Game Overview:

Pyre is the successor to the critically acclaimed Transistor and the third title by Supergiant Games. Published in 2017, the developer describes Pyre as “a party-based RPG in which you lead a band of exiles to freedom through an ancient competition spread across a vast, mystical purgatory.”

The indie title is praised of its rich narrative, art and visual design as well as blending multiple genres and including multiple branching storylines.

Pyres covers themes of freedom, revolution, sacrifice and difficult choices. It also tackles complex topics such as social injustice, personal vs. collective good, identity and belonging.

The game carries a PEGI 7 rating for including mild violence.

Analysis Overview:

For this analysis, our AI-driven framework has processed over 6,000 public user reviews from Pyre's release until now.

Top five most commented user tags for Bastion are: RPG, Rich Story, Rich Lore, Indie and Great Soundtrack. What follows are the collective insights of user opinions, presented as they were.

RPG

a) Hybrid Gameplay: 35% of reviews | Score: 8/10

Pyre represents a unique fusion of RPG mechanics with sports gameplay and visual novel elements. The core gameplay revolves around 3 by 3 basketball-style matches called Rites, where players must strategically control team members with distinct abilities and playstyles. The RPG elements manifest through character progression systems, including skill trees, stat development, and equipment management through talismans. This hybrid approach combines traditional RPG party management with fast-paced sports action, allowing players to level up characters and customize their abilities while participating in ritual competitions. While some players initially found the sports mechanics off-putting, many reported that the RPG elements helped make the gameplay more engaging and strategic. The fusion of genres is consistently described as innovative, though reviews

b) Character-Driven System: 45% of reviews | Score: 9/10

The game's RPG mechanics are deeply intertwined with character development and relationships within a band of exiles. Players take on the role of "The Reader," leading a diverse group of characters called the Nightwings through their journey in the Downside, a purgatory-like realm. The RPG systems emphasize meaningful character choices, with players making decisions that affect both individual character arcs and the overall narrative trajectory. A distinctive feature is the liberation mechanic, where players must choose which characters to free from exile, creating emotional weight to character progression and team management. The game's party-based structure allows players to develop different character builds and strategies, while also exploring each character's personal story and motivations. Reviews consistently praise how the RPG elements support character attachment and development, noting that decisions about character progression and team composition carry both tactical and emotional significance.

c) : Storytelling : 20% of reviews | Score: 9/10

Pyre's RPG framework serves as a foundation for deep narrative exploration and extensive world-building. The game constructs a rich fantasy setting where literacy is forbidden in the Commonwealth, and exiles must participate in sacred Rites to earn their freedom. The RPG elements integrate seamlessly with the storytelling, as character progression and gameplay decisions directly impact the branching narrative paths. A notable aspect is how the story continues regardless of victory or defeat in the Rites, with the narrative adapting to player performance and choices rather than forcing restarts or game-overs. Reviews particularly praise how the RPG systems support multiple playthroughs, as different character choices and team compositions lead to varying story outcomes and revelations about the world. The RPG format allows players to engage with the narrative at their own pace, balancing action with extensive world-building and character development.

The three core aspects of Pyre's RPG identity work in concert to create a distinctive gaming experience. The hybrid elements provide the mechanical foundation through which players engage with characters and story, while the character-driven aspects give emotional weight to both the sports-like gameplay and narrative choices. The story-rich elements then contextualize everything within a larger fantasy world where even game mechanics like victory and defeat serve the broader narrative. Together, these elements form an RPG that prioritizes player agency and emotional investment while experimenting with genre conventions.

Rich Story

a) Story Quality & Impact: 45% of reviews | Score: 9/10

The story in Pyre emerges as a masterfully crafted narrative that consistently engages players through its emotional depth and writing quality. Multiple reviewers highlight how the story successfully blends elements of hope, tragedy, and revolution while maintaining strong thematic coherence throughout the journey. The narrative achieves a delicate balance between personal stories and larger societal themes, focusing on concepts of exile, redemption, and freedom. Players frequently note experiencing strong emotional responses to story developments, with many describing it as heart-wrenching or moving. While some reviewers mention the story can feel slow to start, they overwhelmingly indicate that it builds to a satisfying and impactful conclusion

b) Character Development & Relationships: 30% of reviews | Score: 9/10

The game features a diverse cast of characters whose development forms a central pillar of the narrative experience. Players consistently report forming strong emotional bonds with both their companions and opponents, each of whom possesses distinct personalities, detailed backstories, and complex motivations that unfold throughout the journey. The character writing particularly shines in how it handles relationships and interactions between cast members, creating believable dynamics that evolve based on story progression and player choices. Multiple reviewers note the difficulty of making decisions about characters' fates due to their genuine attachment to them, highlighting how even antagonists are written with depth and humanity. The game notably avoids one-dimensional characterizations, instead presenting flawed yet endearing personalities that contribute to a rich tapestry of interpersonal dynamics.

c) Choice & Consequence: 15% of reviews | Score: 8/10

The narrative structure of Pyre distinguishes itself through a sophisticated system of choices and consequences that directly impact both story progression and character outcomes. A defining feature is how the game incorporates both victories and defeats into the narrative flow, with players' successes and failures meaningfully affecting the story's direction rather than resulting in game-over states. The branching narrative offers multiple possible endings that reflect players' decisions throughout their journey, with choices about which characters to liberate creating lasting repercussions. Reviewers particularly note how the game forces difficult decisions about characters' fates, creating emotional weight behind strategic choices. While the core story maintains its general structure, the various possible character outcomes and story branches provide significant replay value, with players reporting notably different experiences across multiple playthroughs.

d) Story Structure & Delivery: 10% of reviews | Score: 7/10

The story's delivery system employs a hybrid approach that combines visual novel elements with interactive gameplay segments. Many reviewers note the significant amount of reading required, as the narrative unfolds primarily through text-based interactions and an in-game book that expands with lore as players progress. The pacing receives mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the gradual world-building while others find the early portions slow before the story gains momentum. The integration between story segments and gameplay mechanics generally receives praise, though a subset of reviews indicates that the transitions between narrative and action sequences can feel somewhat segmented. This unique structure enables deep world-building while potentially requiring more player investment than traditional storytelling approaches.

The rich story of Pyre operates across four interconnected layers, working together to create a deeply personal experience where the emotional weight of character relationships directly influences player decisions, while both victories and defeats meaningfully shape the evolving narrative. The text-heavy delivery format, while potentially challenging for some players, enables deep character development and world-building that strengthens the impact of player choices and narrative outcomes.

Rich Lore

a) World-Building & Setting: 40% of reviews | Score: 8.5/10

The game's world is built through an extensive in-game book containing 179 pages of detailed history and mythology. The setting combines elements of fantasy with unique races, a pantheon of gods, and a distinct location called the Downside where exiles are sent. The world-building extends beyond basic exposition, incorporating mystical themes and political elements that paint a picture of the Commonwealth and its complex society. While some players found the lore overwhelming or dense at times, the majority praised its organic delivery and thoughtful construction. The game allows players to engage with the lore at their own pace, with much of the deeper content being optional but rewarding to explore.

b) Character Backgrounds & Development: 35% of reviews | Score: 9/10

At its heart, the story follows Red, a singer who has lost her voice, and her relationship with the consciousness within the Transistor sword. Their evolving dynamic is conveyed through environmental cues, body language, and the sword's narration, creating what many consider a deeply moving experience. Despite a compact cast of characters, the game develops memorable personalities through an innovative system where character backstories are unlocked by trying different combat functions.

c) Narrative Integration & Delivery: 15% of reviews | Score: 8/10

The game employs a sophisticated approach to delivering its lore, integrating it naturally into gameplay rather than through forced exposition. Information is revealed gradually through a combination of dialogue, cnd contextual discoveries. The system includes helpful features like the ability to mouse over terms for additional information, making the extensive lore accessible without being overwhelming. While some players found the amount of reading daunting, most appreciated how the narrative elements were woven together, allowing them to absorb the story at their own pace.

d) Mechanics & Lore Interaction: 10% of reviews | Score: 7.5/10

The game successfully integrates its lore with its mechanical systems, creating meaningful connections between story elements and gameplay. The ritual competitions known as Rites are deeply tied to the world's mythology, with outcomes affecting both narrative progression and character development. While the lore system is primarily optional, it enhances the gameplay experience by providing context and meaning to player actions. Some players noted that understanding the lore enhanced their appreciation of the game's unique sports-like mechanics, though others found the connection between gameplay and story elements less compelling.

Pyre's rich lore is built on four interconnected pillars: an expansive world-building system, deeply developed character backgrounds, carefully paced narrative delivery, and meaningful gameplay integration. The world-building (40%) provides the foundation, establishing the setting and rules that give context to the character histories (35%), while the narrative delivery system (15%) ensures this information reaches players in digestible portions. The gameplay mechanics (10%) then tie everything together by allowing players to interact with and influence both the world and its inhabitants through their choices and actions.

This holistic approach creates a cohesive experience where each element reinforces the others, though the heavy emphasis on reading and gradual revelation may not appeal to all players.

Indie

a) Developer Recognition: 40% of reviews | Score: 9/10

Supergiant Games has established itself as a prominent force in the indie gaming landscape, with Pyre representing their third major release. The studio's reputation for quality is consistently highlighted across reviews, with particular emphasis on their ability to deliver polished, high-quality experiences despite their small team size of just twelve people. Their work is frequently described as matching or exceeding AAA production values while maintaining the creative freedom and innovation associated with indie development. Reviews specifically note how Pyre continues Supergiant's tradition of creating unique, artistically driven experiences that push boundaries within the indie space.

b) Innovation & Genre-Blending: 35% of reviews | Score: 8/10

Pyre distinctly positions itself within the indie gaming sphere through its unconventional approach to genre mixing and game design. The game represents a bold departure from traditional indie formulas by combining multiple genres in ways rarely seen in either indie or mainstream development. Reviews consistently highlight how it merges visual novel elements with sports-like gameplay mechanics, creating what many describe as a wholly unique experience in the indie space. This experimental approach is frequently cited as characteristic of indie development's creative freedom, with reviewers noting how the game defies rigid genre classification. The willingness to take such creative risks while maintaining high quality is repeatedly praised as exemplary of innovative indie game design. However, some reviews note this unconventional approach may limit its appeal, marking it as a "niche" title even within indie gaming circles.

c) Production Values vs Scale : 25% of reviews | Score: 9/10

Pyre demonstrates an interesting tension between indie development constraints and high production values. Reviews frequently express surprise at the level of polish and artistic achievement delivered by a small indie team, with many noting how the game's visual design, music, and narrative depth rival or exceed those of larger studio productions. The game's presentation quality is consistently praised as exceptional for an indie title, with particular emphasis on its hand-crafted artwork, detailed character designs, and atmospheric worldbuilding. Multiple reviews highlight how Pyre manages to achieve these high production values while maintaining the distinctive creative vision and personal touch associated with indie development. This balance between professional polish and indie sensibilities is frequently cited as a defining characteristic of the game, setting new standards for what small independent teams can achieve.

The data reveals how Pyre represents a significant achievement in indie game development across multiple dimensions. Supergiant Games' established reputation as a quality indie developer provided the foundation for taking bold creative risks with genre-blending, while still maintaining high production values typically associated with larger studios. The game's unconventional nature and polished execution demonstrate how indie development can simultaneously push creative boundaries and deliver professional quality, though this combination may result in more niche appeal.

These elements work together to position Pyre as both an innovative indie title and a benchmark for independent game development's potential.

Great Soundtrack

a) Music Quality and Impact: 71% of reviews | Score: 9.5/10

The soundtrack of Pyre consistently receives extraordinary praise across hundreds of reviews, with many calling it a masterpiece of video game music. The music seamlessly integrates with the gameplay and story elements, adapting dynamically to match different characters, locations, and story moments. Reviewers frequently highlight how the soundtrack enhances emotional moments and creates a deeply immersive atmosphere. The music's versatility is particularly noted, with tracks ranging from ambient atmospheric pieces to powerful vocal performances. While a few reviews mention it might not surpass Bastion or Transistor's soundtracks, the overwhelming majority consider it either equal to or superior to Supergiant's previous works.

b) Music Production: 18% of reviews | Score: 9.2/10

The soundtrack's production is consistently attributed to composer Darren Korb, with frequent praise for his collaboration with vocalist Ashley Barrett. The technical sophistication of the music system emerges as a significant highlight, with reviews noting how tracks seamlessly blend and transform based on gameplay events and character interactions. The production features diverse instrumentation, including acoustic guitars, strings, percussion, and synths, creating a rich musical landscape. Multiple reviews specifically mention the inclusion of 39 distinct tracks, with some songs having up to nine different versions that adapt to different situations. The soundtrack's quality was considered valuable enough that many reviewers purchased it separately, with several noting that the additional cost was fully justified by the music's standalone quality.

c) Music Content & Features: 11% of reviews | Score: 9/10

The soundtrack's structural elements demonstrate sophisticated integration with the game's systems and narrative. Each character and team possesses unique musical themes that reflect their personalities and backgrounds, while different locations feature distinct atmospheric compositions. The implementation of vocal tracks at key story moments receives particular praise, with reviews noting how lyrics change to match story developments and character choices. The music system creates dynamic variations during the Rites, with the intensity and instrumentation adapting to match the action. Several reviews highlight how the soundtrack includes multiple versions of key pieces, including acoustic variations performed by in-game characters, adding depth to the world-building.

Pyre Review