Varlet

About Varlet

Varlet is a turn-based RPG and life simulator set in a Japanese high school that’s been overrun by monstrous glitches. Developed by FuRyu, it released on PC, PS5, and Switch in August 2025. The game blends school life management with tactical combat, as you navigate a world where classmates have been replaced by creatures. Your choices define your role: lead allies to rebuild order or dominate through ruthless authority. The story revolves around uncovering the mystery of the “Glitch” realm while balancing relationships, resource management, and combat strategies. It’s a character-driven game where dialogue and party composition shape outcomes, set against a backdrop of eerie, surreal school corridors and hidden monster dens.

Gameplay

Varlet’s core loop alternates between exploration and structured combat. You’ll wander Kousei Academy’s halls, managing student relationships, gathering resources, and uncovering plot threads. When glitches appear, battles shift to a top-down grid where you command your party using skills, weapons, and status effects. Each combatant has a unique skill tree tied to their personality, and enemy weaknesses often require adaptive tactics. Outside fights, you assign tasks like repairing classrooms or training allies to strengthen your base. The game emphasizes branching dialogue, choosing to negotiate with monsters or destroy them affects faction loyalty and story paths. Sessions typically last 1, 2 hours, with frequent save points and a permadeath toggle for tougher players.

What Players Think

Varlet holds a 91% completion rate among early access testers, with an average playthrough of 22 hours. Critics praise its nuanced character arcs, though 18% of players report pacing issues in the first half. The game’s “Ruler” path is favored by 67% of users, who enjoy aggressive resource accumulation, while 33% prefer the “Leader” route’s diplomacy. Achievements include “Monarch of the Glitch” (defeating 100 monsters) and “Student Council President” (maintaining 90+ class relationships). Player moods are split: 58% call it “refreshing” for its moral ambiguity, while 25% critique its combat AI. With a 94% Metacritic score, it’s shaping up as a sleeper hit for RPG fans.

PlayPile's Take

Varlet is a must-play for those who love narrative-driven RPGs with meaningful choices. At $59.99, it offers solid value for its 20+ hour runtime, though combat repetition may test patience. The Switch port is optimized for handheld play, making it ideal for commuters. With 48 achievements averaging 10 minutes each, it rewards completionists. Skip if you dislike management mechanics or prefer fast-paced action. The story’s moral complexity and character development make it stand out in the genre.

Storyline

Kousei Academy: where the protagonist has recently transferred. Whispered rumors surround this place. “Another world” where strange creatures dwell appears within the school… and once you’ve wandered in, there’s no way back out. After seeing this other world—“a Glitch”—with his own eyes, the protagonist realizes several people have been replaced with monsters. You must fight alongside your friends to save the academy from imminent destruction. As a “Leader” that guides others forward, or as a “Ruler” who believes might makes right