Sometimes the simplest of games can be the most compelling. I didn’t think much of Noel The Mortal Fate when an email about it came across my inbox, since it is an RPG Maker-styled game that was originally released in Japan as an episodic title. However, after playing through the entirety of what has been made available, I am happy to admit that I underestimated this small game.

Noel The Mortal Fate is actually not the entire story. It is the first seven episodes (called seasons) with a bonus “Season 3.5” which wasn’t previously released. Seasons 8 and 9 are available on Steam but not consoles, and 10-12 have neither been translated nor released outside of Japan.

Ultimately, you are getting to experience the first two story arcs, to use anime or manga terms. However, before we get too ahead of ourselves here, let’s talk about what Noel The Mortal Fate actually is.

Noel the Mortal Fate puts you in the role of the titular Noel, a girl who is manipulated into making a deal with a devil, without understanding the cost. It turns out that being manipulated in such a way is against the rules of devil contracts, thus Noel and her devil partner Caron set out to get revenge on the man that manipulated her.

I am being intentionally vague on the plot, as there is a lot more to it than this. However, the game plays out very similarly (plotwise) to a Persona or Shin Megami Tensei title, where what you think is happening at first, is what it seems. It should also be noted that Noel The Mortal Fate is not a game suitable for anyone under the age of probably 16 or so, though your mileage may vary on the maturity of your kid.

The plot in Noel The Mortal Fate deals with corruption, murder, dismemberment, greed, and a whole lot of non-sexual adult concepts. In fact, I would draw a lot of comparisons (plotwise and content-wise) to Persona 5, as there is a definite “rebellion” and “power struggle” theme of injustice involved. Mechanically, Noel The Mortal Fate is rather hard to describe though.

The best way I can describe it is an ever-evolving mix of a visual novel, puzzle game, and adventure game all rolled into one. The game typically plays out in two main phases: an adventure phase as well as an action or puzzle phase. The adventure phase involves exploring environments, viewing cutscenes, and learning more about the story.

On the other hand, the puzzle phase usually involves either stealth, solving puzzles such as negotiations, persuasion, or deduction and reasoning. However, the puzzle phase (at key moments) can consist of a boss battle or combat sequence, which usually has a puzzle or gimmick to it. Each season changes the formula up a bit, introduces new characters or puzzles, and generally keeps things fresh.

While the game doesn’t autosave, the save system is fairly forgiving as it requests that you save often. This is because as you explore, you can gain healing items or currency known as “P” which allows you to purchase more healing items at shops. There is usually one or two shops total in a season, and each segment of the season lets you acquire P in various ways to make sure that when you do have a chance to shop, you have enough to stock up.

Various hazards and threats can damage you in these levels, and often the healing items are invaluable while you are trying to figure out the various gimmicks. None of it is all that difficult, but some of the segments do take a bit of time to wrap your brain around. All-in-all I finished the entirety of Noel The Mortal Fate in about 8 hours or so, but if I had taken my time it may have rounded off at around 10 hours.

Because of that length, I have a hard time recommending the game at $24.99, even though the plot is so good. In fact, other than being short, I think Noel The Mortal Fate is actually fantastic. The art style is amazing, the storyline is great, the characters are all distinctive, and the mechanics don’t overstay their welcome.

Even the stealth sections aren’t overly lengthy, and some of the designs for the levels are pretty genius. I would love to get an announcement soon that Seasons 8-12 are coming as DLC or something in the next year because the game ends at a significant cliffhanger. With that being said, I do think that Noel the Mortal Fate is worth picking up.

Truth be told a lot of these smaller games (or more niche ones) have been surprising me lately. If you’re looking for something a little different or something with the Persona vibe, I’d recommend this one. It is also on Nintendo Switch and PC. In fact, you might want to get it on PC since Season 8 and 9 are 3 dollars each and are currently only translated for PC.

A PlayStation 5 review copy of Noel The Mortal Fate was provided by PLAYISM for this review.

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Noel The Mortal Fate

$24.99 USD

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Intriguing Story
• Great Character Designs
• Forgiving Save System
• Simple Yet Engaging Gameplay

Cons

• Short Length
• Cliffhanger Ending