Blackguards

About

"Blackguards" is a single-player Fantasy Turn Based Strategy game with pretty visuals and a splendid soundtrack. The game features an intriguing story of crime, drugs, and murder, with over 180 unique battlegrounds and 40+ hours of gameplay. Despite some hilarious moments and customizable characters, the game has dense atmosphere and bugs that can affect the experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,301 reviews

story672 positive mentions

grinding130 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay with a strong tactical turn-based combat system.
Interesting characters and story, with good voice acting that adds depth to the narrative.
Unique battle mechanics that incorporate environmental interactions, making each fight feel different.

Frustrating RNG mechanics lead to frequent misses on high percentage attacks, making battles feel unfair.
Linear story progression with limited exploration and character customization options can feel restrictive.
Technical issues, including crashes and bugs, detract from the overall experience.

story
2,305 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
8%
The story in "Blackguards" is generally described as linear and predictable, often relying on fantasy clichés, which can detract from player engagement. While some players appreciate the dark themes and character interactions, many find the narrative lacks depth and meaningful choices, making it feel more like a series of battles strung together rather than a cohesive story. Despite its flaws, the game does offer intriguing elements and plot twists that can keep players invested, especially those who enjoy tactical combat.
- “Blackguards boasts a deep and engaging narrative, immersing players in a dark and gritty fantasy world filled with intrigue and moral ambiguity.”
- “The story unfolds through captivating dialogues and meaningful choices, keeping players invested in the outcome.”
- “The story was quite compelling and it got me more and more interested as the game progressed and it became more open.”
- “A very linear story with just boring fantasy cliches.”
- “The story felt it had a strong start but struggled to maintain momentum, leaving me feeling lost or disengaged.”
- “The story is linear and you can only really choose to skip a few optional battles.”
gameplay
774 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
58%
15%
The gameplay of Blackguards has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its tactical depth and character customization options, while others criticize its frustrating mechanics and high reliance on RNG, leading to inconsistent combat experiences. The steep learning curve and lack of clarity in mechanics can deter new players, making the game feel tedious and overly complicated at times. Overall, while some find enjoyment in the strategic elements and story, many express frustration with the execution of gameplay mechanics, resulting in a polarized reception.
- “With a diverse range of skills, spells, and equipment at their disposal, players can approach battles in creative ways, adding depth to the gameplay.”
- “Blackguards offers a compelling narrative and deep tactical gameplay, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.”
- “Great character customization, great battle mechanics, and most importantly this 'just one more battle feeling' made for a wonderful time sink.”
- “The core tabletop mechanics are fine, but the way the game is carried out makes everything suffer, especially you, the player.”
- “There's far too many battles with stupidly frustrating mechanics and RNG, and the amount of times I've missed with 90-95% accuracy attacks consecutively makes me want to punch a brick wall.”
- “Gameplay is tedious and overly complicated.”
graphics
435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
53%
14%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated and lack polish, often detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the art style and find certain visuals appealing, others criticize the graphics for being mediocre or even poor, especially in cutscenes. Overall, the visuals are considered acceptable for a turn-based RPG, but they do not meet modern standards and can be a point of frustration for players.
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful, the wonderful art style is sort of a mixture between fantasy, medieval Spain and 16th century Caribbean which is actually seldom seen in games.”
- “The graphics finally have shaken off a lot of the shoddiness and rough edges that have pervaded a lot of the TDE games, Blackguards is slick, smooth, and carries a glossy sheen with it; it's not quite melt-your-eyes gorgeous, but it's certainly pleasing to look at, and the spell effects certainly carry with them a definite sense of satisfaction as they connect and fly about the battlefield.”
- “The music and graphics are also very well done.”
- “The graphics lack polish and may appear dated, detracting from the overall immersion and atmosphere of the game.”
- “Cities are very generic, and graphically speaking the game is really unimpressive - it's Unity engine after all.”
- “Don't be expecting your graphics card to come under any pressure, this game's graphics are about 20 years behind mainstream games.”
music
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players appreciating its ability to create atmosphere and enhance the gaming experience. The soundtrack features a variety of tracks that adapt to gameplay situations, although some users noted its repetitiveness and limited number of tracks. Overall, the music is described as solid, enjoyable, and well-integrated with the game's visuals and story, contributing to a cohesive and immersive experience.
- “There is another feature that I noted: in combat, the soundtrack adjusts itself depending on your performance: normal at the beginning; dramatic when you are in danger; and, epic when the tide of battle is in your favor.”
- “The music is very good, well balanced and creates the different ambiences found in the various locations of this game.”
- “The music in the game was very well made, and there were quite a few haunting tunes that as soon as they start I immediately think about the game.”
- “The music is somber and sucks life and excitement out of the game whenever you're not in a combat situation.”
- “Music sometimes is annoying, with a few loud sound effects from spells, but I highly recommend the game.”
- “Music and some of the town graphics are beautiful and create a great atmosphere, but it's just broken promises: there isn't anything deep beyond it, and besides the battles that offer deep thinking and sometimes frustration.”
grinding
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players noting that battles often feel drawn out and repetitive. The lack of a grinding mechanism for leveling up characters further exacerbates the issue, leading to a gameplay experience that is slow and unengaging. Overall, players express disappointment in the combat system, which relies heavily on RNG and lacks dynamism, making the experience feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
- “There is no farming.”
- “Sufficient gear and cash are hard to come by; no grinding is possible.”
- “No farming, since you can't just go get into random battles. If you have an area to explore, it is best to visit every location to get all the experience you can.”
- “Let me tell you, you will fail, miserably and countless times... and it certainly doesn't help anyone's case that there isn't any 'speed up' option you can activate through the menu screen... so if you lose a battle, which will probably happen many, many times, you have to sit through tedious enemy movements again... and again... and again... until somehow, the RNG god smiles upon you and you land a spell.”
- “The combat in this game is just unbearably tedious.”
- “Overall, I enjoyed my time with Blackguards but was happy to be finished - usually a sign that something that was fun in the beginning got a bit tedious.”
stability
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes and freezes, often requiring a complete system reboot. Many players have experienced these issues consistently throughout gameplay, particularly after completing the tutorial or during specific chapters, rendering the game nearly unplayable for some. Despite occasional positive remarks about the game's design and mechanics, the overwhelming consensus highlights persistent bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game is very pretty and seems bug free for the most part, at least for the 3 or so hours I put into the game.”
- “Great game, relatively bug free for an early release; I would definitely recommend the game.”
- “Bug free from what I have seen.”
- “After the tutorial, the game keeps crashing every 5 minutes... and no, not 'only' to desktop, it freezes completely. Alt-F4 and task manager didn't help anymore; the only solution left was to push my reset button!”
- “Not sure what they did to it, but the game now freezes and crashes to the point where it is completely unplayable.”
- “I would love to give it a positive review; however, the constant freezes and crashes that cause me to have to reboot my PC are very frustrating.”
humor
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as clever and engaging, with a mix of dark and crass elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, amusing character interactions, and the presence of black humor, which often provides comic relief amidst the game's darker themes. While some voice acting may falter, the humor remains a strong point, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate tactical RPGs with a comedic twist.
- “Witty banter and sardonic humor abound, and everyone will offer several solutions to multiple situations; choosing one option is quite likely to amuse someone else and annoy a third.”
- “The main characters are mostly criminals, sure, but they're more the loveable rogue type than actually repulsive people - there's a mage in particular with a hilariously over-acted voice who's really fun to listen to, but even the dreamweed-addicted elf and the arsonist dwarf are more quirky than anything.”
- “While the overarching story is fairly forgettable, the characters and their interactions with each other and the world around them are a treat on many occasions, and the humor feels fresh; I found it genuinely funny as opposed to meme-ish or pop culture reliant as is often the case.”
character development
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
Character development in the game is noted for its complexity and depth, offering a wide range of options that can be overwhelming for new players. While some appreciate the freedom to customize characters extensively, others find the system confusing and poorly balanced, leading to potential frustration and suboptimal builds. Overall, the character development mechanics are a defining aspect of the game, with mixed reviews highlighting both its potential for strategic depth and its accessibility challenges.
- “The character development system is complex and has a depth rarely found in RPGs.”
- “The RPG character development system is versatile and refreshing: you can mold your characters by earning and using AP to buy levels in any of a myriad of basic traits, talents, weapon talents, special abilities, and (for magic users) spells.”
- “Character development is very deep and interesting for an indie RPG, and the combat, while not incredibly nuanced, is fun and challenging.”
- “But character development is such an important and defining part of any RPG that this cluttered and confusing system has a big impact on what is otherwise an excellent tactical game with well-designed battlefields.”
- “Linear story with no replay value, shallow character development options, repetitive and boring.”
- “Your decisions about character development will win or lose you the game, and new players should take note: it is possible to build a character badly and it's very difficult to undo this once you've done it, so take the time to read the manual and the in-game character creation notes (which don't appear in the manual and are very useful).”
replayability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it enjoyable to revisit due to its straightforward story and character development options, while others criticize it for having limited replay value due to a linear narrative and repetitive gameplay. Despite some branching paths and different character builds, many reviews indicate that the overall experience remains largely the same upon replay, leading to a consensus of modest to low replayability.
- “Ok, let me start by saying that I absolutely love this game; it's got everything a true RPG'er would want in a game: good story, great game mechanics, addictive gameplay, good graphics, outstanding music score, and probably excellent replayability as well.”
- “Considering the fact that it has some interesting replay value (different starting class, different spells, etc.), the game delivers quite some content.”
- “Decent story and length, with some fun replay value to shape your characters differently and hone your strategies.”
- “Limited replay value. Linear story with no replay value, shallow character development options, repetitive and boring.”
- “Replay value: virtually none.”
- “My final conclusion is the game does not worth its full value and does not have much replayability value, so I would recommend it as a one-off product.”
atmosphere
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
41%
7%
The game's atmosphere is frequently praised for its dark and immersive qualities, enhanced by strong audio and intriguing locations, reminiscent of classic RPGs. However, some players note that dated graphics and pacing issues detract from the overall experience, leading to a mix of appreciation and frustration regarding the depth of gameplay. Overall, while the atmosphere is a highlight, it is accompanied by criticisms of gameplay mechanics and visual presentation.
- “The atmosphere is dark, though not depressing; there's a lot of black humor and violent humor.”
- “But it has a rich atmosphere, intriguing locations, and well-balanced strategic options for fights.”
- “Other strengths such as atmosphere and tone create a nice world.”
- “The graphics lack polish and may appear dated, detracting from the overall immersion and atmosphere of the game.”
- “The graphics are nice, but a little too cartoonish for my taste (and for the atmosphere the game tries to create).”
- “Vo/story/atmosphere is terrible.”
optimization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
57%
33%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant frame drops and choppy performance regardless of system settings. While the gameplay experience remains largely unaffected, the inconsistent performance can hinder character evaluation and overall enjoyment. Additionally, the game requires specific software updates to function properly, further complicating the user experience.
- “This type of optimization I have not seen since NES Final Fantasy 1 (where attacking an enemy who gets killed in the same round renders your attackers attacking a blank spot).”
- “The RNG is very unforgiving, in that if your characters' builds are not razor optimized, you will have an incredibly difficult time with the game, more than it already is.”
- “I fully enjoyed this game even while this indie company struggling to translate an obscure tabletop RPG into a game is fairly apparent, it still managed to capture that feeling of adventure and optimization that tabletops give you.”
- “Also, as a cherry on top, the game is pretty poorly optimized - while, due to the nature of the game, it has very little impact on the gameplay, it is still pretty noticeable and annoying when your frames randomly, but repeatedly, drop by 20, even when nothing special is happening.”
- “Performance: just pathetic (choppy and very low framerate no matter what quality on any system).”
- “This game is hilariously poorly optimized.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players expressing feelings of frustration and disappointment due to frequent failures in gameplay mechanics and a lackluster story. While some moments evoke nostalgia and a slight emotional connection through character relationships, the overall experience is marred by boredom and unengaging gameplay, leading to a sense of emotional void rather than fulfillment.
- “The story, although linear, has a few twists and also there is some emotional connection as it involves a friend and later on a family member.”
- “This game somehow made me feel nostalgic for the first turn-based combat RPG I played as a kid, which was Farland Tactics 3.”
- “I feel an emotional void, with some hints of vague anger, but to be honest, I can't even get worked up enough about the game to articulate that anger.”
- “The rolls in this game are terrible; it feels bad to frequently fail 90%+ rolls, which ruins an otherwise boring story.”
- “Characters are uninteresting and annoying, and the story is boring. The controls are confusing or even downright cryptic, especially with interactive items. For example, why does the default point of interaction with a stack of barrels cause them to fall on top of my character instead of to the side or in the opposite direction like a normal person would push them? Does the character pull the barrels towards them knowing they'll be crushed? Why? Because the game just wants to punish you for interacting with things. Additionally, the leveling system is annoying and requires a huge amount of time and effort just to reliably use one spell or skill without fail. There's also a weird glitch that causes the game to freeze during load screens.”
- “Coupled with a boring story and a lackluster battle system, it all goes downhill.”