A Bastard's Tale on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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A game about parrying, attacking, and overcoming difficult foes
A Bastard's Tale is a indie, difficult and action game
developed and published by No Pest Productions.
Released on May 26th 2015 is available in English only on Windows.
It has received 367 reviews of which 297 were positive and 70 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.6 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 4.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified A Bastard's Tale into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS: Windows ME and 2000 and later
- Processor: CPU with SSE2 support, including Intel Pentium 4, Pentium M, Core or Atom, AMD Athlon 64 or later.
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: 256 MB RAM
- Storage: 68 MB available space
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
A Bastard's Tale, developed and published by No Pest Productions, is a deliberately unforgiving 2D action game that channels the spirit of early console-era difficulty while layering in directional combat mechanics that demand precision and patience. Rather than leaning on elaborate storytelling or modern progression systems, the game builds its identity around mastery of fundamentals. You control a lone armored warrior armed with a longsword, stepping into a hostile medieval world where survival hinges entirely on reading enemy patterns, choosing the correct attack direction, and timing blocks with care. From the first encounter, it becomes clear that this is not a button-mashing hack-and-slash but a measured, tactical experience disguised within retro aesthetics. The visual style embraces pixel art reminiscent of 16-bit action titles, with rustic villages, grim farmlands, and fortified strongholds forming the backdrop of its five core stages. Character sprites are simple yet expressive enough to communicate intent, particularly during combat animations where directional attacks and shields are central to the design. The restrained art direction works in the game’s favor, keeping the screen readable during chaotic encounters while reinforcing its old-school identity. Complementing the visuals is a soundtrack rooted in chiptune sensibilities, offering energetic but unobtrusive melodies that echo the era it draws inspiration from. Together, the audiovisual presentation creates a cohesive retro atmosphere without feeling overly derivative. Combat is unquestionably the heart of the experience. Every encounter demands attention because enemies attack from different angles and require corresponding directional responses. Blocking is not automatic, and offensive strikes must be aimed correctly to break through defenses. This system introduces a layer of strategy uncommon in many side-scrolling action games. Standard foes can overwhelm careless players, while later adversaries introduce variations in speed, shield use, and attack rhythm that force constant adaptation. Boss battles amplify these mechanics, functioning as extended tests of pattern recognition and endurance. Success feels earned rather than granted, and each victory reinforces the satisfaction of gradual improvement. However, the same mechanics that define its strength also contribute to its polarizing reputation. The difficulty curve is steep, and early deaths are frequent as players adjust to the directional system and timing windows. The game offers little hand-holding, instead expecting experimentation and repetition as the path to mastery. For players who thrive on demanding gameplay loops reminiscent of classic arcade or early console challenges, this structure can be deeply rewarding. For others, especially those accustomed to more forgiving checkpoints or layered progression systems, the rigidity may feel punishing. Hit detection and responsiveness generally serve the design well, though occasional moments of perceived unfairness can break immersion and heighten frustration. Narrative presence is minimal. There is no elaborate lore exposition, no dialogue-driven character arcs, and no branching storylines. The experience is almost entirely gameplay-focused, with its identity rooted in mechanical challenge rather than narrative depth. While this may disappoint players seeking rich storytelling, it also ensures that the game remains tightly focused. The absence of narrative distractions places every ounce of emphasis on combat performance and player improvement. In this sense, the title functions almost like a distilled combat trial—a compact arena of escalating tests rather than a sprawling adventure. Despite its relatively short campaign, replayability is supported through modes like New Game Plus and an endless survival-style option that encourages high-score chasing and endurance runs. Achievements provide additional incentive for players who enjoy refining their approach or perfecting stage clears. Because the core mechanics are built around precision, repeated playthroughs often reveal subtle efficiencies and improved reaction timing, reinforcing the idea that mastery is a gradual process. The limited number of stages means the experience does not overstay its welcome, but it also leaves some players wishing for additional environments or enemy variety. Overall, the game stands as a focused homage to challenging retro action titles, delivering a mechanically driven experience that prioritizes skill over spectacle. It does not attempt to modernize itself with expansive RPG systems or cinematic storytelling, instead doubling down on directional swordplay and methodical pacing. For players who appreciate disciplined combat systems and the satisfaction of conquering difficult encounters through repetition and learning, it offers a concise but intense journey. Those seeking broader variety or narrative depth may find it sparse, but within its chosen framework, it delivers a deliberate and uncompromising test of reflexes and resolve. Rating: 7/10
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Cool stuff happening here but if I play anymore I'm gonna slam my head through a wall.
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A Bastard's Tale teaches you a valuable lesson about anger. The game has a weird control scheme (and control feel), but it works exactly as intended, and you have only yourself to blame for very thing that goes wrong. Each time you fail, you're learning the enemies patterns, timing, strategies against them, and what each animation means. Every situation in this game has an answer, and I think thats beautiful. It might seem like I'm exaggerating, or meming, but Im being completely honest when I say that this changed the way I see gaming when it comes to anger. When I died right at the end of a stage, I didn't want to rage, just to improve. And learning this lesson has improved my experience with other games, especially fighting games. Play this game, and play it for your own sake.
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Whoever made level 3 deserves to have their balls cut off with a plastic spoon.
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You can easily beat this in about an hour. But its levels are pretty. The combat is also fairly fun. Two main complaints. It can be kind of hard to tell a left swing from a right swing, and the ranged enemies are VERY boring to fight. But I think that's somewhat by design. If you enjoy a little challenge to kill some time, I'd throw a few dollars this games way.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A Bastard's Tale is currently priced at 4.99€ on Steam.
A Bastard's Tale is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 4.99€ on Steam.
A Bastard's Tale received 297 positive votes out of a total of 367 achieving a rating of 7.57.
😊
A Bastard's Tale was developed and published by No Pest Productions.
A Bastard's Tale is playable and fully supported on Windows.
A Bastard's Tale is not playable on MacOS.
A Bastard's Tale is not playable on Linux.
A Bastard's Tale is a single-player game.
A Bastard's Tale does not currently offer any DLC.
A Bastard's Tale does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
A Bastard's Tale does not support Steam Remote Play.
A Bastard's Tale is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for A Bastard's Tale.
Data sources
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Last Updates| Steam data | 02 March 2026 19:26 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 03 March 2026 12:11 |
| Steam price | 09 March 2026 04:45 |
| Steam reviews | 07 March 2026 09:47 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about A Bastard's Tale, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about A Bastard's Tale
- SteamCharts - Analysis of A Bastard's Tale concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck A Bastard's Tale compatibility
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Developer
No Pest Productions
Publisher
No Pest Productions
Release
26 May 2015
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