Artifact Adventure

About

"Artifact Adventure" is a modern open-world RPG with classic aesthetics, allowing players to travel and explore a vast world in their own way. Every quest has multiple ways to complete it, and player choices significantly impact the game's outcome. With three starting options and over 70 possible endings, this game offers a high level of replayability and a unique adventure each time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews

story30 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, with a charming retro aesthetic.
Players have a significant amount of agency with choices that affect the game's outcome, leading to multiple endings and moral dilemmas.
The open world design encourages exploration and experimentation, providing a fun and engaging gameplay experience.

The game suffers from poor explanations of mechanics, particularly regarding the artifact system, which can lead to frustrating gameplay decisions.
There are significant design flaws, such as limited inventory space and the inability to save progress outside of towns, which can hinder the experience.
The combat system is basic and can feel repetitive, with some players finding it overly grindy and lacking depth.

story
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
82%
2%
The story of "Artifact Adventure" is a nostalgic homage to classic 8-bit RPGs, primarily drawing inspiration from the Dragon Quest series, featuring a simple overarching plot of defeating the evil Swamp King. Players navigate a world filled with side quests that offer multiple resolutions and moral choices, enhancing replayability and engagement, though the main narrative is often considered thin and serves primarily to facilitate gameplay. While the game lacks detailed explanations and a quest log, it compensates with a rich tapestry of optional quests that provide significant rewards and character development opportunities.
- “The plot is simple: save the world from the swamp king, who has turned people into his followers (even the king's daughter) via a poisonous substance from which his swamps are made of.”
- “You will make moral decisions that matter story-wise and determine the items you get.”
- “The overall story setup is paper thin ('swamp king evil, go kill'), but there are all sorts of smaller stories as you progress through the game and help/hinder people, all of which is reflected in the ending you get.”
- “There is no main story at all unless you pick the correct starting gift, which the game doesn't explain, by the way.”
- “This is a terrible game, nothing is explained, you just walk around doing random stuff with no idea where to go; some NPCs give you quests, but the free-roaming is really abhorrent.”
- “While the game has one overall objective of defeating the swamp king, there's no 'main' plot line.”
gameplay
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The gameplay is a blend of classic JRPG mechanics with modern elements, offering deep engagement through exploration and character customization, though it suffers from dated combat and a lack of intuitive mechanics. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and micro-mechanics, others find the gameplay uninspired and the absence of clear instructions frustrating. Overall, it caters to fans of old-school RPGs but may not appeal to those seeking contemporary gameplay experiences.
- “There's a lot of things to experiment with, and there's deep satisfaction in engaging with this world's mechanics.”
- “I won't go into too much detail, but I love seeing the simple design from classic JRPGs working seamlessly with modern game mechanics such as decision-based progression, morality, immense character customization, and a boatload of secrets to discover.”
- “It takes the core mechanics and concepts of those old RPGs, but applies the lessons of newer RPGs like the Elder Scrolls series to make a free-roaming adventure that you're sure to enjoy.”
- “The combat is very dated with no new or modern mechanics, although the artifact system is interesting.”
- “The mechanics are uninspired, character classes feel unafforded.”
- “But it's gated behind very, very old-school gameplay and graphics.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic 8-bit and NES-style visuals, which some players find charming and fitting for the gameplay. While the graphics may feel dated and simplistic, they are appreciated by fans of old-school RPGs who enjoy the blend of retro design with modern game mechanics. However, those who prefer high-quality graphics and contemporary design may find the visuals unappealing.
- “I like that this game takes a retro aesthetic and applies a lot of modern game design philosophy to it.”
- “The story is intriguing and the graphics are very retro.”
- “The music reminds me of Dragon Warrior, the graphics feel just right, and piloting an airship from the get-go is just so cool.”
- “But it's gated behind very, very old-school gameplay and graphics.”
- “Don't buy this game if NES-style graphics and sound bother you.”
- “But if you don't like 8-bit graphics and interface, mostly nonexistent storyline, classic JRPG turn-based combat, and hints mentioned by townspeople that aren't recorded in-game, I guess you won't like it.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it excessive and tedious, particularly due to difficulty spikes and the need for gear upgrades. Others appreciate the grinding as a necessary aspect of gameplay that encourages exploration and multiple playthroughs, though it can feel overwhelming at times. Overall, while grinding is present, its impact varies, with some players suggesting it can be minimized through strategic quest completion.
- “Unfortunately, the incredible difficulty spikes that would insta-kill my party in a new area after being able to easily/comfortably beat enemies in a previous area made this game extremely grindy.”
- “The story's okay, but there's too much grinding between points where it's possible to actually advance.”
- “However, hunting around to make sure I talked to all the NPCs so I didn't miss anything crucial, sifting through clunky inventory menus, and grinding for gear upgrades and levels so I can progress are not things I'm nostalgic for.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The music in "Artifact Adventure" receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its nostalgic NES quality and catchy battle themes, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth. While many appreciate the retro charm and clever integration with the game's art, some feel it becomes tiresome after a few hours. Overall, the music is seen as a fitting homage to classic RPGs, though opinions on its execution vary significantly.
- “The art is great, the music is great, the game is clever.”
- “The battle music is particularly good; it will get stuck in your head!”
- “Music 10/10 (again, NES quality) - really done with taste.”
- “Above all, Artifact Adventure is a retro-styled turn-based RPG, -repetitive music and all-, so if you're not drawn into it, don't lose your time.”
- “The music was alright, but got old after a couple of hours.”
- “The music is repetitive.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The game offers solid replayability, particularly for fans of classic RPGs, due to its diverse classes, decision-locked events, and meaningful choices that impact the storyline. Players can explore various outcomes and moral dilemmas, enhancing the experience with each playthrough. Overall, it rewards experimentation and encourages players to revisit the game to try different strategies and narratives.
- “There are several determining variables, such as classes and decision-locked events that, far from discouraging, lend more weight to your choices and lots of replayability to the game.”
- “Great game where your choices really matter, a lot of replay value right here.”
- “Lots of replay value with this one to check out different outcomes and try different styles of party.”
- “The game is not long, but there is some replayability with all the classes you can pick, or even the starter artifact you choose.”
- “However, not only does Artifact Adventure give you different ways to end quests and receive different rewards for replay value, but it also presents plenty of moral decisions regarding your actions.”
- “If you are looking for a simple RPG that rewards experimentation and has a lot of replayability, then give it a try.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by self-aware jokes and a playful tone, with players finding amusement in the AI's quirky behavior, such as automatically using powerful moves like "ultima." However, some reviewers feel that the humor can become overbearing, likening the experience to a practical joke that may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the game blends retro design with a comedic approach, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “This game is admirably designed, a retro feel with open world aspects, but honestly, played to the end, it feels more like a practical joke that considers itself hilarious to a point of being obnoxious.”
- “Like a mash-up of Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior/Quest, with lots of self-aware humor.”
- “Quite funny!”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly with its inventory system and user interface, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “This game is hardly optimized, especially when it comes to inventory slots and the user interface.”
- “The optimization is lacking, making the inventory management and UI experience frustrating.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game exhibits a few minor bugs and glitches, along with some unclear mechanics, but overall, it is considered a strong example of the RPG genre.
- “There are several bugs and glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
- “The game suffers from frequent crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
- “I encountered numerous stability issues that hindered my enjoyment of the game.”

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Artifact Adventure
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1h Median play time

1h Average play time

1-1h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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