Boreal Blade

About

"Boreal Blade is a team-based melee fighting game with a focus on player versus player combat. It features four unique fighting styles and three armor classes, allowing for varied and tactical gameplay. Players can choose between one-handed and two-handed weapons, a shield and weapon combo, long thrusting pole weapons, and fighting unarmed, with the ability to throw items during battle."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 295 reviews

gameplay30 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Deep, physics-driven combat mechanics that reward skill and strategy, making each duel feel intense and rewarding.
Beautiful medieval Nordic aesthetic with immersive visuals that enhance the overall experience.
A fun game to play with friends, offering a unique and engaging multiplayer experience.

The game has a very low player base, making it difficult to find matches and often resulting in empty servers.
No dedicated servers lead to lag and poor matchmaking, significantly impacting the online experience.
The tutorial is inadequate, leaving players confused about the mechanics and controls, which can hinder the learning process.

gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
5%
The gameplay of Boreal Blade is characterized by deep, physics-driven combat mechanics that reward skill and strategy, making it enjoyable for fans of competitive brawlers. While the controls are accessible and the combat system is intricate, the game suffers from a lack of active players and online lag, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its promising mechanics and engaging visuals, the game's viability is hindered by its dwindling player base and insufficient updates.
- “With its physics-based combat mechanics, rich Nordic aesthetic, and skill-heavy gameplay, it’s a treat for fans of competitive brawlers.”
- “Overall, the gameplay is incredibly solid, with controls being simple and easy to grasp, and a combat system that is as enjoyable as it is intricate.”
- “The mechanics are fun and it's easy to play but hard to master.”
- “Gameplay is sub-par for an action game, zero feedback, no training arena, and no one playing - sadly the game is not being developed actively as well and has most likely been axed by developers for poor reception.”
- “While Boreal Blade shows promise with its cartoony graphics and For Honor-looking gameplay, the lack of any player base and no updates since this game came out over two years ago render this game a huge waste of money.”
- “You cannot have important bits of gameplay locked behind a progression system when there is almost no one to play.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
48%
10%
The graphics of Boreal Blade are generally praised for their beautiful medieval Nordic aesthetic and colorful, stylized visuals, which enhance the immersive experience of the game. While some players note the simplicity of the lower poly graphics and occasional glitches, the overall visual presentation is considered appealing, especially for those with less powerful PCs. However, the game's performance issues and lack of a player base detract from the experience, leaving some players feeling that the graphics alone do not justify the investment.
- “Beautiful medieval Nordic aesthetic with immersive visuals.”
- “With its engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and robust multiplayer options, Boreal Blade offers a unique and rewarding experience for fans of tactical fighting games.”
- “The mechanics are really tight and it's incredibly accessible gameplay-wise; the stylized graphics are cool.”
- “While Boreal Blade shows promise with its cartoony graphics and For Honor-looking gameplay, the lack of any player base and no updates since this game came out over two years ago render this game a huge waste of money.”
- “The graphics do look pretty, but I can't find a single player, so I only got to try out one duel, and god it was horrible.”
- “Overview: graphics is sort of okay, but the performance is horrific.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting solid performance in local matches but significant lag in online gameplay due to a lack of dedicated servers. While a few users noted stable frame rates and good early access optimization, many others criticized the overall performance as poor, with frequent drops and various technical issues. Overall, there is a consensus that further updates and optimizations are needed to improve the gaming experience, especially for online play.
- “Fairly good performance (stable 144 fps), with some rare drops (from 144 to ~130).”
- “There is nothing to complain about in the early access version - excellent optimization, interesting combat system, balanced weapons, a system of loot and customization.”
- “Performance is solid for local matches, but online gameplay suffers from lag due to the lack of dedicated servers.”
- “The problems I've noticed stem from it being poorly optimized by merit of it being early access.”
- “This game is so poorly optimized it’s not even worth it.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
56%
33%
The reviews indicate that "Boreal Blade" lacks a substantial story, with many players noting the absence of a story mode and expressing disappointment in the overall narrative experience. The game's focus appears to be on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling, leading to a perception that the story is minimal or non-existent.
- “It has a seemingly low player base, so I'm hoping there can be a storyline to play eventually.”
- “There's not really any story to speak of for Boreal Blade.”
- “No story mode.”
- “The story is shit, and the game heavily favors people who have already been playing for a long time.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the Nordic setting and complements the gameplay. While some users appreciate the solid sound effects and the overall quality of the music, others feel it lacks depth and is overshadowed by the game's shortcomings. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, despite some criticisms regarding the game's execution.
- “The Nordic setting is brought to life with an atmospheric soundtrack and solid sound effects that enhance the weight and intensity of combat.”
- “I liked the way the world looked, I liked the soundtrack, and I liked the gameplay.”
- “Beautiful design + music.”
- “Soundtrack - alright”
- “Music is ok.”
- “[0.2] sound & music”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Boreal Blade's replayability is hindered by limited offline content and a declining player community, resulting in a moderate to low overall replay value. While single-player options and bot matches can extend gameplay, the experience shines when played with friends.
- “The replayability with friends is fantastic.”
- “Single-player content or bot matches to extend replay value.”
- “Boreal Blade offers thrilling duels and team-based modes.”
- “Boreal Blade offers thrilling duels and team-based modes, but its lack of offline content and dwindling community significantly limit replayability.”
- “Replay value: moderate to low due to server issues.”
- “Single-player content or bot matches are needed to extend replay value.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits notable stability issues, including hitbox inconsistencies with spear-like weapons and occasional crashes or freezes during gameplay. While the graphics are generally appealing, players report various glitches and bugs that can disrupt the experience, leading to discrepancies between what different players see. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, potential buyers should be prepared for these stability challenges.
- “The only thing I have to notice, though, are the hitboxes. Sometimes it seems that spear-like weapons can't hit the enemy because you're not close enough, even though the weapon already touched them. Also, the game crashes/freezes sometimes in the middle of a fight.”
- “Pretty fun, but still a tad buggy with moments where what the host sees is not the same as what other players see.”
- “All in all, I recommend it based on the premise, but unless you're willing to put up with some buggy gameplay, lack of tutorials, and a very lackluster presentation in general, I'd say don't buy it.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it particularly entertaining when playing with friends. The comedic elements, such as the absurdity of being killed by unconventional weapons like a broom, contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience that surpasses similar games. Overall, the game is recognized for its funny interactions and amusing gameplay moments.
- “Funny sword game that is better than Mordhau and For Honor.”
- “The first impression: nice and funny game.”
- “Fun finding different weapons on some maps; getting killed with a broom is the worst, but hilarious.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its atmospheric soundtrack and sound effects, which complement the beautifully rendered medieval Nordic setting. This immersive environment adds depth and intensity to the combat experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The Nordic setting is brought to life with an atmospheric soundtrack and solid sound effects that enhance the weight and intensity of combat.”
- “The medieval Nordic setting is beautifully rendered, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players into the game world.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to create any sense of immersion.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, contributing to an atmosphere that feels lifeless and unengaging.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with inadequate advertising contributing to a sparse player base. Reviewers express disappointment in the developers' focus being split between multiple projects, leading to a lack of support and development for the game. Despite its potential, the game is perceived as incomplete and abandoned.
- “The game is empty; the devs have already moved on. You can feel it—another EA cash grab. Too bad the music is good, but it's only a skeleton of what it should be.”
- “A fantastic game plagued by a meager and spread-out player base, inadequate advertising, with the dev focus torn between two upcoming games (Starbase and Trine 4).”
- “I'd recommend the game if it got the advertising and outreach that it needed to succeed.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is highlighted for its emphasis on unique personal design, allowing players to create distinct avatars that enhance their gameplay experience. This customization fosters a sense of empowerment and individuality within the game.
- “You can look super unique, and your personal character design can really empower your play.”
- “The depth of character development allows for a truly personalized gaming experience.”
- “Each character's backstory and growth throughout the game make you feel emotionally invested.”