Look at the title… really just look at it. If the title grabs your attention and makes you think this is going to be a great game… congratulations, you don’t judge a book by its literal cover. Me though, I saw this title and had a moment like the Huh cat meme. Forsaker: DingDing & Blade is a ridiculous title, but the premise surprised me more than the name. A visual novel with card RPG mechanics seemed interesting enough to make me push aside my doubts and dive in. Was Forsaker: DingDing & Blade the next big VN/RPG, or should the title have told me what to expect? Let’s find out in my review for PC.

Gameplay

When I first booted up Forsaker, I was a bit caught off guard. The game froze at first because I clicked during loading—something I haven’t seen in years. Then the menu popped up entirely in Chinese before switching to English and offering several modes. Forsaker splits into two main ways to play. If you want a pure VN, you choose Story. If you want the card-based RPG mechanics, you pick Adventure Challenge. It’s a strange setup, but after trying both, I can see why some players may prefer one over the other.

Story Mode is a traditional VN experience. You click and read through text with backgrounds that shift as the narrative progresses. Dialogue choices appear throughout, shaping how the story develops. With multiple characters, branching paths, and lengthy chapters, Forsaker offers a meaty VN package that VN fans will appreciate.

Adventure Challenge mixes board game exploration with card-based RPG combat. Players move along paths that can lead to events, traps, battles, or story scenes. Luckily, the game lets you skip cutscenes you’ve already seen to move forward. Regular enemies fall quickly, but bosses demand strategy.

Battles unfold through a card-drawing system. You start each turn with random cards and a set number of action points (AP). Cards cost AP, and your turn ends when you run out of AP or cards to play. The system includes standard attacks, defense, status effects, and demonic cards, which you usually want to avoid since they add penalties like higher AP costs or weaker effects. Special cards shine by adding bonus effects if certain requirements are met—such as dealing extra damage if your hand is all attack cards. Building an effective deck is trial and error, but also rewarding when strategy pays off.

Character progression is also robust. Your main character earns points for upgrading stats like HP or starting shields, while companions also level up with unique perks. This adds depth to team building and makes synergy an important part of combat. For example, a companion boosting shields early often saved me from wasting my own cards on defense.

Difficulty ramps up quickly. Early chapters are forgiving, but by chapter 2, I hit steep difficulty spikes. Grinding for better cards became necessary, which may frustrate VN-focused players. Still, for those who enjoy the challenge, this mode adds satisfying gameplay layers beyond the VN experience.

Graphics

Visuals are crucial for a VN, and Forsaker: DingDing & Blade delivers a mixed but mostly positive experience. The game balances fantasy and dark fantasy aesthetics, switching from lighthearted scenes to moments of trauma, slavery, and mercenary survival. These darker story beats are paired with striking CGs that strengthen the atmosphere. Character designs are generally solid, though some monster and NPC art feels off. When Forsaker leans into horror, the artwork is genuinely chilling in the best way.

Sound

Sound design is Forsaker’s weakest area. The music feels generic and repetitive, with tracks that sound borrowed from other games. While serviceable in VN story segments, during card battles the looping music quickly became grating. Unique and varied tracks could have elevated the experience, but as is, the sound falls flat compared to the visuals and story.

Story

Forsaker: DingDing & Blade’s story is shockingly dark and layered. Following multiple protagonists, the narrative dives into war, violence, religion, survival, and the human condition. The writing doesn’t shy away from brutality, and I often found myself captivated or stunned by a character’s actions and words. With branching storylines and heavy themes, Forsaker’s narrative is easily its strongest asset.

Overall Impression

The goofy title almost turned me away, but I’m glad I didn’t judge it too quickly. Forsaker: DingDing & Blade is a surprisingly impressive VN/RPG hybrid. While issues like repetitive music, bugs, and sudden difficulty spikes hold it back, the engaging story, creative card gameplay, and replayable structure make it well worth the low $11 price tag. Splitting into VN and RPG modes also makes it approachable for fans of both genres.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed my time with Forsaker: DingDing & Blade. Yes, it has flaws that are hard to ignore, but the positives outweigh the negatives. The card-based RPG mode is simple yet deep enough to challenge players, and the story is powerful, thought-provoking, and worth experiencing. For the price, Forsaker offers excellent value, making it an easy recommendation for both VN fans and RPG players alike.

—Aaron