Hot damn did Twilight Sword crush its funding goal. There have been a lot of big crowdfunders this year in the realm of RPGs, from Cypher to Draw Steel: Crack the Sun to others I am too ill to google because I have such a bad case of the flu. This is the first day that I’ve had the strength/energy to write a blog post and I wanted to get out something that’s been bothering me for a bit.

I do not like Twilight Sword. I have no idea if it’s a good game or not. It’s just, personally, this does not excite me. Why don’t I like Twilight Sword?

I’m posting this at an odd time, when another project, Obojima, recently received backlash for using Studio Ghibli’s art style to sell their work, which is a 5E supplement and not reflective of Studio Ghibli’s message itself. They’ve recently had a tiktok go viral where the two white creators of the Studio Ghibli-inspired game talk about how you just gotta have uncomplicated monsters so you can do a genocide guilt-free.

Obojima raised nearly a million dollars as well. So why doesn’t Twilight Sword get the same backlash? Take a look at the art of Twilight Sword:

I don’t know where the line is where Obojima is not okay but Twilight Sword is? Twilight Sword is video game images with the serial numbers filed off as well as a Ghibli references, but because it’s not ONLY Ghibli images it’s okay? Is that the line?

I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be any homage or that we shouldn’t be inspired by things and try to bring them to audiences, but there’s a difference between Twilight Sword and Heroes of Cerulea.

Why am I okay with this and not what’s above? Why is this homage okay but not “that” homage?

It’s love and respect. It’s not just copying an aesthetic for PHENOMENAL profit. Heroes of Cerulea celebrates that classic Legend of Zelda aesthetic, even down to its world map and pixel art, without it being a gross cash grab or a complete and unimaginative recreation of art style. It iterates and really puts thought and work in translating the game into a mechanics and dungeons. I haven’t yet been able to bring this to the table, but that’s one of my goals in 2026. Even flipping through the book, however, it radiates sincerity and creativity, while referencing the source material.

I don’t get that from Twilight Sword. I certainly don’t get that form Obojima. And this isn’t Two Little Mice’s first brush with IP copying.

Playing as Lora Craft and Tungsten Woman in their Outgunned game seems to be something people want, and they’re not going to question whether it’s creatively bankrupt to play a game with such striking similarities to other IP. The TTRPG industry isn’t big, and Two Little Mice certainly isn’t able to pay for licenses. So it pays “homage” instead.

I wish I could change people. To convince them to go for games like Heroes of Cerulea over Twilight Sword and Obojima. I guess this is my attempt.

Thanks for reading.