Tails of Iron is a hand-drawn, single-player action RPG about a rat prince fighting to reclaim his kingdom from the Frog Clan. Its strongest appeal is deliberate, demanding combat built around reading enemy attacks; its main point of caution is that reviewers disagree about how well that loop sustains itself and how much depth surrounds it. Store listings describe two included expansions, but format and availability depend on the platform and regional listing.
What kind of game is Tails of Iron?
You play Redgi, heir to the Rat Throne, as he tries to reclaim the kingdom from the Frog Clan and its leader, Greenwart. The official Nintendo UK listing describes the setting as a grim land shaped by anthropomorphic medieval war and calls the game a hand-drawn RPG adventure. The PlayStation listing identifies six distinct biomes and actor Doug Cockle as narrator.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Tails of Iron /PS5 | $48.88 | Buy on Amazon |
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Iron Harvest: Complete Edition - PlayStation 5 | $27.40 | Buy on Amazon |
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Tails of Iron /PS4 | $34.56 | Buy on Amazon |
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Tails of Iron - PlayStation 5 | Buy on Amazon |
Combat is the defining feature: observe an enemy’s attack, then choose a response such as dodging, parrying, executing a vulnerable foe or using a ranged attack. Exploration, side quests, companions and equipment choices provide the broader adventure structure. Weapons and armor can change your approach, so success is not only about reacting quickly but also about choosing how to meet a fight.
Is Tails of Iron difficult?
Nintendo’s product copy calls the combat “punishingly brutal.” That is the publisher’s description, not an objective difficulty rating. The practical takeaway is that the game expects attention to enemy patterns and deliberate responses rather than button-mashing. For players who enjoy learning attack tells and improving through repeated encounters, that challenge is a central attraction. Players seeking a forgiving action RPG may find the same emphasis frustrating.
#1 Best Overall
- Set in a grim land plagued by war, Tails of Iron is a hand drawn RPG Adventure with punishingly brutal combat
- Master brutal combat, inspired by the souls like genre, featuring dodge rolls, parry bashes, and fatal executions
- Explore a vast and treacherous Kingdom, comprising six distinct biomes, each with its own hidden paths and secrets
Critic excerpts collected on Metacritic illustrate the range of reactions. WellPlayed praised the art and Souls-inspired challenge, scoring it 95/100 on September 17, 2021; GamingTrend described the world and combat as challenging yet fair, scoring it 90/100 on September 20, 2021. Softpedia called it entertaining and rewarding but not especially deep or complex (80/100, September 27, 2021), while GamingBolt argued that the initial appeal did not outlast the gameplay (60/100, September 17, 2021). These are individual critic assessments, not a guarantee of how any particular player will experience the difficulty or repetition.
What do reviews say overall?
The available review snapshots lean positive, while leaving room for disagreement about depth, difficulty and the longevity of the combat loop. At access, Metacritic showed an 81 Metascore based on 13 critic reviews and a 7.6 user score based on 176 user ratings. These are aggregator scores and sample counts, not results from an independent survey; ratings can change as more reviews are added.
Rank #2
- Lead dozens of different unit types into battle, carefully utilize cover and blast entire buildings to shreds - Take your time to come up with a plan which allows for a wide range of tactics, including a stealth approach
- Experience an epic overarching story, spanning more than 27 missions over four campaigns - Team-up with a friend and master all campaigns side-by-side in co-op
- Competitive multiplayer with ladders, ranked matches & leagues - Choose from a vast selection of skirmish maps and challenge maps, available to play in singleplayer and coop
- Take to the sky and conquer the world with the introduction of new airship units for all factions
- Complete Edition Content includes the base game and 2 DLC expansions - Rusviet Revolution and Operation Eagle - All of the DLCs and past PC Updates will be included on the console discs
Steam’s English-language review display showed “Very Positive”: 88% of 4,146 reviews were positive. Its recent snapshot showed 85% of 113 reviews from the last 30 days positive. These are storefront review aggregates, so the recent figure covers a smaller, time-bounded group and both figures are volatile. Neither score establishes whether the game’s combat style is a fit for you.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is included, and how do the versions differ?
The store pages checked describe Bright Fir Forest and Bloody Whiskers as included, but the listing you buy is the deciding reference for your platform and region. The verified physical option is Nintendo Switch Game Card; the reviewed PlayStation pages list digital PS4 and PS5 versions, and Steam lists the Windows PC edition.
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Rank #3
- Set in a grim land plagued by war, Tails of Iron is a hand drawn RPG Adventure with punishingly brutal combat
- Master brutal combat, inspired by the souls like genre, featuring dodge rolls, parry bashes, and fatal executions
- Explore a vast and treacherous Kingdom, comprising six distinct biomes, each with its own hidden paths and secrets
- Crimson Knight Edition Arise, young squire, and become a legendary protector of the realm with the exclusive Crimson Knight Edition, containing 3 Armour Skins, 3 Weapon Skins, 3 Shield Skins, & 3 Helmet Skins
| Store listing | Format shown | Expansion information |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo UK | Nintendo Switch Game Card and download version | Describes Bright Fir Forest and Bloody Whiskers as included |
| PlayStation US | Digital PS4 and PS5 versions | Describes both expansions as included |
| Steam | Windows PC digital edition | Describes both expansions; also lists separate digital DLC, soundtrack, artbook and bundles |
The Nintendo UK Game Card listing gives a release date of September 17, 2021 and a PEGI 16 rating. Those details apply to that listing; check the local store page for current format, age rating, stock and included content. Steam’s digital soundtrack and artbook listings do not establish that a physical soundtrack or artbook is included, and standalone DLC listings do not mean the expansions are separate from every edition.
Bright Fir Forest
Nintendo UK describes Bright Fir Forest as end-game content featuring new side quests, Mole Arena challengers, weapons and armor, cosmetic upgrades, music and achievements. Steam specifies 13 quests, three new Mole Arena challengers and eight Crimson Keep cosmetic upgrades.
Rank #4
- Set in a grim land plagued by war, Tails of Iron is a hand-drawn RPG Adventure with punishingly brutal combat
- Master brutal combat, inspired by the souls-like genre, featuring dodge-rolls, parry bashes, and fatal executions
- Explore a vast and treacherous Kingdom, comprising six distinct biomes, each with its own hidden paths and secrets
- Immerse yourself in the compelling story, narrated by the deep, raspy Doug Cockle
- Crimson Knight Edition - Arise, young squire, and become a legendary protector of the realm with the exclusive Crimson Knight Edition, containing 3 Armour Skins, 3 Weapon Skins, 3 Shield Skins, & 3 Helmet Skins
Bloody Whiskers
Nintendo UK characterizes Bloody Whiskers as a combat tournament expansion. Steam describes a post-game questline, two difficulty modes and five bosses.
Quick Recap
Who is likely to enjoy Tails of Iron?
- A good fit: players drawn to a distinctive hand-drawn fantasy world, a narrated story and fights that reward reading attacks and choosing a response.
- Think twice: players who prefer consistently forgiving combat, or who want extensive mechanical depth and variety. Some critics found the gameplay less deep or less sustaining than its initial appeal suggests.
- Before buying: confirm the exact platform, physical versus download format, included expansions, local age rating, current price and stock on the listing you intend to use. The storefront descriptions establish available formats, not current retailer availability or identical content across every territory.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
