Now, I played Slay the Princess for the first time for Halloween thinking it’s a neat little indie horror game. This review, however, would feel a waste of time trying to explain what the game is about and essentially ruin the whole point of what I shouldn’t even call a game – it’s in a league of its own. Therefore, what you will read is not a detailed description of the gameplay, and more a number of reasons why you too, should experience the art of Slay the Princess. I would advise you to not read anything about the game and go in as blind as possible, so I will do my best to avoid giving major spoilers. Technically, even reading this article is inevitably giving away some details, so it is up to you to decide whether you trust me and just go play it. I have never enjoyed visual novels nor horror games and yet, I heavily recommend Slay the Princess!
The game combines some key elements that construct an overall pleasant experience. I must give credit to the great performances when it comes to voice acting, and I deeply appreciate the fact that the player is given a backlog of the dialogue in written form in case they accidentally skip something. In addition to what is read aloud in game, there is a stunning soundtrack in the background to appreciate whilst everything, chaotically good or bad, is happening. Another crucial factor in making the game the way it is has to do with the unique hand-drawn art style of Abby Howard, who together with her husband Tony Howard-Arias founded Black Tabby Games in 2019 and published Slay the Princess in 2023. My only complaint revolves around slight repetition in the story due to the game’s structure, but nothing that would make me uninterested during the whole gameplay or a single “run”, lasting around five hours total. For some, the game may be slightly on the expensive side especially if only played through once. However, given the sheer amount of work it took to draw every single scene, the price is more than justified. There is enough content for the player to get an entirely different experience upon replay.
Slay the Princess is a visual novel game with bare-bones mechanics– “click a button to proceed” without any exception. Of course, the player often has one or more buttons reflecting various branching dialogue choices which in turn will directly affect the game’s story. The impact of each choice is rather instantaneous, simultaneously building up towards the end in a satisfying manner. Whether the game should be called horror is debatable, as the tone is often humorous and the anticipation comes from the gradual build-up of an intensifying mood. There are no jump scares or interactable items of sorts besides the dialogue in any scene, you are only a passenger watching the view unfold in front of your eyes. This gets us to the main point of the game, which arguably could also be questioned – is Slay the Princess really a game?
What the “game” is in its literal sense, is an interactive story and the literal definition of a visual novel. You hear the characters speak and the narrator paints you a picture of how the story progresses along with beautiful visual illustrations. But it goes much deeper than that, and I dare say the game is played somewhere completely outside of the script or digital device: inside the player’s mind. It creates a liminal space in between reality and fiction for a twisted divine comedy to play out. To be more precise, it is existential horror, there are no easy choices, and the game is testing your morale, your very thinking and decision making.
We are now reaching the point where you as a reader might know too much before stepping in to the experience. Then again, the game title is quite self-explanatory and gives away at least something obvious about what is going on in it.
“You’re here to slay her. If you don’t, it will be the end of the world.”
-Narrator in Slay the Princess
The game is indeed about slaying a princess. In fact, it is portrayed as your sole objective and the whole story builds on this premise. You may have some questions as to why this is, and rest assured that the game is also generously offering answers, though it may do it through riddles or mere clues. What matters is the journey the player takes, who they decide to be, or even who they decide the princess should be. The game characters are not really there before you play and progress, they have no story or background, they simply exist as blank slates.
At its best, the game is a mirror, only reflecting whatever choices you make and where those will lead you. It is masterfully forcing you to question your morality, the core of your character and who you represent. Everything and everyone in the game depends on you.
Basic information:
Developer: Black Tabby Games
Publisher: Black Tabby Games
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date:
October 23, 2023
Genre:
Visual novel, psychological horror
PEGI:
18
Image sources:
Featured images fetched from the game’s Steam page and the press kit from Black Tabby Game’s website.
Other sources: