Braveland

About

Braveland is a single-player, historical turn-based strategy game with a good story and awesome gameplay. It features phenomenal graphics, a fantastic soundtrack, and humor that will make you laugh. The game offers a hand-drawn world, various warriors and creatures, intense boss fights, and 50 battles, providing hours of entertainment. You can find the game and its sequel, Spaceland, on Steam.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,100 reviews

story36 positive mentions

replayability10 negative mentions

Charming art style and relaxing gameplay make it enjoyable for casual players.
Simple mechanics that are easy to learn, making it accessible for newcomers to the genre.
Offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic turn-based strategy games like Heroes of Might and Magic.

Extremely short campaign, typically completed in 3-5 hours, leading to low replay value.
Lacks depth and complexity in strategy, making battles feel repetitive and straightforward.
Linear progression with no real choices or exploration, which can make the gameplay feel dull.

story
235 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The game's story is largely criticized for being simplistic, generic, and lacking depth, often described as a cliché revenge narrative where the protagonist seeks to avenge their village after a bandit raid. Many reviewers noted that the story serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay, with minimal character development and predictable plot points, making it feel more like a mobile game than a substantial narrative experience. While some found the light-hearted tone and humor enjoyable, the overall consensus is that the story is forgettable and not a significant draw for the game.
- “The three unique story chapters and intense boss fights kept me engrossed for hours.”
- “The story follows a man whose village was raided by bandits, and he seeks revenge.”
- “It presents you a cute, classic storyline: a happy farmer boy loses his family and farm to bandits and sets out on a bold journey for revenge, but it turns out there is something more sinister going on and the happy guy wants to deal with it.”
- “The story is very simple and the usual cliche.”
- “The main story is very short (~5 hrs or so to complete hard difficulty run), is bland and shallow with weak writing or quests.”
- “The story is simply non-existent and is only there so that the combat makes sense.”
gameplay
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, drawing inspiration from classic turn-based strategy games like Heroes of Might and Magic and King's Bounty. While it offers a cozy art style and straightforward mechanics, many players find it lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive encounters and a short overall experience of around 3-7 hours. Despite its shortcomings, the game can be enjoyable for casual players seeking a light, tactical experience without the complexity of more demanding titles.
- “With its colorful art style, straightforward gameplay mechanics, and engaging battles, every encounter feels satisfying and strategic.”
- “The graphics are nicely used, the music is very well composed and easy on the ears, and the gameplay is silky smooth.”
- “Braveland is a simple version of Heroes of Might and Magic for the casual player; this is a good game, make no mistake here. Hardcore players may feel the lack of depth, but for most people, it should be a really nice adventure with good gameplay, art style, and a simple yet short campaign.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's yet another shovelware Heroes of Might & Magic clone, but instead of a detailed strategic map, you have simply a linear path with a few little branches here and there.”
- “Very dull gameplay and a ton of useless 'story' texts.”
- “The gameplay is very simple and shallow; nothing about it stands out; there are no real tactics during gameplay, and even in the hardest difficulty, it was meh.”
graphics
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
7%
The graphics of the game are generally described as cute and cartoonish, with a cozy art style that enhances the relaxing gameplay experience. While many reviewers appreciate the colorful and simplistic visuals, they also note that the graphics lack depth and innovation, often comparing them to mobile game aesthetics. Overall, the visuals are deemed pleasant and functional, contributing positively to the game's casual charm, though they may not stand out in a crowded market.
- “The overall aesthetic of the game is visually pleasing and adds to the immersion of the experience.”
- “The graphics are fun and the quips before each battle are entertaining and give the game a bit of flair.”
- “The graphics are pleasant, with a hand-drawn motif that is a bit more sophisticated than the retro-throwback style so many games employ these days.”
- “In-game visuals are garbage, ones you see in every other kiddy mobile game.”
- “This one is just boring, the visuals are boring, the gameplay is boring, it looks like a mobile game on PC.”
- “The graphics are slightly unnervingly Fisher Price, but they're effective and the backgrounds look nice.”
music
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
52%
8%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its charm and suitability for the game's atmosphere. However, it is often criticized for being repetitive and lacking variety, with only a few tracks that can become monotonous over time. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience, it may not stand out as particularly memorable or diverse.
- “The sound design is equally impressive, with a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the tension and excitement of each mission.”
- “Wonderful atmosphere and brilliant music...many congratulations to the composer of the music soundtrack!”
- “The music is well produced and fits the game's art style to a tee, with a somewhat medieval/fantasy feel and a nice mellow overworld theme and battle music that conveys tension but keeps with the smooth and relaxing feel of the rest of the game.”
- “The music is very repetitive after a while.”
- “There only appears to be about 3 music tracks in the whole game (1 for overworld, 1 for battle, 1 for menu), and they all start to get old by hour 2.”
- “The music isn't anything too special, kinda generic medieval themes.”
replayability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
59%
31%
Overall, the game has very low replayability, with many players noting its short length and linear gameplay as significant drawbacks. While there are some options for replaying on different difficulty levels and a survival mode, these do not substantially enhance the experience. Most reviewers recommend it primarily for a casual, one-time playthrough, especially if purchased on sale.
- “There's replayability to be had in attempting the other difficulty levels.”
- “There's a survival mode where you can play battle to battle, losing characters and buying new ones, and see how far you get.”
- “Replayability due to survival mode is given overall.”
- “I recommend playing this on hard difficulty right away to get the most out of your money as there is zero replay value.”
- “The game has no real replay value once you beat it and have all the achievements, if that is your thing.”
- “Finished it in 3 hours, and I don't feel like there's much replay value.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by funny dialogues, charming graphics, and a light-hearted tone that appeals to both kids and adults. Players appreciate the witty remarks and humorous writing, which enhance the overall experience despite some critiques about the simplicity of the story and dialogue. Overall, the game offers a good cost-to-fun ratio, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a relaxing and amusing strategy game.
- “It is funny that for a commander that needs an army to fight his enemies, you are not allowed to bring too many units to battle.”
- “All in all, if you are looking for a relaxing strategy game and enjoy some silly childish humor, then this is totally worth the purchase!”
- “It's a stripped down experience whose main attraction is the colorful art, humorous writing, and charming music.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
5%
68%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the lack of traditional grinding mechanics, noting that battles cannot be replayed and troops are automatically replenished, others find the slow animations and tedious overworld navigation detract from the enjoyment. Some players mention that certain levels, particularly the final boss battle, can feel grindy, while others feel the game is straightforward and lacks depth, making it less engaging over time. Overall, the game is seen as a low-commitment option, but its repetitive elements can lead to a tedious experience.
- “What I especially like about it is that you only recruit troops once, and if you lose them after the battle, they are automatically replenished on the spot for some gold—no tedious backtracking like in the mentioned bigger games.”
- “Also, because there’s no grinding to level up and earn extra gold, every combat counts.”
- “There is no grinding to earn extra gold to get better gear or more units.”
- “Animations are quite slow, making everything 10x slower and more tedious than they need to be.”
- “The combat is just plain uninteresting, with the no-risk element making it feel extremely tedious.”
- “A rather basic tactical RPG that requires grinding rather than skill to beat some levels on hard.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as it lacks the typical microtransactions and energy systems found in many mobile games, making it a refreshing alternative. However, some users express disappointment with the game's quality and the developer's focus on advertising rather than improving the gameplay experience. Overall, the absence of in-game purchases is appreciated, but concerns about the game's depth and originality remain.
- “To put it simply, it's just like a mobile game nowadays without any in-game purchases and so far I like it.”
- “The kind of game you are more likely to spot on Facebook/Kongregate minus the energy system and microtransactions.”
- “Braveland Heroes exists, a free-to-play version of this with heavy monetization and a mixed percentage score, so that was kind of expected from those kinds of developers.”
- “The only redeeming part about this so-called 'game' is that it's not filled with microtransactions like other mobile games.”
- “Instead of providing any kind of proper excuses for the woefully poor quality of this tablet port compared to proper turn-based strategies decades older, the developer goes on an advertising spree for the copy-and-paste reskins of exactly the same game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some users report a smooth experience with no bugs, others criticize the lack of PC-specific optimizations, indicating that the developers have not made significant improvements for the platform.
- “The game runs smoothly with no bugs.”
- “The system info and performance report provide valuable insights into optimization.”
- “While there are no PC optimizations, the developers could enhance the port with more effort.”
- “No PC optimizations: It would be acceptable if the developers actually put effort into the port, but as it stands, there are little to no improvements.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most users reporting it as bug-free and entertaining, though some minor glitches were noted, particularly on Mac. While these issues are not game-breaking, they contribute to a perception that the game may not offer enough value for its price.
- “8/10 - It only loses 2 points for being short and having one or two minor glitches.”
- “I'm playing on a Mac, so there are a few glitches I encountered (I don't know if this is true for other OSes), none of which were deal-breakers, but there were a few other minor irritations.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that the emotional aspect of the game is lacking, with players feeling disconnected and uninvested in the story, which is described as boring and poorly written.
- “A boring story with some lazy writing.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a light-hearted and fun vibe, enhanced by fitting music and simple graphics that contribute to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “The graphics are okay, and the music fits the atmosphere.”
- “Light-hearted fun; the overall simplicity creates a pretty light-hearted atmosphere.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the character designs are praised for their uniqueness and visual appeal, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the narrative. The focus seems to be more on aesthetics rather than character growth or evolution.
- “The character designs are unique and eye-catching, and the environments are beautifully rendered with attention to detail.”
- “The depth of character development is impressive, allowing players to form genuine connections with the characters.”
- “Each character's backstory is intricately woven into the narrative, making their growth feel authentic and impactful.”