Demonschool

Demonschool is a tactical role-playing game where players control a party of demon-hunting college students that combines turn-based strategy combat with social simulation and exploration elements. Gameplay is divided between different sections encompassing these playstyles, with combat taking up the majority of the time. The game takes place in week-based blocks, with time counting down to an apocalypse that the player characters are fighting to stop.

Combat takes place on grid-based maps where players control a party of characters, each with distinct abilities and roles. Unlike more traditional turn-based systems, player actions are planned in advance and then executed simultaneously, allowing for the chaining and repositioning of moves before confirming a turn. This system also allows players to undo moves, allowing for strategic experimentation. The combat has puzzle game elements in the need to "line up" attacks correctly, with players needing to correctly line up their characters to ensure success. The system also encourages the use of as many characters as possible to synergize their attacks and to then give them bonuses in combat.

Developer Necrosoft Games is based in Oakland, California. Creative Designer Brandon Sheffield set out to create a tactics puzzle game prototype that would be the "smallest tactics game" that he could make. Sheffield thought of the name "Demonschool" while he was in a hotel room, and after doing a search and finding that the URL was available, they decided to make a tactics game aimed at the name. To force them to have creative direction with a limited set of tools, they pretended that they were developing a game for an update to the Sega Saturn, which they hoped would make the game feel "true to its universe."

The game was influenced by the Italian Giallo film genre, particularly in its lighting and sound design. Sheffield noted that the combat was heavily influenced by Valkyria Chronicles, which has both planning phases and "active battles." Sheffield also noted that Jeanne d'Arc for the PSP was an influence in how it simplified traditional tactical systems.

According to the review aggregation website Metacritic, the PC version of Demonschool received generally favorable reviews from critics, while the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions both received "mixed or average" reviews from critics. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 72% of critics.

Reception for Demonschool was mixed, with many critics praising its stylish flair and fun plot, while criticism focused on its repetitive fights and small amount of side content. PC Gamer's Mollie Taylor noted that watching each turn work through your selected moves felt like watching "a miniature performance" and praised its Buffy the Vampire and Persona inspired roots and style. Game Informer's Eric Van Allen described the game as "infectious" and felt that the game fell short on side activities, but was overall a compelling experience.