The Legend of Shiande

About The Legend of Shiande

The Legend of Shiande is a punishingly difficult RPG-adventure hybrid from developer Thales Caus, released on PC in January 2026. It blends old-school mechanics with resource management, combat, and logic puzzles. You play as Shiande, a blacksmith thrust into a world where a curse turns people into monsters. The game leans into retro design, demanding patience and precision. With no multiplayer, it’s a solitary test of skill. The core loop mixes real-time combat with turn-based puzzle-solving, all while managing scarce tools and health. Its story is simple but its execution is brutal, appealing to players who thrive on tough, methodical challenges.

Gameplay

Shiande wields a sledgehammer and a handful of tools to fight cursed enemies and solve environmental puzzles. Combat is real-time but methodical, you parry, dodge, and stagger foes to create openings, but one misstep means death. Between battles, you tackle logic-based puzzles to restore villages or access new areas. Resource scarcity is key: each tool breaks after a few uses, and healing items are rare. Sessions often last 45 minutes to an hour, ending abruptly if you die. The game’s difficulty spikes unpredictably, requiring memorization of enemy patterns and puzzle solutions. Exploration is linear but dense with traps and hidden lore. Controls are tight but unforgiving, rewarding twitch reflexes and careful planning in equal measure.

What Players Think

PlayPile community ratings average 4.2/5, with 68% of players labeling it "brutally rewarding" and 22% calling it "frustratingly unfair." Average completion time is 20 hours, though 35% finish it in under 15. The game has a 12% completion rate for 100% achievements, with "Master Smith" being the hardest (requires perfect puzzle-solving). Community moods: 60% determined, 25% annoyed, 15% curious. Reviews highlight its "unrelenting challenge" and "deep combat loops," while critics note "lack of save points" and "repetitive enemy designs." Achievements include 50+ total, with 30 requiring multiple playthroughs.

PlayPile's Take

The Legend of Shiande is worth playing if you enjoy punishing difficulty and retro-style problem-solving. Priced at $29.99, it offers 20+ hours of content for dedicated players, though its lack of mercy might alienate casual gamers. The achievements add long-term value, but 100% completion demands repeated deaths and resets. It’s a niche title, perfect for those who crave games that test both reflexes and patience. If you hate permadeath or want instant gratification, skip it. Otherwise, it’s a worthy challenge for the right audience.

Storyline

The Legend of Shiande tells the tale of a humble blacksmith who lived in a small village surrounded by an immense forest. One fateful day, strange events began to unfold: people and animals transformed into ferocious monsters, destroying everything and everyone who hadn’t succumbed to the curse. Faced with this looming threat, an ancient and incredibly powerful wizard chooses Shiande for an impossible mission: to save the world from an incurable curse. Armed only with his courage, a sledgehammer, and the will to protect what remains, Shiande sets out on a journey that will one day be remembered as a legend. The legend of Shiande! (That is, if you can make it happen.)