Cube World

40%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,641 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • grinding
Cube World Game Cover
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Cube World is a voxel-based adventure game with a focus on exploration and combat. Players can create their own unique characters, embark on quests, and discover exotic landscapes filled with creatures, treasures, and mysteries. With a variety of weapons, spells, and skills to choose from, Cube World offers a rich and immersive open-world experience.

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Reviews

40%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,641 reviews
gameplay95 positive mentions
grinding189 negative mentions
  • The graphics and art design are amazing.
  • The gear system has improved from the alpha version, offering a variety of weapons for each class.
  • The game can be extremely fun if played with friends.
  • The region locking system makes all equipment useless when entering a new area, leading to frustrating gameplay.
  • The leveling system is terrible, relying on collecting artifacts that provide minimal stat increases.
  • The game feels unfinished and lacks meaningful updates since its release.
  • gameplay440 mentions

    The gameplay of Cube World has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players expressing disappointment over the removal of core mechanics from the alpha version, such as leveling systems and meaningful progression. The introduction of region-locked items has been particularly criticized, as it forces players to restart their gear collection upon entering new areas, leading to a repetitive and grindy experience. While some players appreciate the game's art style and combat mechanics, the overall consensus is that the gameplay feels shallow and lacks the depth and engagement expected from an RPG.

    • “The actual mechanic of killing things and looting random armor from them is great!”
    • “This game has such a unique continuous play system that has completely astounded me and I love the craft, style, and mechanics of it all.”
    • “The gameplay is nice, exploring is nice.”
    • “The gameplay is boring and it feels unfinished.”
    • “Unfortunately, it comes down to one single mechanic that managed to destroy any strand of hope and fun the game had.”
    • “The gameplay loop is frustrating and doesn't give you any real benefits.”
  • story341 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players noting that it feels directionless and repetitive. While there are numerous quests available, they often lack meaningful narrative connections and tend to follow a formulaic structure, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, players express a desire for a more engaging storyline and better quest variety to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “A lot of times I will speak to someone and they will add a quest to the map for an item to get or someone to save, or even just a rumor they heard, and it feels very dynamic, not just 'oh here's a quest, check it off, here's your reward.'”
    • “There's also quite a nice bit of story to explore.”
    • “Cube world is an open world adventure game, where you travel and quest through zones to try to piece together knowledge about the world, and overall just help the population from evil that is around the lands.”
    • “There's a lack of story and a feel of progress which are key in a game like this; the only real objective you can have is collecting all pets in the game.”
    • “The quests are boring and do not add to a story or lore behind the world; they are just tasks that oftentimes do not reward you enough for the effort.”
    • “Cube World doesn't seem to have a story at all, and what's worse is it will sometimes throw a story element at you randomly that is just downright confusing.”
  • grinding191 mentions

    The grinding aspect of Cube World has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and unfulfilling due to the region-locked gear system that renders hard-earned items useless in new areas. While some enjoy the grind as part of the exploration experience, others feel it detracts from the game's potential, leading to repetitive gameplay and a lack of meaningful progression. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant flaw, making the game less enjoyable for those who prefer a more rewarding and less monotonous experience.

    • “The game's concept of not relying heavily on farming and instead focusing on completing regions by defeating bosses to obtain artifacts is quite good and creative compared to other games that require endless grinding.”
    • “I really miss a leveling feature that allows you to get stronger, as the current gameplay revolves around climbing trees and battling three-star enemies with only one-star items, which often leads to needing help from powerful NPCs.”
    • “The game's grinding mechanics are absolutely terrible; it region locks items unless you just happen to find an item that can bypass borders.”
    • “You can spend a dozen hours grinding out the perfect set with just the stats you want, but if you cross an invisible boundary, you might as well have nothing equipped.”
    • “Cube World was a game that could have been amazing, especially in its early beta days; however, unless you like grinding for essentially no progression, and having it reset at each new zone, I cannot recommend this game in its current state.”
  • graphics97 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming voxel art style and vibrant aesthetics, which many players find appealing and nostalgic. However, some reviews note that while the visuals are impressive, they lack depth and complexity compared to other titles, leading to a perception of the game as visually attractive but ultimately shallow in content. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, though opinions vary on their execution and the game's overall substance.

    • “The graphics are amazing and the art and design is great.”
    • “The art style is wonderful, and the few differences between the alpha and full release are pleasant.”
    • “The art style of the game and the landscape are both incredibly appealing and satisfying to explore and look at, ranging from massive mountains to dense forests or frost-covered tundras!”
    • “This game's riddled with lots of graphical bugs and gameplay in my experience is more like a game prototype than a completed game.”
    • “Graphics: 6/10 (okay if you like the pixelated aesthetic, but lacks any sort of depth or shading, much worse than Minecraft, Terraria, or Starbound for instance.)”
    • “I had all of the graphics settings all the way down, and I only get 3 fps with nothing else open, my computer is above the minimum spec and this is what I get, also the options button is jank.”
  • music79 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the exploration experience, with many reviewers noting its beautiful and well-composed soundtrack that fits various biomes. However, some players feel that the tracks can become repetitive over time, leading to fatigue after extended play sessions. Overall, while the music is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm, there are calls for more variety to keep it fresh.

    • “The music is fantastic and the visuals are superb.”
    • “The game is really fun, the graphics are very nice, the music is beautiful, you can pet almost everything, and it's probably even more fun with friends!”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and there is no point to listen to music outside the game, since the one in the game is calm and relaxing, nicely fitting the game.”
    • “Since the music in this game, while not sounding bad at first, starts giving you a headache after around 30 minutes.”
    • “Every song sounds the same with slight changes or one different instrument.”
    • “- the music in those 'woods' regions is depressing and sad.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the innovative systems and potential for endless play, while others criticize it for being stale and overly reliant on forced mechanics like region locking. Many feel that the game lacks the depth and enjoyment found in its alpha version, leading to a perception of limited replay value despite its attempts to encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, while some players find it enjoyable and worth revisiting, others believe it falls short of delivering a truly engaging replay experience.

    • “So many people have dissed on this game, that it has encouraged people to not purchase the game, this game is great, it has loads of replay value, and it's a great game to play to pass the time and to hang out with friends on.”
    • “A lot of games nowadays are £40+ and give me 8 hours and that is literally it, this game has infinite replay value and I appreciate it.”
    • “And if you're like me and you just like games that allow you to run around for hours with your friends and have tons of replayability, this is it for me.”
    • “While it was a fun game to play with your friends, it didn't have much replay value to it.”
    • “There are differences between repetitive and replayable, and Cube World leans into repetitive rather than replayable.”
    • “Very clever, making the game 'replayable' by forcing the player to start over again at nothing with minimal buffs so they continue to play.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance on high-end PCs, while others experience severe stuttering and frame drops, particularly in certain areas. Many users express frustration over ongoing optimization issues, suggesting that the game feels poorly optimized overall, especially given the long development time. Despite some positive remarks about the graphical engine and world generation, the consensus indicates that significant improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Performance-wise, it is quite polished.”
    • “Optimization - this entire, massive game is a nineteen second download on my computer, and it runs like a charm, even though the world (which is all already mapped, by the way), has an essentially infinite stretch of discrete distance.”
    • “Game runs smoothly and multiplayer works well.”
    • “Nothing can save Cube World, even the mod creators (God bless their hearts) can't undo the issues that this game has. It's poorly optimized, boring, grindy, and has no goal.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized, dropping to 1.5 seconds per frame in some areas.”
    • “The game won't even run; it's so poorly optimized that rendering new terrain can take minutes.”
  • monetization27 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been overwhelmingly criticized by users, who describe it as a blatant cash grab with minimal content and depth. Many reviewers express disappointment in the developers for prioritizing profit over quality, citing a lack of updates and meaningful improvements since its initial release. Overall, the sentiment reflects a strong belief that the game exploits nostalgia for financial gain rather than delivering a worthwhile experience.

    • “The Cube World trilogy - not so subtle, but at least it's not filled with microtransactions, so props to them.”
    • “It's truly a shame to see what this game has become: a literal cash grab. The game was infinitely better in 2013, and I will never forget that masterpiece, but this is horrible—a repetitive, boring mess.”
    • “This is just a cash grab by the developers that gives you not much content until it just repeats itself over and over again.”
    • “To unsuspecting buyers, just be warned that this game is likely a cash grab. Spend your money wisely, unlike me.”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it hilarious when playing with friends, as shared experiences often lead to funny moments and unexpected outcomes. However, some users feel the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain aspects of the game not landing well, leading to frustration rather than laughter. Overall, the game shines in its comedic potential when enjoyed in a social setting, but may fall flat for solo players or those expecting a more polished comedic experience.

    • “It's hilarious to see some people still think the developer just bailed out on this game for the money when he has to deal with his own wife being bedridden 99% of the time; hell, he probably uses a good amount of that money to help her get well.”
    • “Spent 30 mins in the dark and accidentally hit 'F', realized I had a lantern, tried to give a beetle an epileptic fit, ate mushrooms, found more mushrooms, had onions and mushrooms, felt like I was on a drug trip when I saw sentient berries and vegetables (probably the mushrooms), found gloves, wooo, had 807 HP, felt confident, found a lake, realized I could drown, proceeded to drown to get home, managed to kill the weapon vendor NPC, went boss hunting, brought the boss back to town, got aided by a local pig, sheep, and dog; funny to watch a boss get beaten up by them, got a sick chest plate, realized I played 7 hours straight, found out that this is a good game.”
    • “Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing, but it's fun; the constant exploration and trying not to die to everything is funny in its own way. I enjoy just casual gaming, and this is it, man—just running around without a single care. With friends, it's even better, and there is an actual story; it just takes time to understand because the world is so large you need to find clues and stuff—convoluted, but fun. P.S. no tutorial, so have fun figuring everything out, lmao.”
    • “This game is like a not funny joke; strongly not recommended to buy this crap.”
    • “It's not funny without friends.”
    • “Not funny, didn't laugh.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with many players expressing deep disappointment over its perceived decline from a once-promising project to an underdeveloped and abandoned title. Some reviewers share nostalgic feelings and heartbreak over the game's changes, while others find enjoyment and fun in the current version, suggesting that emotional connections to the game vary widely among players. Overall, the emotional landscape is characterized by a blend of nostalgia, disappointment, and a desire for the game's original charm.

    • “I had a nostalgia attack and wanted to play the game again after not touching it for a good 3-4 years.”
    • “I played the beta and honestly I want to cry; it would have been my number one game for years on end, and it's so sad to see it go this way.”
    • “You could not believe the surprise and anger I felt; I have never written a review in my life, this being my first one because this game has a special emotional connection to me.”
  • stability17 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of glitches and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay, both in single-player and online modes. While some players appreciate the game's potential and development efforts, many agree that it requires substantial polish and fixes to be considered playable. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently too buggy, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “In conclusion, this game has a lot of personality, it's really well developed, runs great, works nicely, and looks amazing.”
    • “The concept is there, but as of now it is just too buggy to be playable.”
    • “While gameplay is fun and somewhat engaging, there are several glitches with online play that interfere with battles (sometimes even singleplayer is glitchy).”
    • “The game was very buggy and not friendly to new players starting out.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful visuals and enchanting soundtrack, which enhance the overall experience and create a vibrant world. While some players feel the atmosphere may lose its charm over time, many appreciate the lively environment and engaging gameplay that contribute to a captivating experience. Overall, the combination of music, colorful settings, and immersive elements makes the atmosphere a standout feature.

    • “Beautiful looking game with an atmospheric, well-composed soundtrack enchanting your every activity, which simply leaves you in awe with how well everything works even on slower devices.”
    • “The new quest system is absolutely brilliant, the game is even more lively and atmospheric than before, and I personally like the concept of artifacts.”
    • “The perhaps biggest charm of Cube World is the atmosphere it creates.”
    • “It's a recommendation for me solely because the soundtrack, atmosphere, mounts, gameplay, general control scheme, etc. all feel really good.”
    • “Atmosphere, music, gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
5-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 49 analyzed playthroughs

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