I gave this game a go tonight out of curiosity, and after reading the rules and calculating the probabilities in my head, I assumed that finding the love in the castle was very unlikely during any game. Oh well, still worth a shot!
During the village phase, my strategy was to stay in moth form until I gathered at least 3 moonlight before switching to maiden and gathering some memories. The dice nor layout helped much as I ended up at the castle quickly without ever leaving moth form in the village and with only 2 memories and 2 moonlight to spare. I figured it would be a short stay in the castle due to lack of resources. I was right. The very first card I flipped over in the castle was my love, who knew I was coming and was waiting on me. We then fluttered up into the sky and took our rightful places as everlasting spirits on the wind.
The quality and scope of files up on itchio varies dramatically, but the fact is people love making games. The current “industry” of tabletop games is a mess, but the thing that endears me so deeply to indie games is that they are, by and large, labors of love.
I played this game tonight and really enjoyed it! I'm a fan of Kaiya's work from Twice Bitten, a Curse of Strahd actual play podcast.
I loved how much structure and guidance there was in the game, which made it an easy entry point for me, as someone new to solo journaling RPGs. The two-phase approach really upped the stakes: I felt a real sense of urgency to gather as much moonlight as I could in the Village so that I wouldn't be confined to one shape in the Castle. The mechanics of my skills also changed my narrative in the game. Although I got stronger by finding weapons, by the end of my game I found my Maiden blindly swinging at any obstacle with her Scythe, irregardless of her Promises and other skills, simply because it offered the best chance of survival. I didn't find that limiting, though--actually, the opposite! It shaped a really tragic narrative for my Moth Maiden, and though she ended up cast out of the castle in defeat, separated forever from her love, the story I made was better than "winning." A great game, and I can't wait to try Her Odyssey and Kaiya's future games!
I’m delighted that you enjoyed the game - either despite or because of the tragic narrative that awaited your moth-maiden! Out of curiosity, how did you find your way here from Twice Bitten?
I followed you on Twitter! I really like your takes on character building and parlor LARPs. I think I probably found Cassi Mothwin and a bunch of other small TTRPG creators from your Twitter too!
Found this game on tiktok and had to give it a try as I'm always looking for good solo games. This game was lovely, easy to learn and engaging. I already had everything I needed to play on hand!
Beyond the ease of mechanics and a captivating concept this game is lovely. It is 100% what you put into it and in that regard is expansive and stunning and heartbreaking/heartwarming. Lessons in the Village phase fit so effortlessly into the Castle phase you would have thought the story was pre-written, which speaks less to my journaling and significantly more to the prompts and mechanics of the game.
A serious thank you for creating this obvious labor of love, I will be replaying and when I do, I can't wait to meet the next story of the Maiden & the Moth.
What a wonderful game. Thank you so much for making it! I made a quick Untitled Moth Game in one minute video because I liked it so much.
I didn't expect the promises I created to be so difficult to break, and I think that's part of the genius at work in the text. The prompts provided just enough to build from so the player can fill in the rest with hopes and dreams, making vows on which they hope to make good. I also love moth.
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I gave this game a go tonight out of curiosity, and after reading the rules and calculating the probabilities in my head, I assumed that finding the love in the castle was very unlikely during any game. Oh well, still worth a shot!
During the village phase, my strategy was to stay in moth form until I gathered at least 3 moonlight before switching to maiden and gathering some memories. The dice nor layout helped much as I ended up at the castle quickly without ever leaving moth form in the village and with only 2 memories and 2 moonlight to spare. I figured it would be a short stay in the castle due to lack of resources. I was right. The very first card I flipped over in the castle was my love, who knew I was coming and was waiting on me. We then fluttered up into the sky and took our rightful places as everlasting spirits on the wind.
5 stars - Play this game, it's really cool
Sometimes fairy tales are kind to their heroes. I’m glad you were able to save your love, and that you had a good time!
The quality and scope of files up on itchio varies dramatically, but the fact is people love making games. The current “industry” of tabletop games is a mess, but the thing that endears me so deeply to indie games is that they are, by and large, labors of love.
Untitled Moth Game is certainly no exception.
Thank you for the wonderful in-depth review. Each of your video essays is itself a labor of love.
I played this game tonight and really enjoyed it! I'm a fan of Kaiya's work from Twice Bitten, a Curse of Strahd actual play podcast.
I loved how much structure and guidance there was in the game, which made it an easy entry point for me, as someone new to solo journaling RPGs. The two-phase approach really upped the stakes: I felt a real sense of urgency to gather as much moonlight as I could in the Village so that I wouldn't be confined to one shape in the Castle. The mechanics of my skills also changed my narrative in the game. Although I got stronger by finding weapons, by the end of my game I found my Maiden blindly swinging at any obstacle with her Scythe, irregardless of her Promises and other skills, simply because it offered the best chance of survival. I didn't find that limiting, though--actually, the opposite! It shaped a really tragic narrative for my Moth Maiden, and though she ended up cast out of the castle in defeat, separated forever from her love, the story I made was better than "winning." A great game, and I can't wait to try Her Odyssey and Kaiya's future games!
I’m delighted that you enjoyed the game - either despite or because of the tragic narrative that awaited your moth-maiden! Out of curiosity, how did you find your way here from Twice Bitten?
I followed you on Twitter! I really like your takes on character building and parlor LARPs. I think I probably found Cassi Mothwin and a bunch of other small TTRPG creators from your Twitter too!
Oh, wonderful! There’s a continuation of Lilissen’s story that I’m releasing soon, that I announced on Twitter but nowhere else yet.
Found this game on tiktok and had to give it a try as I'm always looking for good solo games. This game was lovely, easy to learn and engaging. I already had everything I needed to play on hand!
Beyond the ease of mechanics and a captivating concept this game is lovely. It is 100% what you put into it and in that regard is expansive and stunning and heartbreaking/heartwarming. Lessons in the Village phase fit so effortlessly into the Castle phase you would have thought the story was pre-written, which speaks less to my journaling and significantly more to the prompts and mechanics of the game.
A serious thank you for creating this obvious labor of love, I will be replaying and when I do, I can't wait to meet the next story of the Maiden & the Moth.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! I’m so glad you enjoyed playing!
What a wonderful game. Thank you so much for making it! I made a quick Untitled Moth Game in one minute video because I liked it so much.
I didn't expect the promises I created to be so difficult to break, and I think that's part of the genius at work in the text. The prompts provided just enough to build from so the player can fill in the rest with hopes and dreams, making vows on which they hope to make good. I also love moth.
Oh gosh, thank you so much Cassi! I’m thrilled you liked it!