Archvale

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,417 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Archvale Game Cover
Archvale is just plain fun. It does what it does well, and as a bullet hell provides a serious challenge without feeling unfair. I cannot recommend this game enough.
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"Archvale" is a fantasy shooter game with exceptional graphics, compelling soundtrack, and interesting plot. It offers both single-player and local co-op mode for 2 players in split-screen. The game features skill-based bullet hell combat, crafting over 200 weapons, looting and augmenting characters through badges to suit your playstyle, all while journeying through diverse regions to defeat the Undying and uncover the truth about the legendary Archvale.

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

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,417 reviews
gameplay83 positive mentions
grinding39 negative mentions
  • Great blend of bullet hell and RPG elements, providing a fun and engaging gameplay experience.
  • Beautiful pixel art and charming soundtrack enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Variety of weapons and badges allows for different playstyles and customization.
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially with some bosses and enemy patterns feeling unfair.
  • Lack of inventory management features makes it tedious to handle items and resources.
  • The game feels short, with some players completing it in under 10 hours, leading to a lack of replayability.
  • gameplay220 mentions

    The gameplay of Archvale is characterized by its engaging bullet-hell mechanics combined with RPG elements, offering a mix of exploration, crafting, and combat that appeals to fans of the genre. While many players appreciate the smooth controls and variety of weapons, some criticize the lack of depth in mechanics and the repetitive nature of combat. Overall, the game provides a fun and addictive experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay systems.

    • “It's neat that they turned the roguelike/touhou twin-stick-shooter genre into an adventure style of gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay feels buttery smooth and is highly addictive.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the controls are tight, the art is super nice, the progression very satisfying and enjoyable.”
    • “There's really no game design in this game... the map is randomly generated and all weapons are just guns, mechanically.”
    • “The mechanics are mostly random; you'll get shot by a stray bullet that was aimed at you, seeks you out, and that you simply cannot dodge.”
    • “At the end, it's just a random twin-stick shooter because they don't develop what they put inside; every mechanic stays very basic and feels frustratingly unfinished.”
  • story118 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered simple and somewhat generic, often described as a basic quest to defeat a "big bad" with minimal plot development. While some players found the narrative engaging and appreciated its integration with gameplay, many noted that it lacks depth and memorable characters, serving primarily as a backdrop for the action. Overall, the story is seen as adequate but not a focal point, with gameplay taking precedence in the overall experience.

    • “The story was actually quite nice, which I wouldn't usually expect for this type of game.”
    • “Play as the nameless hero as he uncovers the truth of the world during his travels, reaching the village of Timberwell, your character will, at first, get quests to help with the peasants... but upon completing them, he will find out that the characters behind the villagers' aches are only using them as a diversion, and there is a bigger plot afoot.”
    • “Archvale is an awesome bullet hell RPG, while having a great but not heavy story, after beating the game as pure melee I will be reviewing major aspects on a 1-10 scale.”
    • “The story is kind of bare bones and generic, and there are just no memorable characters.”
    • “The time the story actually starts going someplace interesting, it's already over.”
    • “The story could be more polished and developed, but it isn't a problem thanks to the good gameplay.”
  • graphics108 mentions

    The graphics of Archvale are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and atmospheric design that enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in the sprite work and the overall aesthetic, which evokes nostalgia while remaining visually appealing. However, some players noted issues with visibility during intense combat and a desire for more graphical options, though these did not significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The simple art style complements the mood of the game well, and it has no trouble building atmosphere and mood through the music, the characters, and the environments.”
    • “Archvale is a top-down bullet hell game with beautiful pixel-style graphics.”
    • “The graphics are clean and smooth, and the pixel graphics are beautiful, creating an excellent combat experience.”
    • “The graphics feel utilitarian and oversimplified without a lot of visual interest - the starting armor, for example, is the character's skin tone, which, on another note, can't be changed despite how simple that would be.”
    • “It has promise, but it's going to have to be properly optimized as currently, frame rate and slowdown issues make it often barely playable, and there's no way to change resolution or other graphical settings to offset whatever is going wrong in the background.”
    • “I often joke about 'indie: the game,' but Archvale is so generic it might as well just be called 'game.' The art style is bog-standard low-resolution pixel art in a generic 16-bit fantasy style with slimes and butterflies and demons, and I'm seriously going to pass out from sensory deprivation.”
  • music73 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the various environments, with many reviewers noting its calming and uplifting qualities. While some tracks may not be particularly memorable, the overall soundtrack is described as solid, fitting thematically with each area and contributing positively to the gameplay experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, adding significant value to the game.

    • “The soundtrack is nice and gives off a calm vibe most of the time.”
    • “The music is great and definitely something I would listen to outside of the game.”
    • “The music, graphics, and gameplay are so nice and relaxing.”
    • “The music feels a little generic most times, but when it wants to, it slaps!”
    • “Also, when I fought the desert boss, literally no music played.”
    • “Things in Arch are a little smaller and less detailed, and more static; the music rarely ever stood out aside from the pit's theme and a few others, but that could be my own tastes.”
  • grinding46 mentions

    The reviews on grinding in the game present a mixed bag of experiences. While some players find the grinding necessary for upgrades and crafting to be tedious and time-consuming, others appreciate the balance of challenge and fun, noting that grinding can be minimal or even enjoyable in co-op play. Overall, the game offers a variety of experiences, with some players feeling overwhelmed by the grind, especially on harder difficulties, while others find it manageable and engaging.

    • “The game is skill-based and not too grindy.”
    • “It's not very grindy, but you need to get better weapons every time and discard the old ones.”
    • “No grinding or backtracking.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “In the beginning, our experience with this game was quite fun, but it quickly got very grindy and boring.”
    • “I'm at a point in the game where, try as I may, I just can't make any significant progress without slowly and painfully grinding up the money to upgrade weapons to do more damage.”
  • replayability43 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the procedural generation and class diversity that allow for varied playthroughs, while others criticize the lack of significant incentives to replay, such as limited build diversity and minimal changes in gameplay. Many suggest that replay value can be enhanced through self-imposed challenges or higher difficulty levels, but overall, the consensus indicates that it may not satisfy those seeking extensive replayability.

    • “I've beaten the game twice, once on Xbox and once on Steam; it's very replayable.”
    • “Bullet hell with Terraria elements, lovely 2D graphics, progression, and a procedural world add to replay value. You can even play entire runs with the personal rule of using only melee, ranged, or magic, which enhances replayability, especially on hard difficulty.”
    • “This game is crazy-good; the amount of bosses, weapons, and classes provides a lot of opportunities for replayability!”
    • “Probably don't get this if you're looking for a replayable game.”
    • “I just don't understand why they would implement features for replayability but don't allow enough build diversity to actually incentivize me to play again.”
    • “Lastly this game has barely any replay value, there's no different bosses you can beat like in The Binding of Isaac or Enter the Gungeon.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the witty dialogues and amusing interactions, particularly with town NPCs and the arena guard. The game's quirky characters and humorous story elements contribute to an enjoyable experience, making exploration entertaining. However, some players find the lack of permanent character death to be a humorous contradiction to the game's unique mechanics.

    • “Most of the dialogues are worth reading and are funny, especially the town NPCs and the guard of the arena.”
    • “The NPCs are funny and cute.”
    • “The story is funny and witty.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is criticized for being inconsistent, with users reporting various bugs, lag spikes, and controller issues that affect gameplay experience. While some players noted minor glitches that did not significantly impact their enjoyment, others experienced more severe problems, such as being unable to load into the game. Despite these issues, a few players still found it to be one of the better entries in the bullet-hell genre.

    • “With that being said, this is a buggy mess, a lot of lag spikes and a lot of missed opportunity here.”
    • “There are a few glitches though, one of which completely disables you from loading into the game.”
    • “The challenges felt buggy, merciless, and unforgiving.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, especially during intense action sequences and in towns. Many users express frustration over unskippable cutscenes and a lack of balance in crafting options, indicating that the game struggles to run smoothly even on average to above-average PCs.

    • “Opening the pause menu seems to help, but only briefly, and towns also seem to make the performance slow down.”
    • “Can this game please be optimized for low-end PCs?”
    • “The ending is terrible, optimization is non-existent, unskippable cutscenes and credits are unbearable, and the trials are just annoying.”
    • “The biggest complaint I have: optimization.”
    • “I use a PC that's roughly average to above-average by current gaming standards, but the game's performance begins to suffer very quickly with enough bullets on screen.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's simple art style effectively enhances its atmosphere, complemented by evocative music, well-developed characters, and immersive environments. Reviewers praise how these elements work together to create a captivating mood, contributing to an overall enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “I adore the art style from this game as it really builds atmosphere, character, and overall makes the game more fun to play!”
    • “Atmosphere – 10/10”
    • “The simple art style complements the mood of the game well, and it has no trouble building atmosphere and mood through the music, the characters, and the environments.”
    • “I adore the art style of this game as it really builds atmosphere, character, and overall makes the game more fun to play!”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional response, with some expressing tears of joy upon defeating challenging bosses, highlighting the game's ability to evoke deep feelings and a sense of accomplishment.

    • “I cried when I beat the boss.”
    • “The story touched my heart and made me reflect on my own life.”
    • “The characters' struggles felt so real; I couldn't help but feel their pain.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
8-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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