BARD HARDER! is a tabletop-inspired visual novel game about saving your friends from the Big Bad Evil Guy by using your strongest weapon: romance! So brush up on your pick-up lines and prepare some sexy tunes…what’s the worst that could happen?
You take on the role of a half-elf male bard in a tabletop roleplaying game called "Wizards and Wyverns". The gameplay revolves around progressing the story by making dialogue choices that determine the narrative's outcome. These choices lead to multiple different endings and achievements based on how effectively you can romance the final boss, Vulcuzar.
To succeed in romancing Vulcuzar, the game requires you to pay close attention to the details provided about him, such as his interests, personality, and backstory. Memorizing this information allows you to make more effective dialogue choices when attempting to seduce him.
The game features 4-5 unique story paths and endings, encouraging you to replay it to explore different narrative outcomes based on your choices. This provides a strong sense of player agency in shaping how the story unfolds.
Throughout the gameplay, the experience incorporates numerous references and parodies of tabletop roleplaying games. This includes creating a bard character, using abilities like "mind-reading scrolls", and engaging in party dynamics reminiscent of TTRPG campaigns.
Reviews indicate the gameplay is relatively straightforward and accessible, with a short playtime of around 30 minutes. This makes the experience easy to pick up and enjoy, even for players without prior experience in visual novels or tabletop RPGs.