Across the Obelisk

About

"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.

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+10

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 13,664 reviews

gameplay514 positive mentions

grinding370 negative mentions

gameplay
1,672 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The gameplay of "Across the Obelisk" is characterized by its engaging blend of deck-building and roguelike mechanics, offering a rich and strategic experience that encourages replayability through diverse character abilities and cooperative multiplayer options. However, players note a steep learning curve due to the overwhelming number of mechanics and status effects, which can lead to confusion and frustration, especially for newcomers. While the core gameplay loop is addictive and rewarding, some mechanics are criticized for being overly complex or poorly balanced, impacting the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “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 player has very limited means to upgrade damage output or recover HP.”
- “This game combines the worst elements of the deckbuilder genre with some of the most annoying game mechanics I have ever witnessed.”
- “The other problem with Across the Obelisk is the huge number of mechanics and statuses that make keeping track of everything a chore and mostly add little to no strategic depth anyway.”
story
828 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The story in "Across the Obelisk" is often described as basic and somewhat cliché, primarily revolving around familiar tropes like "saving the princess." While some players appreciate the light-hearted and humorous elements, many feel the narrative lacks depth and originality, with writing that could benefit from improvement. However, the game compensates for its narrative shortcomings with engaging gameplay mechanics, character interactions, and a variety of quests that enhance replayability, making it a fun experience despite its simplistic story.
- “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 is humorous yet heroic.”
- “Music is bland, the story so far is literally 'save the princess' and the general feeling is of an amateur D&D module made into a cheap YouTube short, but the DM isn't even some kind of edgelord.”
- “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.”
replayability
782 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its strategic depth, diverse character abilities, and numerous build combinations that keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Many reviews highlight the game's co-op features and the variety of unlockable content, which further enhance its replay value. While some players note that it may not reach the same heights of replayability as other titles in the genre, the overall consensus is that it offers a wealth of content and enjoyable experiences for both solo and multiplayer sessions.
- “Its strategic depth and varied character abilities offer engaging and replayable gameplay.”
- “The replayability of this game is phenomenal.”
- “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.”
- “I think this game excels at being a deckbuilder with RPG-like progression, but falls a little flat on replayability.”
- “The only downsides I can see are the replayability and not so unique character decks.”
graphics
466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The graphics of "Across the Obelisk" receive mixed reviews, with some players praising its charming pixel art style and vibrant colors that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize it for resembling outdated flash games and lacking originality. Many appreciate the game's aesthetic as nostalgic and fitting for its fantasy theme, though some find it unappealing or generic. Overall, the visuals are described as solid and functional, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some subjective preferences regarding the art style.
- “In conclusion, Across the Obelisk is a captivating addition to the roguelike genre, offering a mix of strategy, storytelling, and beautiful visuals.”
- “The art and visuals in Across the Obelisk are nothing short of breathtaking.”
- “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.”
- “Zero f***ing passion spent on artwork, feels like I've accidentally booted browser flash games from the early 2000s.”
- “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.”
grinding
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting it can be excessively grindy and tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress. While some enjoy the grind as a means of character development and unlocking new content, others find it repetitive and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, players recommend approaching the game with the understanding that grinding is a core component of the 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.”
- “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.”
- “This is a grind filled, meta progression centric, grind filled, card battler, with long grindy battles caused by unimaginative card mechanics/interactions and unreasonably spongy enemies...”
- “If you don't want to spend tens of hours wasting time on a mid experience before eventually realizing that the grinding is the core of this game, you should steer clear of this game and spend your time and money on something else.”
- “The game is held back by its overly grindy meta advancement that is in much need of an overhaul.”
music
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy tracks and atmospheric qualities, while others find it bland, repetitive, or even annoying. Many users noted that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during boss fights, but some felt it lacked variety and depth, leading to a desire to mute it or play their own music instead. Overall, while there are standout moments, the consensus suggests that the music could benefit from improvement and greater diversity.
- “The art, sound design, music, and interface are very well-done.”
- “From epic orchestral arrangements to haunting melodies, the music sets the tone for each stage of the journey, immersing players in the world of the obelisk and enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Music is great, been stuck in my mind for days now.”
- “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 only bad thing about the game is the music, or rather the lack thereof.”
monetization
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
7%
91%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism due to the recent introduction of a third-party launcher that includes advertisements and data collection, 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 with the high prices of DLC content 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 was fun, even if the DLC prices were questionable I still tried to support the devs. What I will not support is an unnecessary launcher that shows me ads and sells my data.”
- “Do not buy, added a forced 3rd party launcher with ads and data collection to the game long after purchase.”
humor
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a standout feature, blending quirky dialogue, amusing character interactions, and comical sound effects that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the clever writing and the unexpected hilarity that arises from gameplay mechanics, such as anti-synergies and character quirks, making for memorable moments. While the humor is often subtle and may not dominate the narrative, it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, encouraging laughter and camaraderie, especially in multiplayer sessions.
- “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.”
- “After the ten minute download, we played for 14 consecutive hours, the whole time laughing at the sound enemies make when you hit them, how funny/frustrating some of the optional challenges are and at the powerful pig pope character.”
optimization
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
82%
6%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly for many players, some report significant performance issues, including crashes and launch failures, particularly when using a third-party launcher. Optimized builds can yield impressive damage outputs, but the game struggles with balance, often favoring speed over strategy in its reward system. Overall, it offers a solid multiplayer experience, though some players find hero decks clunky and unoptimized, impacting the overall gameplay experience.
- “Optimized builds can get pretty bonkers DPS output.”
- “There is, in theory, a fairly high skill ceiling to the game, and there are some interesting sequencing optimizations that skilled players can make.”
- “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.”
- “Has a lot of potential, but just isn't correctly balanced or optimized.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
68%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a relatively bug-free experience, while others highlight significant issues, particularly with a problematic launcher that hampers gameplay. Although the game is still in early access and has its share of bugs, many users appreciate the developers' commitment to addressing these issues through regular updates and patches. Overall, while the game shows promise, its stability remains a concern for many players.
- “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 is 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
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and variety, with each character featuring unique designs, abilities, and personalities that enhance gameplay and interaction choices. While many reviewers highlight the charm and creativity in character design and customization, some express concerns about representation, noting that certain designs may be perceived as sexist or racist. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging character development with rich world-building and gameplay mechanics.
- “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.”
- “The character designs are also excellent, with each character having their own unique look and personality.”
- “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.”
- “(also, for those who care about representation, the character designs are sexist and racist as hell.)”
- “Character design is the most generic fantasy sheet I've seen.”
- “I prefer the world building and character design of Gordian Quest.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling, particularly the touching relationship between characters Magnus and Yogger, which resonates deeply with players. While the game offers a rich narrative experience and engaging gameplay, some players express disappointment with later combat sequences that feel tedious and emotionally unfulfilling. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings, though it also warns players about the potential heartbreak tied to its grindy elements and external pricing decisions.
- “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.”
- “The problem is that you have to wade through so much grindy gameplay to see it, and it's so heartbreaking.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by beautiful pixel art and an atmospheric soundtrack that deeply immerses players in its world. While it balances lightheartedness with darker themes, the well-crafted visuals and soundscape create a polished and coherent experience, though some sound effects may come off as silly. Overall, the combination of haunting melodies and colorful graphics enhances the game's appeal, making it a standout title in its genre.
- “The haunting melodies and atmospheric soundscape enhance the immersion, tugging at your heartstrings and igniting your imagination.”
- “The cards, characters, and locations are well-crafted and contribute to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The music is fine, it suits the atmosphere of the game but is otherwise unremarkable.”