Codex Lost

About

Codex Lost is a single player open world role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Freemana and was released on November 14, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The new open world, spellcasting action-RPG. The grimoires have been stolen, civilisation is in ruins. Rise, Curator! Craft ancient elemental magics and challenge the great lords who threaten to fracture reality itself.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+13

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and creative magic system that allows for a variety of spell combinations, making combat engaging and strategic.
Exploration is rewarding with intricate level design, interconnected areas, and a sense of discovery that keeps players engaged.
Despite being developed by a single person, the game showcases impressive art direction and atmosphere, reminiscent of classic souls-like titles.

Combat mechanics suffer from poor hit detection and lack of feedback, making it difficult for players to gauge when they are taking damage or successfully landing hits.
Navigation can be convoluted, with a lack of clear checkpoints and a confusing map system that detracts from the overall exploration experience.
The game is plagued by technical issues such as janky controls, performance problems, and a frustrating user interface that complicates gameplay.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The gameplay is a mix of challenging and rewarding mechanics reminiscent of the Souls series, featuring deliberate combat, RPG elements, and a focus on magic. While some players appreciate the level design and variety in encounters, others note significant issues with the interface that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers engaging combat and unique boss fights, making it a standout in the genre despite some fundamental flaws.
- “But part of what this genre ticks is the trust the player has for the developer to give them a challenging but fair experience, and reward them for it through interesting locations, creative encounters, and satisfying gameplay.”
- “The gameplay, character design, and atmosphere make it my new favorite game, and I can’t wait to keep exploring its world.”
- “Gameplay: 9/10, some of the best mage gameplay out there for games, especially for soulslikes.”
- “I really wish I could give this game a positive rating, because it's got a lot of things going for it (the level design and enemy design is on par with From's), but there are fundamental issues with both the gameplay and interface that completely ruin the game feel and make it hard to enjoy the good bits.”
- “The game combat mechanics are mostly oriented toward magic.”
- “The close combat mechanic works like Dark Souls; you can attack and defend yourself with a spell shield, and with good timing, you can parry.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with some praising its distinct art style and impressive lighting, resulting in attractive character and monster designs. However, inconsistencies in UI element sizes and readability issues detract from the overall visual experience, alongside criticisms of post-processing effects that fail to mask underlying visual flaws. Overall, while the art style is appreciated, it is marred by functional shortcomings in certain areas.
- “It also has a distinct art style, not relying on dark fantasy.”
- “The art style feels almost vintage in a way and works well.”
- “The game’s art style and lighting design are fantastic.”
- “Many other UI elements also have inconsistent sizes, often with a combination of too large visual graphics (e.g. equipment icons) matched with too small text that is additionally hard to read thanks to the stylish font.”
- “You got your typical Unreal Engine post-processing garbage that tries to mask the horrid visuals.”
- “Unfortunately, the most enjoyable part of most souls games is where this game fails the most - combat: the accuracy/reliability of hit boxes, the varying move sets and weapon types, etc.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The music in the game is generally praised, with many reviewers highlighting its effectiveness in enhancing the atmosphere and excitement during boss fights. While some players initially perceive the music as minimal, they come to appreciate its role as ambient sound that contributes to the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, complementing the game's graphics and voice acting.
- “All of the bosses are very different to fight with unique mechanics, and soundtracks that get your blood pumping.”
- “Unfortunately, the most enjoyable part of most Souls games is where this game fails the most - combat: the accuracy/reliability of hit boxes, the varying move sets and weapon types, etc. Instead, you take a basic melee spell that doesn't cost mana (so you can still cast it if you're out of mana) and you just kind of spam it all the time as your would-be 'light combo,' which is really disappointing. The game delivers to a reasonable degree almost everywhere else (price, graphics, music, voice acting, shortcuts, challenging areas/enemies, and so on).”
- “People who complain about music, as an element that seems non-existent, do not understand the usefulness of ambient music.”
- “The music is a huge plus, and I personally liked the voice acting.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the absence of checkpoints, which forces them to repeatedly traverse areas and defeat the same enemies after each death. This design choice detracts from the sense of exploration and enjoyment, leading to a frustrating experience reminiscent of overly punishing souls-like games.
- “The lack of checkpoints leads to a lot of run backs, making the game somewhat tedious and killing that sense of exploration.”
- “Game from the dev camp that thinks souls games need to be tedious, unrewarding experiences.”
- “I don't want to have to slowly trudge through an area killing every single enemy in sight every time I die; it's just tedious.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
Codex Lost features a hauntingly dark atmosphere, where effective use of shadows and lighting enhances immersion and creates a moody experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to make dark areas genuinely feel ominous, contributing to a sense of tension that is particularly appealing to fans of the soulslike genre. Overall, the art style and atmospheric design are highlighted as standout elements that elevate the gameplay experience.
- “Dark areas actually feel dark, and the need for light adds to the immersion, creating a moody, atmospheric experience that keeps you on edge.”
- “Unlike many games that flood every area with light, Codex Lost has a hauntingly dark atmosphere where shadows and lighting play a big role.”
- “Absolutely recommend for soulslike lovers or if you're just looking for an open world with a dark and foreboding atmosphere.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent lag, constant freezes, and significant bugs affecting performance and controls. Additionally, issues with hitbox registration and a subpar user interface further detract from the overall experience.
- “Extremely janky, laggy, and freezes constantly.”
- “Unfortunately, you will need to turn a blind eye to the buggy performance, poor hitbox registration, and subpar UI.”
- “The controls are also quite buggy.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is generally well-received, with users finding it interesting and engaging, earning an average rating of 8/10. Some suggest that incorporating more lore tablets throughout the world could enhance the exploration experience and provide deeper narrative details.
- “The story is good; I think maybe using the lore tablets more around the world to reveal more details about the story would have added to the already great exploration.”
- “The story is really interesting.”
- “Story: 8/10 - engaging enough to keep you invested.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The optimization of the game has received criticism, particularly on the Steam Deck, with users reporting buggy performance, poor hitbox registration, and a subpar user interface. Many hope that future updates will address these issues.
- “Maybe the first update is an optimization update.”
- “The performance wasn't to my liking on the Steam Deck.”
- “Unfortunately, you will need to turn a blind eye to the buggy performance, poor hitbox registration, and subpar UI.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the character development in the game, highlighting how the engaging gameplay, unique character design, and immersive atmosphere contribute to a compelling experience that encourages further exploration.
- “The gameplay, character design, and atmosphere make it my new favorite game, and I can’t wait to keep exploring its world.”