Barony

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"Barony is a first-person dungeon crawler with a unique atmosphere, featuring permadeath and cryptic levels inspired by classics like Ultima Underworld. Play solo or with up to 4 players in cooperative multiplayer, selecting from 13 diverse classes and battling against supernatural forces. With roguelike elements, deep RPG systems, and a plethora of loot, Barony offers countless hours of replayability and humor, despite some bugs."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,898 reviews

gameplay344 positive mentions

grinding52 negative mentions

gameplay
1,102 mentions
31 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Barony* is characterized by its deep mechanics and challenging roguelike elements, offering a blend of first-person dungeon crawling with RPG features. Players appreciate the complexity and variety of gameplay styles, though many note a steep learning curve and punishing mechanics, such as hunger and instadeath traps, which can frustrate newcomers. Despite these challenges, the game is praised for its replayability, engaging mechanics, and the satisfaction that comes from mastering its systems, especially when played cooperatively.
- “The gameplay is incredible even if punishing... you might even say that it being punishing is what makes it even more fun.”
- “It delivers an immersive, unforgiving experience that will resonate with fans of intricate systems and high-stakes gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop, while difficult at the start, becomes super fun once time is given for a better understanding of the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the core gameplay loop doesn't have as much depth as the levels, and a lot of the mechanics can be overwhelming in their complexity and underwhelming in their capabilities.”
- “The mechanics are hard to grasp without completing the tutorials, which can add to the frustration of first-time players.”
- “The interface looks amateurish and is a little fiddly to use; traps can be easily missed and you're suddenly dead or about to be dead, the hunger mechanic is crazy (like one minute 'I'm hungry!' two minutes later you're dead).”
graphics
514 mentions
25 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many players finding the voxel art style charming and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic titles like Doom and Minecraft. While some criticize the simplistic and dated visuals, others appreciate how they contribute to the game's overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Ultimately, the graphics may not be cutting-edge, but they serve the game's mechanics well and can grow on players over time.
- “Graphics aren't as bad as they seem at first glance and actually end up being quite charming, making it more of an art style than a graphics quality.”
- “The art style totally matches the vibe of the game; I would recommend it 10/10 to everyone.”
- “Don't let the graphics fool you; this is a tough and mechanically challenging experience for new adventurers.”
- “This game is horrible; it is not an RPG, it has no story, the combat is garbage spam, and the graphics are of irreparable quality. They look like a ripoff of Minecraft. Do not buy under any circumstances.”
- “Very old school (lazy) graphic art, could've definitely been improved, at the very least some of the textures rather than the modeling.”
- “The visuals are also extremely bland, and being indie hasn't been an excuse for this for a very long time.”
humor
250 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying its whimsical and often absurd moments, especially during multiplayer sessions. Many reviews mention the hilarity of unexpected deaths, quirky character interactions, and amusing mechanics, which help alleviate the frustration of the game's difficulty. Overall, while humor may not be the game's primary selling point, it significantly enhances the experience, making it a fun and memorable dungeon crawler.
- “This game is brutally difficult but very funny with friends.”
- “A brutal, hilarious way to die over and over again.”
- “You'll get frustrated for sure, but it's one of those games that somehow makes it hilarious, annoying, and fun to die, all at the same time.”
replayability
244 mentions
52 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse class and race options, random dungeon generation, and engaging multiplayer mechanics. Players appreciate the depth and variety that encourage experimentation with different builds, making each run feel unique. However, some users note that once the main content is completed, replay value may diminish unless additional updates or DLCs are introduced.
- “Addictive mechanics and insane replayability potential. If you like games that are defined by their longevity, then Barony is an excellent choice. So many class and race options and can be played with friends; this game is immensely fun.”
- “This game has an immense amount of replayability. I find the replay value is quite high, having multiple classes and races to choose from, and the mostly randomly generated levels keep things feeling at least a bit different every time you play.”
- “Phenomenal replay value, engaging but simple mechanics, risk & reward balance, and no strain on GPU to perform.”
- “The biggest issue I have with the game currently is the lack of replayability.”
- “It lacks replayability a bit though because once you play through and defeat all the bosses and endings, the gameplay is effectively the same each new playthrough.”
- “Usually once you beat this game once or twice (which on its own is very difficult to do), there's not much else left other than to hunt for Steam achievements, which is where most of the replayability comes from (especially with DLCs).”
music
162 mentions
51 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the dungeon-crawling experience. While some players find the soundtrack immersive and fitting for the game's themes, others criticize it for being repetitive or lacking variety. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect that complements the gameplay, despite some differing opinions on its execution.
- “The music is amazing.”
- “The soundtrack is immersive and incredible, great multiplayer game for late night fun or any fun.”
- “The music is atmospheric and it's a true dungeon crawl.”
- “The music sounds like a 3-year-old kitten slamming on the keyboard synthesizer. It's like anyone could do that; you are not special or deep or cultivating a whimsical, enchanting environment of wonder, mystery, and fantasy.”
- “Also, the new soundtrack in my opinion seems worse. I only played the first floor, but I found myself immediately missing the mysteriousness of the original track that would play.”
- “Zero soundtrack, just my device's fans running on six thousand rotations per minute.”
story
112 mentions
23 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal or non-existent, with many players noting that it lacks depth and substance, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics. However, some reviews highlight the presence of intriguing lore and whimsical storytelling elements that can enhance the experience for those who seek them out. Overall, while the narrative may not be a central feature, it offers optional engagement for players interested in the game's world.
- “Barony also manages to capture visual novel storytelling incredibly well, hooking you in with this weird tale about slaying some princess and time loops.”
- “The story is intriguing and the world is excellently crafted.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the sound design is top-notch, and the story is engaging and immersive.”
- “This game is horrible; it is not an RPG, it has no story, the combat is garbage spam, and the graphics are of irreparable quality. They look like a ripoff of Minecraft. Do not buy under any circumstances.”
- “Not a great game at all; no story, hard in an irritating way.”
- “Non-existent story.”
atmosphere
82 mentions
63 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Barony" is widely praised for its tense, claustrophobic level design reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers, creating a heart-pounding experience filled with danger and excitement. The game's pixelated art style and atmospheric audio design enhance its nostalgic charm, while the haunting soundtrack and immersive sound effects contribute to a genuinely spooky environment. Overall, players find the combination of engaging gameplay, eerie ambiance, and procedural generation to create a memorable and captivating dungeon-crawling adventure.
- “I'm honestly blown away by the atmosphere and tension that this game creates.”
- “Perchance, its beautiful pixel art, engaging gameplay, procedural generation, haunting atmosphere, and depth of customization all blend together seamlessly, creating a memorable and enchanting adventure.”
- “The atmosphere is just dark enough to compel the player into feeling a true sense of fear while scrambling to survive all of Barony's unique surprises.”
- “Pretty good, like first person Doom, but the voxel graphics kind of ruin the atmosphere.”
- “The game isn't humor-centric - in fact, the atmosphere is pretty grim.”
- “Their use of sound effects has a way of creating a creepy atmosphere.”
grinding
58 mentions
0 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Players frequently express that the need to grind for skills and resources detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than a challenge. While some acknowledge that mastering deeper mechanics can enhance gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding process is excessively burdensome and detracts from the roguelike experience.
- “If you like dying repeatedly in the blink of an eye after grinding for an hour and losing all of your progress, this game is for you.”
- “Not difficult because it's challenging, but difficult because it's tedious.”
- “All of this sums up to a ridiculously tedious, maddening experience.”
stability
50 mentions
16 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players noting it runs well on various systems, including Linux, and is generally polished. However, frequent glitches, bugs, and occasional game-breaking issues significantly detract from the experience, particularly in multiplayer settings. While some users report minor glitches that can be resolved by saving and resuming, the overall consensus is that the game is currently too unstable for a strong recommendation.
- “Runs great on my low-end computer (which I highly enjoy). The graphics are nice and the gameplay is always interesting. I see a great future for this game!”
- “Easily some of the best $7 I have ever spent. I'm going on to every social network I have and sending them the link to this game. I highly recommend it; there are little to no errors in the game, no glitches that I have found so far. A well-written story, solid gameplay yielding great rewards, a great magic system, and all loot you find is beneficial or negative to your character, so you have to appraise it using your appraisal skill. Every level is random, except the intro level. The enemies are tough but manageable, and you have to manage your character realistically by finding food to eat (that's not rotten or moldy) and try to stay alive.”
- “The game is relatively bug-free, but some of them can be pretty brutal.”
- “Then freezes when players are trying to access inventory menus simultaneously.”
- “This would easily be one of the most recommended co-op games if it didn't have so many frequent game-breaking glitches.”
- “Would be 8/10 if it wasn't for the overwhelming amount of glitches, bugs, and crashes.”
optimization
30 mentions
53 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance on a variety of systems, even older ones, and the DLCs do not negatively impact the base game's performance. However, players report a significant drop in performance during the latter half of the game, leading to frame drops and stuttering that can hinder gameplay. Additionally, some UI and keybinding decisions are not well-optimized for PC, which can affect the overall experience.
- “Graphics are very charming and the game will run smoothly on pretty much anything.”
- “It is also very well optimized, you could probably run it on mom's MacBook from 2011.”
- “This is what more roguelikes should be; it harkens back to the days of Eye of the Beholder graphically and somewhat in gameplay, but it runs smoothly with performance.”
- “This performance drop is significant and there are a lot of frame drops/stutters in the second half of the game, to the point it is nearly unplayable and sometimes can cause a good run to end.”
- “Not all of the UI decisions and keybindings are optimized for PC play.”
- “Good game, you can get pretty fun runs, but the problem I found is that if you are overpowered, in the last levels the performance makes it hard to finish the run.”
emotional
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, often leading to tears and heartfelt moments, particularly when interacting with friends and facing challenging scenarios. The blend of humor and darker themes, such as the struggle against gnomes and the consequences of cursed objects, adds depth to the emotional experience, making it memorable and engaging. Overall, the game elicits a mix of laughter and sadness, leaving players eager to relive those emotional highs.
- “This game made me cry.”
- “10/10 would cry again.”
- “Gnomes are harder to kill than demons, both physically and emotionally.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its complex and exploitative nature, likening it to a "Ponzi scheme" with microtransactions that feel like taxation. Players express concern over the introduction of gambling elements and the overall commercialization of the gaming experience, suggesting that it detracts from the game's quality and niche appeal.
- “Add me if you want to practice triggering NPCs with microaggressions, rather than throwing fists at real NPCs during our current economic recession. This game introduces a new 'Karen cop' class, which seems to be a political venture aimed at upselling its own traffic infrastructure through elaborate schemes that feel like a Ponzi scheme. The microtransactions feel like a form of taxation, with power structures selling you a ten-step formula to your own tax deductibles, while real gambling mechanics are introduced in the form of 'Karen bots' policing the game.”
- “The monetization in this game feels exploitative, as it seems to capitalize on the current economic climate by introducing mechanics that encourage players to spend real money in a way that feels predatory.”
- “The in-game economy is riddled with microtransactions that detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The character development system is praised for its detail and the care invested in its design, though players express a desire for additional choices, such as selecting a deity to worship or incorporating mutations, as well as more optional exploration opportunities.
- “The character development system is very detailed, and you can tell a lot of care was put into the game.”
- “I would love to see more character development decisions, such as choosing a deity to worship or exploring mutations, along with more optional areas to discover on the journey.”
- “Would love to see more character development decisions, things like a deity to worship or mutations, and more optional areas to explore on the way down.”