Tales of the Black Forest
Hooks you almost right away
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 6 reviews are negative (16%); after 4h it's 1 in 55 (2%).
- Fully opens up by hour 3.
- The opening is criticised less than in 81% of games we track.
- At least 49% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “Bone Mountain and Blossoms” (Complete chapter 1: Deer Skull Kaidan): only 66% of starters get there.
- 80% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 15,822 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 297 reviews: 5h for positive, 4.1h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (79.7% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Bone Mountain and Blossoms Complete chapter 1: Deer Skull Kaidan Most players quit here 66% −34
- The lost kitten has returned to the fairy tale kingdom Complete chapter 2: The Travelling Cat 57% −9
- Comedy and Tragedy, Love and Be Loved Complete chapter 3: The Yōkai Moviola 51% −5
- A white snowflake like a flower in summer Reach the ending Blossoms and Snowflakes ≥49% −2
story milestone ending (most common ending) biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (15)
story milestone ending side
- Girl under the Moonlight Meet Kiritani Yuki for the first time 100%
- Bone Mountain and Blossoms Complete chapter 1: Deer Skull Kaidan 66%
- The imprisoned Snowcat Free the Snowcat's soul 58%
- Don’t fool the scarecrow Talk to the scarecrow after chapter 1 57%
- The lost kitten has returned to the fairy tale kingdom Complete chapter 2: The Travelling Cat 57%
- A god's ceremony Participate in the God of Abundance ritual 54%
- Comedy and Tragedy, Love and Be Loved Complete chapter 3: The Yōkai Moviola 51%
- A white snowflake like a flower in summer Reach the ending Blossoms and Snowflakes 49%
- A secret message from a novelist Read the Credit list 49%
- A traveller coming home Reach the ending Coming home 47%
- Cluck cluck cluck? Talk to the rooster after chapter 1 47%
- Legacy of a scholar Talk to Izumi Yakumo after chapter 3 45%
- A Musician on a Tour Talk to the demon mask in the prop room after chapter 3 43%
- The black cat's true face Talk to Sakurako-san after chapter 2 35%
- Repairman, tourist, chef Talk to Dodo after chapter 2 35%