Sultan's Game

Writing this review partially to address the points in the top (negative) review, and because I enjoyed this game. The big thing to know about this game is that sexual and non-sexual violence is a theme. One-quarter of the cards are Carnality cards, which can be cleared sexually, of course. For some people, this will be a deal-breaker which is fine. You do not need to commit sexual violence to clear these cards. It is possible to clear every one of these cards consensually (albeit by visiting a brothel). This is not to downplay how uncomfortable the other possible routes are, but to underline the game's theme - you are placed in this game by a wicked Sultan, can you navigate through without compromising your morality? The easy option is (generally), the less moral one. I found this to be an interesting angle. It's not written to titillate - I think you'd be very hard-pressed to argue that's the case - which I think is a positive for emphasising this theme and treating it better. I do think it's valid that this will be a step too far for some gamers, and the game does give a warning on start-up. Even if you avoid taking any immoral acts, the options are always there, and if that is too uncomfortable then seeing that warning is a good time to decide to refund. This game is, effectively, a turn-based Cultist Simulator. As with that game, you eventually will have so many things you will find it difficult to find things. Use of the in-game tools for making the experience more smooth is essential, I.E. the quick-assign-last-assigned, sorting your items, etc. It's sometimes a hassle at the late game, but I found at that point I didn't need to do a lot of the events as I already had what I needed. It's a flaw, but given that this "genre" (such that it is) has this as a common flaw, I didn't consider myself particularly aggrieved. That's the criticisms from the top review - my own positives are that it's a far richer web than Cultist Simulator. The writing isn't quite as evocative, but it does have a much more legible setting (because it's just 1001 Nights vibes) which smooths over the cracks better. There are a few errors in the translation, nothing that took me out of it. The drawn graphics are also truly stellar, and wonderfully evocative of its setting. The background music gets a touch repetitive, but that may be because I've been playing it for many hours. There is a progression element, which I appreciated, providing a little freshness on repeat playthroughs as I try to get the endings. Overall I would recommend this game if you: - Enjoyed Cultist Simulator - Want to play a game where you are forced to choose between the morally bankrupt option and the hard option, over and over

I purchased this game partially because of a review saying it's rich in plot with moral struggles, dark but not without humanity. No, not true. After hours of playing I'd really like a refund if I could. The UI doesn't respect the player's time, the play-through is very repetitive, but the far-worse part is despite some reviews claim that sex is one good part of the game, there's not as much sex in the game as raping, and that's the "appeal" they are talking about (The protagonist gets raped too, LOL). Many side stories and endings (which it doesn't have too many) require the protagonist to use carnality card in certain ways and all lead to not-at-all spicy descriptions (only plain texts, no details, no images). Some plots: [spoiler]the protagonist being choked to near death/beaten with whips in sex, being f**ked to need to go see a doctor by wife, rape hostages, rape an ugly noble man in public, rape a young girl in other routes adopted daughter.[/spoiler] Again, the game is repetitive, the player is required and encouraged to go through plots like those. There's a long chain of stories in which you have to marry off a woman in your team to a man she has never known in order to let her and you [spoiler]kill a dragon[/spoiler] (the only way to reach certain endings). There's a lot of dialogues from her families saying she's a woman, woman is too weak to do that, they hate being women, and you can confidently tell which side the developers are on from the development listed above with a thin veil of mask. Also the game depicted China to be the heaven the characters should flee to. Didn't expect to see a real place name there, thought the developers would come up with a fictional name.

Definitely recommended. It's like Cultist Simulator, but instead of being in real-time, it's turn-based. There's definitely roguelite elements as well, so expect to fail a lot and learn with multiple playthroughs.

I'm begging on my knees for more contents,dlc,sequel or whatever. This game is so peak.

It's not a bad game per se, but there's a lot of routine that is not routine *enough* so to speak, Every turn requires constant micromanaging of events and on replays you are stuck with an explosion of complexity that is at the same time distinctly not new that you cannot automate due to difference of resources you have. It's not a gameplay loop every turn as much as it is gameplay hard stop. It never really felt quite as tiring in cultist sim. On multiple occasions I save and quitted simply because I knew that I would have to assign my followers in yet another non interesting but distinct fashion to not see anything new but still having to multiple click through it every time.

I absolutely adore the art in this game, it is STUNNING. Gameplay is highly addicting, plays like a casino slot machine almost. Great soundtracks and sound design which makes the gameplay more tactile and satisfying. Writing of the story and characters are fine. The themes presented are dark and the moral choices you are forced to make is bound to make you feel conflicted at varying degrees. As for its major flaw, the ENG translations are still far from perfect, some improvements are required, but if you can read and understand CN, go ahead and give it a try. Great game all in all.

Stunning art, Rich narrative, Lots of hot characters and you can have sex with almost everyone. Every main character has their own story. I really love them all. I always like this kind of game. 10/10 - Please release an official Korean translation! I'm addicted to this game I'm begging you please I'm desperate Ever since I finished my first playthrough, I've been thinking about The Sultan and Nawfal all day long. This game has completely ruined my daily routine. I LOVE THIS GAME!!

GREAT GAME! I would recommend this to others for sure. The rules are easy to follow and the story is very interesting. Could not stop once I started it. I thought I would not like it as much because it is like a card game but NOPE- it is great. Do not worry and just buy it.

This game's aesthetics and writing and [i]heart[/i] are abso-freaking-lutely in the right place, but, all things considered, its game design just isn't up to par.

Found this game through twitter because h 0rny chinese artists was drawing corn of the sultan as a bottom and they're hot af Game's pretty good. Love the art style. Still trying to find out if i can do-the-naughty to the sultan or not You need reading comprehension to play this game otherwise you're gonna be lost 90% of the time

I tricked a naive boy into carnality because I was so close to being executed. 10/10

The card-breaking mechanic is quite creative, the storyline is rich and well thought out, and the level of freedom is high — you don’t often run into sudden deaths that force you to restart. It’s also very playable, and the art is beautifully done and fits the theme perfectly. The only downside is that the easy mode is a bit too easy — I carefully built up my stats to stage a rebellion, but ended up winning so easily that it felt lacking in both challenge and sense of achievement.

Hello everyone. Sultan’s Game is a fairly unique experience. The best way to describe it is like Fallen London, but with cleaner navigation, arguably nicer art, and—most importantly—truly compelling stories and choices. The game uses a currency system that you earn every time you complete a story. Sometimes I find myself just one or two short of what I need, so I’ll start a new game. There are some extremely easy ways to get those missing points—like killing your friend, your wife, or even a prostitute—but even though I know it would only take a minute, I can never bring myself to do it. I launch the run with the intention of grabbing the currency and quitting, but I always end up playing for another couple of hours instead. That’s how engaging it is. I’ve never had this kind of moral hesitation in another game quite like this. It’s also pretty tough. You’ll need to go through a lot of trial and error, especially if you’re not using any guides—as I haven’t. But that feels like the right way to play. I wholeheartedly recommend Sultan’s Game and hope you find it as captivating as I did.

Been a long time since I last imersed myself this much in a game of this kind. 3 hours in and had to forcefully stop playing because I had word early the other day... so yeah. Good game.

试图在一个混邪游戏中守护每个人。一周目革命成功但奈布哈尼没策反，二周目启动，你们一个都不能死！

I haven't been able to beat it yet (skill issue lol) but I really enjoyed the details and immersion this game has. The concept is also very fun to play through and I don't get bored of trying over and over.

I hate how addicting it is. The art is great. Music is a touch repetitive, but that's fine. My main wish is that this caught on more with English speaking audiences so we got more English version mods.

画风很美故事有趣 但是三周目了还是打不过hhh🥀

Love the character design, especially female characters. Though u can make different choices, the game design to let good actions get good reward. love the guidance.

Sultan’s game is an incredible experience for anyone who enjoys deep, branching narratives. Every choice leads the protagonist down a completely different path, making each playthrough feel fresh and immersive. The story quests are engaging, and I find myself completely invested in the world and its characters. Highly recommended, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the upcoming update at the end of June! Hopefully, this update will also fix a few event-related bugs that occasionally disrupt the experience. Additionally, I wonder if we’ll see more English mods in the future. There’s a great selection of Chinese mods, but very few English ones. It would also be fantastic to see improved English translations in certain parts of the game—and perhaps even an official Vietnamese translation? Lastly, I’d love to see more music added to the game. The existing soundtrack is great, but expanding it with new tracks could further enhance the atmosphere and storytelling.

Sultan's Game is an incredibly deep and complex card game. It blends deep strategy and rogue-lite elements to deliver a satisfying "choices really do matter" gameplay. Your games will be spent making difficult decisions or weighing your morales as you choose the "lesser evil" - or not, the choice is always yours. If you enjoy games with social and political elements, TTRPGS, and cards/dice games, then you will probably have a great time with Sultan's Game.

The premise is great, the art and music are solid, but I did get bored 9 hours in. Many choices are ambiguous and a wrong selection might close a path completely, and I was left with very little to do deep into my first run, with no indication whether to stop/restart the run, wait for potential events, or throw it all for some impossible ending (revolt). I did read some guides afterwards and had a better understanding of some plots, but a game shouldn't need endless trials and errors to enjoy parts of the story. ------------------------- Played a bit more for the artstyle and plot, and found it surprisingly more engaging as a delicate balance of worker placement (like boardgames) and choice matter novels. It gets dramatically better and more engaging when you unlock some boosts with in game currency. Play more!

Better than I thought. You really get to choose what you experience, which is good. However, I won't recommend it if you have a particularly high moral standard, because you have to behave immorally to survive in the game. Yet, you certainly can minimize the harm.

真的特别好玩的游戏，吃时间黑洞！不同的玩家和玩法的选择特别的多，而且每一个选择都很有意义，得到的结局的文本也非常的好，沉浸感特别强！！

I love Weather Factory (Cultist Simulator dev you uneducated heathen) - they are a bit camp but they made amazing games. As time has rolled on though - they've lost their edge. There's no real oppressive atmosphere anymore and it feels less like learning about the Occult and more learning about some magical horoscopes. That's why I was so happy to find this game. The unease and immersion you feel playing, perfection. Once again, China has come in and picked up what a great British studio used to do and filled that gap. As an Englishman, I'm miffed - as a gamer, I'm ecstatic. Thanks, Communism.

the only game where you want to both step on the Sultan and get stepped on by the Sultan. not for the weakest of heart and those who deem their own moral more than their own life, you will be forced to kill and make immoral, if not devilish choices just to make sure you get to live another day with your family and beloved ones with your heads intact.

TL;DR : Wait for the localization improvement patch before buying Fantastic game, unique premise and a really fresh game to try, but the confusing localization really does take out some of the wind from its sails. While I wholeheartedly recommend the game I also recommend waiting for the English translation to improve before buying and trying out this game.

siper fun has unexpecting ending due to the stat we have been working on really reccomend to try if you interested in unhinge story want to try strategy and enjoy roguelite. Artstyle is so cool too

太喜欢苏丹的游戏了！精美的立绘，复杂有趣的剧情，以及开放包容的气质一下抓住了我，让我好多天都沉浸在折卡的快感中。我为国内能做出这样个性鲜明和进步的独立游戏感到无比自豪！ 这是一款披着中东外衣的中国游戏，极致模拟了伴君如伴虎的体验的基础上又糅合了对近现代革命思潮和政治哲学的讨论。正/密教的部分以及游戏的很多玩法都致敬了密教模拟器，另一款文案和探索做得十分出色的游戏。我喜欢双头龙工作室的双头龙气质，pro LBGTQ+ 的游戏内容选择，玩家社群层出不穷的有趣创作。美中不足的是在多周目游戏中重复的文本和内容很多，让人很难有动力去做不同的结局。最后，祝苏丹的游戏越来越好！

God this game is addicting...40h in and I just got my first round done, will have to go back to try other routes, 1000% would recommend!

Really fun game! The threat of death every 7 days makes for an exciting gameplay. Personally the english translation is completely readable to me and doesn't hinder my enjoyment at all. I highly recommend it.

It's a very hard, very dark puzzle-card game with unapologetically adult themes. It doesn't feel sanitised in the way a lot of modern games do, if you want to make morally horrendous choices, then you absolutely can. You make your choice and you get to live another day, albeit probably feeling a little bad about what you just made your character do (or made your wife, friends, employees etc do). Each character has their own branching narrative for you to uncover, or squander, and that's something I find really interesting. It's a game that forces you to weigh up the consequences of your choices -- In one run I missed out on an entire branching narrative because I sacrificed a silver character early. And the game does present you with some really difficult choices. One game you might take a character all the way to the end and crown them Sultan. Another, you might kill them off in the first round. I would recommend playing it without a guide, and just exploring and working out the puzzles -- it is much more satisfying that way and the game has a rewind feature on the lower difficulties so you can experiment as much as you want anyway. Overall, this is a game I know I will want to keep coming back to. It really is very good.

What a great and unique experience this was! One could say that its a cross between Cultist Simulator and Yes, Your Grace but really, Sultan's Game is just so unique in and of itself that you should just play it to experience it on your own.

I played through the demo and decided that was enough for me. When the game released, the first updates they had for it were all the QoL upgrades it needed the most. Out of respect for that I decided to buy it and play some more. No regrets. At time of writing this, the latest update is about supporting community modding. Devs like this deserve money. Also remember to feed your daughter as many books as possible so she'll grow up big and strong.

Very nice, although it would be cool if you can respek your bonuses when starting new games, it's kind of harsh when my decisions are permanent.

i played this game for nine hours straight and honestly i never felt that ive played so long. i LOVE history and LOVE reading about different revolutions, so it was very inspiring and fulfilling that i could be the one start a revolution and make real changes in this game. i felt like the game truly began when i killed the old prime minister and later got the question, asking "what was that the poor really needs?"

I was not even this addicted when playing Crusader Kings or Civilization. I see the first light of dawns every morning now 0 o 0

题材、玩法都很新颖，人物、线索和结局众多，可玩性强，根本停不下来。推荐！

Sultan’s Game is a provocative blend of narrative-driven roguelike, court intrigue, and moral choice simulator, placing players in the precarious position of a noble navigating the deadly politics of a tyrannical ruler’s court. Developed by Double Cross Studio and published by 2P Games, this title offers a rare mix of elegance and dread, set in a fictionalized Middle Eastern empire where beauty, brutality, and betrayal walk hand in hand. With its rich thematic layers and striking artistic direction, Sultan’s Game is both a visual marvel and a test of personal ethics. At the center of the game lies the Sultan—a charismatic, despotic figure who demands his court play along with his weekly card-based challenges. Each turn, you are dealt a command card that represents a theme—Carnality, Bloodshed, Deception, or Indulgence—and you have one in-game week to complete it. These objectives aren’t light choices; they often require manipulation, cruelty, or sacrifice. Fail to fulfill them, and the penalty is execution. This structure drives an ongoing sense of tension and urgency, making every decision feel weighty and consequential. The gameplay is a hybrid of deck-building, narrative choice, and light resource management. You’ll build influence, form alliances, manage favors, and uncover secrets—all while ensuring your own survival in a world where everyone has something to hide. Dice rolls, skill checks, and special event cards can drastically change the outcomes of your plans. There's a powerful sense of cause and effect, as even small choices may cascade into irreversible events. Progression is tracked across runs via the Fate system, which allows you to unlock new perks, story options, or relationship outcomes, encouraging replayability and long-term strategy. Visually, Sultan’s Game is breathtaking. The artwork evokes classical Middle Eastern aesthetics with deep color palettes, ornate motifs, and elegant character designs. The game’s interface is both thematic and functional, though it occasionally suffers from minor usability issues during longer sessions. Musically, it features a hauntingly minimal score that enhances the atmosphere of quiet dread and opulence. Every animation, every line of dialogue feels curated to reinforce the setting’s mystique and underlying menace. Where the game truly shines, however, is in its writing. The narrative is bold, mature, and unafraid to tackle morally complex topics—power, gender, identity, love, and coercion. Many of the characters you encounter are richly written and nuanced, from calculating advisors to sympathetic victims of the Sultan’s cruelty. Romantic subplots, including same-sex relationships, are handled with care and authenticity, adding emotional weight to your decisions. With over a million words of branching dialogue and dozens of possible endings, the story is both expansive and deeply personal. That said, Sultan’s Game is not without flaws. Some mechanics—particularly dice rolls and challenge difficulty—can feel punishingly random, especially early in a run when your resources are limited. Certain weekly challenges border on unreasonable, and repetition can set in after several playthroughs, especially if the same events reappear too frequently. The translation from the original Chinese is mostly solid, but a handful of cards and dialogue strings remain untranslated or awkwardly phrased. And while the interface generally supports the game’s complexity, it could benefit from a few more quality-of-life features to streamline decision-making. Still, these shortcomings don’t diminish the overall experience. Sultan’s Game is a daring narrative experiment, one that trusts its players to engage with challenging themes and live with uncomfortable choices. It rewards creative thinking, moral introspection, and narrative curiosity. Every card played, every alliance forged, every sacrifice made contributes to a larger portrait of a court governed by fear, decadence, and fleeting power. Final Verdict: Sultan’s Game is not just a game of survival—it’s a game of identity, politics, and personal reckoning. It challenges you to maintain your humanity while operating within a system designed to strip it away. Though it stumbles at times with balance and polish, its narrative depth, visual artistry, and emotional impact make it one of the most compelling strategy-narrative hybrids in recent memory. For those willing to navigate a dangerous dance of ambition and consequence, Sultan’s Game offers a richly woven tale worth living—and reliving. Rating: 10/10

杀时间利器，玩着玩着一下午就过去了……文案超级爽，很对我的胃口

文本量太足了太良心了，今年玩过文本完成度最高、内核最微妙的游戏，而且非常难得的是毫无说教之心，只能感受到一种同人女统治世界、誓给所有人带来快乐与感动的热情。

absolute peak, real hidden gem, globally, at least. even more enjoyable if you can read and understand chinese. the art is gorgeous and the replayability is so good i found myself playing game after game after game. i sank 15 hours into this on the first 2 days after buying lol. mods definitely make it more fun, but unfortunately the majority of them are in chinese. i love how morality is explored here. the protag isn't just some typical do-gooder hero but someone who has the potential to become a person who kills on a whim using the cards as excuse depending on the player's choices. side note, i really wish this game had more recognition globally. anyways, Arzu x Faraj my OTP. 10/10

There is lots to like about Sultans Game. Cultist Simulator is the nearest comparison, and much like that other niche title, Sultans Game is is about resource management and knowledge. -Great Tutorial that also sets up the dark narrative and your story in the world. -The Setting is great, allowing for how your fantastical actions make sense. -Rogue-like mechanics give you more tools each time you die (and expect to die alot early) -Characters and followers feel real, with their own goals, likes, and dislikes. -RNG is counter balanced by unfolding events. -The mechanics are easy to learn. The actual challenge of the game comes from understand what events happen and knowing ahead of time how to strategically navigate to your end goal. Credit where credit is due... you commies made a pretty good game!

不知道啊，不知道为什么现实里上班游戏里也上班，一眨眼一百多个小时就过去了。 以及。 改改你们的文本错字吧！双头龙！

作為文字遊戲好玩，各種人物支線同任務選擇都有趣，但遊戲設計模式唔適合哩種RPG文字遊戲。 好多支線都係要靠隨機，或者等時間到先可以觸發，有大量重復嘅無聊時間，強烈建議打mod

The content was much more abundant and substantial than expected.

Spiritual successor to Cultist Simulator, but instead of moment-to-moment second-by-second nature of Cultist Sim, this is more laid back and allows you to properly plan out your moves in a turn based setting.

混邪乐子人表示非常上头，喜欢喜欢喜欢

不推荐。 一个封闭的游戏，而且要依靠不断地获取金币不断重开才能有更多的可能性玩到不同的结局和故事。 故事本身的设计虽然是架空历史，但是杀狼杀老虎这种剧情小学生都不感兴趣了。玩了几个小时下来感觉就是既没有开心，也没有探索的欲望。 改进的方式的话，一个角度就是像黑神话一样，把其中的一些内容带入一些真实的历史或者知识，这样玩下来也会有阅历的增长。 第二个就是优化一下没有获得金币的时候，初期的游戏体验，能够更have fun 一些。 目前总体不推荐也不值这个价格。

올해 한 게임중에 최고로 재미있었어요!!대사량이 많고 텍스트기반이다보니 유저패치 있어서 너무 감사히 잘 했습니다. 마지막까지 선택 잘못하면 바로 베드엔딩뜨는것도 재미있었고요, 각 캐릭터들의 이야기들도 상세해서 좋았어요. 작은 선택이 큰 스노우볼로 돌아오지만 어떻게든지 또 답은 있는건 재미있네요[spoiler] (다만 왕궁에 색욕카드 써야하는거 몰라서 많이 헤맸어요ㅠㅠ) [/spoiler]