On Your Tail
Release Date: December 16, 2024
Adventure, TPP, puzzle elements, life sim, indie games, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
An atmospheric adventure game by Memorable Games, starring an aspiring detective Diana. On Your Tail is set in a seemingly serene coastal town of Borgo Marina, tasking us with discovering its secrets.
On Your Tail is a relaxing adventure game and a life sim revolving around solving the mysteries of a charming, Italian town. It was developed by Memorable Games, once known as MixedBag before rebranding and expanding after ten years of its existence. The game was published by Humble Games, known for such games as Mineko's Night Market, Supraland: Six Inches Under and Signalis.
Plot
The game is set in a coastal town of Borgo Marina, its protagonist being Diana, an aspiring detective searching for a nice place to spend the summer at. Her search leads us here: she'll get to discover new places, meet new people, take part in popular regional activities and solve some of the town's most puzzling mysteries.
Mechanics
The game makes use of the third-person perspective. Playing as Diana, players will experience everyday life in an idyllic town and put their investigative talents to a test.
We must explore the streets and local shops, searching for clues to identify the thief rampaging in town. The gameplay's inspired by card games, combining investigating, interrogating and deduction, tasking us with drawing the right conclusions to the puzzles we face.
Apart from investigating, On Your Tail also features some more relaxing gameplay. As we travel the game's world, we can talk to its inhabitants, help them with their problems and make friends.
During downtime, Diana can also make use of the town's attractions, walking on the beach, cooking delicious local cuisine and fishing to earn an extra buck. There's also sandbox mode, which lets us devote ourselves to as many side activities as we please, all on our terms.
Technical aspects
On Your Tail features appealing, 3D visuals and nicely drawn illustrations on cards. The soundtrack adds to the game's charm.
Videos and Screens
[1:44] On Your Tail - Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer
[1:46] On Your Tail - Nintendo Switch Release Date Trailer
NoobFeed: 80 / 100 by Wasbir Sadat
On Your Tail is ideal for those who love cozy detective adventure games. With its genuine tale, charming characters, and abundance of side activities, this adventure isn't shy about letting its emotions show. The true friendliness and adventure spirit come through even when the pace or navigation is off.
Impulsegamer: 2.3 / 5 by Nay Clark
On Your Tail is a refreshing game in the mammoth sea of what you normally see out in the wild west of gaming. You can easily tell that On Your Tail is a well thought out game filled with purpose and ambition. The games' fully explored ideas and established implementation of its mechanics effortlessly sells you on its intentions. The great graphics, character designs, and other elements of the gameplay like going on dates, delivering mail, making phone calls, collecting artwork, solving riddles, and finding hidden star constellations create a game with a lot of merit. Sadly, the Switch version is just not worth anyone's time due to uncompromisable issues that completely halt your experience making this game frustratingly unsatisfying.
ZdobywcyGier.eu: 5 / 10 by Bartosz Michalik
On Your Tail is not an entirely bad game. I don't feel that the dozen or so hours spent were completely wasted. It's a title you can play and have fun with, as long as you turn off your thinking. The title is imperfect in many ways. The technical side needs many improvements, including better optimization and camera work. The story is weak and poorly paced, and the characters are completely unmemorable. The town of Borgo Marina is a charming place where we can try some fun activities, but it's nothing that will draw you to the screen for a long time.
The main pros of the game
- Charming Characters and Art Style: The game features unique and engaging character designs, vibrant visuals, and a cozy Italian seaside setting that many players find delightful.
- Engaging Story and Atmosphere: The narrative, while having some flaws, is described as captivating, with a mix of slice-of-life elements and mystery that resonates with players. The setting feels immersive, making players feel connected to the town and its inhabitants.
- Variety of Activities: Players appreciate the numerous mini-games and activities available, such as fishing, waitressing, and exploring the town. Many find these elements enjoyable and a nice way to relax.
- Detective Mechanics: The mystery-solving aspect, while criticized by some, is seen as a fun challenge by others, providing a unique gameplay experience.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Gameplay: A significant number of reviews mention the tedious nature of running around the town and performing similar tasks, which can feel time-consuming and monotonous.
- Technical Issues and Bugs: Many players reported encountering bugs, including soft locks, translation errors, and camera issues that can lead to motion sickness. These technical problems detract from the overall experience.
- Underdeveloped Life-Sim Elements: Some players expressed a desire for deeper life-simulation mechanics, such as more engaging daily activities, character interactions, and a more dynamic world.
- Puzzles and Gameplay Mechanics: The game's puzzle mechanics, particularly the diorama and interrogation systems, are often criticized for being overly reliant on trial and error, leading to frustration.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Fast Travel Options: Players wish for a fast travel feature to alleviate the lengthy travel times across the town.
- More Dynamic NPCs: There is a desire for more characters to be physically present and interacting in the town, rather than just existing behind doors or as static illustrations.
- Enhanced Life-Sim Mechanics: Users want more depth in life-simulation aspects, including a day/night cycle, more mini-games, and varied interactions with townsfolk.
- Improved Puzzle Design: Many players hope for better-designed puzzles that offer logical solutions rather than requiring guesswork, along with the ability to undo actions during puzzle sequences.
Summary
- Overall, while "On Your Tail" has a charming premise and many enjoyable elements, it is hindered by technical issues and gameplay mechanics that some players find frustrating. The game holds potential for improvement with future updates and content.
Summary generated on:
On Your Tail Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows December 16, 2024
Nintendo Switch March 13, 2025
Developer: Memorable Games
Publisher: Humble Games
Age restrictions: none
On Your Tail System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (720p, 30 fps) Intel Core i5-650 / AMD Phenom II X4 B65, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GT 730 / Radeon R7 240, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: (1080p, 60 fps) Intel Core i5-3570 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 590 / 4 GB Radeon RX 550, Windows 10 64-bit