Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
Beneath a small town lies an endless maze known as the Labyrinth of Refrain. Dusk Witch Dronya arrives, and with her puppet soldiers, endeavors to find something buried deep within. Embark on an adventure as you discover the secrets underground.
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk is a dungeon crawler, rpg and anime game
developed by Nippon Ichi Software and Inc.
and published by NIS America and Inc..
Released on September 18th 2018 is available only on Windows
in 3 languages: English, Japanese and French.
It has received 1,278 reviews of which 1,026 were positive and 252 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 49.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk through various videos and screenshots.
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 7/8.1/10 64bit
- Processor: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD 520
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 20 GB available space
- Sound Card: Onboard
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Playing on the Steamdeck to test if this is actually playable or not. I have around 120 hours on the Switch version of this game, and 90 hours on its sequel on the Switch. It automatically sets the resolution correctly. The text is the same size as on the Switch, which I had no issues with. I love DRPGs. They are a rare breed of games that seem to be relegated to softcore porn ala Mary Skelter, Tokyo Clanpool, MeiQ, and many, many others, or they are old, outdated designs, stuck on DOS-box, ala Eye of the Beholder, Wizardry series (until recently), or just very dated designs like Phantasy Star, etc. So when a DRPG comes along that has a story that is a little bit less tame, but with really strong dungeon crawling (in the actual sense, not Steam's weird as fuck sense), I need to get the word out there. So what is a DRPG? A DRPG is a grid-based game that is in the first person, usually involving parties, sometimes called a blobber. Some are in realtime (Grimrock) while most are turn based. The game either maps for you (modern games) or relies on you making a mental map, or its a whole system in the game (Etrian Odyssey). This is a modern turn-based DRPG, both in combat and in the maps. The game has a lot of depth to it with its soul system, its equipment system, its coven system, the gore critical system for the puppets you control. And as for the dungeon aspects, it has some unique bits and bobs, including breaking walls because you can. Its really hard to emphasise how much more content there is in Labyrinth of Refrain, and its sequel, Labyrinth of Galleria. I believe this is in part because these games are Nippon Ichi Software games, which are known to be a bit...extra. Labyrinth of Refrain is the better of the two games. While Labyrinth of Galleria has quality of life features including not losing items on party wipe (yes, this can fuck you over in Refrain! Save often!), its story is a lot weaker, as is the dungeon crawling. I would recommend this game if you enjoyed DRPG games such as: Labyrinth of Galleria Legend of Grimrock I & II Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey/Redux Etrian Odyssey series Eye of the Beholder series Mary Skelter 2 (haven't played the others) Saviour of Sapphire Wings Kowloon High School Chronicles I would not recommend it if you're sensitive to anime tropes. There are things I really dislike in Labyrinth of Refrain that include the constant abuse of Luca and Fitz (children) by their parental figure that's done in a way that I can only describe as "anime", or Marietta's "comically anime" advances on the main character, Dronya with her massive "potatoes" (normal people would call these melons, real badonkadonks, and many other nonsensical terms for breasts, but she calls them potatoes and that's just weird). Its hard to recommend as a first DRPG not because its the best out there but because of the aforementioned anime tropes, but if you know you like this kind of game, I think its worth it. Its got some really interesting bosses, its environments are unique and tell individual stories alongside the main one, and I just really liked this game.
Expand the review
This game is really good. The combat is probably the weakest part because of the focus on grinding and gear hunting (for postgame), but I think the story more than makes up for it. It is absolutely a mature story that deals with adult themes (what makes people bad, confronting abusers, etc) but NIS actually handled it well for once? Honestly, this game is so good coming from NIS that I think it's a fluke. Playing the sequel confirmed that. Strongly recommend Refrain if you don't mind darker themes. Stay away from Galleria unless you played Refrain for the combat.
Expand the review
A solid dungeon crawler and one of the best stories I've read. It was an extremely dark and emotional journey but I'm glad I saw it through to the end. 9/10
Expand the review
Bloodier and hornier Etrian Odyssey. Relative to those: + Strong emphasis on story from the get-go. + Team construction is an interesting, well-developed system in its own right. - Non-boss fights offer uninteresting turn-to-turn gameplay. - Several mechanics are opaque or obscure. - Some translation issues.
Expand the review
Refrain is a critically flawed, but beautifully executed game that had me hooked from the start. I haven't played that many turn-based first-person dungeon crawlers like this, but that will certainly change now. The game starts out with some superb voice-acting and interesting characters. It's a bit edgy at times but the memorable characters with a variety of moral compasses/motivations and the fact that you are an enslaved book instead of some dude motivated me to keep playing. You aren't in a cast of adventurers who are looking to explore the world or some shit like that. There is a witch, her apprentice/"niece", the townsfolk with their unique blend of virtues and sins, etc. that are all there for specific but unique reasons that get revealed over time. The main story is fed to you as you progress through the labyrinth and pass some checkpoints that prompt you to resurface, creating a satisfying loop of exploration and story. Each labyrinth itself also has its own characters and stories, tied to the mobs you fight, the environment, encounters etc. that is separate from (though, later on, somewhat connected to) the main story. There is a lot of optional secrets, bosses, loot etc. (gating the true ending post-game that really develops on the story) , and so, every dialogue and VN cutscene was a joy regardless of it being a part of the main or the labyrinth one. Of course, since its from Japan, there are 1000 plot twists, time travel, etc but it was executed quite well with a lot of hints from the beginning, so I found it to be well-written . The cutscenes sometimes being really important, but sometimes just being daily events/meetings to develop the characters got me attached to the cast, though some people could see it as a drag before the tone shifts/the real plot develops. And well, the story being good was really necessary to keep me motivated since the game can really be a grind. 80-90% of combat encounters are extremely quick with very little thought. It can be quite satisfying to grind through these since your build, which has a lot of systems you have to interact with to create, is put to the test. However, it can get tiring and the game does drag on and on sometimes with mundane encounters, especially in the mid to early late game. Umbra is a common complaint, which is the largest labyrinth by far. I ended up dropping the game for months at times, but I always came back and 100%'d it. When the fights are actually a bit more difficult, the fact that things like the game's initiative system is not predictable and, outside of HP and resistances, the only [[Damage Complexity]] (outside of damage elements) comes from hit chance and crit chance makes the fights once again a test of your build rather than mid-combat strategy. Things simply are not very reliable, and there are a lot of one-shots either from your or from the other side. Tanks can choose to fortify before enemy attacks, and are most of the time more likely to get hit, but the boss-fights feature far too many board-wide attacks, which makes them less reliable unless they randomly proc their guarding abilities. So, a lot of fights boil down to your build, and a pinch of chance, but at the very least the builds themselves are pretty varied and interesting, at least for the individual units. The builds being the focus is a bigger strength than one might think, since most combat takes 10-15 seconds as you grind through the levels anyway (if you have a good enough build). Through rebirth, your puppets can take skills/passives with them as they take on a new class. Each class also has different stat growths and weapon preferences. The game is just kind of weird and interesting when it comes to builds. There is a luck stat that increases hit etc, but some skills actually benefit from luck being the lowest category possible, but only that category (or some highest category). Some skills give ATK whenever you dodge, others survive with 1HP, and some either give large boosts on full or very low HP. Chance to attack multiple times, stat % boosts, mana cost modification, etc. etc., there is a variety of skills dispersed through multiple classes which can create good synergies. Combine that with a variety of item slots, trinkets etc. that each can have some very different buffs/debuffs AND can be synthesized, and you have a lot of systems to interact with when doing your builds. However, build synergy is largely limited to the unit itself. Unfortunately, there is very little synergy between units, and the best "coven", which are collections that hold your units with certain buffs, are always those that just enhance your personal builds with a % buff. In other words, there isn't that much synergy between units, other than the guard rate of the tanks. There is a lot of active abilities that can be cast to enhance other units, but units don't really aid each other by existing together that much. I guess this might be a general weakness of turn-based games without positioning in general. I hope that Nippon Ichi uses such build variety / imaginativeness in a game with more complex combat some day to take it to its full potential. At the very least, the gore mechanic is interesting because it leads to dramatic fights. You can have puppets that specifically have builds that cripple the parts of a boss, and by the end when the cycle of one-shots and revivals end, you can often end up in situations where it doesn't make sense to revive anymore and your carry has to 1v1 the weakened boss. It often ends in some "defend before big attack" and attack cycle, but since chance is most important in a 1v1, it can be dramatic at least, if not strategic. Outside of combat, the level design definitely carries a lot of the gameplay. The fact that the labyrinth itself is a joy to map out/complete, "coloring the map", with treasures, and aforementioned stories/NPCs, helps as well. Mechanically, the levels have wall-breaking, verticality between labyrinth levels, etc. that form interesting challenges, and in some cases, traps. In a sense, you are fighting against the environment as much as the trash mobs, and up until you unlock "Mud Exit" getting out of the labyrinth can be a challenge. The enemy designs are very well made and varied too, so that adds to the joy as you progress and unlock new areas. This game could have been perfect if not for the combat, which sounds pretty bad but combat is relatively fast and you interact with the great story and exploration aspects much more often than you might think. Combined with how building your party itself can at least be quite involved, which alleviated some of the boredom of the combat, as well as the superb art, it becomes pretty hard to not recommend Refrain. Looking forward to playing Galleria to see what has changed.
Expand the review
Similar games
View all
Mary Skelter: Nightmares
The "Jail" suddenly appeared a number of years ago, sinking the city deep into the ground. There, this impenetrable living prison 666 metres beneath the surface, held power over eerie creatures called "Marchens." Within the prison was a boy named Jack - living a life of suffering...
Stranger of Sword City
Your flight crashes after passing through a mysterious portal. As the sole survivor, you awaken to an unfamiliar land lit by stars you’ve never seen. This land is Escario. Quickly marked as the Chosen One, the Stranger of Sword City, you must defend this place, and choose your allegiances carefully...
Etrian Odyssey HD
Beyond the village of Etria lies a mysterious forest with a colossal crack opening to a puzzling labyrinth. Lead a team of explorers into the dungeon with the promise of riches, fame, and adventure!
Moero Chronicle
Io is a man who has no luck with the ladies, and now he's tasked with recruiting Monster Girls to save the world in this moe-filled dungeon RPG! Recruit 50 Monster Girls! Combine their Moe Traits! Build relationships with them and find out just how cute a monster can be!
Pastelia Stories
"Pastelia Stories" is a turn-based JRPG. You will be summoned into Pastelia world, and here begins your wonderful journey. Explore big world just like you want, pick any out of 30 companions, chose one of the story lines and factions to find your way back home.
Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls
The magic torches are lit, the monsters are ravenous, and the kingdom is waiting for a new hero. Experience the legendary Wizardry series’ modern rebirth as you traverse perilous dungeons and take on hordes of fantastic enemies. Are you up to the challenge?
Etrian Odyssey III HD
Set sail to an undersea labyrinth in search of the Deep City of Armoroad! Lead a party of adventurers to explore the vast dungeon in search of untold technology, treasure, and lost secrets.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
At Thors Military Academy, Erebonia’s best learn everything from the art of war to liberal arts. First year Rean Schwarzer learns he’s been selected to join the controversial Class VII, and they’ll need to deal with more than just class warfare--they’ll need to safeguard their country from chaos.
Persona 4 Golden
A coming of age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders.
Agarest: Generations of War
At the dawn of time, a terrible war raged between the forces of good and evil, ending in the destruction of the world of Agarest. After their victory, the Gods of Light unified the decaying bodies of the Gods of Darkness and created a new world.
Megadimension Neptunia VII
New challengers are taking control of Gamindustri, and Neptune's nowhere in sight. Now she’s gotta help a mysterious stranger fight a colossal new evil, reclaim her Goddess title, and find some time for pudding! Go next gen with Giant Battles and multi-worlds in this JRPG!
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3 V Generation
Lost in an alternate dimension, Neptune must collect enough shares to get back home. Sounds easy – except the Seven Sages want to rid Gamindustri of CPUs, including Neptune! Help defeat them and return her to her own world in this JRPG – or be stuck in the '80s forever!Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 12 April 2025 23:08 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 09 April 2025 04:53 |
| Steam price | 16 April 2025 12:42 |
| Steam reviews | 16 April 2025 03:58 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk, 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 Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk compatibility
Online players
20
Developer
Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
Publisher
NIS America, Inc.
Release
18 Sep 2018
Platforms