Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,007 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura Game Cover
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"Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura" is a role-playing game set in a fantasy world where magic and technology coexist. Players can create their own unique character, with a classless, point-based attribute system and a variety of skills and spells to choose from. The world adapts to the player's development, whether they choose to focus on magick or technology. With a focus on character customization and exploration, Arcanum offers a rich and immersive role-playing experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,007 reviews
story141 positive mentions
graphics25 negative mentions
  • The game features a rich and immersive world with deep lore and character interactions that change based on player choices.
  • Character creation is highly customizable, allowing players to build unique characters with various playstyles, including magic, technology, or a combination of both.
  • The story is engaging with multiple quests and endings, providing high replayability and a sense of consequence for player actions.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, especially on modern systems, requiring unofficial patches to run smoothly.
  • Combat mechanics are clunky and unbalanced, with real-time combat often leading to frustrating experiences.
  • The user interface is outdated and can be confusing, making navigation and inventory management cumbersome.
  • story405 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its depth, complexity, and engaging world-building, offering a unique blend of steampunk and fantasy elements. Players appreciate the intricate character development and the significant impact of choices on the narrative, with many quests providing multiple solutions and outcomes. While some find the main plot somewhat generic, the rich lore and side quests contribute to a compelling experience that encourages exploration and replayability.

    • “The story drags you into a setting like no other, with a maniacal attention to lore and detail that has rarely been replicated. The ability to build the type of character you want is staggering even today, and to put it simply, there has never been another game that quite feels like it, and the story toward the end takes a completely unexpected but welcomed turn.”
    • “The story is deep, complex, and open-ended in ways that we generally don't see in games. The main storyline has all that it should have: there's a mystery, a secret assassin society, wrong and good choices, and even a few interesting plot twists.”
    • “Arcanum features spectacular story-writing, unprecedented freedom, and an engaging world which offers a truly unique experience to this day.”
    • “I found the story to be lackluster and barely there - it felt like I spent more time wandering around compared to the story moving on, and this wasn't even doing side quests - this was actual story areas where just nothing really happened much.”
    • “What bothers me is that the main story quests are proof that developers are capable of creating interesting scenarios, yet in a world of this size (I will repeat: there's over 80 locations that we can visit) there are not so many side quests that might be interesting.”
    • “The game is sandboxy, so you can absolutely get the intro quests out of the way and then focus solely on everything else but the main story.”
  • gameplay145 mentions

    The gameplay of Arcanum is often described as clunky and outdated, with many players noting its steep learning curve and complex mechanics that can be confusing for newcomers. While the game offers a rich narrative and unique interactions between magic and technology, it suffers from technical issues, unbalanced gameplay, and a lack of modern optimization, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, fans appreciate its depth, character customization, and the nostalgic charm of old-school RPG mechanics.

    • “One of the best settings with good gameplay and an S-tier soundtrack, story, and RPG elements.”
    • “The mechanics allowed a wide variety of character builds and offered multiple ways of completing many quests.”
    • “It's got an absolutely amazing story, and fun game mechanics (especially the magic vs. technology angle).”
    • “Clunkfest of a CRPG with atrocious gameplay, controls, UI, and combat.”
    • “The actual gameplay is a bit of a slog.”
    • “Inventory is cumbersome and finicky, travel is unintuitive in several regards, combat feels often very binary (you wreck the opponent or the opponent wrecks you, no in between), the tech/crafting piece of the game is utterly unclear and unapproachable without reading extensively outside of the game on how it actually works.”
  • graphics126 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and reminiscent of early RPGs like Fallout 1 and 2, often described as cartoony and lacking detail. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic style, many criticize the visuals for being insufficient and buggy, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these graphical limitations, the game's compelling story and rich lore often overshadow the visual shortcomings for those willing to overlook them.

    • “The visuals, while dated, still possess a certain charm.”
    • “The graphics are on par with Fallout 1 and 2, as well as general play.”
    • “In a beautiful steampunk/fantasy world with great artwork and amazing violin music, that is melancholic and fits the mood well.”
    • “The graphics of the characters could be more complete; in fact, the wearables do not change the graphics of the character in the game, which is a bit disappointing.”
    • “The visuals can, and probably will, put most people off from playing the game.”
    • “The graphics are low standard, even for the time period; it's not the quality itself, it's the design - the game looks not even half-baked, more like 20% baked.”
  • music96 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its unique and atmospheric quality, primarily performed by a string quartet, which enhances the steampunk setting and narrative depth. While many players find the soundtrack beautiful and memorable, some note that it can become repetitive over time, with a desire for more variety in the background music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its immersive experience.

    • “The music is an absolute eargasm.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful and moving, and the voice acting is quality.”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal, the character design is fun, and the gameplay is top notch.”
    • “The soundtrack is entirely performed by a string quartet, which is a cool concept but gets old pretty quickly.”
    • “Only the soundtrack was a letdown, very bland; I ended up muting the music and playing the 'Twister' soundtrack in the background instead.”
    • “The music is moody and atmospheric, but there isn't a great amount of variety; by the end, you will hear violins when you close your eyes.”
  • stability56 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users recommend installing unofficial patches and mods to improve performance, but even with these fixes, the game remains prone to issues. Overall, while it offers a rich RPG experience, its technical shortcomings make it challenging to enjoy without extensive troubleshooting.

    • “Yes, it runs great on newer Windows systems.”
    • “After performing a fix found in the Steam guides, the game runs great on Windows 10 and is incredible.”
    • “DLL and downloading the recommended addons, it runs great :)”
    • “The game is buggy and requires a bunch of patches in order to be playable, but once you've installed them and started playing, it becomes an incredibly satisfying role-playing experience you definitely won't forget.”
    • “This game is buggy to the point that it is unplayable.”
    • “The game looked promising, but at least (for me) on Windows 10 and AMD graphics card, it is a buggy nightmare.”
  • replayability27 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to its extensive character customization, multiple endings based on player choices, and varied gameplay styles. Players can explore different races, alignments, and character builds, leading to unique experiences with each playthrough. While some note that it can become repetitive after several runs, the depth and variety of options keep it engaging over time.

    • “There are multiple endings depending on the player's actions and alignment, combined with the widely varied starting race and background, resulting in very high replayability.”
    • “Immense replay value due to the sheer amount of variety in quests, locations, and followers based on factors like your race, gender, abilities, and alignment.”
    • “The way you design your character has a large effect on the game you experience, making for great replayability.”
    • “Decent amount of replayability, a bit repetitive after a few times but it's a good one to keep in the library if you're in the mood for this type of game.”
    • “There is also a moral alignment as you progress, adding again to the replayability as some companions you can add to your party will only join if you are of certain alignments and offering differing endings to the game depending on if you're good or evil inclined.”
    • “But in overall it is nothing short of an excellent game, with great mechanics, many combinations of 'classes' and a very strong replay value.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its absurdity and clever dialogue, with many players enjoying the hilarious moments that arise from character interactions and gameplay mechanics, such as low intelligence builds leading to comical situations. The developers' background in creating the Fallout series adds to the charm, with numerous homages and funny scenarios that enhance the overall experience. Despite some gameplay flaws, the humor remains a standout feature, making the game enjoyable and memorable.

    • “Some messages are hilarious!”
    • “The social commentary in the game revolving around gnomes is rather hilarious.”
    • “Neglect your intelligence and fumble through the hilarious dialog as the village idiot.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant technical issues, poor performance, and a lack of compatibility with modern systems. While some unofficial patches and mods can improve gameplay and stability, players often need to invest time in troubleshooting and tweaking settings to achieve a smoother experience. Overall, the game is considered poorly optimized, hindering its enjoyment despite its strong narrative and gameplay elements.

    • “There's a few mods out there that improve the gameplay and performance quite a bit, but I truly do wish there was a bigger presence for modding, or even the possibility of a remaster.”
    • “Note that it's a bit dated and may need some mods installed to run smoothly on newer computers, but that's an easy fix.”
    • “The game is janky as all hell; expect bugs, crashes, glitches, etc. It was janky on release, and while a lot of work has been done under the hood over the years, performance remains suboptimal. There is some tweaking and compatibility settings to adjust in order to get the game running smoothly, but thankfully the guides to do so are easily findable here on Steam.”
    • “The game suffers from many technical issues that affect its performance and stability.”
    • “My big complaint, and perhaps my only major one, is that this is not optimized for modern machines.”
    • “Unfortunately, Arcanum was and still is poorly optimized, which only hinders this experience for me.”
  • character development17 mentions

    The character development in the game is highly praised for its classless design and extensive customization options, allowing players to shape their characters through meaningful choices that impact the storyline. Reviewers highlight the depth of character arcs, engaging subplots, and the game's ability to respond dynamically to player decisions, creating a rich and immersive experience. However, some note that while the freedom in character development is impressive, it may also lead to overwhelming complexity.

    • “The character development depends upon the choices made, and the storyline is sufficiently engaging to keep one interested.”
    • “Very few games have ever given you this kind of freedom with character development; want to be a gunslinger battle mage, a flamethrower-wielding thief, or a companion hoarder? Go for it.”
    • “The character development has tons of different options from how you initially create your character and how you choose to develop them as the game progresses.”
    • “The freedom and versatility of character development in terms of skills, moral alignment, and magical vs technical aptitude seems promising, but it also looks like this game has bitten off more than it can chew.”
    • “Very few games have ever given you this kind of freedom with character development; whether you want to be a gunslinger battle mage, a flamethrower-wielding thief, or a companion hoarder, go for it.”
    • “Choosing between technology and magic (or trying to balance them) in character development was one of the hardest choices I had to make, maybe ever.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional storytelling, immersive steampunk setting, and memorable characters, creating a rich and engaging experience. Players appreciate the blend of magic and technology, noting that the game's atmosphere surpasses that of many contemporary titles. While some mention limitations in gameplay and music variety, the overall consensus is that the game's narrative depth and atmospheric qualities are its standout features.

    • “This game has one of the greatest themes of all time and the atmosphere is just top-notch.”
    • “The fantasy aspect of it, with its mix of magic and technology, makes for a very unique steampunk atmosphere.”
    • “I've never seen a game with such great storytelling and atmosphere.”
    • “The game takes itself pretty seriously, but if you really delve into it, you see the budget constraints in every corner, even in areas of story and atmosphere.”
    • “Short answer is: no, unless you are an avid reader and the story and atmosphere are at least two to four times more important to you than gameplay, graphics, and a bug-free experience.”
    • “It's true that the combat is poor, but you don't play Arcanum for the gameplay; you play it for the writing and atmosphere.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often involving excessive travel and repetitive encounters that detract from the overall experience. While some enjoy the leveling system and feel a sense of progression, many express frustration with the slow pace and the necessity of grinding to make their builds viable. Overall, the grinding can feel like a chore, overshadowing the enjoyment of side quests and character development.

    • “The game can be completed relatively quickly, but doing all the side quests (which requires several playthroughs) is where most of the fun is really at. Leveling in this game is not tedious at all, and with every level, you can feel the difference.”
    • “This game runs normally for the first 20 minutes, then it slows down to a grinding halt.”
    • “The limit to what you can do comes down to your skill as a player and the grit you have to suffer through grinding out the low levels before your build becomes anywhere near viable.”
    • “I think almost half my time spent in this game so far has been traveling back and forth on the world map grinding random encounters.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players express a mix of frustration and deep emotional engagement with the game, highlighting its challenging mechanics and complex themes. While technical issues detract from the experience, the narrative's exploration of significant societal questions evokes a strong emotional response, making it a memorable journey akin to that of other emotionally charged games like Mass Effect.

    • “Arcanum's world is complicated and will constantly test you—physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
    • “Not sure what's happening, but it's already a bigger emotional rollercoaster than Mass Effect.”
    • “What other game throws you into the middle of the industrial revolution, with quests directly touching on the coexistence of nature and technology?”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

20hMedian play time
28hAverage play time
5-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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