head, the narrator, and finally the princess herself, you’re bound to learn more about yourself.
The fact that each decision leads to some appropriate response shows how dense the level of choice is here. While my playthrough was roughly 3 hours, the developers have confirmed that there is over 15-20 hours of content here so no two playthroughs are meant to feel the same. I believe them because of the number of choices you’re given even as you go through the loop again and again.
It’s remarkable how invested I was in this, even if the actual gameplay interaction is not something I usually enjoy. Not a second is wasted, and the developers make use of every single aspect on display. Speaking of display…
Graphics and Sound
Slay the Princess uses a hand-drawn art style that’s easy on the eyes, and expertly fits the theme and tone of the game. It's moody, and dark, but has enough beauty and detail to put you at ease and fill you with wonder. Each panel feels detailed, and your eyes are automatically drawn to the most important aspect almost immediately. The backgrounds are sometimes animated, and each interaction has some natural flow that never feels too static.
The choices are displayed on the right side of the screen, sort of like Disco Elysium, so most of the actual screen is filled with beautiful artwork, and the text never feels overbearing. There is some disturbing imagery for sure, and it’s definitely not for the easily frightened, but again, I never felt like anything was cheap, exploitative, or gruesome for the sake of it.
The voice acting is superb, and probably one of my favorite aspects of the entire game. Yes, the story and writing are excellent, but you really need some powerful leads to carry it through, and there is no shortage of charisma here.
Finally, this game can practically run on a toaster. I switched between my PC and Steam Deck and had no trouble on either platform. The text was readable, and I didn’t have to use the magnifying tool either.
Feedback
Keep making more games like this? Honestly, I think it’s perfect the way it is. I’m sure some might argue that the runtime is a bit short, but I can’t agree. The game doesn’t waste your time in the slightest, and there’s a sense of urgency throughout.
You feel a weight over your shoulders, not just from being tasked to save the world, but the existential threat you feel when you’re asked to make decisions that can’t be reversed.
Verdict
Slay the Princess is one of the best games of 2023. I’m not a fan of visual novels, but this has changed my outlook on how I view the genre. It’s beautifully written, has incredible voice acting, and is ridiculously dense with a staggering amount of choice. If you enjoy horror stories that make you question your mortality and actually force you to think about your decisions, you owe it to yourself to play Slay the Princess.
