So, you’ve spent hours dying. Or maybe you’ve spent hours killing. In the world of Black Tabby Games’ hit psychological horror visual novel, Slay the Princess, those two things are basically the same thing anyway. But now that you’ve seen every ending and heard every voice in your head, you want something physical. You want a Slay the Princess keychain. It makes sense. It’s a way to carry a tiny, sharp-edged piece of the Cabin with you in the real world, minus the existential dread and the Narrator yelling at you.
Finding these things is surprisingly tricky. You’d think for a game that blew up on Steam and dominated indie gaming circles, there would be a massive aisle at every store. Nope. It’s a niche market. Most of what you see online is either limited-run official merch or fan-made creations that vary wildly in quality. Honestly, if you aren't careful, you might end up with a blurry piece of acrylic that looks more like a smudge than the Shifting Mound.
Why the Slay the Princess Keychain is So Hard to Track Down
Most official merchandise for indie games follows a very specific cycle. Tony Howard-Arias and Abby Howard, the duo behind Black Tabby Games, tend to partner with specific distributors like Topatoco or Makeship. When a Slay the Princess keychain drops on an official site, it usually sells out in a heartbeat. Fans are feral. They want the Voice of the Hero. They want the Adversary. They definitely want the Spectre.
The struggle is real because of the art style. Abby Howard’s pencil-sketch aesthetic is gorgeous but difficult to translate into small plastic charms. In the game, the Princess is defined by these flowing, chaotic lines and deep shadows. When a manufacturer tries to simplify that for a 2-inch keychain, it can lose the "soul" of the character. That’s why the official ones—like the acrylic standees that sometimes double as keychains—are so coveted. They actually use high-resolution assets that preserve those scratchy, haunting textures.
If you’re looking right now, you’ve probably noticed a lot of "unofficial" listings. Sites like Redbubble or various Etsy storefronts are flooded with them. Some are great. Some are... well, they’re just screenshots slapped onto plastic. You have to be discerning. You're looking for something that captures the vibe, not just a low-res JPEG.
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The Difference Between Official Merch and Fan Creations
Let's talk about the ethics and the quality for a second. Buying official supports the developers directly. It ensures that more games like Slay the Princess—or their previous work, Scarlet Hollow—actually get made. Usually, official keychains are double-sided acrylic. One side might show the standard Princess, while the flip side shows a specific vessel like the Tower or the Nightmare. It’s a neat nod to the game's transformation mechanics.
Fan-made stuff is a different beast. Some artists on Etsy do "shaker" keychains. These are thick acrylic charms filled with tiny pieces of glitter or even smaller charms—like a tiny knife or a crow—that move around inside. It’s super creative. You won't find that in official mass-produced runs. However, the price point reflects the labor. You might pay $15 to $25 for a high-quality fan-made Slay the Princess keychain, whereas an official one might be closer to $10 or $12 if you catch it during a restock.
Spotting a Bootleg
Beware of shops that use the exact official character art without any artistic transformation. If it looks exactly like the Steam trading cards and the shop name is a string of random numbers, skip it. These are often mass-produced in factories that don't pay the artists. The colors are usually washed out, and the acrylic yellows after a month on your backpack. It’s a bummer.
The Most Popular Designs You’ll Encounter
Naturally, everyone wants the "main" Princess. But the game is about layers. The most popular designs for a Slay the Princess keychain usually revolve around the most "memorable" transformations.
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- The Razor: People love the blades. A keychain with the Razor usually features sharp, pointed edges on the acrylic itself, which is a cool touch.
- The Adversary/Eye of the Needle: For the fans who like the "let's just fight forever" vibe. These are usually beefier, more aggressive designs.
- The Voice of the Smitten: Surprisingly, the "Voices" are getting their own merch now. Having a little yellow icon of the Smitten hanging off your keys is a great conversation starter for the three people in your town who actually know what it is.
- The Narrator: Usually represented by a crow. It’s subtle. If you want to rep the game without having a literal anime-style girl on your keys, the crow is the way to go.
There's also the "Damsel" version. It’s pink, it’s cute, and it’s completely deceptive, just like in the game. It's probably the most "aesthetic" version for people who like a softer look on their accessories.
Care and Longevity of Your Keychain
Acrylic keychains are durable, but they aren't invincible. The most common issue is "chipping." This happens when the printed image is on the back of the acrylic and isn't "sandwiched" between two layers of plastic. If your Slay the Princess keychain has a rough texture on the back, that's the ink. It will scratch off if it rubs against your house keys.
To prevent this, look for "double-boarded" or "sandwiched" acrylic. This means the art is safely encased inside the plastic. If you already bought one that is single-sided, you can apply a thin layer of clear nail polish or a UV resin seal to the back. It sounds like a lot of work for a keychain, but if it’s a limited-run item from an artist you love, it’s worth the ten minutes of effort.
Also, keep it out of direct sunlight for long periods. I know, you’re probably not leaving your keys in the desert, but if they sit on a sun-drenched dashboard every day, the blacks in Abby’s art will start to turn a weird muddy brown. The Princess deserves better than that.
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Where to Buy Right Now
Right now, your best bet is checking the Black Tabby Games official Twitter (X) or their website. They post restock updates there. If they are sold out, head to Etsy and search for "Slay the Princess charm." Look for shops with high review counts and photos from actual buyers. If the photo in the review looks different from the listing, run.
Another niche spot is Leifthrasir’s offerings or similar indie-focused merch hubs. Sometimes these smaller boutiques get exclusive rights to do a run of charms for a month or two. It's all about timing. If you see it and you want it, buy it. The "Princess" fandom is surprisingly fast when it comes to merch drops.
Beyond the Keychain: Custom Options
If you’re feeling crafty, you can actually make your own using "shrink plastic" or by ordering a one-off custom from a site like Vograce. You just need to make sure you have permission if you're using fan art, or stick to your own drawings. People do this a lot for "Voice" charms because there isn't much official merch for the Voice of the Cold or the Voice of the Paranoid yet.
Making a custom Slay the Princess keychain allows you to choose the specific "moment" from the game that hit you hardest. Maybe it’s the hand-holding scene with the Damsel, or the final confrontation with the Shifting Mound. The possibilities are endless when you stop waiting for a company to make what you want and just make it yourself.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
Stop scrolling aimlessly. If you want a quality piece of merch, follow this exact workflow to avoid wasting money on junk.
- Check the Source: Go to the official Black Tabby Games website first. If it's not there, it doesn't exist officially.
- Verify Construction: Only buy acrylic charms that explicitly state they are "double-sided" or "encased." Single-sided prints are a waste of money and will flake off within a month of being in your pocket.
- Check the "Holographic" Hype: Some sellers offer "broken glass" holographic overlays. These look amazing with the Slay the Princess art style because they mimic the shattering reality of the game. If you have the choice, go holo.
- Support the Artist: If buying on a marketplace, ensure the artist is actually the one who drew the art. If the shop is selling 5,000 different designs from 5,000 different games, they are likely stealing assets.
- Join the Discord: The Black Tabby Games Discord has a merch channel. It’s the fastest way to find out about limited drops before they sell out to the general public.
Don't settle for a blurry, low-effort charm. The Princess changes based on your expectations—expect a high-quality keychain, and you'll eventually find one that actually does the game justice. Keep your eyes peeled on the official socials, and maybe keep a knife handy, just in case the keychain starts talking back.