Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged makes a classic point-and-click worth playing almost thirty years on, with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.

92%Game Brain Score

graphics, story

96% User Score Based on 523 reviews

Critic Score 87%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged" is a remastered version of the award-winning adventure game, where players unravel a conspiracy involving the Knights Templar alongside protagonists George and Nico. The game features classic point-and-click gameplay and an engaging storyline set in various exotic locations. This enhanced version boasts improved graphics and sound for a more immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 530 reviews

graphics128 positive mentions

The remaster features stunning visuals that enhance the original game's charm, with beautifully redrawn backgrounds and character animations.
The gameplay remains true to the classic point-and-click mechanics, with added quality-of-life improvements like a hint system and the ability to switch between old and new graphics.
The story and characters are engaging, filled with humor and intrigue, making it a nostalgic experience for long-time fans and an accessible entry point for newcomers.

The audio quality, particularly the voice acting, is often muffled and inconsistent, detracting from the overall experience.
Some players may find the pacing slow, especially during transitions and dialogue-heavy sections, which can feel tedious compared to modern standards.
The removal of content from the Director's Cut, particularly Nico's playable segments, may disappoint fans who enjoyed those additional story elements.

graphics
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
55%
1%
The graphics of "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Reforged" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning 4K remastering, which enhances the original's hand-drawn aesthetic with vibrant colors, improved animations, and dynamic lighting. Players appreciate the seamless option to toggle between the updated visuals and the classic graphics, allowing for a nostalgic comparison that highlights the significant improvements made. Overall, the remaster successfully retains the charm of the original while modernizing its visual appeal, making it accessible to both longtime fans and newcomers.
- “Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged is a beautifully crafted remaster that enhances its timeless story, vibrant visuals, and engaging gameplay while preserving the charm of the original.”
- “The graphics of the backgrounds and the characters are tremendously improved and are just gorgeous.”
- “The improved visuals are absolutely stunning.”
- “There are moments where character movement and interaction with the environment feel dated, making the remaster feel more like an aesthetic overhaul than an actual recreation.”
- “The mix of shiny new graphics and old, poorly balanced audio just doesn't work, especially for what they're charging.”
- “You'd expect a pricey remake to improve everything, but they only seem to have cared about the graphics.”
story
171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The story of "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged" is widely praised for its intriguing blend of historical intrigue and modern suspense, following American tourist George Stobbart as he navigates a conspiracy after witnessing a bombing in Paris. Reviewers highlight the game's charming characters, clever humor, and well-structured narrative, although some note that the pacing may feel slow for newcomers and that certain design elements could seem outdated. Overall, the remastered version retains the original's captivating storytelling while enhancing visuals and accessibility, making it a timeless classic in the point-and-click genre.
- “The story follows George Stobbart, an American tourist in Paris, who becomes embroiled in an ancient conspiracy after witnessing a bombing in a café.”
- “What makes this story stand out, even after all these years, is the way it combines historical intrigue with well-structured suspense.”
- “The story is amazing, with great characters and without going into too much detail, just think Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code (7 years before the book) and you're all set.”
- “Nowadays, if you've seen lots of movies and shows, the story won't exactly 'wow' you.”
- “For those hoping for significant new plot points or extended adventures with George and Nico, the game may feel repetitive.”
- “The game stays true to the original storyline and design, which may seem like a missed opportunity to expand the world or add more modern storytelling elements.”
music
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its high quality and nostalgic value, with many noting the successful remastering of Barrington Pheloung's soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some users pointed out issues with audio mixing, particularly between music and dialogue, leading to occasional muffled voice lines. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's timeless appeal.
- “The music alone brings me so many good memories; this game is definitely timeless.”
- “The music continues to sound superb, likely reflecting the high quality of Barrington Pheloung's work and the clever use of short bursts of music throughout the entire game.”
- “The classic soundtrack has also been beautifully remastered, taking you back to those memorable moments of intrigue and discovery.”
- “I was also disappointed the game didn't come with the soundtrack (at least I didn't see it in the library or in the game's folder) and/or a concept art album, as re-releases of great classics often do.”
- “Compared to the original, they have been cleaned up a bit, but they sound slightly muffled for today's standards and uneven in some parts of the game compared to the background music.”
- “However, it should have been mixed better by default, as the music is much too loud and the side-chain has too short a release, which causes a bit of a pumping effect.”
gameplay
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The gameplay of "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged" retains the classic point-and-click mechanics while incorporating modern enhancements, such as an updated user interface and optional help guides, making it accessible for both newcomers and longtime fans. The remaster preserves the original's charm, offering engaging puzzles and dialogue that contribute to an immersive experience, though some may find the pace slow compared to contemporary games. Overall, it successfully blends nostalgia with polished visuals and improved gameplay elements, resulting in a satisfying adventure.
- “Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged is a beautifully crafted remaster that enhances its timeless story, vibrant visuals, and engaging gameplay while preserving the charm of the original.”
- “The game retains the beloved point-and-click mechanics and puzzle-solving elements that made the original so iconic, while giving them a polished update.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, the gameplay is more intuitive than before, whilst the additional story mode goes a long way in making the experience more accessible for newcomers to the genre.”
- “The gameplay has been a bit modernized, in the sense of how the user interface works; however, the puzzles and everything else have remained the same.”
- “This is a reforged version, not a remake; they chose to not change the gameplay of the original game.”
- “In reforged, the core mechanics remain unchanged, but have been slightly expanded to fit modern requirements.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars" is characterized by its dark, dry wit and charming dialogue, which consistently entertains players throughout the game. While it may not reach the comedic heights of some LucasArts titles, the clever writing and well-delivered lines, along with memorable characters, create an immersive and enjoyable experience that resonates with both new and longtime fans. The game's humor is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, enhancing the overall storytelling without overshadowing it.
- “The writing is full of charm and humor.”
- “It's consistently funny throughout, lines are well delivered and I wanted to make sure I spoke to every character about every item just to hear their sarcastic responses.”
- “I'll have to say that the writing in Broken Sword is rather amusing and some of the witty banter had me laughing out loud.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
12%
12%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful recreation of charm and nostalgia, enhanced by new lighting effects and reworked sound design that create an immersive experience. Players appreciate the captivating music and visuals, which together evoke a strong sense of time and place, making the gameplay both engaging and memorable. Overall, the atmosphere successfully draws players in, even transcending language barriers for some.
- “Beautifully recreated with all its atmosphere and charm.”
- “New lighting effects give the scenes a more atmospheric and immersive feel.”
- “The game's sound effects have been reworked, and the atmospheric music has been recreated, providing a richer aural experience that complements the game's visual enhancements.”
- “Even though I didn’t understand the dialogue, the music, atmosphere, and visuals captivated me for hours.”
- “I first played The Shadow of the Templars as a kid back in 1996 and immediately fell in love with its atmosphere, humor, and mystery.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
37%
13%
The game is well-optimized, offering smooth gameplay and low power consumption, particularly on handheld devices like the Steam Deck, earning a score of 8.5/10. However, there are notable inconsistencies in voice line quality and volume, raising questions about the use of AI in audio optimization.
- “+ well optimized, smooth gameplay and low power consumption for handheld devices like Steam Deck.”
- “Graphics, performance and tech analysis score: 8.5/10”
- “Voice lines still swing wildly across a broad range of sound quality and volume; I wonder what stopped the AI from being employed more effectively here: unwillingness to tamper with the original too much, budget concerns, or potential legal issues arising from re-generating real-life performances?”

87%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

4-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

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