Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk is a dungeon RPG by Nippon Ichi Software. As a sentient book, you lead a party of magical puppets you have assembled yourself into a dangerous tunnel system beneath the city of Refrain. Exploration takes place in first-person perspective, while battles are turn-based.

The game originally released on Jun 23, 2016 in Japan for PlayStation Vita. The PC version followed on Sep 18, 2018. In Europe, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch were added on Sep 21, 2018. The original Vita version was never officially localized for the Western market.

Labyrinth of Refrain was released natively for PlayStation Vita, PC, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The Vita version is the Japanese original, and the later PC and console versions are editions released in the West. An older version playable on Switch 2 or PS5 is therefore not a separate release for those devices.

In the three-dimensional corridors, you move field by field and look for branches, treasures and exits. Monsters are already visible on the map. On contact, a turn-based battle begins. Some walls can be broken through, which opens new paths but may bring additional dangers.

There are smaller add-on packs with equipment and tools for the puppet brigade for PC and consoles. On Steam, Meel's Best Bell is among the separately available content. The digital artbook is companion material and not a new campaign. The Digital Limited Edition bundles the game and selected extras.

On Windows, the PC version requires at least a Core i3-6100, 4 GB RAM, an Intel HD 520 and 20 GB of free storage, according to Steam. Recommended are a Core i5-6500, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTS 450. Steam itself has only supported Windows 10 or newer since 2024, although the historical minimum requirements name older Windows versions.

The witch Dronya comes to Refrain with her student Luca to uncover the secrets of a cursed labyrinth. Humans cannot survive the Miasma air there. That is why the legendary book Tractatus de Monstrum takes the lead over artificial fighters, while the story continues outside the dungeons.

New puppets are created and equipped before a descent. Classes such as Aster Knight, Shinobushi and Marginal Maze focus on different strengths in melee combat, evasion or magical abilities. The composition determines which attacks and support actions are possible in the next battle.

The Brigade fights in up to five so-called Covens. A Soul Pact determines how many puppets belong to a group and which of them attack directly or support from the background. This way, up to 40 puppets can take part in total, although significantly fewer carry out attack actions at the same time.

In battle, you give your Covens shared commands instead of steering each puppet individually across the field. Formations, special abilities called Donum and role assignments affect damage, protection and healing. Groups can also exploit certain weaknesses of enemy creatures.

Between explorations, you improve equipment, rearrange puppets and adjust their group assignments. Particularly valuable loot lures you into deeper and more dangerous areas. A timely retreat preserves resources and gives you a chance to change the brigade's makeup.

The PC version offers English and Japanese voice audio as well as French text. A German translation is not listed on Steam. The original Vita version was released in Japan and should not be equated with the English-localised PS4, Switch or PC versions.