Anuchard

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 76 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Anuchard Game Cover
If you can overlook some flaws, Anuchard is a short and engaging, albeit simple, action RPG adventure.
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Anuchard is a single-player fantasy role-playing game, where players enter a dangerous Dungeon to defeat the five treacherous Guardians of the lost kingdom of Anuchard. Generations have passed since the Anuchardian paradise fell, and only the Chosen One, the Bellwielder, can take up the Audros Bell and restore peace to the island above. With a good story and immersive world-building, Anuchard offers a captivating experience for players.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews
story16 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and charming character designs, creating an engaging visual experience.
  • The gameplay loop is satisfying, with a mix of dungeon exploration, puzzle-solving, and light combat that keeps players interested.
  • The story has intriguing elements and offers a unique take on themes of rebuilding and community, enhanced by endearing NPCs.
  • The combat and puzzles can feel repetitive and simplistic, lacking the depth needed to keep players fully engaged.
  • The save system is frustrating, with only manual saves at specific points and no autosave feature, leading to potential loss of progress.
  • Localization issues and overly wordy NPC dialogue can detract from the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game.
  • story53 mentions

    The game's story is described as intriguing and unique, with a mix of traditional JRPG dialogue and Western D&D narration, though opinions vary on its emotional impact and pacing. While some players appreciate the depth and lore, others find the storytelling lacking and filled with clichés. Side quests are noted to enhance the narrative experience, but the expiration of these quests can be frustrating for players. Overall, the art and world-building are praised, making it a refreshing indie experience despite some narrative shortcomings.

    • “The story and setting are deep and intriguing, and the way that information is slowly revealed as you progress keeps you interested.”
    • “The dungeon involves combat and puzzle solving, and each successful dungeon run unlocks new things in the overworld, progressing the story, and it feels quite satisfying.”
    • “But on a serious note, I love the story of this game; it's the best indie gem I've found all year.”
    • “Don't play it for the story though, you'll probably be disappointed.”
    • “I wasn't emotionally attached to the characters or story, but it was amusing to some extent.”
    • “The story is kinda weird-paced but was bearable for me (although I have felt a range of emotions at the endings).”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of dungeon exploration, light combat, and orb-based puzzles, but many players feel it lacks variety and depth, leading to a repetitive experience. While the mechanics are generally intuitive and the visuals charming, some find the execution clunky and the overall gameplay loop too simplistic. Despite its addictive nature, the game could benefit from additional elements to enhance engagement and combat variety.

    • “✔️ Nice action RPG gameplay with minimalist but fun mechanics.”
    • “[b]Intriguing action/adventure/RPG with a solid gameplay loop but a few flaws.[/b]”
    • “[*] The gameplay loop is addictive and satisfying.”
    • “The game could use some combat variety and a run button, though gameplay gets old fast.”
    • “If you're looking for a focus on deep gameplay, I'd look elsewhere as the game is about a 50/50 split between dialogue and dungeon exploration, which contains light combat and orb-based puzzles.”
    • “The game both tries to be a bit precision-based for some battle mechanics and puzzles, but at the same time can feel a bit too clunky to pull some actions precisely, which can lead to annoying situations.”
  • music30 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its contextual changes and standout tracks, while others find it average or inconsistent. Overall, many appreciate the soundtrack's charm and its contribution to the game's atmosphere, highlighting it as a significant aspect alongside the beautiful art style.

    • “A wonderful game from start to finish, with an amazing soundtrack and super charming art style.”
    • “The world is interesting, art is fantastic, and music is phenomenal.”
    • “Don't make me start about the art and music: fantastic!”
    • “The music... well, there's some for one they implemented contextual changes on the music which is great, and second, in my opinion, there are good tracks as well as... not so good?”
    • “Music: average”
    • “This music?”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, evoking a charming PS1-era aesthetic. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players noted that certain dungeon designs can create confusion regarding navigation due to the art style. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere and appeal.

    • “The art style is beautiful, and while the music isn't anything amazing, it gets the job done in my opinion.”
    • “A wonderful game from start to finish, with an amazing soundtrack and super charming art style.”
    • “The art style, the story, and worldbuilding are so unique and creative.”
    • “There are a few dungeons, particularly in the third setting, where the art style makes it difficult to understand when one surface is higher than another surface, so it looks like you should be able to walk somewhere but you can't.”
    • “It's very cute, definitely feels like a PS1 era game both graphically and mechanically.”
    • “I don't really like the retro aesthetics but I love the action and the puzzle!”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players particularly enjoying the quirky bellwielders and the amusing character names and dialogue. Despite some clunky gameplay elements, the lightheartedness and charm of the characters help to make the overall experience more enjoyable and bearable. The writing and art contribute to the comedic tone, enhancing the game's appeal.

    • “My favorite part of the game by far are the bellwielders, hehe. They are actually funny and make everything better.”
    • “I mean, every bad thing was bearable with these funny dotty guys.”
    • “The writing, the art, the music, the combat, and the puzzle are really well executed, not to mention each of the characters have funny names and ways of talking.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a laid-back and chill vibe, which contrasts with the in-game stress, making the experience enjoyable despite simplistic combat. The rich lore enhances this relaxed ambiance, contributing to an overall engaging environment.

    • “The combat is simplistic and it's pretty easy, but the lore and chill atmosphere really made it worth it to me.”
    • “It's got a nice laid-back atmosphere where, although in fiction you are under huge stress, it doesn't feel like anything is too pressing.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The character development is highlighted by unique and creative pixel art designs that effectively convey personality without the use of facial features, showcasing a strong visual identity for each character.

    • “The character designs and palettes are quite unique, and it's interesting how well the characters worked without faces.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed emotional response, with some players feeling a lack of attachment to the characters and story, while others appreciate the depth and warmth provided by the emotional narratives. Overall, the game elicits amusement but may not resonate deeply with all players.

    • “They offer so much more depth, and the emotional stories they contain lend so much warmth to the narrative.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to a lack of clear navigation tools, overly verbose NPC dialogue, and simplistic puzzles. Additionally, frequent and straightforward combat contributes to a sense of monotony, making the overall experience feel repetitive.

    • “Finding objectives is tedious without a map and waypoint; NPC dialogue is too wordy, and puzzles are on the simple side.”
    • “Terrible writing; combat is too frequent and simple, making the overall experience tedious.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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