Blade and Burden

About

Blade and Burden is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Derrick Adams and was released on January 17, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Blade and Burden is a rogue lite dungeon crawler where choices aren't as simple as they seem. Play as adventurers who slash, roll, and solve their way through an absurd palace while subjected to the whims of a mysterious observer. Will you break the cycle and remove your burden? Choose Your Hero: Different adventurers have been called to the tower, each with their own burdens they carry. Ch…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

music3 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game features great art and sound design, providing a nostalgic experience.
It offers a fun and challenging gameplay experience with a variety of characters and bosses, enhancing replayability.
The developers are communicative and have provided a bug-free experience, contributing to an overall enjoyable game.

The controls are poorly designed and unintuitive, making gameplay frustrating, especially for new players.
Lack of proper controller support and a tutorial makes it difficult to understand the mechanics.
There are significant issues with input responsiveness, leading to erratic gameplay experiences.

gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The gameplay is characterized by retro-style mechanics that evoke nostalgia while also presenting a level of frustration typical of old-school games. Players find it enjoyable, though it may require some time to understand the mechanics due to the lack of a tutorial, and while it can be challenging, it remains engaging rather than frustrating.
- “Challenging gameplay sometimes, but not in an annoying way.”
- “The retro-style gameplay and mechanics provide equal servings of nostalgia and old-school frustration.”
- “Fun game, but takes a little bit of time to figure out what the mechanics are without a tutorial.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with players enjoying the soundtrack and finding it integral to the overall experience. Many describe it as fun and fitting, enhancing the game's replayability and engaging story.
- “I'm newer to PC gaming and trying to expand beyond being a Nintendo-only gamer, so this one took me a sec to figure out, but I love the music and Phil is my spirit animal.”
- “Great game design, and I am also a huge fan of the soundtrack!”
- “Super fun, very replayable with an interesting story, no bugs, good music.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as potentially exploitative, with some users suggesting it reflects either a lack of experience from the developers, a cash grab, or an intention to frustrate players.
- “The game feels like a quick cash grab or scam, released by an inexperienced developer way too early.”
- “The monetization strategy is frustrating and feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It seems like the developers are more interested in making money than providing a quality gaming experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability, with players enjoying achievement hunting and engaging storylines. Users highlight the fun factor and the absence of bugs, complemented by good music, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Lots of replayability and I had fun achievement hunting.”
- “Super fun, very replayable with an interesting story, no bugs, and good music.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that Gear Shift Studios has been proactive and supportive in ensuring a stable gaming experience for the mac build, resulting in a largely bug-free gameplay.
- “As a beta tester for the Mac build, Gear Shift Studios has been communicative and helpful in enabling me to play this game with a bug-free experience.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is engaging and adds to the game's replayability, complemented by enjoyable music and a smooth experience free of bugs.
- “Super fun, very replayable with an interesting story, no bugs, good music.”