Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,173 reviews

story167 positive mentions

graphics29 negative mentions

Arcanum offers a unique blend of magic and technology, allowing for diverse character builds and playstyles.
The game features a rich story and world-building, with engaging dialogue and memorable characters.
High replayability due to multiple ways to solve quests and the impact of player choices on the game world.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, especially on modern operating 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The user interface is outdated and can be confusing, making navigation and inventory management cumbersome.

story
479 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The story in Arcanum is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and rich lore, offering players a unique blend of steampunk and fantasy elements. Many reviewers highlight the game's emphasis on player choice, with character builds significantly impacting dialogue and quest outcomes, leading to a highly personalized narrative experience. While some critiques mention the story's pacing and occasional lack of clarity in quest progression, the overall consensus is that the engaging plot and diverse character interactions make it a standout title in the RPG genre.
- “Arcanum has one of the most exotic and well-crafted settings in any CRPG, and is accompanied by a fantastic story rich in adventure and philosophy.”
- “The story is deep, complex, and open-ended in ways that we generally don't see in games.”
- “The story, writing, characters, and world-building in the game are very good, but not the best I've ever seen.”
- “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.”
- “The main story quests are a proof that developers are capable of creating interesting scenarios, yet in a world of this size, there are not so many side quests that might be interesting.”
- “The story is well-conceived but requires a lot of work to piece together.”
gameplay
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
65%
8%
The gameplay of Arcanum is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its depth and unique mechanics, particularly the interplay between magic and technology, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fallout. However, it suffers from clunky controls, outdated graphics, and unbalanced mechanics, which can frustrate new players and detract from the overall experience. While the rich lore and character options provide a compelling narrative, the gameplay often feels dated and requires patience to navigate effectively.
- “Still, this game is an amazing experience that feels like a proper continuation to Fallout in gameplay systems, progression, choice, and rich world-building.”
- “The setting was intriguing, the mechanics amazing, and the possibilities endless!”
- “Great gameplay, incredible character detail, superb story, and great possibilities make Arcanum a fantastic game.”
- “Arcanum is buggy and janky, with terrible balance and linear gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is mostly dusty and old and had a lot of faults even when it came out, but if you can overlook such faults or live with them about 40-100 hours then you can experience a very special handcrafted high-fantasy/steampunk-world with an elaborately told story!”
- “Disappointing that such a richly developed world was stuck with such poor combat mechanics, the central gameplay element outside of the story.”
graphics
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
67%
19%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, and often described as "serviceable" but lacking in modern polish. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and unique art style, many criticize the visuals for being buggy and unrefined, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these graphical shortcomings, the game's compelling story and immersive world often overshadow the visual limitations for those willing to overlook them.
- “The visuals, while dated, still possess a certain charm.”
- “A beautiful game that still encourages the use of our imaginations for the low resolution of the graphics within it.”
- “I absolutely love the concept of the game, the story, the lore, and its aesthetics.”
- “The graphics are old and dated.”
- “The visuals can, and probably will put most people off of playing the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the graphics were already outdated when it was released.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The music in "Arcanum" is widely praised for its atmospheric and melancholic quality, primarily featuring a string quartet that enhances the game's unique steampunk setting. Many players describe the soundtrack as one of the best in gaming history, evoking strong nostalgia and emotional responses, although some note its repetitive nature. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the immersive experience, making it a standout aspect of the game despite some critiques regarding variety.
- “There's atmospheric violin music throughout the game, among which you might find some of the best soundtracks you've heard in a game or otherwise, depending on taste.”
- “The music is timeless.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and moving, and the voice acting is quality.”
- “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.”
stability
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of Arcanum is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay. While unofficial patches can alleviate some issues, the game remains janky and requires extensive tweaking to run smoothly on modern systems. Overall, players recommend installing fan patches and saving frequently to mitigate the frequent instability.
- “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 :)”
- “Arcanum was released in a very buggy state, so you will probably have to install the unofficial patch, which will fix most of the bugs.”
- “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.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its intricate character customization, diverse class options, and multiple endings influenced by player choices and alignments. Players can explore various playstyles, including magic and technology, leading to a unique experience with each playthrough. Overall, the depth of content and freedom of choice ensure that players will find themselves returning for new adventures and different outcomes.
- “The play between magic and technology, and depth of the characters, and the range of options and what becomes accessible or not based on character design makes for potent replay value.”
- “There are multiple endings depending on the player's actions and alignment, combined with the widely varied starting race/background, making replayability very high indeed.”
- “The replayability isn't necessarily endless, but I've had a great time building 4 very different characters, assembling 4 different teams of followers, and making different decisions in the game so every quest isn't the same.”
- “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.”
- “Immense replay value due to the sheer amount of variety in quests, locations, and followers based on things like your race, gender, abilities, alignment, etc.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and absurdity, with many players enjoying the comedic dialogue and unique character interactions that can lead to hilarious situations, especially when playing as characters with low intelligence. While some find the humor to be a delightful complement to the game's deep storyline, others note that it can sometimes overshadow the more serious themes. Overall, the blend of irreverent humor and engaging storytelling creates a memorable experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “Beautiful CRPG by the same team known for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, interesting ideas and designs, had some very funny moments too.”
- “Playing as a character with low intelligence or beauty makes for hilarious encounters.”
- “The social commentary in the game revolving around gnomes is rather hilarious.”
atmosphere
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
26%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, highlighted by a haunting violin and cello soundtrack that enhances the melancholic and steampunk themes. Reviewers note that while the gameplay may have its flaws, the rich storytelling, unique world, and memorable characters create an enthralling experience that stands out in the RPG genre. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, making it a compelling choice for players who prioritize narrative and ambiance over gameplay mechanics.
- “This game has one of the greatest themes of all time and the atmosphere is just top-notch.”
- “The atmosphere, story, and music were amazing.”
- “I've never seen a game with such great storytelling and atmosphere.”
- “My recommendation (after more than a hundred hours over two decades): an amazing world that is enthralling, with an atmosphere you will find nowhere else - but the game is not for everyone, even RPG players may not like it, and that is because of some pain points, the old and suboptimal pathfinding and other user interface issues, especially the rather bad version presented here on Steam does carry on what the community already fixed.”
- “This game has more story and atmosphere in the first quest than most big studio titles these days have in their whole game.”
- “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.”
optimization
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
30%
43%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on modern systems. While community patches and mods can improve stability and performance, players often need to invest time in tweaking settings to achieve a smoother experience. Overall, the lack of native optimization for contemporary hardware remains a major drawback.
- “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.”
- “You'll need to download the unofficial Arcanum high resolution patch to get it to run smoothly, but it is an amazing game nonetheless.”
- “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 development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and versatility, offering players a wide range of customization options and meaningful choices that significantly impact the storyline and gameplay. The interplay between magic and technology adds complexity, while engaging companions and rich dialogue enhance emotional investment in the characters. Overall, the game provides a robust character development system that encourages replayability and exploration of various roles and moral alignments.
- “The play between magic and technology, and depth of the characters, and the range of options and what becomes accessible or not based on character design makes for potent replay value.”
- “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 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.”
- “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).”
- “Very few games have ever given you this kind of freedom with character development; if you want to be a gunslinger battle mage, a flamethrower-wielding thief, or a companion hoarder, go for it.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
9%
82%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring extensive travel and repetitive tasks to progress. While some suggest that engaging with quests can mitigate the grind, many feel that the experience slows significantly after the initial stages, leading to frustration, especially for those relying on less effective combat methods. Overall, while leveling can feel rewarding, the grind itself is often viewed as a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the gameplay.
- “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.”
- “Since there are mostly only NPCs who are just cosmetic, it's a tedious and boring task.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience with the game, where technical issues and frustrating gameplay detract from immersion, leading to discomfort and frustration. However, the complex themes of coexistence between nature and technology evoke a deeper emotional response, making it a significant emotional journey for some players, reminiscent of the emotional highs and lows found in titles like Mass Effect. Overall, while the game presents a challenging emotional landscape, its execution may hinder players' ability to fully engage with its narrative.
- “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?”