Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut

> "Do you need time to think about it" > Yes > "Do you need a lot of time to think about it" > Yes > Game did close, thought it was a crash > That's enough for today, go to sleep. > Next day, open the game > "So, was it enough time to think about it" Yoooooooo

The true psychological horror is that I can't experience it for the first time again.

[b]The Narrator[/b]: “You’re on a path on Steam, and at the end of that path is a store page. And at the top of that page is a game. You’re here to buy it. If you don’t, well… let’s just say you’d be missing out on something truly special.” • (Explore) I’ll be missing out on something special? What makes it so unique? [b]The Narrator[/b]: “Oh, where to begin? The masterfully crafted, engaging story echoes a dark fairy tale, twisting familiar themes and tropes into something fresh, unpredictable, fun… and at times, deeply unsettling.” [b]The Narrator[/b]: “Your choices don’t simply dictate a story — they’re reflections of you. And make no mistake, the game remembers. There’s a rich web of perspectives to explore, and the lore unravels piece by piece, daring you to pull the thread.” • (Explore) So, it’s a choice-based game. What’s the appeal? [b]The Narrator[/b]: “If I might clarify, it’s not [i]just[/i] a ‘choice-based game.’ It’s an ever-shifting narrative. The branching paths are vast, leading to wildly different stories, each as enchanting as it is entertaining.” [b]The Narrator[/b]: “Oh, and did I forget to mention that the game is impeccably voice-acted? Jonathan Sims and Nichole Goodnight bring the characters to life with performances that elevate the tension, humor, and horror.” [b]Voice of the Hero[/b]: “So… it’s basically a choice-based game.” [b]The Narrator[/b]: “[i]Sigh[/i]... yes, it is.” • (Explore) You mentioned horror earlier. Is this a scary game? [b]Voice of the Paranoid[/b]: “Oh, it’s [i]definitely[/i] scary. The atmosphere, the tension, the way things… change.” [b]Voice of the Broken[/b]: “It’s heartbreaking. Like watching everything you care about fall apart… piece by piece.” [b]Voice of the Smitten[/b]: “What are you two on about? It is a [i]love[/i] story! A tale of destiny where we fight to save our beloved.” [b]The Narrator[/b]: “[i]Sure, you are[/i]… and in case you didn’t know, the game is perfectly replayable, with countless paths and endings to explore. There are no wrong choices, only fascinating new perspectives to uncover. And remember, every choice you make shapes what comes next... for better or for worse." [b]The Narrator[/b]: “It’s an experience worth revisiting again and again, even if a few moments feel familiar the second time around. And naturally, you’ll want to replay it to hear [i]me[/i] again. After all, who wouldn’t?” • (Explore) Isn’t $17.99 a lot for a game like this? [b]The Narrator[/b]: “Of course not. If anything, it might be too generous for you, especially when it goes on sale. Between this and a mediocre meal, buying this is probably doing you a favor.” • (Explore) What can I expect to see in the game, and how does the story go? [b]The Narrator[/b]: “It’s a secret, but I think you’ll like it. I wouldn’t want to ruin the fun. It’s your story. [i]But[/i] maybe, just maybe, you ought to listen to me in it.” [b]Voice of the Hero[/b]: “Right… and what about the art and music? I think they’re quite nice.” [b]The Narrator[/b]: “How astute. The captivating, beautifully hand-drawn monochrome art makes for splendid visuals to witness throughout your playthrough. And the music always serves its purpose, enriching the moment and heightening the emotion. Oh, and I suppose I should mention the phenomenal narration, too. You wouldn’t want to miss that stroke of brilliance, would you?” [b]The Narrator[/b]: “So, please, I am [i]begging[/i] you to play this game. There are dire consequences if you don’t, so you’d best do your job and listen to me before things go south and you end up regretting not playing it.” • Alright, fine. I guess I’ll try it out. But you better be right about this. [Buy the game.] [b]The Narrator[/b]: “Good. You’re still listening to reason. Maybe the world isn't at stake, but your enjoyment certainly is.”

This game is like an art piece but It's not my cup of coffee. I don't want to spoil anything but if you're looking for a game that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment this is not it. I don't want to have a small existential crisis after playing a video game when the reason I play video games is to escape the uncertainty and meaninglessness of the real world. I'd recommend the game to anybody that likes this sort of thought provoking and deep game but it just isn't for me. I also applaud the producers for their creativity and vision.

schizophrenic mentally ill monster with voices telling him what to do (average man) tries to interact with a beautiful princess (a "i can fix her" girl)

This game is... mind blowing. I was a fan of choose your own adventure books as a kid and this is that taken to its zenith. Truly inspiring. I cannot believe the sheer amount of choice, mystery and intrigue that they were able to create with mostly still images and text options. Also, music and voice acting 10/10

What an absolute insane experience. Every new game is just as interesting, far too many amazing subjects are covered and contemplated in this game, either straight up philosophy, or human nature entirely. The art is amazing at expressing the route you took, same goes for the very well written and well executed voice acting, at times I forget I'm playing the game due to how it makes my dusted worn out cogs work for once in a while. 10/10, so much love was put into it.

This game is just a Rick and Morty meme in a nutshell -Let`s go. in and out. 20 minutes adventure *4 hours later* -"starts crying uncontrollably" like this game IS NOT what it looks as on steam page. This story goes hard as fyk

[h1]Dagger of the Mind[/h1] TL;DR: A wonderfully creative horror visual novel with extensive replayability. Has the typical shortcomings of most VNs, so probably won’t convert you if you don’t enjoy the genre.[hr][/hr] Despite being the first game from a small indie developer, [i]Slay the Princess[/i] made a bit of a splash when its demo dropped, featuring beautiful art, great voice acting, and most importantly, a twisted narrative wherein you are instructed by a disembodied voice to seek out a captive princess and slay her. This visual novel is cheeky, disturbing, and ultimately extremely enjoyable. The less said about the plot, the better, but given the setup outlined above it’s obvious that StP has taken notes from [i]The Stanley Parable[/i]. Just as in that game, the narrator is a major character. His voice actor does a terrific job portraying the often-beleaguered storyteller, as well the many facets of your character’s psyche that you’ll meet as the story progresses, giving each a distinct sound and personality. Likewise, the Princess’s actress gives voice to many different versions of her character, and does fantastic work. They’ll be your constant companions, sometimes friendly, often antagonistic, and the writing and voices lift a fairly small project to be more than the sum of its parts. The story is cyclical and highly replayable, as it branches out in myriad directions. Seeing the vastly different permutations on the same situation is really cool, and while the environs are limited, they change to fit the story, leading to tons of unique fullscreen art rendered in a visually-striking style. It’s an enchanting package that only really suffers from the standard drawback of the genre; after a few full playthroughs you’ll see through the mechanics, and at that point it feels like more of a checklist as you attempt to see everything. My recommendation is to stop playing when it starts feeling that way, and revisit it later once the memory is less fresh in your mind. If you enjoy horror stories and either like or are curious about visual novels, this is an easy recommendation. The title is obviously lovingly-crafted, and the story is intriguing with just enough left open to interpretation. I’m excited to see this team’s next project, and glad that this gem found the success it deserves.

play the game for 5 minutes, slay the princess, beat the game, get good ending. i dont understand how people have so many hours on this game ngl, seems like theyre trash at the game

how can a game about a schizophrenic bird, the voices in his head, and 'her' from the phrase 'i can fix her' be a masterpiece. 11/10 wish i could forget everything so i could replay this game.

I never thought that a game could be this eye opening. The developer didn't lie. This IS, a love story.

Truly a special game. From the charming art to the beautiful music and the impeccable voice acting to the best choice-based ever changing story, it is truly something, everyone remotely interested should give a chance. It may just amaze you as much as it did myself. It has been a very meaningful, captivating experience to see for the first time - and there is genuinely so many more angles to explore. It's so well made, it's a joy hearing some familiar voicelines again and seeing new things.

The aftertaste of Slay the Princess is haunting—even if all power sources vanish one day, I’d keep replaying this game in my mind until I die.​​ It transcends the label of ‘'choice-driven narrative’'and becomes a philosophical interrogation of existence, free will, and storytelling itself. When the Princess’ whispers echo in the dark, when the Narrator’s lies unravel layer by layer, the game morphs into a self-replicating thought experiment. The most terrifying part? Even without a screen, those dialogue options would still auto-generate in my consciousness: ​Trust her? ​Slay her? ​Become her? —Perhaps this is the true eternal recurrence.

I went into this game without researching much about it, expecting a linear, psychological horror visual novel. I got something way weirder and deeper, in the best possible way. This is the kind of game that lingers. It doesn’t just tell a story, it pulls you into it, twists it around you, and makes you question everything. It begins quiet and simple. Then something shifts. And then it keeps shifting, and shifting, and suddenly you’re not sure who you are, what you’re doing, or whether the game is lying, or if you are. Every playthrough feels fresh in a way. The writing is great, the dialogue shifts with everything you previously did and carried onward with you. The art and sound design feel like they’re breathing with you. And there’s something in the voice work that sticks in your head. Familiar, tender, sometimes terrifying. I don’t want to say too much. This is the kind of story you walk into blind, and then walk away from changed. If you like stories that unravel themselves (and maybe a little bit of you), play it. Play it. Replay it. Obsess over it. Then lie awake thinking about it. Stay up at 5 AM thinking about how the nightmare broke you. Just… whatever you do, don’t trust the narrator. Or the Princess. Or maybe do?

This game is an absolute BANGER, if you like reading that is. If not, go play Minecraft or something. BUUUUUUT, if you like reading, then you're in for an GORGEOUS game that tells a love story(yes, really) in the most confusing and convoluted way possible(it's a good thing, I swear!). Be prepared to meet many faces of a princess, where (almost) every decision you take can lead to a COMPLETELY different path in your story. Fear, love, anger, betrayal, redemption, pure malice, you'll experience this and much more in this game. AND since this was made in Ren'py, this game can run on a toaster, isn't this amazing?

Everything about the presentation in this game is amazing, and the attention to detail is great.

It's not the masterpiece that a lot of the top reviews are claiming, but it is a very well polished gimmick that digs into very interesting themes. Still, it stumbles a bit with the execution. The art, writing, music, and voice acting are fantastic. One of my bigger issues with game is that - because the content can be seen in almost any order - the player can't get any kind of meaningful revelations about the overarching plot until a big exposition dump at the very end. Before that, it's just the exact same vague hints over and over again. The whole story is only about 4 hours, so it's not like you have to wait all that long for the reveal at least. I also find some of the points where the path does/doesn't split kind of questionable. For example (minor spoilers): Regardless of what choices you make beforehand, leaving her in the basement at any point will always result in the same path, but just about every slight variation of choices you make before picking a [Slay the Princess] option will result in a dramatically different outcome. I understand the important story reasons for the latter, but then there should be more variations of the former for consistency. Those are just minor complaints with the premise though. Overall, I enjoyed my time with the game. Still, I'm glad I got it during the Summer Sale, because that price tag is pretty steep given the game's length.

I'm sorry, I pirated the game. I really wanted to play it but couldn't buy it for the full price. But now that it's on sale, I bought this amazing game, and so should you :) Really, play this without looking up walkthroughs or playthroughs. It's an amazing experience, and it really is a love story. Nightmare princess is the best <3

This is a beautiful love story, go forth into the unknown. Nothing else needs to be said.

A masterpiece in relationship psychology, every facet is thought through and the characters are phenomenal. Best VN I have ever played.

Games writing and art style is fantastic. The time loop concept is used very well, but might be a bit much to stomach for a 100%.

A wonderful game filled with love! I'm so glad I've finally gotten around to playing this gem for myself, you can tell a lot of care was put into this little game. With beautiful artwork, and a captivating story of personhood and questioning the self and the nature of your existence, it's no wonder this game is rated so highly! I cannot recommend it enough, and I'm so excited to delve deeper into the other vessel's stories.

Slay the Princess is one of the most beautiful visual novel games I’ve ever played if not the most beautiful. At the time of writing this review, I’ve just reached my first ending, and I’m genuinely impressed. With its blend of sadness and humor, the story carried me through the game in a truly engaging way. The choices you make are tough but always fair, and they have a real impact on how the rest of the story unfolds. And even though you’re constantly torn between right and wrong, you begin to understand other perspectives and how someone else might handle the same decisions differently. Still, the characters’ reactions feel incredibly “real” and emotionally grounded. I wholeheartedly recommend this game. I had a great time playing it, and I’m excited to see what ending I’ll reach next.

A beautiful story of love and grief and how hurting those who you care about can ripple outwards and affect the world at large. The Den is best princess dont @ me

Games pretty good, always makes me feel extremely sad after playing though In terms of endings and outcomes everything is very morally grey or dark, very few happy endings in this game, If you play for awhile you realise those aren't even happy endings.

This is one of the few truly transcendent video game experiences I've ever had in my entire life. To say it is a great game is doing it a disservice: this is a piece of art as pristine as the blade on the table in the cabin.

I think everyone should play this game, an absolute must. But in the end it's your choice. Will you slay the princess?

This game falls into the same category as Outer Wilds and Wandersong for me. Games that stick with you for the rest of your life.

---{Graphics}--- ☑ You forget what reality is ☐ Beautiful ☐ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ☐ Paint.exe ---{Gameplay}--- ☐ Addictive like heroin ☑ Very good ☐ Good ☐ It‘s just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Starring at walls is better ☐ Just don‘t ---{Player Count}--- ☑ Lock your doors and discord calls ☐ Only solo ☐ Better solo ☐ Play it your way ☐ Better with friends ☐ You need friends ☐ Replace your old friends with new ones ---{Audio}--- ☑ Eargasm ☐ Very good ☐ Good ☐ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ Earrape ---{Audience}--- ☐ Kids ☑ Teens ☑ Adults ☐ Average Solitaire Players ---{PC Requirements}--- ☑ Check if you can run paint ☐ Potato ☐ Decent ☐ Fast ☐ Rich boiiiiii ☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer ---{Difficulty}--- ☐ Jank Souls ☑ Just press “A” ☐ Easy ☐ Significant brain usage ☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master ☐ Difficult ☐ Dark Souls ---{Mindful(less)ness}--- ☐ I don’t remember... ☐ 2 + 2 = who cares ☐ Objectives come and go ☑ Immersion achieved ☐ Some complexity or puzzles ☐ Chess, but on a screen ☐ Might require a Quadratic Formula ---{Grind}--- ☐ Nothing to grind ☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks ☐ Isn't necessary to progress ☐ Average grind level ☑ Too much grind ☐ You‘ll need a second life for grinding ---{Story}--- ☑ It‘ll replace your life ☐ Lovely ☐ Good ☐ Average depends an DLC ☐ Text or Audio floating around ☐ Story? ---{Game Time}--- ☐ To infinity and beyond ☐ Long ☐ Average ☑ Short ☐ Long enough for a cup of tea ☐ I can’t say ---{Price}--- ☐ There is no “price” ☑ Worth the price ☐ If u have some spare money left ☐ Wait for a deal ☐ Not recommended ☐ You could also just burn your money ---{Bugs}--- ☑ Never heard of ☐ Minor bugs ☐ Can get annoying ☐ Hate playing, but can’t stop ☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs ---{Dev Expectations}--- ☐ Expect to hate your developers ☐ Wreck-it Ralph works here ☐ No game support ☐ It just works ☐ HAHA Game go brrrr ☑ Passion project ---{Monetization}--- ☐ Money tree required ☐ Pay2Win ☐ Pay2Play ☐ Cosmetics only ☐ Free if you play enough ☑ One and done

The game has great speakers, drawings and music. Choices really do matter. With the "the pristine cut" update it is much easier to keep track of the story lines.

As of the time posting this review, i wanted to say that this game has a special place in my heart with the story writing, gameplay itself, and of course, the most iconic part of it all: choosing your own path. i'm just another consumer of the product, my opinion may not matter much, but i seriously do recommend everyone outside and inside steam to give this game a try. You will NOT be disappointed. This game is the one and only game that ever made me shed a tear........ and made me look at british language from.. a *different perspective* ;P

Loved thus game since the moment I laid eyes on it. It is a story so thoroughly undercut with love that i barely recognized how in my first playthrough, I picked anything that would take me to her sooner. Couldnt even branch out into the newer paths because I just want to see her right away. I love this game.

Very fun to play, would 100 % recommend, worth every cent.

I saw this game trending a while back- I believe before the pristine cut came out- and although I couldn't purchase it at that time, I will never regret purchasing it recently.

masterpiece. yes buy it plz i want others to experience this greatness

Probably one of the best games I have ever played!!! It's disturbing (But in a good way???). If you want a game that will challenge you morals and you perception on what you believe is right and wrong this is the game for you!

Extremely immersive narrative game with amazing voice acting, art and music.

I highly recommend this game! I feel like a lot of time and effort went into making it and the story is really interesting.

This game makes you all existential and sh!t. Your reality is based on your perceptions and preconceptions, as those things shape your behavior, thus influencing the behaviors of those around you. Anyways, shoutout to the Razor: I love you, you're the perfect woman.

I've enjoyed this game a lot. I wasn't sure if I would because I'm not a fan of horror, but those elements weren't too graphic for me. I reacted with a "what the fuck" multiple times, but in a good way. The narrative is interesting as you progress through the game and learn more about what's going on. On my first play-through my perspective constantly shifted. It was hard to know what was right or wrong, and the cool thing is that there really isn't a "correct" understanding. It's complex, and the way you interact effects what happens next. I'd definitely recommend checking this out.

Originally played for Jonathan Sims (TMA fans where you at?), stayed for the incredible art style, gore and voice acting. Amazing game, was able to 100% it and my overall favs variant of The Princess was The Nightmare and The Razor. 10/10 would listen to the voices in my head again :3

Simples, e absolutamente maravilhoso. Quando você menos esperar, já terá gasto algumas horas nesse jogo. Muito bem escrito, boa dublagem, boas artes, e uma história muito interessante. Vale a pena.

After thirty hours playing this game, getting every achievement, I’ve seen all it has to offer. And I have to say, I love [i] everything [/i] about it. The art is exceptional, the sketchy look gives it a familiarity that could not have been achieved any other way. The soundtrack is phenomenal; even though most of it is different versions of the same base track, which makes sense, it manages to set the whole mood, ranging from sacred to profane, from loud to barely audible, from tense to calm. No matter what, it [i] will [/i] make you feel something. The writing is another aspect done very well, especially the interactions between the characters. At times it can be extremely funny, something you wouldn’t expect given the game’s tags and aesthetic, but it’s well executed. At other times, it will be so emotional that it might be hard to hold back your tears. I was about to say the only bad thing about it is that it ends, but if there’s one thing I reflected on after finishing this game, it’s that maybe endings aren’t really a bad thing. Perhaps it was necessary that it ended so new things could come after it. [h2] [i] "Do not mourn it. It has served its purpose." [/i] [/h2]

This is the Visual Novel by which I will compare all other Visual Novels henceforth. A game that completely redefined what an entire genre was capable of invoking in me. The options and various endings give so much to the characters and their aspects. Everything/10 will play again. I also love the love story(s). I also love the art! I love the sound design. I love this game a lot.

Well written, surprisingly solidly voice acted, and more surprisingly fun. Glad I finally pulled the trigger and grabbed it on sale. Worth it not on sale.

'The blade is your implement. You'll need it if you want to do this right.' 'She will lie, she will cheat, and she will do everything in her power to stop you from slaying her. Don't believe a word she says.' Originally I bought this game because I listened to The Magnus Archives, and Jonathan Sims is the narrator, but I fell in love with the entire game from the second loop. The concept is AMAZING, I personally love games with the vibes of horror and dialogue that really makes you think about your choices, and this did a fantastic job at that. I sat on a few dialogue option screens for longer than I thought I would on any game because I had to debate what I was willing to do. The fact that there's no premature endings is also a really neat detail, if I could recommend this game a million times over I would!!!! These creators are amazing!

On face value, Slay The Princess is a choose your own adventure game (following a repetitive, loop structure) with multiple different endings. Underneath the surface it's a clever, multi-dimensional, philosophical exploration on the nature of selfhood and the far-reaching consequences of the actions that we take (or don't take).

I don't think I could even properly explain in words how good this game is, so I wont, you'll just have to blindly trust this review.

I almost quit the game after my first 30 minutes. I found the narrator and the repetitiveness of the story to be annoying. I only picked it back up because it is a game I can play on my lower specced laptop while at work. Boy am I glad that I did. Everyone's story is going to be different, I had the one that gave the achievement "And? What happens next?" and it felt like the story was tailor made for me, a bespoke experience. The choices I made slowly softened the relationship between the hero and the princess and it resonated with me. I experienced a few tender moments that really changed my perspective of the game. I like the story, still dislike the narrator, and wish I had taken a little bit more time to enjoy them. I felt like I rushed through some due to being at work. I will play this again, but am going to give it some time.