Armello

Overall, Armello has a level of polish and depth that is rare for an indie title, and especially for a studio’s debut. It’s truly another feather in the cap for the Australian gaming industry.

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"Armello is a digital board game bringing together card tactics, RPG adventure, and strategic decision-making. Play as unique heroes with special powers in a beautifully dynamic world, where each game presents new quests and map configurations. Easy to learn, but hard to master, Armello offers fast-paced, thoughtful strategy encounters with dice-rolling physics and multiple playstyles."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,188 reviews

gameplay716 positive mentions

stability232 negative mentions

Armello offers a unique blend of strategy and role-playing gameplay with beautiful art and engaging mechanics.
The game provides multiple paths to victory, allowing for varied playstyles and strategies, making each match feel fresh.
Playing with friends enhances the experience, as the mix of strategy, diplomacy, and treachery creates memorable moments.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and connection issues, particularly in multiplayer, making it frustrating to play with friends.
RNG plays a significant role in the game, which can lead to frustrating experiences where luck outweighs strategy.
The lack of updates and new content from the developers has left the game feeling stagnant and underappreciated.

gameplay
2,004 mentions
36 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Armello is characterized by its blend of strategic turn-based mechanics, card play, and dice rolling, creating a unique experience that combines elements of traditional board games with digital enhancements. Players can choose from various characters, each with distinct abilities, and pursue multiple victory conditions, which adds depth and replayability. However, the game is often criticized for its heavy reliance on RNG, leading to frustrations with balance and the potential for repetitive gameplay, particularly in multiplayer settings. Overall, while the art and mechanics are praised, the gameplay experience can be inconsistent, with some players finding it overly reliant on luck rather than strategy.
- “Combining gorgeous visuals with engaging mechanics, the game offers players the chance to pursue victory through a variety of playstyles and goals, from collecting spirit stones to seizing the throne by force.”
- “With its beautiful art, flexible gameplay, and endless ways to approach each match, it’s a game that’s easy to recommend, especially for groups of friends looking for their next favorite game night experience.”
- “The gameplay is easy to grasp, difficult to master, and the mechanics allow for players to speed through AI turns for faster gameplay, otherwise a session can take upwards of 30 minutes.”
- “The gameplay is really dull and boring, and it's far too slow paced for my liking.”
- “The gameplay itself is incredibly boring, even by board gaming standards.”
- “Gameplay has an overwhelming reliance on rng, resulting in skill and tactics offering no significant impact on the game's outcome and making the gameplay generally frustrating.”
graphics
1,335 mentions
64 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of Armello are widely praised for their stunning art style, which combines hand-painted visuals with charming animations, creating a vibrant and immersive fantasy world. Many players appreciate the unique character designs and the overall aesthetic, often likening it to a blend of Disney and Studio Ghibli influences. However, some users have reported technical issues, including graphical glitches and performance problems, which can detract from the otherwise beautiful experience.
- “Its stunning hand-painted visuals, atmospheric music, and deep strategy make every game feel fresh and engaging, with a perfect balance of luck and skill.”
- “The artwork, animation, character design, and UI are top-notch, the gameplay is clever and varied, and games don't take forever.”
- “The beautiful art style and immersive world are a joy to explore, and the dynamic gameplay with multiple paths to victory keeps things interesting.”
- “I really enjoyed the game while playing it with friends, but I can no longer recommend it because of the frequent crashing and graphical glitches that render the game unplayable after a couple of turns.”
- “Unfortunately, the numerous bugs and crash-causing graphics issues make it nearly unplayable and playing without friends feels pretty pointless after 3 or 4 games.”
- “I unfortunately had to refund this game because of the game-breaking bugs that I experienced within the first 20 minutes of playing (i.e. missing graphics during the prologue which prompts you what to do during the tutorial, missing dice, mouse not being able to move to certain parts of the screen to click on items, graphics appearing off screen, and finally a prompt to open the inventory and equip items but no keyboard or button inputs are recognized).”
story
1,039 mentions
17 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of Armello is rich with lore and character backstories, presented through quests and flavor text that enhance the gameplay experience. Players navigate a beautifully crafted world where they compete to dethrone a corrupted king, with each game unfolding a unique narrative shaped by player choices and random events. However, many reviewers express disappointment over the lack of a dedicated story mode or campaign, feeling that the game could benefit from deeper narrative elements and more structured storytelling beyond the prologue.
- “There's not only little backstory blurbs for each individual character, but literal novellas that give you even more character and clan lore.”
- “Dazzles with its blend of board game strategy and rich storytelling within a beautifully crafted anthropomorphic world.”
- “The story is engaging and unfolds differently each game, making every playthrough feel unique and personal.”
- “The plot itself is limited and plays out over the course of a game.”
- “There's the tiniest hint of quests (go here and win a game of dice) with a two-liner 'story'.”
- “The story is practically non-existent; I'd be fine with it if the mechanics were better.”
music
524 mentions
69 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in Armello has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, which features contributions from notable artists like Lisa Gerrard, and find it complements the game's stunning visuals and thematic elements. While some reviews mention that the music can become repetitive over time, the general consensus is that it effectively sets the mood and adds depth to the gameplay.
- “The artwork is phenomenal, the music is great, and the atmosphere is absolutely amazing.”
- “The music is beautiful, I sometimes lose a turn just basking in it.”
- “The music and visuals are all very good, with each panel not only having a nice design, but one that can vary based on the season within the game.”
- “The soundtrack is nothing to write home about; it does its job, that is, add to the atmosphere.”
- “The music is basically nonexistent; there's little voice acting (and that which is there isn't great), and the sound effects are pretty bog standard.”
- “The music can be a little too calm and becomes unnoticeable after a while; consider having your own fantasy playlist on standby.”
replayability
290 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, attributed to its diverse characters, unique strategies, and random elements that ensure no two matches are the same. Players appreciate the variety of win conditions and the ability to customize gameplay through modifiers, which significantly enhance the overall experience. However, some users note that bugs and limited content can detract from the replay value, particularly in single-player modes.
- “Game modifiers let you tweak the rules and create unique, tailored experiences, adding endless replayability.”
- “The variety in characters, abilities, and win conditions make each match unique and provides tons of replayability.”
- “With the plethora of combinations of characters and loadouts, the game offers a lot of replay value, especially with the DLC.”
- “The lack of game types or customization destroys the replayability of this game, and therefore it's only a great game for the first few hours, and I would recommend spending your money elsewhere.”
- “I can't really recommend this as I personally don't feel there is much replayability here solo; perhaps if you bought all the DLC, but then I don't feel like that would make it very good value.”
- “Random map generation does not really help replayability because of the small map size and a small handful of different tiles; I feel a larger map with increased action points and more tile variety would have been more immersive.”
stability
236 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, especially in multiplayer modes. Many users express frustration over unresolved issues that have persisted for years, leading to a general consensus that the game is currently unplayable for many. Despite its enjoyable mechanics, the overwhelming instability has caused players to hesitate in recommending it.
- “Works out of the box and runs great; there is no problem with cross-platform (Linux and Windows).”
- “Runs great, looks great; the learning curve is really nice.”
- “GW2 runs great on this machine, by the way!”
- “It was once a great game and I still to this day enjoy playing it, but I won't recommend it anymore. I encountered way too many bugs and glitches where the game just breaks to the point where you can't even finish a game anymore just because someone left. Sadly, the devs of this game stopped giving it any updates and abandoned it for games that were doing a lot worse.”
- “I really enjoyed the game while playing it with friends, but I can no longer recommend it because of the frequent crashing and graphical glitches that render the game unplayable after a couple of turns.”
- “The game is extremely buggy and with how long it has been out, it's clear that the devs simply do not care enough to actually fix the game.”
atmosphere
121 mentions
59 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Armello is widely praised for its stunning hand-painted visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and cohesive art style, which together create a captivating and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a dark fairy-tale ambiance, blending charm with strategic gameplay, while also noting that the atmospheric elements enhance the overall enjoyment, despite some minor gameplay frustrations. Overall, the game's aesthetic and sound design significantly contribute to its appeal, making it a standout in the digital board game genre.
- “Everything from models to artwork, interface elements and effects looks great and creates a cohesive and distinct style, with a stellar soundtrack rounding out the game’s wonderful atmosphere.”
- “The artwork is phenomenal, the music great and the atmosphere is absolutely amazing.”
- “The atmosphere, music and art is great and really perfects the experience!”
- “The lack of the storyline I was expecting found a good replacement on the eerie fairy-tale atmosphere of the game.”
- “Don't be fooled by the cutesy atmosphere and charming aesthetic; this is a cut-throat game of strategy and exploitation under the crushing ever-present fist of RNG.”
- “The devs have reduced the fog in the game for better visibility, but I just want to zoom out more and see the whole board at once, but the devs are obsessed with the artistic atmosphere and zoom is nerfed.”
monetization
104 mentions
4 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the aggressive implementation of microtransactions and DLC in a buy-to-play title, often labeling it as a cash grab. While some users appreciate that many microtransactions are cosmetic and do not impact gameplay, others feel that the presence of loot boxes and additional costs detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a significant point of contention among players, with a general sentiment leaning towards disapproval.
- “This is a solid board game, with plenty of replay value and mostly non-intrusive microtransactions.”
- “Although there are several in-game purchases, so far I am finding the game completely playable without indulging in any of them.”
- “There are microtransactions, but apart from bona fide expansion packs, they're all entirely cosmetic, and you do at least get a free cosmetic loot chest once a day.”
- “This is a microtransactions pay-to-win game.”
- “I find it insulting that they expect you to pay a premium for the game, and buy DLC, and have loot boxes on top of that. I feel like this game has turned into a cash grab and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.”
- “Even though you might have paid $20 for this game, the developers still force you through banner ads every time you complete a game.”
character development
85 mentions
66 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning artwork and diverse character designs, which are often described as charming and memorable. While many players appreciate the rich lore and the unique personalities conveyed through animations, some note a lack of meaningful character progression or depth in storytelling. Overall, the character design is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “Honestly, the lore of this game and the character development is probably my favorite thing.”
- “Armello is certainly able to bring you into its world; the lore is incredibly rich, the character designs and stories are compelling, and the supplementary animations are just absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The character designs are amazing, and the card system is on point.”
- “There is no meaningful character development, there is no sense of adventure, just a huge amount of fate.”
- “Starting with the pros it has a really neat art and visual style with unique character designs that you could give much personality to if there was such a large and engaging story to be had than just simple vignettes.”
- “The world and its characters are fascinating; even with little character development, the animations alone are enough to convey each character's personality, and aspects like the rot are mysterious enough to be captivating.”
humor
74 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of cute, dark, and situational comedy, often enhanced by the unpredictable nature of gameplay and character interactions. Players find the preset phrases and character quirks amusing, leading to hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings with friends. While some aspects can be frustrating, the overall experience is described as fun and engaging, with laughter stemming from both the game's mechanics and the social dynamics among players.
- “This game is cute and funny.”
- “It's funny and unpredictable till the very end of every match and yeah, sometimes will be frustrating as well!”
- “The multiplayer gave me so much fun through endless curses and lots of laughter (the chat is set to preset phrases for each character and sometimes the effects are hilarious!).”
- “It's not funny in any case.”
grinding
68 mentions
4 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to unlocking cosmetic items and achievements. While some appreciate the community support and cross-play features that alleviate matchmaking wait times, others express frustration over the repetitive nature of grinding and the reliance on RNG, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite these criticisms, some players still find the game engaging and enjoyable, particularly when played in a multiplayer setting.
- “Although they're only cosmetics, I'd like to collect in-game items simply by playing the game and defeating challenges, not grinding and paying actual money (although that seems to be a controversial view to hold in 2020 for some reason).”
- “And the player community seems to be welcome and open to all, not grinding and cheesing their way through games, albeit this might be just phenomenal luck on my part as I queue for random lobbies.”
- “No tedious turns or units to manage.”
- “Playing this is tedious and frustrating, like playing an otherwise good game using only chopsticks and no hands.”
- “Grinding to unlock everything is a weird part of this game.”
- “I becomes tedious very quickly and I personally find myself annoyed more than I find myself enjoying the game.”
optimization
41 mentions
22 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and freezing, even on high-end PCs. While some users have experienced smoother gameplay after updates, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the overall experience. Despite its engaging gameplay and beautiful art, these performance problems detract from its potential as a standout title.
- “Would make it 10/10 if it was optimized a bit better.”
- “The game runs perfectly fine with no technical hitches at all; being able to play at 4K resolutions on ultra-high settings makes this a really well-optimized PC port.”
- “This game really needs some optimization, and I think it's needed in the CPU department.”
- “The game is also very poorly optimized.”
- “The performance of the game is absolutely horrible if you're on a machine that meets the minimum specs or is slightly above.”
emotional
23 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartwarming moments and deep, often painful narratives that resonate with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy and triumph to sorrow and frustration, particularly through its character development and storytelling. While some players express disappointment over certain gameplay elements, the overall emotional engagement and connection to the characters are frequently praised, making it a memorable experience.
- “It's full of emotional ups and downs; it can be as funny and glorious as it can be frustratingly cruel. As you learn characters and strategies, you find a game that is always readable and seemingly simple, but surprisingly deep with tiny little moments that can alter the entire flow of a game.”
- “It is a tale of a kingdom's tragic spiral into chaos and the fight to end a king slowly dying upon his throne, sick and twisted by a foul corruption. The story made me feel sorrow and pity towards the denizens of the kingdom because I felt like I could connect to that conflict.”
- “Overall, I'm impressed with the game's theme, style, and structured tutorial, which is heavily story-line focused, making you gain an affinity for the characters, then suddenly have them turn villain on you as soon as you are invested in them emotionally.”