Black Book (video game)

{{Infobox video game

| title = Black Book

| image = Black_Book_-144x192.jpg

| developer = Morteshka

| publisher = HypeTrain Digital

| engine = Unity Engine

| platforms = Microsoft Windows
OS X
Linux
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One

| release = August 10, 2021

| genre = Role-playing, adventure

| modes = Single-player

}}

Black Book ({{langx|ru|Чёрная книга}}) is an adventure role-playing video game, developed by Morteshka, which created The Mooseman, and published by HypeTrain Digital. The game was released on August 10, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/01/card-based-rpg-and-adventure-game-fusion-black-book-announced-for-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc|title=Card-based RPG and adventure game fusion Black Book announced for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC|website=Gematsu|date=16 January 2020|accessdate=January 16, 2020|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902053816/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/01/card-based-rpg-and-adventure-game-fusion-black-book-announced-for-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Black Book launches August 10|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/black-book-launches-august-10|website=Gematsu|date=July 22, 2021|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724025116/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/black-book-launches-august-10|url-status=live}}

Taking place in 19th century Russia, the game is heavily inspired by Russian and Komi folklore narrative is based on Bailichkas. To ensure the authenticity in depiction of myths and real-life locations, the developers worked alongside Russian ethnographers.

Gameplay

In the game, players control Vasilisa - a young sorceress, who travels across the landscape of rural Russia, aiding commonfolk along the way. The players achieve that by solving puzzles and engaging in battle using a deck-building card combat system. Throughout the journey, choices made by the player will affect the plot and general progression of the game.

Development

Development of the game started in 2017. The game was released for Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on August 10, 2021.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/01/sinister_adventure_awaits_in_black_book_a_dark_card-based_rpg_headed_to_switch|title=Sinister Adventure Awaits In Black Book, A Dark Card-Based RPG Headed To Switch|date=16 January 2020|publisher=Nintendo Life|accessdate=January 20, 2020|archive-date=19 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119164106/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/01/sinister_adventure_awaits_in_black_book_a_dark_card-based_rpg_headed_to_switch|url-status=live}} It is the second game developed by Russian team Morteshka.{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/black-book-is-an-adventure-rpg-about-witches-and-demons-578147.phtml|title=Black Book is an adventure RPG about witches and demons|date=2020-01-17|language=en| publisher=Destructoid|access-date=20 January 2020}} Black Book was designed to bear some connections with the previous game, Mooseman. The game's scope expanded compared to what it was intended to be at the beginning of its Kickstarter campaign.{{cite web |url=https://enklawanetwork.pl/pc/podlupa/1938-magic-devils-and-mythology-of-northern-russia-an-interview-about-dark-rpg-black-book/ |title=Magic, devils and mythology of northern Russia - an interview about dark RPG Black Book |work=Enklawa |last=Mróz |first=Michał |date=November 13, 2020 |accessdate=May 14, 2023 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514092049/https://enklawanetwork.pl/pc/podlupa/1938-magic-devils-and-mythology-of-northern-russia-an-interview-about-dark-rpg-black-book/ |url-status=live }}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = NS: 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/black-book/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Black Book for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=2021-10-23 |archive-date=2021-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102175543/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/black-book |url-status=live }}
PC: 75/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/black-book/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Black Book for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=2021-10-23 |archive-date=2021-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912173010/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/black-book |url-status=live }}
XONE: 79/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/black-book/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Black Book for Xbox One Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=2021-10-23 |archive-date=2021-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115110256/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/black-book |url-status=live }}

| OC = 81/100{{cite web |title=Black Book Reviews |date=21 September 2021 |url=https://opencritic.com/game/11785/black-book |publisher=OpenCritic}}

| RPG = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |title=Black Book Review {{!}} Aces high |url=https://rpgamer.com/review/black-book-review/ |website=RPGamer |date=12 September 2021 |access-date=12 September 2021 |archive-date=15 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215213020/https://rpgamer.com/review/black-book-review/ |url-status=live }}

}}

Rock Paper Shotgun found that while the card battles were sometimes ill-balanced, they praised the game for its specific approach to Russian folklore, stating that it was where it "shows its heart".{{Cite news|date=2021-08-05|title=Black Book review: plays its Russian folklore cards right|language=en|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/black-book-review|access-date=2021-08-20|archive-date=2021-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820165703/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/black-book-review|url-status=live}}