The player assumes the role of an authority figure (judge, commander, or warden – ambiguously defined in v0.3 but implied to be a regional adjudicator). The setting is a low-fantasy or post-conflict society where law enforcement is personal and discretionary. Key characters introduced by v0.3 include:
Childhood friends or family members unaware of the true conspiracy.
Version 0.3 marks the first major expansion of the game’s core mechanics, narrative depth, and visual storytelling. It introduces the , a dynamic framework that lets every decision ripple through the world in real‑time, reshaping factions, environments, and even the very nature of the Arbiter’s powers.
TowerBoyGames actively updates the game, offering regular devlogs and progress reports via Patreon and Itch.io . Summary of the Journey So Far By Justice or Mercy -v0.3- By TowerBoyGames
By Justice or Mercy is not a game that will appeal to everyone. Its subject matter is dark, its protagonist is flawed and angry, and its central question—by justice or by mercy?—has no easy answers. However, for those who are drawn to narrative-heavy experiences that prioritize player agency, moral complexity, and character-driven drama, this is a title that holds immense promise.
By Justice or Mercy 0.13 - on Tower Boy Games page - Patreon
We have all played Fable , Mass Effect , or The Witcher . Those games offer a binary "Paragon/Renegade" system where you ultimately save the world either way. The player assumes the role of an authority
: Progressed the narrative into later chapters, introducing sweeping consequences for choices made during the v0.3 era.
The development team appears to be in close contact with its audience, as it's stated that the game features "A LOT of kinks, with almost all being optional," and they use user feedback to guide development. It's a project that seems to prioritize player agency, both in the story and in the types of content that appear.
If the screen had flashed , the guards would have entered from the left to drag Kaelen away. If the screen had flashed PARDONED , the gates would have opened to the right, leading to the street. Version 0
A unique aspect noted by players is the player's agency to define their interactions with characters. The game allowed for setting boundaries and choosing to reject or confront certain character behaviors—a rare, engaging feature in the genre. 4. Engaging Art and Atmosphere
However, v0.3 contains only one explicit scene per path, limiting the sample size. Notably, the game avoids rewarding either path with more adult content – quantity is equal, tone differs.
As Kaelen was led away to his new post, head held high, the terminal rebooted for the next case.
Version 0.3 is not just a patch; it is a significant leap forward for TowerBoyGames, refining the core loop of judgment and consequence that defines the title. But is this update a divine intervention or a damning verdict? We have spent the last several hours in the muddy trenches of this grim world to bring you the full story.
TowerBoyGames has implemented a split system. For those who choose Justice , you enter a punishing, stamina-based souls-like duel. For those who choose Mercy , you enter a "Soteriological Debate" (a fancy term for a tense dialogue tree where you must convince the guilty to forgive themselves). Both systems are brutally hard. Miss a parry in Justice, and you die. Choose the wrong dialogue option in Mercy, and the NPC commits suicide out of guilt.