Pyre

Pyre is a sports game. You play as a reader who reads the stars for the Nightwing team. You are an exile, together with your team and your adversaries in the Downside. Only through the rites can any of you be free. The game works like a visual novel, with the sports game in between that would change the course of the outcome. Overall, the game is really good: story, lore, music, pacing, etc. I especially like the story and the lore of it. It's a well-told story and the lore about the eight scribes and your motivation for winning the game are wonderful. The only weakness, although this might be a big one, is the matches/rites themselves. I suspect this is because they want to make this a PvP game. Therefore, they had to make the game fair and real-time for both teams. I would prefer if there is more strategic layer to them, such as having a turn-based action, pause, or controlling multiple characters at once. But still, it is still a great game with great story and I recommend this.

[b]Pyre[/b] blends visual novel storytelling with a unique ritual-based competitive system, creating a mechanically distinctive experience built around positioning, timing, and strategic sacrifice. [b]CORE RITE MECHANICS[/b] [*][b]3v3 Ritual Battles[/b] - Each Rite plays like a hybrid of sports and tactical arena combat, where positioning and orb control determine victory. [*][b]Pyre & Orb System[/b] - Carrying the orb extinguishes the enemy flame but leaves you vulnerable, creating constant risk vs reward decisions. [*][b]Aura Abilities[/b] - Each character has unique movement speed, jump arcs, and special abilities that define tactical roles. [*][b]Downed State Mechanics[/b] - Banished characters temporarily leave the field, shifting team momentum dynamically. [b]TEAM COMPOSITION & STRATEGY[/b] [*]Character synergies matter — speed, size, and abilities combine into different tactical approaches. [*]Selecting your trio before each Rite becomes a strategic decision based on opponent tendencies. [*]Movement control and spacing are more important than raw aggression. [b]PROGRESSION & SACRIFICE SYSTEM[/b] [*]Winning Rites can permanently free a character, removing them from your roster. [*]This creates meaningful long-term mechanical consequences tied directly to success. [*]Progression isn’t just stat-based — it reshapes available strategies over time. [b]RISK, MOMENTUM & PLAYER AGENCY[/b] [*]Matches swing based on timing, orb steals, and defensive positioning. [*]You can choose to win or intentionally lose certain Rites, affecting narrative and roster mechanics. [*]Every decision carries mechanical and long-term impact. [b]10/10[/b] - inventive ritual combat mechanics, meaningful roster management, and strong risk/reward systems make Pyre mechanically unique and strategically engaging.

Sports games aren't really my thing typically. But with Supergiant at the helm? Yeah, sure, I'd give it shot. Well, that shot wouldn't come until years later, making me wish I had played through it in earnest sooner but still. Pyre isn't lacking in any of the usual qualities expected in a game from these developers. The story and characters here are particularly good. Despite that, it's quite the ambitious game and it deviates from the rest of their catalogue. And I think, successfully. However it's playing through the rites that's the real make-or-break here for the uninitiated. I don't think they're bad, far from it. From your teammates and what makes them unique to your opponents team and other small decisions to make, there's plenty to consider. However, you go through the rites quite often and Pyre isn't a particularly long game so I was getting burnt out of them near the end of it. If you don't care for them early on, not much is going to change your mind by the mid to late game. This definitely isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but it's still admirable that they took the risks that they did. I can't imagine they'll ever make something like this again since it didn't do well but I'm a little skeptical that a Hades 3 is in the works. I'll be curious to see whatever comes next.

Bell musique, belle histoire, beau jeu

You can clearly see Hades beginnings here, with excellent writing and voice acting? It's a visual novel + pick your path adventure game + kind clunky basketball All in all, a very original game like no other, recommended if you loved Hades or Transistor.

Gorgeous artwork and banger soundtrack. The story is really fancy and special in its way. The characters and creatures are extraordinary created and well written. The actual gameplay is engaging and fun overall but gets kinda stale in the entirety of the playthrough.

it was just great, the gameplay is so fun and the story is great. i cant wait to play multiplayer!!!

Until I played this game, I hadn't known the triumphs and defeats, the epic highs and lows of slam dunk football.