Balrum

About

Balrum is a single player open world role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Balcony Softworks and was released on February 29, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Balrum is an old-school, hybrid turn-based, open world RPG with deep tactical combat. Explore a huge living fantasy world with dozens of side quests next to an epic main quest. Grow your own crops, build your home, and craft your own custom items.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+13

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77%Audience ScoreBased on 481 reviews

story62 positive mentions

grinding103 negative mentions

Large and richly detailed open world with many dungeons and secrets to explore
Deep and satisfying crafting, farming, and building systems integrated into gameplay
Challenging tactical turn-based combat with pet companions and various classes
Engaging story with immersive lore and a dark fantasy atmosphere
Developers are responsive with frequent updates and improvements
Old-school RPG feel with nostalgic pixel-art style and atmospheric soundtrack
Freedom in character development with hybrid classes and numerous skills

Slow walking speed and lack of fast travel make exploration tedious
Steep learning curve with poor in-game guidance and lack of tutorial
Limited skill points cause frustrating character progression and build restrictions
Combat can be tedious, unbalanced, and sometimes unintuitive, especially for mages
Inventory management and UI are clunky and need quality of life improvements
Some bugs and occasional game crashes reported, including save corruption
Certain game mechanics like hunger/thirst and safe area building can feel cumbersome or underwhelming

story
239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The story in this game is generally considered decent and engaging, featuring a large, explorable world rich with lore revealed through exploration, journals, and NPC interactions rather than heavy exposition. However, it is often described as basic, linear, and reliant on fetch and kill quests, with limited player choice or branching, accompanied by amateurish writing and occasional quest design issues that can impede progress. Despite these flaws, the narrative atmosphere, world-building, and side quests add charm and immersion for players who enjoy exploration and gradual discovery over cinematic storytelling.
- “The story is rich and engaging, with countless quests that make you feel truly immersed in the world of Balrum.”
- “Rather than relying on heavy exposition or lengthy cutscenes, the story unfolds naturally through exploration, journals, and small interactions with villagers and travelers.”
- “The story (both the main one and the side quests) are surprisingly well thought out, way more so than you'd initially suspect.”
- “Some quest endings are very sudden and without consequence.”
- “The story is so painfully generic that it could be considered satirical, if the breathlessly amateurish writing didn't give away that the author thought he was telling a really cool story.”
- “The dialogues are laughable (and written in poor English), the character’s personality is so naive-good-guy that it’s hard to endure; role-playing is almost non-existent and limited to minor side quests; the setting is barely portrayed and limited to fantasy clichés such as bad necromancers; quests are mostly fetching with tons of walking without good story justification, or are pure nonsense; puzzles often present a solution on a scrap of paper that’s dropped nearby; experience is limited and leveling up requires a ton of time.”
gameplay
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay of Balrum blends classic turn-based RPG mechanics with survival, crafting, and base-building systems inspired by old-school CRPGs, offering deep player freedom and a variety of activities. While praised for its nostalgic charm, satisfying crafting, and expansive world, the game is also noted for slow pacing, challenging and sometimes frustrating combat balance, and occasionally awkward mechanics and UI. Overall, it provides a solid but sometimes uneven experience that rewards patience and experimentation, with appeal especially to fans of retro RPGs and survival hybrids.
- “Open world, 90's Diablo style RPG with crafting and base building mechanics.”
- “Gameplay in Balrum blends traditional turn-based RPG mechanics with systems more often found in survival and simulation games.”
- “Clearly a passion project, combining the design, gameplay, aesthetic, and atmosphere of the old CRPGs with modern takes on systems like spells, building, looting, and inventory management.”
- “What I really dislike though is the learning point system - it gives you a bunch of gameplay mechanics, but then basically makes it so you can't utilize them to get stronger (especially when almost every combat interaction nearly kills you).”
- “I finished the game as a warrior (using some spells) in the hardest mode and it was frustrating and I had to save-scum all the time because I always had like 50% chance to hit due to the game mechanics.”
- “The developers put together an appropriately polished game, and many will enjoy it, there are just enough avoidable design errors that come across as user-hostile: the problem isn't that the game is hard, it's that the game is annoying, that there are any number of points where you regret what you've done for mechanical rather than story reasons (character development down an unrecoverable poor path), where you're strongly penalized for non-optimal play, or where arbitrary frustrations are dumped into the single main quest path.”
grinding
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is extensive and multifaceted, involving farming, crafting, hunting, alchemy, and base building alongside combat and exploration. While this depth offers a rich old-school RPG experience, many find the grind tedious and slow-paced, with some farming and crafting systems feeling more like optional busywork rather than rewarding elements. Progression largely depends on quest completion, and limited skill points force players to carefully balance combat and crafting skills to avoid hampering advancement.
- “There are good versions of games out there like this but this one is extremely hardcore grinding with zero reward for doing anything.”
- “The lack of a re-spec mechanic or viable methods for grinding experience (at least early on) means that you won't be able to experiment with much in a single playthrough, and you'll be locked into a particular playstyle from fairly early on, which is limiting for a single-player game.”
- “Anyway, I might come back to the game at a later point, but I was just so turned off by dying and then having to farm for health potions and then dying again and again because I wasted all my skill points on crafting and farming and had no clue I would need the other points.”
graphics
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The graphics in this game are distinctly retro, evoking nostalgia with old-school, isometric, pixel-art visuals reminiscent of early 2000s RPGs like Eschalon and Ultima. While not polished or modern, the art style charmingly complements the game's tone and atmosphere, creating an immersive, classic RPG experience that may not appeal to those seeking high-end visuals but is appreciated by fans of vintage aesthetics. Overall, the graphics effectively support the gameplay and setting, embracing a heartfelt, old-school design despite occasional rough edges.
- “The art style has a certain charm, and the use of light and shadow effectively creates a mysterious atmosphere, especially when venturing into the game's many creepy dungeons.”
- “The game doesn't rely on fancy graphics to sell, yet I find the graphics to be beautiful and reminiscent of older CRPGs which made me love this genre of games.”
- “Graphics & sound (worth 10 points max): the least important aspect of any game when it comes to value and overall fun that can be had in my opinion, but this game delivers an old school style of graphics that is both dark and classic awesomeness and I love it!”
- “It can be rough around the edges, with occasional pacing issues, dated visuals, and uneven combat balance, but its heart is unmistakably genuine.”
- “On the negative side are the limited graphics, isometric view, and difficulty of completing quests or finding dungeons, limited fast travel, and a weird map.”
- “The game is sloooooww, graphics are dated, crafting and skills are a pita.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its calming, subtle, and immersive qualities, featuring rustic, medieval-inspired melodies that complement the fantasy setting and old-school art style. While production values are simple and the soundtrack can feel repetitive, it effectively enhances the atmosphere without distraction. Overall, the soundtrack and sound effects contribute positively to the game's nostalgic and relaxing experience.
- “The soundtrack is subtle but effective, using gentle melodies and ambient soundscapes to heighten immersion without distracting from the experience.”
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack perfectly complement the game’s rustic, fantasy setting, drawing you deeper into its world.”
- “Fairy tale with great immersive atmosphere delivered by sprite based graphics and fine tunes of music.”
- “The music and sound effects are fairly simple; don’t expect high production values, but they do their job for the atmosphere.”
- “There really isn't much warning at all and the music fades in so slow.”
- “It has potato sound effects and music, with graphics like classic Diablo.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rustic, dark, and immersive quality, enhanced by a muted color palette, hand-drawn sprites, and a fitting soundtrack that evokes a nostalgic, old-school RPG feel. While the audio and visuals are simple rather than high-budget, they effectively create a mysterious and captivating environment that deepens the sense of isolation and discovery. Some players feel the initial atmospheric intrigue may diminish as the game progresses, but overall, the charm and classical RPG vibe remain strong.
- “The muted color palette and hand-drawn textures lend it a rustic atmosphere that complements the sense of isolation and discovery.”
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack perfectly complement the game’s rustic, fantasy setting, drawing you deeper into its world.”
- “Completely engrossing, captivating, and creates an atmosphere that will consume you.”
- “So while I did feel a little pulled into the game by the atmosphere, it was doomed to fail me in the future anyway.”
- “- Colors, sprites, atmosphere... the visual performance just feels so wrong (for an old school RPG).”
- “The music and sound effects are fairly simple; don’t expect high production values, but they do their job for the atmosphere.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Character development in the game is notably slow and can feel tedious, with progression taking a long time and no option to respec, leading to potential frustration from irreversible choices. While the system offers freedom and interesting mechanics, some players find it boring and overshadowed by design flaws that penalize non-optimal play rather than enhancing the story experience. Overall, character development may appeal to dedicated RPG fans who appreciate open-ended progression despite its slow pace.
- “It allows the player a great deal of liberty in the world, has an interesting story to tell, a fun character development system (both at creation and in game), nice and easy to grasp mechanics, the UI is simple and functional and the music is nice to have in the background.”
- “It's definitely a worthy game for RPG fans who like big open worlds, crafting, exploration, open-ended character development, a home to call their own in, and an epic mystery to solve.”
- “Character development is glacially slow and there is no respec option.”
- “Character development takes ages; after 11 hours I'm only on the 4th level.”
- “The quests are terrible and the character development is not very fun either.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Replayability in the game is generally considered solid, driven by the variety of classes, builds, and unique gameplay elements like guilds, survival, and housing. While some players feel it may become less engaging after mastering key strategies, most appreciate the incentive to replay through different character choices and approaches.
- “I don't think you're supposed to master all the skills in one run, so it leaves a lot of space for replayability.”
- “Replayability is achieved through playing a different class and/or build.”
- “In any case the game is really vast and pretty long, at least the first time, got some replayability, with unique guild builds and gameplay, survival aspects, and housing.”
- “It seems to me there is no replay value in this.”
- “I will probably complete the game with my first character and then reroll to try something different (mostly because of all the mistakes I made creating this one), which leads me to the last part... the replayability is there, but I could see how it would become boring once you have an idea of where you're going.”
- “It might not have the replay value of many games, but I have a feeling I might play through this more than once, just to try and go another way with my character.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a subtle emotional experience, creating a believable and wholesome sense of place despite lacking deep character development or dramatic storytelling. Players find emotional significance through personal attachment to their farm and home, which contrasts with the darker main story. However, this emotional connection is largely self-generated rather than driven by the narrative.
- “While a lot of the main story is very dark, my house and my livestock, my farm and my pet added a lovely little layer of wholesomeness as a contrast to the ruins just outside my door.”
- “While the storytelling lacks the emotional drama and complex character arcs found in narrative-heavy RPGs, it succeeds in creating a believable sense of place.”
- “Made me feel like an average person just living in a fantasy RPG - love it.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle but effective, adding a fun and entertaining layer to the experience despite simple graphics and mechanics. It combines elements of heroic fantasy with comedic touches, making it a memorable and amusing aspect for players.
- “Small but funny.”
- “Don't be disappointed with the graphics, this gem has an interesting story, with not so much difficult mechanics, lots of enemies (and some funny ones).”
- “Hilarious!”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Optimization is crucial in this game, favoring specialized builds due to limited learning points, and it generally runs smoothly with low CPU usage. However, players seeking highly optimized performance, intense challenges, or completionist experiences may find it lacking and prone to crashes.
- “Games that don't seem to constantly crash, even run smoothly with very low CPU usage.”
- “If you are obsessed with optimization, high challenge, and completionist play, this game may not fully satisfy those expectations.”
- “Otherwise avoid it, particularly if you are obsessed with optimization, high challenge, and completionist play. I doubt it can be enjoyed if you expect that from a CRPG.”
- “The limited learning points mean that optimization is more important than flavor; be a specialist rather than a generalist.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users praise the game's stability, highlighting its mostly bug-free mechanics and smooth performance. Quick and compatible patches have further enhanced the experience, ensuring minimal issues and a reliable gameplay environment.
- “Overall, I like it—8/10 based on the old school feel and bug-free mechanics.”
- “The quick patching (all patches were compatible with my savegames, so kudos there) made the game pretty much bug-free for me.”