Caves of Lore
- January 21, 2023
- by Mike Robins
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam"Caves of Lore" is a turn-based CRPG with pixel-art graphics, featuring a blend of environmental exploration, character interaction, and tactical combat. The game offers a lighthearted tone with dark themes, as players progress through a fantasy world filled with monsters, humor, hidden secrets, and loot. As a solo-dev passion project, it was built over 6 years with constant daily progress, resulting in a highly customizable party and an engaging story.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging exploration with numerous secrets and puzzles to discover.
- Deep character customization and a unique skill system that rewards usage.
- Impressive for a solo developer, with frequent updates and active community support.
- Many abilities and spells feel underwhelming or useless, leading to repetitive combat.
- The UI can be clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and inventory management frustrating.
- Some game mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and potential frustration for players.
- story84 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally praised for its intriguing and well-crafted narrative, with many players appreciating the depth of lore and character development that unfolds as they progress. However, some critiques highlight issues with clarity in quests and a tendency for the story to end abruptly, leaving players wanting more. Overall, it offers a compelling experience that balances exploration and storytelling, though it may require patience due to its non-linear structure and occasional vagueness.
“The story is fantastic and the lore building that went into this is up there with any big-time RPG.”
“The storyline is very compelling, which is what keeps me coming back to it.”
“It's full of choice and mystery, the story is intriguing and the writing is pretty well done.”
“My biggest complaint is the story - the whole time you get little bits about what's going on, and then the game just ends on a cliffhanger kind of in the middle of it all.”
“It is very, very unfinished, chock full of glitches and bugs. The narrative is not well thought out or plotted, and the quest paths/directives are literally non-existent or so super nuanced that it's impossible to discern.”
“Finally, the storyline ended with a clear hook for a sequel rather than properly resolving.”
- gameplay61 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Caves of Lore" is praised for its depth and intricate mechanics, offering a rich experience reminiscent of classic RPGs while incorporating modern features like auto-mapping and smart inventory management. Players appreciate the blend of combat, exploration, and unique spell systems, although some mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion. Overall, the game is lauded for its engaging gameplay loop, rewarding exploration, and charming retro graphics, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.
“The developer has created that most special of indie games: one that exudes the heart and soul of a small team, while also boasting the depth of gameplay, quality of writing and design, slick graphics, and beautiful music of a large developer.”
“Its unique gameplay mechanics and intricate systems offer an immersive experience that rewards exploration and attention to detail.”
“Highly customizable character development, quick and engaging tactical turn-based combat, and a world exploration mechanic that utilizes unique skills and abilities to navigate the environment and discover treasure provides a fun framework to really dig into its many systems.”
“Even using stealth mechanics, it was not easy to avoid meaningless battles.”
“There are gripes - the game is too easy, lots of mechanics aren't properly explained, and the amount of combat thrown at you seems excessive at times.”
“On the critical side - the game has crafting/upgrading mechanics but they are sadly underwhelming: alchemy to make potions, the ability to improve weapons and armor, and an enchanting system.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a charming pixel art style that resonates well with fans of retro aesthetics, showcasing impressive attention to detail in animations and environments. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals, others find them lacking compared to modern standards, with minor graphical issues noted. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the game's engaging story and gameplay, creating a cohesive and enjoyable experience.
“With gorgeous pixelated art style, deep character customization, interesting story, and tons of spells which I probably won't even be able to try all.”
“The graphics are charming and convey feelings really effectively.”
“This is old school turn-based dungeon crawling with a beautiful pixel aesthetic, atmosphere, and great music.”
“The graphics are lacking for sure, but they work really well within the context of the game.”
“Also, the graphics, while serviceable, have a color palette that doesn't always mesh well together.”
“I really, really dislike pixel graphics, but everything is easy to read.”
- music17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with a soundtrack that is both enjoyable and varied, preventing monotony during gameplay. Reviewers highlight the harmonious relationship between the music and the pixel graphics, noting that it contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience. Overall, the sound design, including the music, is considered a standout feature that reflects the dedication of the indie development team.
“Last but not least, the soundtrack is surprisingly good, and the texts are often punchy, on point, and fun to read.”
“The music and the artwork harmonize very well with each other, in my opinion.”
“The music and overall sound design is very well done!”
“I've heard numerous different pieces in just the handful of places I've explored, along with more than one battle soundtrack so it doesn't get monotonous.”
“Think of the bard's tale or Ultima VI music scores and you'll know what is in store here.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be quite unstable, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, particularly in the user interface. Players have noted that while some issues are being addressed by the developers, the overall experience can be frustrating due to confusing quests and a lack of clear guidance. Frequent saving is recommended to mitigate the impact of these bugs.
“It is very, very unfinished, chock full of glitches and bugs. The narrative is not well thought out or plotted, and the quest paths/directives are literally non-existent or so nuanced that it's impossible to discern them before you can even attempt to hope to achieve them.”
“So far so good, but this game is super crunchy. Definitely a lot of bugs here, so if you're sensitive to crashes, visual glitches, or needing to save and reload regularly, I'd hold off for a few weeks/months.”
“My major criticisms are that there is not much hand-holding with exploration (which is also a plus, but be ready to get lost), and the game is a little buggy, so save often.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find the leveling system engaging and enjoyable, many criticize the repetitive combat and tedious mechanics, such as waiting for specific moon phases and the need for extensive spell memorization. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a double-edged sword, with some aspects being fun but often overshadowed by monotony and time-consuming tasks.
“I have to say I think there are a bit too many repetitive combats in this game, and the whole thing with some paths only opening when one of three moons is in a specified position was tedious. Toward the end, one area required quite a lot of waiting, and some other areas a bit of waiting.”
“Manually using abilities to scope/dig for secrets feels tedious.”
“It was tedious because I knew I was going to win each battle but had to spend the same amount of time doing it each time.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique blend of humor and serious fantasy elements, complemented by a beautiful pixel aesthetic and engaging music. Players appreciate the cool vibes, intriguing characters, and the overall immersive experience, despite some bugs and documentation issues. The atmosphere enhances the old-school turn-based dungeon crawling, making it both rewarding and mysterious.
“It really has its own unique atmosphere.”
“The game has a very cool feel to it, and I really like the music and the atmosphere.”
“This is old school turn-based dungeon crawling with a beautiful pixel aesthetic, atmosphere, and great music.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming pixel graphics and well-written, humorous dialogue, featuring amusing details like a dog carrying a torch. While the humor and light-hearted story contribute to its appeal, some players feel that the frequent trivial combats detract from the overall experience. Overall, it successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay in a detailed CRPG format.
“The dialog is funny and well written.”
“It's a CRPG, it's a turn-based tactics game, it's funny, it's charming, it's epic, and it's full of stunning pixel art (characters, monsters, environment, etc.).”
“This is a really fun CRPG with a lot of detail and humor.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as good but somewhat minimal compared to modern RPGs, with a steep learning curve for understanding its various elements. While the skill-based system offers high customization and is reminiscent of the Elder Scrolls series, the engaging world-building and compelling story keep players invested throughout the experience. Overall, the character development is supported by a fun framework that encourages exploration and tactical combat.
“Highly customizable character development, quick and engaging tactical turn-based combat, and a world exploration mechanic that utilizes unique skills and abilities to navigate the environment and discover treasure provides a fun framework to really dig into its many systems.”
“While the overarching storyline and character development are both a bit minimal by modern RPG standards, the world building and lore are very well done and kept me interested throughout the 35 hours it took me to beat the game.”
“While the overarching storyline and character development are both a bit minimal by modern RPG standards, the world-building and lore are very well done and kept me interested throughout the 35 hours it took me to beat the game.”
“The skill-based character design is similar to Elder Scrolls but with its own unusual system, and the story is compelling.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its diverse weapon types, spells, and team compositions, alongside a fun and engaging atmosphere. Its tactical depth and RPG leveling system further enhance the experience, encouraging players to revisit the game multiple times.
“The game has a nice atmosphere and cool characters, along with great replayability due to the variety of weapon types, spells, and possible team compositions.”
“Fun to play from the start; it has good tactical and strategic depth, as well as great RPG leveling depth that adds to its replay value.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The optimization of character stats has received criticism, with users expressing frustration over poorly balanced characters like Rycard and Merewen, which hinder gameplay. However, the overall performance of the game is praised for running smoothly and providing an enjoyable experience.
“Runs smoothly and is super fun all around.”
“I would love to be able to create my entire team myself, so I don't get railroaded into using the poorly optimized characters created by the developers. For example, Rycard and Merewen have such bad stats that I never know what to do with them. The backstab characters don't work and just get killed by tough melee enemies, and Merewen has inexplicably low mana and a terrible distribution of stat points.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking. Characters like Rycard and Merewen are so poorly designed that they hinder gameplay rather than enhance it.”
“It's frustrating to deal with characters that are not optimized for effective gameplay. The stat distributions are confusing and make it hard to strategize.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find "Caves of Lore" emotionally engaging, as it provides a sense of accomplishment when uncovering obscure secrets. Despite some bugs, the developer's dedication to fixing issues is seen as heartwarming, enhancing the overall emotional connection to the game.
“Caves of Lore is one of the few games that made me feel smart when figuring out an obscure secret.”
“There are lots of bugs, but the developer fixes them like a mad person, and it's heartwarming.”
