If you are reading this, I am going to assume you play games in some capacity. And if that is the case, you have probably experienced a familiar kind of dread: dying to the same boss again and again. We have all been there—spending hours grinding for better gear, memorizing attack patterns, and hoping that this time will finally be the one we win. All of that effort just to chip away at the enemy that refuses to fall.
In The Dark Queen of Mortholme by Monster Theater Games, the roles are reversed. Instead of being the determined hero, you become the final boss. And while that idea is already engaging, this game delivers something deeper. It is not just a clever twist—it is a brief but powerful experience that made me reflect more than any other game has in quite a while.
Short but Sweet
The game is very short. You can complete every part of it in less than an hour. Normally, that kind of length might be seen as a downside, but in this case, the brief run time makes the emotional impact all the more impressive.
You take on the role of the dark queen, a powerful boss who repeatedly defeats a hero that continues to return, stronger each time. You watch the hero improve, arriving with better gear, stronger skills, and an increasing ability to anticipate your attacks. This is the kind of growth we usually experience from the other side of the screen—the slow but steady progress we make after many failed attempts. Now, you are the one being studied and challenged, and that shift in perspective is fascinating.
But the gameplay is not the most important part. What truly makes this game stand out is the evolving conversation between the queen and the hero. After each encounter, they speak with one another. At first, the dialogue is what you might expect from a battle between good and evil, but it quickly becomes more thoughtful. The game explores themes like hope, personal growth through failure, the parts of ourselves that we cannot change, and the weight of repeating the same cycle again and again.
Your dialogue choices as the queen begin with cruelty and pride, but over time they shift toward reflection, sorrow, and even vulnerability. Watching her reactions change as the story unfolds is one of the most moving elements of the game. Personally, the most moving thing to witness was how the queen reacts each time she kills the hero, and it changes slowly over the game. Without giving too much away, the ending you receive depends on how you respond to the hero over time—and each possible conclusion is thoughtful and earned.
More of an Experience Than a Game
This is not a typical game by any standard. The focus is not on action or skill, but on emotion and perspective. Playing it felt more like watching a beautifully written short film or thinking deeply about a symbolic painting in a museum. That may sound dramatic, but it is genuinely the best comparison I can give. You will not get hours of intense gameplay from this, but you will get a meaningful experience that stays with you. I give it a strong nine out of ten.
Purchasing this game is about more than just getting a short piece of entertainment. It is also a way to support the creative and passionate team at Monster Theater Games. The low price is well worth the emotional and thoughtful experience you receive, and your support helps them continue making more unique projects in the future.
