TowerBoyGames has been transparent about the game’s early access journey. Version 0.3 is not a minor patch; it is a significant structural overhaul. Here are the headline features:
Since dropping on Itch.io and Steam Early Access, the reaction to -v0.3- has been overwhelmingly positive, holding a 94% positive rating based on user reviews. Players praise the “uncomfortable realism” of the court scenes. The most common critique? “It’s too short.” But for a version 0.3 release, that is expected.
TowerBoyGames, anonymous save for a profile picture of a cracked bell tower, posted the following roadmap update last week: By Justice or Mercy -v0.3- By TowerBoyGames
“Version 0.3 is the foundation. Version 0.4 will introduce the ‘Jury of the Damned’—where previous victims of your judgments return as ghostly advisors. By Justice or Mercy is about living with what you’ve done, not just deciding in the moment.”
The developer has confirmed that full release (v1.0) is slated for Q1 next year, with an estimated 15-20 total cases and four distinct endings ranging from Sainted Judge to Tyrant in Robes. TowerBoyGames has been transparent about the game’s early
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.
By Justice or Mercy is the anti-thesis of that. There is no Paragon path. TowerBoyGames has created a world where every action creates a ripple of suffering. It is closer to Pathologic or This War of Mine than to a Bioware title. Version 0.3 specifically removes the "Metagame" score, so you no longer know if you are "winning." You just live with the consequences. “Version 0
Each major choice in v0.3 routes the player toward either:
The version introduces three test-case scenarios: a theft, a brawl, and a betrayal. All three echo the same dilemma, allowing players to be consistent or waver.