Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception cover art

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception

A visual novel first and a light tactics game second, heavy on story.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION1 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE2 /10OPTIMIZATION4 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    1/10

    Optional timing presses on attacks

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    Enemy AI is scripted and predictable

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    2/10

    Light combat RNG in a mostly fixed story

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    4/10

    Easy SRPG battles solved with basic positioning

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Oxenfree cover art

Oxenfree

Pure Optimization · supernatural narrative

E
R
V
O
Oxenfree
Steins;Gate cover art

Steins;Gate

Pure Optimization · sci-fi visual novel

E
R
V
O
Steins;Gate
Murdered: Soul Suspect cover art

Murdered: Soul Suspect

Systems & Chaos · detective adventure

E
R
V
O
Murdered: Soul Suspect
Omori cover art

Omori

Pure Optimization · psychological horror RPG

E
R
V
O
Omori
Call of Cthulhu cover art

Call of Cthulhu

Light / Casual · horror investigation

E
R
V
O
Call of Cthulhu
Everlasting Summer cover art

Everlasting Summer

Light / Casual · visual novel

E
R
V
O
Everlasting Summer

Game details

Released
2015
Developer
Aquaplus
Franchise
Utawarerumono
Platforms
PS3, PS4, PC, Vita, Switch
Modes
Single player
IGDB critics
66/100
IGDB users
80/100
Role-playing (RPG)StrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)TacticalVisual NovelActionFantasyDramaWarfare