Bound By Blades

About

Bound By Blades is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Zeth and was released on November 15, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

In "Bound by Blades," players unite the tribes of Ashmyr to fight against the Ilcyon, corrupted beings who threaten the land. Defeating these unique bosses and their variants allows players to collect their loot and craft powerful equipment, with item-set bonuses that enhance their chosen playstyle. The game features intense action and strategic combat as players work to save Ashmyr from destruction.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features engaging boss fights with unique mechanics that require strategic planning and skill to overcome.
The art style is charming and visually appealing, complemented by a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
It offers enjoyable multiplayer co-op gameplay, making it a fun option for playing with friends.

The game has limited exploration and feels confined, with a lack of depth in its story and world-building.
Movement is restricted to the corners of the arena, which can lead to frustrating gameplay and awkward dodging mechanics.
The game is relatively short, with only a few bosses and repetitive gameplay that may leave players wanting more content.

story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
82%
7%
The game's story is generally considered short and straightforward, with most players completing it in under two hours, featuring only ten boss fights. While some appreciate the art and emotional moments, many feel the narrative is secondary to the gameplay, which follows a list-based mission structure. Despite its brevity, the game offers substantial endgame content and challenges that extend the experience beyond the main story.
- “The story takes you on a journey of glory as you are tasked, as the three bound, to defeat Ilycions; strange, corrupted beasts that were once furries like yourself, but got corrupted by an unknown source.”
- “Overall, the story is great along with the gameplay, and the art that follows is very well done. Some frames do seem to be a bit lacking, but not enough to ruin the game in any way.”
- “This game is really cute, not too easy, and has a nice story!”
- “The story really doesn't matter much...”
- “But there are only 10 boss fights in the main story and it can be completed in an hour or two depending on your skills.”
- “I beat the main story in less than an hour; there is 'extra content' after that, but it all seems irrelevant after completing the story.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
The gameplay in "Bound by Blades" is characterized by its boss rush format and unique mechanics, offering a blend of challenging encounters and replayability through new game plus features. While the game features a charming art style and smooth mechanics, some players found certain elements, like pet feeding and material collection, to be repetitive. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its depth and innovation, making it an engaging experience, especially for newcomers to action games.
- “Developed by a talented indie studio, this game offers a refreshing take on the RPG genre, combining classic elements with innovative mechanics that keep players hooked from start to finish.”
- “This aspect adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, making every encounter feel rewarding and challenging.”
- “Gameplay really shines in this indie game and you can tell it was made with a lot of love.”
- “Bound by Blades is a boss rush game, a weird style arena with questionable mechanics.”
- “It doesn't entirely strip away the fun, but it does make the gameplay feel somewhat repetitive.”
- “However, there's this feeding the pets and collecting materials mechanics, which didn't sit well with me.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The graphics of "Bound by Blades" are widely praised for their aesthetically pleasing and charming hand-drawn art style, featuring a vibrant color palette and cute animal characters. While some reviewers noted inconsistencies in art quality and a style that may not appeal to everyone, the overall visual presentation is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's atmosphere and gameplay experience.
- “I liked the graphics with the nice color palette, the likable characters, the atmosphere, and the challenging gameplay.”
- “The world of Bound by Blades is beautifully crafted with a stunning hand-drawn art style.”
- “It's got a pleasing aesthetic which focuses on cute animals as the main characters.”
- “Bound by blades is a top-down puzzle shooter in which you are tasked to defeat several beasts by using one of three 'class' characters; it's overall a furry dream... to me, the aesthetic was a nightmare.”
- “Aside from inconsistencies in the art style's quality and lack of further monsters, for a team of what is practically 5 people (mind you they all have their own role to fill, music, art, programming, etc.), the game also has a reasonable set of build diversity, involving set bonuses and item enchanting.”
- “4.) Unique art style (again, not for me, seems like something out of a children's book).”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is highly praised, particularly the soundtracks accompanying boss fights, which enhance the excitement and overall gameplay experience. Despite some inconsistencies in art quality, the music stands out as a strong point, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere.
- “The bosses have a great soundtrack and gameplay is smooth and fast.”
- “Each of these fights has great music which got me hyped, huge shout out to the SFX and music.”
- “Great music.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while grinding is present for leveling up, acquiring better gear, and developing pets, it is not essential to progress in the game. The pet system, however, is often described as tedious and slow, contributing to the overall grinding experience. Comparatively, the game lacks the depth and demands found in more complex titles like Monster Hunter.
- “The pet system is tedious and slow.”
- “In truth, the game doesn't have the depth or requirements of something like Monster Hunter, and grinding isn't really required.”
- “However, you gain levels, you grind for better gear, you grow your pet - so it's all doable with a lot of grinding.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The character development in "Bound by Blades" is praised for its flexibility and engagement, featuring three distinct playable characters with well-thought-out concepts and charming designs. Players appreciate the fast-paced gameplay and minimal hand-holding after the initial tutorial, allowing for a more immersive experience.
- “The character development system in Bound by Blades is both flexible and engaging.”
- “You find yourself with three playable characters that all act out differently and have some actual thought put into their concepts; the character designs themselves are lovely as well.”
- “The game is very fast-paced and there isn't a ton of hand-holding after the first fight (which I personally really enjoyed, as I dislike long tutorials), and the character designs are downright adorable.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse game modes and ranking systems, allowing for extensive customization that ensures each playthrough can feel unique. This variety significantly enhances the overall replay value.
- “Filled with multiple different game modes and ranking systems, which help to extend the length of the game and enhance its replayability.”
- “This level of customization ensures that each playthrough can be entirely different, significantly increasing the game's replay value.”
- “Filled with multiple different game modes and ranking systems, which help to extend the length of the game and the replayability.”
- “This level of customization ensures that each playthrough can be entirely different, increasing the game's replay value significantly.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game generally runs well, especially in 2-player online co-op mode, but users have reported occasional bugs and technical glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including a specific issue with the "champion" achievement not triggering. Overall, while the experience is mostly stable, these issues can detract from the charm of the game.
- “This is such a super cozy and charming little game even better when played with a friend (2-player online co-op) and runs great with a controller!”
- “One of the issues is the occasional presence of bugs and technical glitches, which can momentarily disrupt the overall experience. The 'Champion' achievement is glitched and does not trigger.”
- “The game suffers from frequent crashes and instability, making it difficult to enjoy for extended periods.”
- “I've encountered numerous bugs that not only affect gameplay but also lead to frustrating crashes that ruin the experience.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers consistently praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its appealing graphics and vibrant color palette, which contribute to an engaging and immersive experience. The presence of likeable characters further enhances the overall ambiance, making the gameplay feel more enjoyable and challenging.
- “I liked the graphics with the nice color palette, the likable characters, the atmosphere, and the challenging gameplay.”