Across the Obelisk

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"Across the Obelisk" is a free-to-play multiplayer co-op RPG available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Nintendo Switch, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S coming in 2024. The game supports English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, with German and French coming soon. Story Packs are shareable, allowing players to follow along on friends' adventures even with different DLCs. A Paradox Account is required for cross-platform co-op play, but not for playing on the same platform.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,832 reviews

gameplay257 positive mentions

grinding185 negative mentions

Engaging blend of deck-building and roguelike mechanics that offer depth and replayability.
Dynamic and challenging battles that require strategic thinking and adaptability.
Varied character classes with unique abilities and playstyles, encouraging experimentation.

Recent addition of the Paradox launcher requires players to agree to a new EULA, raising privacy concerns.
Overpriced DLC that adds minimal content compared to the base game.
Long run times can lead to tedious gameplay, especially in higher difficulty levels.

gameplay
836 mentions
31 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Across the Obelisk" is characterized by its deep and engaging mechanics, combining elements of deck-building, turn-based combat, and RPG progression, which offer a rich experience for both solo and cooperative play. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and variety of character abilities, some find the learning curve steep and the multitude of mechanics overwhelming, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive gameplay loop and replayability, though it may require significant time investment to fully grasp its complexities.
- “The gameplay loop is very fun and there are many things to discover.”
- “Across the Obelisk is an engaging roguelike deck-building RPG that combines strategic gameplay with a rich narrative and stunning hand-drawn art.”
- “The gameplay focuses on turn-based combat and deck-building mechanics, allowing players to customize their strategies by acquiring new cards and abilities as they progress.”
- “The gameplay is mediocre and the major problem is that the player has very limited means to upgrade damage output or recover HP.”
- “The game is designed to waste your time with metaprogression, and the actual gameplay is highly repetitive.”
- “The core gameplay loop is solid, but the pacing is a bit more of a slow burn, and for every sacrifice the game makes, it typically has some upside to compensate for it.”
story
414 mentions
25 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in "Across the Obelisk" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing narrative and character-driven choices, while others find it clichéd and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the game's blend of roguelike mechanics with RPG elements, allowing for varied story paths and character interactions, though some criticize the writing quality and overall narrative engagement. Overall, while the story may not be the main draw for everyone, it adds a layer of replayability and charm to the gameplay experience.
- “One of the standout features of Across the Obelisk is its intriguing storyline and the way choices influence the game’s outcome.”
- “Across the Obelisk seamlessly blends fast-paced action, strategic deck-building, and engrossing storytelling.”
- “The story elements and unlocking of new characters (and the like) are really exciting and add a lot of variation to every run.”
- “The story is by far the most lacking part of the game.”
- “My only real complaint here is that the world is generic as hell, the story is boring and borderline nonexistent, and a lot of the characters look like they are either the most generic archetypes ever or straight up ripped from other IPs, giving the world a bit of a cheap knock-off feel.”
- “If you want a game with a compelling narrative, this is not the right game for you; it's more about trying builds and seeing if your strategy works.”
replayability
391 mentions
59 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its strategic depth, diverse character abilities, and a plethora of unlockable content. Players appreciate the variety of builds, character synergies, and the ability to tackle different challenges, making each run feel fresh and engaging. While some note that it may not reach the replayability heights of certain other roguelikes, the overall consensus is that it offers a rich and rewarding experience that encourages repeated play.
- “Its strategic depth and varied character abilities offer engaging and replayable gameplay.”
- “The game has a lot of difficulty options, weekly challenges, and replayability.”
- “With sixteen different characters and four unique decks to build a party around, two completely different game modes (plus a daily challenge), multiple progression paths through any given run, and an insane amount of stuff to unlock, there's probably more content and replayability in Across the Obelisk than any of its competitors.”
- “Game is quite nice but as soon as I finished it I felt that it's not replayable.”
- “The game is lots of fun, however, when it gets stale, it gets really stale; the replay value isn't that great yet, but I believe that when more cards/characters come out, it will be golden.”
- “I will say replayability is a little lacking because each hero only has two ways to play and there's always the right way to play.”
graphics
233 mentions
50 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Across the Obelisk" receive mixed reviews, with some players praising its charming pixel art and vibrant colors that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize the art style as generic or reminiscent of older flash games. Many appreciate the visuals for their nostalgic appeal and coherence, though some feel the aesthetics could benefit from a darker or more unique approach. Overall, the graphics are generally considered solid and fitting for the game's genre, contributing positively to its engaging gameplay.
- “In conclusion, Across the Obelisk is a captivating addition to the roguelike genre, offering a mix of strategy, storytelling, and beautiful visuals.”
- “The art style is charming, the music is spot on and really adds to the battles.”
- “The pixel art style is beautifully detailed and full of personality, bringing the game's richly imagined world to life with vibrant colors and charming character designs.”
- “Art style and worldbuilding is meh, it's pretty bog standard fantasy but with wolf people and pig people and I guess lizard people drawn in flash animation style.”
- “The graphics are reminiscent of the old browser/flash games of 2007 like Adventure Quest and unfortunately the (royalty free?) sound effects are at the same level.”
- “Only thing holding the game back is the 'flash game' like art style and background music; it's unfortunate a game this good has an art style that looks like something from the 2000s era games.”
grinding
193 mentions
1 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a substantial investment of hours to progress. While some players find enjoyment in the grind and appreciate the sense of progression it offers, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to repetitive gameplay and frustration. Overall, the game is characterized by a heavy reliance on grinding for character upgrades and resources, which may appeal to dedicated players but could deter those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “The repetition isn't grinding because you can feel yourself moving forward in the game as it becomes easier at the start and harder as you ascend.”
- “It's not tedious to add a bit more diversity.”
- “Extremely grindy.”
- “The game is held back by its overly grindy meta advancement that is in much need of an overhaul.”
- “It's a tedious and just plain bad game on many levels, from the lack of cool animations to cards that feel and look crap.”
music
193 mentions
38 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its charm and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it bland, repetitive, or even irritating. Many appreciate specific tracks, particularly those associated with boss battles, but overall, the soundtrack is often described as lacking variety and depth, leading some players to mute it in favor of their own music. Despite these criticisms, a portion of the audience enjoys the music enough to consider it a positive aspect of the game.
- “The art, sound design, music, and interface are very well-done.”
- “The music, animation, and tutorial can be better, but a good game overall.”
- “In addition to its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, 'Across the Obelisk' also boasts a stellar soundtrack that perfectly complements the action on screen.”
- “The music is forgettable to borderline maddening; none of the music seemed to fit whatever biome I was in, the only one I thought was alright was the final boss music.”
- “The music and sound effects are dreadful and almost made me stop playing the game at first.”
- “The soundtracks are okay the first hours you hear them, but they are just too short, repetitive, and not iconic enough.”
monetization
90 mentions
3 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism for its recent implementation of a third-party launcher that serves advertisements and collects user data, which many players find deceptive and manipulative. Users express frustration over the forced nature of this launcher, viewing it as a cash grab that detracts from the overall gaming experience, especially given the high prices of downloadable content (DLC) that they feel are not justified. Overall, the shift towards aggressive monetization tactics has led to a decline in player support and trust.
- “Good, non-exploitative monetization, a gold mine of a game, fun solo, with friends, with randoms, robust customization and building, a perfect example of a live service game, for cheap too.”
- “Refreshing to see a new game without microtransactions!”
- “No launcher, no microtransactions, and maybe an ad for the expansion coming out next year.”
- “Adding data-collection and advertisements to the game after the fact seems deceptive and manipulative to me, and I will not sign such an agreement unless I'm aware of it prior to paying for the product.”
- “The game itself is really fun especially if you like card-based strategy games like Slay the Spire, but they recently added a crappy launcher that you must agree to having your data collected and ads shown to you to even run the game.”
- “I enjoyed the game but the DLC is very expensive for what you get and the new launcher they forced on people to collect advertising data and advertise their DLC really rubs me the wrong way.”
humor
56 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its quirky dialogue, funny character interactions, and amusing sound effects that enhance the overall experience. While the story is described as thin, it contains moments of charm and wit that keep players engaged, especially when playing with friends. The game's blend of humor and strategic gameplay creates a fun and often hilarious atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
- “The characters are all well-written and likable, and the game's dialogue is full of humor and charm.”
- “It's funny because it doesn't necessarily give you the impression the first few minutes you play, but then you discover just how much beautiful depth and creativity was put into the game, you get hooked.”
- “The art style is fun and quirky, and the writing is humorous.”
optimization
25 mentions
12 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly for many players and offers a high skill ceiling with potential for optimized builds, some users report significant performance issues, crashes, and clunky mechanics that hinder gameplay. The reliance on third-party launchers and the balance of rewards based solely on speed rather than strategy have also drawn criticism. Despite these drawbacks, the game is generally well-received for its depth and replayability.
- “Optimized builds can get pretty bonkers DPS output.”
- “Very well optimized for multiplayer.”
- “It is not too complicated for new players but also has a lot of depth and optimization.”
- “Apart from it being an annoying extra step before playing the game, it's also causing performance issues, crashes, and inability to launch the game at all.”
- “Totally unoptimized, runs like crud on my computer.”
- “Hero decks always feel clunky and unoptimized.”
stability
19 mentions
32 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
68 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and issues, particularly with the launcher, while others report a relatively smooth experience with only minor glitches. Many users acknowledge that the game is still in early access, and the developers are actively addressing stability concerns through regular updates and patches. Despite the bugs, the gameplay is generally praised, indicating that the game has potential once stability issues are resolved.
- “Great game, lots of content, relatively bug free despite complex mechanics.”
- “I've only run into a bug or two very rarely; it's essentially bug free from my experience.”
- “Well made game, lots of strategy, lots to do, good graphics, runs great.”
- “To top it off, the launcher itself is buggy, keeps on popping up on the screen after the game launch and being a hindrance to anyone's gaming experience.”
- “I am now forced to use a command because the additional launcher is so buggy that it often can't even launch the game!”
- “When I first got the game it was a buggy mess.”
character development
16 mentions
31 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and uniqueness, with each character featuring distinct designs, abilities, and personalities that enhance gameplay and interaction choices. While some reviews highlight the game's strong world-building and customization options, concerns about representation in character design have also been noted. Overall, the character design is celebrated for its charm and creativity, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The character designs are also excellent, with each character having their own unique look and personality.”
- “Best-in-class for character design and customization/synergies.”
- “Character design is the most generic fantasy asset I've seen.”
- “(Also, for those who care about representation, the character designs are sexist and racist as hell.)”
- “The character development is solid both in terms of ability differentiation and in the way different characters unlock different possibilities for encounters and interaction choices.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its poignant storytelling and character relationships, particularly the heartwarming bond between Magnus and Yogger, which resonates deeply with players. While the game offers a rich, immersive experience that evokes strong feelings, some players express disappointment with later gameplay elements that detract from the emotional satisfaction. Overall, the combination of engaging narratives, memorable characters, and impactful music contributes to a heartfelt gaming experience, despite some frustrations with grindy mechanics.
- “The story of this game is truly a heartbreaking warning to players out there that anything can be taken and turned into a vending machine for someone that doesn't need it.”
- “It embraces the wolf wars, introduces us to the formidable Magnus and his heartfelt relationship with Yogger, and takes us on an adventure that will forever stay etched in our hearts.”
- “There's a wide variety of characters and a giant skill ceiling, and seeing the game start from early access and constantly get better up until launch has been heartwarming to say the least.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by beautiful pixel art and a haunting soundtrack that deeply immerses players in its world. While it balances lightheartedness with darker themes, the overall presentation is polished and coherent, featuring well-crafted visuals and sound effects that enhance the experience without detracting from it. The combination of compelling mechanics and an engaging atmosphere makes it a standout title worth exploring.
- “The beautiful pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack immerse you in the game's world.”
- “The haunting melodies and atmospheric soundscape enhance the immersion, tugging at your heartstrings and igniting your imagination.”
- “Overall, the visuals of Across the Obelisk are very colorful and create a light atmosphere, but nonetheless seem polished and coherent.”
- “The atmosphere is more lighthearted than most deckbuilders I have played (with some bizarrely dark things glossed over) and I find the whole presentation quite pleasant.”
- “The music is fine, it suits the atmosphere of the game but is otherwise unremarkable.”
- “Some of the sound effects, especially those that repeat frequently like on-hit grunts, become a source of amusement after some time, but do not detract from the game's atmosphere.”