Artifact Adventure

About

Artifact Adventure is a single player role playing game. It was developed by bluffman and was released on June 1, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

story16 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Great homage to classic NES era JRPGs, reminiscent of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
Offers a non-linear experience with meaningful choices that affect the game's outcome and multiple endings.
Fast-paced gameplay with quality of life features like quick movement and reusable teleport items.

Lacks clear guidance and documentation, making it difficult for players to understand mechanics and navigate the game.
The artifact system can lead to frustrating situations where abilities are wasted on the wrong character.
Some graphical and UI elements feel outdated, and the game can be punishing with its difficulty spikes.

story
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
82%
3%
The story in "Artifact Adventure" is a nostalgic homage to classic NES RPGs like Dragon Quest, featuring a simple overarching plot centered on defeating the evil Swamp King. Players appreciate the non-linear quest structure, where choices significantly impact outcomes and rewards, leading to multiple endings for many quests. While the main narrative is minimal, the game excels in offering engaging side quests with moral dilemmas, encouraging replayability and exploration.
- “What makes this really stand out is all the quests have multiple outcomes and/or consequences.”
- “The story is loose but choices matter, which is also an interesting touch.”
- “The vast majority of the quests from there on out are optional yet provide significant benefits, and many of these quests have differing outcomes depending on how you choose to handle them.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I cannot recommend this game if what you're looking for is a complicated story with realistic characters.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
61%
12%
The gameplay is a blend of classic JRPG mechanics and 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 the freedom of decision-making, others find the gameplay uninspired and hindered by bugs and unclear instructions. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy old-school RPGs but may not satisfy players 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 unaffordable.”
- “But it's gated behind very, very old-school gameplay and graphics.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic 8-bit and NES styles, which many players appreciate for its charm and connection to old-school RPGs. While some users enjoy the blend of retro visuals with modern game design elements, others find the outdated graphics and gameplay mechanics off-putting, particularly if they prefer contemporary high-quality visuals and more guided gameplay experiences. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, appealing primarily to fans of traditional JRPGs.
- “The graphics have a retro aesthetic which I love.”
- “I like that this game takes a retro aesthetic and applies a lot of modern game design philosophy to it.”
- “The game itself is an RPG with turn-based battles, 8-bit graphics, an open story (several endings), and open decisions. I loved the 8-bit JRPGs on my NES, and this game will bring you back to the good old days.”
- “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
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players appreciating the depth it adds through multiple playthroughs and choices, while others find it tedious and excessive, particularly due to difficulty spikes and the need for gear upgrades. Many users express frustration with the grindy nature of quests and leveling, though some note that it can be managed by focusing on nearby quests. Overall, while grinding is a significant aspect, its impact varies, with some players finding it rewarding and others deeming it a drawback.
- “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
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The music in Artifact Adventure is generally well-received, with many praising its nostalgic NES quality and catchy battle themes, though some find it repetitive and wish for more variety. While the overall consensus leans towards the music being good to great, a few users noted that it can become tiresome after extended play. Overall, it effectively complements the retro aesthetic of the game.
- “All the music ranges from good to great, nothing is annoying.”
- “The battle music is particularly good; it will get stuck in your head!”
- “Music 10/10 (again, NES quality) - really done with taste.”
- “Also, the music is trashy.”
- “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 waste your time.”
- “The music is repetitive.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The game offers solid replayability, primarily due to its short length and the variety of classes, starter artifacts, and decision-locked events that significantly impact gameplay. Players can explore different outcomes and moral choices, enhancing the experience and encouraging multiple playthroughs. Overall, it rewards experimentation and offers a rich tapestry of choices that keep players engaged.
- “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 short (15 hrs for the standard end boss, 20+ for the secret end game boss) and is replayable.”
- “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 the 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.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by self-aware jokes and amusing AI quirks, such as the automatic use of learned abilities. While some players appreciate the retro design and comedic elements, others find the humor can become overbearing and feel more like a practical joke than genuine fun.
- “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.”
- “What's funny is the AI always auto-uses your 'Ultima' once learned.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 a major issue; it feels like the game is struggling to run smoothly.”
- “Performance issues abound, making the overall experience frustrating due to poor optimization.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game exhibits a few minor bugs and glitches, along with some unclear mechanics, but overall, it remains a strong example of the RPG genre.
- “The game is plagued by frequent crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, which is disappointing.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I lost progress multiple times due to unexpected errors.”