User:Babaibiaobin/sandbox1

Sultan’s Game is a card-based narrative simulation RPG developed by Double Cross and published by 2P Games. Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, players assume the role of a minister forced by a cruel Sultan into a deadly weekly game: draw a card—Carnality, Extravagance, Conquest, or Bloodshed—and complete its challenge within seven days or face execution .

Gameplay and Mechanics

The game unfolds in a richly illustrated Middle Eastern court and surrounding environments. Players manage a deck comprised of resources (gold, convictions), characters (allies, nobles), and equipment. Each week begins with drawing a Sultan Card, which dictates a morally challenging mission to fulfill within seven turns. Cards come in four tiers (Stone, Bronze, Silver, Gold) and must be “broken” by completing deeds of equivalent or higher tier

Typical tasks include sexual liaisons (Carnality), lavish spending (Extravagance), military expeditions or hunts (Conquest), and murders or sacrifices (Bloodshed). Each choice influences narrative arcs, resources, relationships, and potential endings

A roguelike meta-progression system rewards Fate Points that unlock stronger starting decks, allies, equipment, and story content to support future runs

Story and Themes

Players navigate moral degradation, court intrigues, romance, betrayals, and political machinations. The game features branching narrative paths and over 50 distinct endings, including possibilities to overthrow the Sultan, escape, or ascend to his position.Choices carry meaningful consequences—e.g., betraying a spouse may later lead to revenge

Visual and Audio Design

The art style mixes mosaic-inspired Middle Eastern motifs with detailed character portraits, receiving widespread praise for its lush and atmospheric presentation.The soundtrack emphasizes traditional instruments like oud and bouzouki; reviewers find it thematically fitting but sometimes repetitive

Release and Platform

Released on March 30–31, 2025 for Windows via Steam (and later on Nintendo Switch), the game supports English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. The launch price was approximately USD 24.99

Reception

Critics have generally responded positively, noting its narrative depth, thematic ambition, and striking visuals. Metacritic aggregates a score of 85/100, with reviewers calling it a "twisted, heart‑wrenchingly engaging narrative". Praise centers on its complexity and atmosphere, while criticisms mention a steep learning curve, translation imperfections, UI quirks, and occasional repetition .

Community comparisons to Cultist Simulator highlight similar resource-driven storytelling, though many applaud Sultan’s Game as a more explicit, morally challenging experience

Legacy and Ongoing Development

Despite a rough launch in some areas—tutorial clarity, audio looping, translation—the developers have committed to post-launch support, addressing bugs, UI polish, better translations, and new story content .