A Tale of Two Kingdoms

About

"A Tale of Two Kingdoms" is a graphical adventure game set in the world of Celtic mythology and fairy tales. The kingdom of Theylinn is threatened by internal conflict and external enemies, and players must navigate political intrigue and perilous challenges to ensure its survival. With multiple sidequests and alternate endings, the game offers a rich and immersive experience in a world of magic and mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews

story55 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features exceptional writing and voice acting, reminiscent of classic Sierra titles, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
The graphics are beautifully reworked, showcasing vibrant, hand-painted backgrounds and detailed pixel art that enhance the overall aesthetic of the game.
A Tale of Two Kingdoms offers a dynamic world with multiple solutions to puzzles and various endings, encouraging exploration and replayability.

The game suffers from excessive backtracking and can be tedious, especially when trying to complete optional side quests or achieve the best endings.
Some critical items and actions can be easily missed, leading to frustrating dead-ends that may require multiple playthroughs to fully experience the game.
The hint system is basic and outdated, making it difficult for players to navigate the game's challenges without external help.

story
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
2%
The story of "A Tale of Two Kingdoms" is a classic fantasy narrative infused with Celtic mythology, where players assume the role of Maeldun Whiteblade, who must prove his innocence after being falsely accused of regicide while also saving the kingdom from a goblin threat. The game features a solid and engaging plot with multiple endings and optional side quests that enhance replayability, though some players noted frustrations with excessive backtracking and lengthy dialogues. Overall, the storytelling is well-crafted, with charming characters and a fairytale tone, reminiscent of classic Sierra adventure games.
- “The story is solid and competently told, with charming characters and a wonderful fairytale tone.”
- “No dead ends, multiple endings, optional side quests and scenes, vibrant characters, engrossing story with a steady pace, it's just really really damn good.”
- “To summarize the story in one sentence: you play as Maeldun Whiteblade, a man who is falsely accused of murdering the king, and you need to prove your innocence whilst saving the kingdom from a goblin attack.”
- “As a Kings Quest and Quest for Glory fan, I wanted to like 'A Tale of Two Kingdoms' so badly, but I feel like it's only a shadow of those classics.”
- “There are different endings and optional side quests in this game, so while those longer scenes and dialogues aren't so bad the first time around, they are a bit tedious on additional playthroughs.”
- “I had to trudge back and forth to locations many times to trigger all the cutscenes and complete all the side quests, making for about 11 hours for a full playthrough with as many achievements as you could get in one playthrough.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and epic quality, enhancing the immersive experience of the medieval setting. While some players enjoy the soundtrack and have even purchased it to support the creators, there are suggestions that it could be improved to elevate the game further. Additionally, the presence of music puzzles has received mixed reactions, with some finding them frustrating yet integral to the gameplay.
- “A tale of two kingdoms by developer Crystal Shard takes medieval gameplay to the hilt (pun intended), from the music to the dialogue to the setting design.”
- “So far so good, yet, already I can say the music could raise the game to a new level if improved.”
- “Features my arch nemesis in point-and-click games, the dreaded music puzzle!”
- “There's a music puzzle that's not that hard.”
- “From the music, which sounded like it was composed centuries ago, to the beautifully detailed backgrounds of battlements and great dining halls, I felt fully immersed in the historical time and location.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The graphics in this enhanced edition have been completely reworked, featuring stunning classic 256-color pixel art reminiscent of early 90s adventure games, alongside beautifully hand-painted backgrounds and well-crafted character portraits. While the retro style may not appeal to everyone, many players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and the improvements made over the original. Overall, the graphics, combined with full voice acting, contribute positively to the game's immersive experience.
- “The new graphics are gorgeous, classic 256 color pixel paintings just like you know from early 90s adventure games.”
- “Both games combine exploration and puzzles with pixel graphics (and nostalgia, if you've played similar adventure games from years ago).”
- “The gameplay is as classic as the graphics.”
- “The retro style pixel graphics may not appeal to everyone, but I found the hand-painted backgrounds to be beautiful, and the character portraits were nicely done, with some of them looking quite stunning.”
- “Graphics were somewhat improved.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The gameplay of "A Tale of Two Kingdoms" is praised for its classic style and immersive experience, offering around $1 per hour of enjoyable content, which fans of "hygge" gameplay will appreciate. The game features multiple endings that enhance replay value, while its authentic medieval design and engaging mechanics stand out, despite some criticism of the cutscene implementation. Overall, it delivers a stimulating and relevant gaming experience.
- “If you play through, exploring well and trying to do everything, it probably comes out close to about $1/hr of gameplay, which I think is a pretty good deal considering how enjoyable I found the game.”
- “Multiple endings that increase gameplay replay value.”
- “All in all, a surprisingly stimulating gameplay and impressively authentic game design keep A Tale of Two Kingdoms a relevant and enjoyable game today.”
- “There's none of that 'hover the mouse over anything and the game automatically tells you if it's an interactable or not, and what it is' BS -- another dumbed-down mechanic I hate.”
- “The main thing I didn't like was the cutscene mechanic.”
- “The gameplay is as classic as the graphics.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with a refreshing balance that avoids excessive meta-jokes while still delivering funny moments, particularly through character interactions and NPC behaviors. Characters like Ram and Aelsong are highlighted for their comedic appeal, contributing to an overall entertaining mix of humor, romance, and drama throughout the narrative.
- “There is some humor in the game, but overall the writing takes itself seriously and doesn't indulge itself in stupid meta-jokes, which is very refreshing.”
- “Ram is hilarious and Aelsong, I love her character so much.”
- “Just that little preview had me laughing out loud!”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
60%
30%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, various routes, and the ability to solve situations in different ways. While some players noted frustrations with excessive backtracking and missable items, these elements, along with optional side quests, enhance the overall replay value. To maintain enjoyment, it's recommended to space out playthroughs.
- “This gives the game a lot of replayability for an adventure game, especially considering that many situations can be solved in different ways.”
- “There's some replay value in the different endings and optional side quests, but I would recommend spacing out additional playthroughs by at least a few months, so that it feels more enjoyable and fresh.”
- “However, the game does offer different routes and endings (including Steam achievements), so it definitely has some replay value.”
- “There are some frustrations like excessive backtracking and missable items, but the missable items and side quests help to contribute to the replayability, and there are no walking dead situations, so it's not a big issue.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be long and tedious, particularly during multiple playthroughs where revisiting lengthy scenes and dialogues becomes a chore. While the presence of different endings and optional side quests adds some variety, the repetitive nature of exploring all paths can detract from the overall experience.
- “It's a grind: long, tedious, and often unpleasant work.”
- “That being said, for reasons I'll mention later, it's tedious to go back and go through all those different paths if you wish to do so.”
- “Without this option, it can be tedious to go back and play through all the various endings.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by heart-wrenching moments of separation and reunion, particularly between the main characters, which resonates deeply with players. The narrative explores themes of emotional growth and healing, evoking strong sentiments that can lead to tears, especially for those who appreciate romantic and sentimental storytelling. Overall, the game effectively combines sweet and stirring elements that leave a lasting emotional impact.
- “Kept away from each other and then finally being able to be with each other only to be ripped apart again is so heart-wrenching for the two of them.”
- “Aspects of the story were so sweet and emotionally stirring that being susceptible to the sentimentality of romance and the healing of emotional wounds, of course, at one or two points I shed a few tears.”
- “Rosie grew physically really fast but emotionally she needs more time and goes into hiding.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere of the game is highlighted by its atmospheric and epic soundtrack, which significantly enhances the overall experience and immersion for players.
- “The atmospheric and epic soundtrack truly enhances the immersive experience of the game.”
- “The combination of the atmospheric elements and the epic soundtrack creates a captivating environment.”
- “The game's atmosphere is elevated by its stunning and epic soundtrack, making every moment feel significant.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers consistently praise the character development, highlighting it as a strong point of the game. The depth and progression of characters are noted as being particularly well-executed.
- “As always, the character development was spot on.”

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10h Median play time

10h Average play time

10-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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