Bleak Sword

Great Game, but I Have Suggestions.

I can’t say I was surprised that this was a great game. I saw it and thought it would be action packed and fun to play. I was right. The controls are simple and easy to master. They’re even better with a Bluetooth-connected controller, but if you don’t have one, that doesn’t ruin the experience. I played the game through on the Hard difficulty, often stopping to grind for exp. and items. I beat it, then went back through on the Bleak difficulty, in which I’m already a level thirty-something and I’m on world five. It’s not impossible to beat if you don’t grind, though. There are nine worlds, and ten levels in each. There’s a neat storyline, but that’s where my suggestions come. I was impressed by gameplay and storyline, so I found myself longing for a twist or even more storyline. The beginning was great, but there was never a big twist or even more character development. This could be added in an update, I suppose, so I’m asking for one if it’s possible. I’ve always liked content updates and this game would do well with one. This is especially true because I wanted more levels. I beat the final boss and thought to myself, “Isn’t there more?” I love this game, and that’s why I want more. I recommend this game to anyone who sees it.

My favorite Apple Arcade Game

This game shows that Apple Arcade games can be done well. While most AA games I’ve played have been riddled with various problems, this one controls well, has text that is large enough to read on a phone, can be played for a short length of time if thats all you have, and doesn’t crash. The gameplay is basically a boiled down version of the masterpiece PS3 game Demon’s Souls (the predecessor to the very popular Dark Souls series). Like that game you fight with a weapon using normal and hard attacks and you can roll, block, and parry. You can’t typically heal and your health level carries over from area to area, but in rare instances you can find healing items (Although I have picked up healing items, I have never figured out how to use them... which is frustrating but it didn’t dramatically impact my impressions of the game). If you die you lose your experience and items but you can get them back if you redo the area and survive the next time. Unlike Dark Souls, the different areas are separate instances like in Demon’s Souls. You are free to go back and replay areas for more experience or item hunting if you like.

Phenomenal!

I was skeptical about mobile gaming, always have been. But this game is honestly my favorite. I’ve played a few mobile games but this by far is the first that I’ve ever written an actual review about. It all starts with Devolver making this game. I’ve been a huge fan of there’s and was pleasantly surprised to see their name on here. The gameplay is amazing and I genuinely think the combat goes so smoothly. It doesn’t hold your hand when you play, you’re just thrown out and told “go get em.” The music is actually fantastic and I listen to it regularly on streaming apps and such. Jim Guthrie did a great job mixing epic orchestras with synthwave. The story, while short, was enough to keep me engaged and really enjoy it. It told me who I was, what was going on, and what I had to do. The replay-ability of this game is wonderful too. I genuinely enjoy this game and will be keeping a lookout of games like it now! If anyone is looking to play a fun, quick, yet difficult game, this is the one!

The BEST mobile game

This game is everything that should be in a game. It doesn’t have to have amazing graphics, but it does have to have amazing gameplay. Which it does. And a feel of achievement whenever you beat that one level that keeps completely destroying you. Quick tip you keep the hp from your previous fight, keeping this in mind if you have a lot of EXP and little health go kill yourself on the first level, when you die and lose EXP you have a chance to get it back if you beat the level you lost it on on the first try you get all your EXP back keep in mind you lose all your items so be prepared for that. Also master the counter it will help you infinitely. I know these tips are really beginner tips but they will help you forever. All in all this is the beat mobile game I have ever played and to be honest I wish even one fourth of other mobile games were half as good as this one thanks for reading and keep upgrading the game!

Loved it

Great game, I loved the music and the dark style. My favorite area is the burning city in act IV… any Dark Souls, Bloodbourne, or Alden Ring fans will love this game. My only complaint is very small — you can’t skip the credits after the first time beating it, which means it takes a while between tries at beating the final boss without taking damage. It would be great to see a sequel or update with different classes, more than two equipment slots, and of course be longer. Arena is fun! If you added an endless option you could have upgrades and items drop randomly, and have the monster spawns and bosses also randomized and increase in amount the longer you stay alive. The original arena you could leave for rank and achievements. A++ for the game overall

Challenging and Fun, a few suggestions

This game is really fun to play. Let it be know that this is a challenging action game. It feels really unforgiving at first, but once you get used to the gameplay it’s not too challenging. I love how each level lasts about a minute, making it great for when you’ve got a minute or two to spare. A few suggestions: First, I’d love to see landscape support for iPad. Especially for when I want to play with a game controller. It’s landscape on Apple TV, so I know you can do it. Secondly, it’s kind of weird that some achievements (heavy hitter, scholar, collector, etc) have to be unlocked for each saved game slot (I’m taking about your in-game achievements, not Game Center). I would suggest replacing your achievements system with Game Center achievements entirely, using a Game Center access point.

Fun but frustrating mechanics

Starting out, it’s a super fun game. The game play is easy to learn and not super hard at first. I do have two things I really don’t like about the game though 1. Items are pointless late game because you lose them when you die. It takes me three or four tries to pass the later levels so unless it’s a permanent upgrade item, it’s pointless. Very frustrating. 2. Blocking is a really cool mechanic but pointless late game. Almost every late game boss and mini boss does 95% unblock-able attacks. So blocking becomes pointless. You either have to avoid them or use the invincibility frames from your attack to avoid there attacks. This is frustrating because blocking is a cool mechanic but it’s pointless in the boss and mini boss fights.

Promising but very flawed.

While the gameplay, graphics and idea of the game are worth noting, the overall needs a lot of polish. The controls are loose at best with the monsters getting priority for their attacks and animations over the hero’s. The direction control is flawed and often non-responsive. The game will do its best to “cheat” to win with not respecting player controls like blocking and moving. (Please fix the blocking implementation as it’s wildly frustrating and seems to not work most of the time unless the user is perfect and I mean perfect with their timing.) The inventory system was confusing and not covered in the tutorial or any of the documentation included with the game. That’s a huge oversight. Finally, after one play through the sound no longer works and since a good portion of your gameplay largely rests on the inclusion of sound (a big problem with mobile games) this is a quick uninstall. I probably won’t return to this game as this seems rushed and incomplete. Sad. Wanted this to be better.

Fun, Challenging, Fair

This game is a tight little gem. The game patiently explains the limited move set your little character can use as you fight your way through a series of fixed dioramas. The game has a welcome variety of enemies who will require different timings and strategies to fell, and there is a surprising amount of environmental variety, too (wind, fire, fog, crushing walls). The music and presentation is deliberately clunky and simple, but the animations and timing of the game is very smooth. This game plays fair and is exactly the type of challenge that makes you ALMOST quit in frustration, but you keep coming back for more because you know you’re just a hair away from beating the stage you’re on. The graphical simplicity does present some minor problems. Your character can easily be confused with onscreen enemies, and keeping track of the action on screen can become a little tough...tougher than it should be. Also, the riding sequences aren’t nearly as fun as other parts of the game. However, I am being tougher on this game than the majority of reviews. If you love twitch-based action play, like Mega Man, Dark Souls or any game that requires battle strategy and quick reflexes, Bleak Sword is an awesome low-fi treat for you.

Fantastic but be ready to be frustrated.

I downloaded this just because it looked quite interesting. It definitely is, but I just had to delete it because it made me extremely frustrated. I get that a lot of people will like this but it’s not worth the stress for me. I’m a 30 year old male and I need as little stress as I can get. If you like stuff like Dark Souls, give this a go, but I couldn’t get past the first world. It starts off easy, yeah, but the controls are kinda awkward and it makes me feel like I mess up a lot whenever I shouldn’t. The difficulty spikes around level 1-8 so get ready. I couldn’t beat the first boss at 1-10 and I just gave up. Maybe one day I’ll try this again. It’s a gorgeous game. Side note: Apple Arcade is genius.

Bleak Sword is one of of Apple Arcade's simplest-looking games but also one of its most hardcore, forgoing detailed graphics for a style...

Polygon Wed Oct 02 2019

Bleak Sword DX is the latest Apple Arcade game to make its way over to consoles. This Devolver Digital-published title was always an...

Digitally Downloaded Sun Jul 02 2023

Sam Stewart • Reviews of Apple Arcade's Bleak Sword and Hot Lava.

Troy Media Sun Feb 02 2020

Noisy Pixel's Bleak Sword DX Review from developer more8bit and publisher Devolver Digital, available now on PC, Switch, and Apple Arcade.

Noisy Pixel Sun Jul 02 2023

Bleak Sword DX is a dark fantasy action game challenging warriors to fight their way through compact, cursed diorama battlefields.

Nintendo Everything Sun Jul 02 2023

Devolver Digital will be releasing Cricket Through the Ages, Exit the Gungeon, and Bleak Sword on Apple Arcade.

DualShockers Wed Oct 02 2019

This was originally a basic Apple Arcade game designed for mobile devices but has been revamped with more features and content.

Niche Gamer Sun Jul 02 2023

Bleak Sword is a mostly monochromatic journey of determination and perseverance. It is a game you can just pick up any time you want.

Fossbytes Wed Oct 02 2019

More8Bit and Devolver Digital's Bleak Sword is a brutal and intense isometric Soulslike. It's now available to those lucky enough to have access to Apple...

Pocket Gamer Wed Oct 02 2019

Punishing and creative, Bleak Sword DX isn't much to behold but hardcore enthusiasts will enjoy the challenge presented in bite-sized...

WayTooManyGames Mon Jul 03 2023

Bleak Sword DX is a simple action game, but its combat is simply sublime and it had a whole lot of enemy and level variety to keep things...

GodisaGeek.com Fri Jul 07 2023

Bleak Sword DX is a dark fantasy action game developed by more8bit and published by the always fun Devolver Digital.

GameGrin Fri Jul 07 2023

Bleak Sword DX is an absolute treat that takes the core pillars of the soulslike genre and distills them into a wonderfully moreish,...

Hey Poor Player Fri Jul 07 2023

Discover and destroy increasingly horrifying creatures across an oppressive lofi world, wielding fierce weaponry and powerful magic in this pocket-sized action...

IGN Tue Feb 07 2023