Drova: Forsaken Kin

Drova: Forsaken Kin is a deep experience that feels enjoyable whether you're jumping in for an hour, or five.

84%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

94% User Score Based on 4,447 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

Drova: Forsaken Kin is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Just2D and was released on October 15, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Drova is a pixel art role-playing game inspired by classic role-playing games. We want to create a challenging and interesting world and offer a well-rounded and consistent gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,447 reviews

story742 positive mentions

grinding85 negative mentions

Engaging exploration with a richly crafted world full of secrets and lore.
Challenging combat that rewards skill and strategy, providing a satisfying sense of progression.
Well-written story and characters that create an immersive experience.

The game can be punishingly difficult at the start, leading to frustration for some players.
Lack of quest markers and detailed guidance can make navigation confusing and tedious.
Some players may find the combat repetitive and lacking in depth as the game progresses.

story
2,148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story in "Drova: Forsaken Kin" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth, engaging characters, and the meaningful impact of player choices on the narrative. While some critiques highlight moments of forced linearity and vague quest directions, the overall experience is enriched by a richly crafted world that encourages exploration and discovery. The game successfully combines traditional RPG elements with a compelling storyline, making it a notable entry for fans of the genre.
- “I really like the story, and the fact that the choices you make actually affect the gameplay is even better!”
- “What I especially liked is how the story lets you carve your own path; it focuses on interaction, decisions, and exploration.”
- “The story is well-crafted, full of highs and lows, and for the most part preserves the illusion of player choice.”
- “Despite how jank this game is, how mediocre the story is, and how obviously it wears its 'inspirations' on its sleeves, it's a fine enough game and was fun to play.”
- “The story isn't hyper original, but it's fairly well executed.”
- “The story is very mundane, and hence boring.”
gameplay
552 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The gameplay of "Drova" has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, fluid combat, and rewarding exploration reminiscent of classic RPGs like the Gothic series. While some found the combat challenging and satisfying, others noted issues with repetitiveness and clunky mechanics, particularly in later stages. Overall, the game offers a rich experience with a strong emphasis on player choice and character progression, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its difficulty and certain design choices.
- “Nothing feels like filler; even crafting, which in most games is a chore, here integrates smoothly into the gameplay loop.”
- “The result is a fluid and rewarding experience where mechanics complement each other instead of dragging things down.”
- “The atmosphere, the gameplay, and the feeling of progression keep it engaging all the way through.”
- “A beautiful 2D pixel ARPG absolutely marred by clunky mechanics, horrible writing, and poor decision making.”
- “Unfortunately, the pacing is completely off and towards the end of the game, it's fairly clear the developers just got lazy and eschewed any new mechanics and instead just decided to throw numbers at you to raise the difficulty.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, and the map itself is very well designed, but the dialogues are poorly written.”
graphics
422 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The graphics of "Drova: Forsaken Kin" are characterized by a charming and beautifully crafted pixel art style that resonates with fans of classic RPGs. While some players initially express skepticism towards the pixel aesthetic, many find it grows on them, enhancing the game's immersive atmosphere and complementing its gothic themes. Overall, the visuals are praised for their detail and consistency, contributing to a nostalgic yet engaging experience, though opinions vary on the appeal of pixel graphics itself.
- “Drova's graphical presentation might not be realistic or sophisticated, but it's nonetheless a pretty game.”
- “The pixel graphics are charming and the exploration has me hooked!”
- “Drova’s world is a feast for the eyes, with gorgeous graphics that perfectly complement its dark, Celtic-inspired atmosphere.”
- “While the 2D graphics are nostalgic, hand-crafted, and clearly made with love, you will routinely find yourself body blocked, bumping into invisible objects, and having to spend 3/4 of your playthrough holding the right mouse button to 'scan' the environment and remove the clutter, which very quickly becomes a tedious chore.”
- “The graphics are subpar and all the characters look very similar; it's just boring to look at.”
- “Despite its initial promise of dark aesthetics and pixel art charm, the game is plagued by critical flaws that make it a chore to play.”
music
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly in creating a gothic or immersive vibe. While some players find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for various settings, others note a lack of variety and occasional repetitiveness, suggesting that it could benefit from more uplifting tracks in safe areas. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong complement to the game's visuals and narrative, contributing significantly to its charm and atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is the first thing that stands out - driven by outstanding sound design and music.”
- “Drova truly excels at crafting an interesting story, and the variety of breathtaking environments and excellent music makes you experience emotions ranging all the way from calm and tranquility, to excitement and wonder, to anxiety and dread.”
- “The music, the art style, the characters... I loved it.”
- “The soundtrack could've been better; there are moments where the silence works brilliantly and becomes scary, but it would be nice to have some uplifting music in safe places.”
- “It barely has any music, and when it does, it is completely unremarkable.”
- “The only thing missing for me is more variety in the soundtrack - it gets a bit old after a while, and some of the tracks sound similar to each other.”
atmosphere
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, driven by exceptional sound design, music, and visually stunning pixel art that evokes a dark, gothic ambiance. Players appreciate the sense of exploration and discovery within a richly detailed world, filled with lore and meaningful choices, although some note that the atmosphere can feel lifeless at times due to extensive backtracking. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of classic RPGs while creating a unique and engaging experience that resonates with fans of atmospheric storytelling.
- “The atmosphere is the first thing that stands out - driven by outstanding sound design and music.”
- “The atmosphere, the world, and the sense of progression are simply immaculate.”
- “The atmospheric world design, moody soundscapes, and lore-rich environments draw you in and don’t let go.”
- “The atmosphere tries to be gritty but it falls a little flat.”
- “Drova is like Gothic where the entire dark and grim atmosphere is removed.”
- “I was mesmerized by the atmosphere, but the story wasn't blowing me away.”
grinding
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience, with many players finding the early stages tedious due to weak combat and slow progression. While some appreciate the depth of exploration and story expansion through grinding, others criticize the repetitive nature of combat and the frustrating traversal mechanics, leading to a sense of tedium. Overall, the game offers a blend of engaging elements and frustrating grind, making it a polarizing aspect for players.
- “There is no grinding a zone in order to be strong enough for the next zone-- if you stumble across an area or boss that is too difficult, that means you need to go explore other parts of the game to build up experience, better gear, and/or stronger abilities first-- but with that Dark Souls twist that allows people to visit hard areas very early on regardless because they've mastered the dodge system.”
- “You do end up being quite overpowered, but in the midgame, particularly chapter 2, it can be a bit grindy.”
- “But after 10+ hours of running around, I just find the whole thing tedious and repetitive.”
- “The game really fell off after this and started to feel tedious.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending hilariously janky gameplay with witty dialogue and quirky character interactions that often elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the clever writing and amusing animations, which enhance the overall charm, though some feel that the humor can occasionally undermine serious moments. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with engaging quests and a rich narrative, making for a memorable experience.
- “Incredibly well-written quests and characters, the world feels very alive and I found myself chuckling and baffled at many points throughout my adventures.”
- “The humor is well placed, the combat fun, story line interesting, and lots of hidden stuff to find.”
- “I expected an ARPG, then got blindsided by the humorous branching dialogues that force you to take sides all the time.”
emotional
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The emotional aspect of the game has resonated deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and strong feelings reminiscent of classic RPGs like Gothic and Fallout. While some found the writing and overarching narrative lacking, many praised the game's ability to create meaningful emotional connections through its characters, quests, and atmospheric storytelling, leading to moments of genuine joy and sadness. Overall, players appreciated the emotional roller coaster the game provided, making them feel invested in the outcomes and experiences of the characters.
- “Meaningful progression alongside an emotionally investing story while you explore a grounded and believable fantasy open world full of danger and mysterious ruins from a bygone age.”
- “Absolutely fantastic game, you can feel the effort the devs put in and the depth of quests and characters truly made me feel immersed and I really cared about the outcomes of characters/story.”
- “The main story of the game is not a revelation in terms of writing and you might find some of the twists (or lack thereof) questionable, but it raises some interesting topics and succeeds in making you emotionally invested in this adventure.”
- “The lore is pretty rich, which makes the incredibly boring storyline a major disappointment.”
- “Short, linear game with a boring story.”
replayability
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The game offers significant replayability through its diverse faction choices, multiple endings, and varied character builds, allowing players to experience different narratives and gameplay styles. While some players find the grind and lack of respawning enemies limit replay potential, many appreciate the depth of decision-making and exploration that encourages multiple playthroughs. Overall, the combination of branching paths, unique questlines, and scaling difficulty contributes to a robust replay value.
- “The game has solid replayability – I’m already looking forward to another run on insane + iron mode with a new weapon, and maybe even a hardcore playthrough later on (both added in a free patch, which is also worth praising).”
- “Factions play a huge role here too, and choosing your allegiance changes how the world interacts with you, adding a dynamic layer of replayability.”
- “The story is captivating once you decide what you want to do and offers multiple vastly different ways to approach it, allowing for great replayability.”
- “Zero replayability: enemies don't respawn, traders don't restock, plants and resources don't grow again. Also, decent armor and weapons are locked by the worst system possible by joining a faction, which makes you miss quests if you don't want to struggle against enemies with weak gear. Additionally, there's no New Game Plus, which is a must-have in a game like this.”
- “I finished the game after 40 hours doing all I could in one run. You can't join both factions in the same game, so there is replayability, but it also means you don't get all the options in one run.”
- “There's a limited number of enemies in the game (these don't respawn), so there's a soft cap on how much you can level your character. You end up not being able to fully build your skillset if you make any mistake along the way, and I don't feel like this game has the replayability to justify that.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is generally well-received, with many players reporting a smooth experience and minimal bugs, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck. However, some users have noted occasional freezing and glitches, especially in specific areas like the inventory menu, and a few have experienced issues with quest progression. While the game is mostly polished, there are still minor bugs that developers are actively addressing.
- “The game runs great, no issues, no bugs, just perfect.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck out of the box.”
- “I cringe that I have to mention it, but the game is pretty much bug free at release and I'm very pleasantly surprised by it.”
- “The world freezes after actions.”
- “Even though the game engine is generally very good, it freezes now and then for a second or two (fast SSD, 32MB RAM), which is a bit underwhelming for a 2D game.”
- “Way too buggy to be out of early access.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on low-spec devices like the Steam Deck and has received performance patches, players report frequent frame rate drops, stuttering, and bugs on other platforms. Some areas, particularly in the end game, severely impact performance, but overall, many users find it well-optimized and polished, especially on mid-range PCs. Despite some rough edges, the game is generally recommended for its performance and responsiveness to player feedback.
- “The game’s low-spec requirements and excellent performance on devices like the Steam Deck are an added bonus, making it an easy recommendation for on-the-go gaming.”
- “On the Steam Deck, it runs smoothly and delivers a flawless gaming experience.”
- “Not a single bug experienced, great performance, and developers that listen to player feedback and publish patches accordingly.”
- “It's not without rough edges, even after patches (including performance tweaks and content drops through early 2025).”
- “There are occasional performance hiccups and bugs—NPCs stuck in place, hit detection failing, or environmental assets clipping awkwardly.”
- “Frequent frame rate drops, stuttering, and loading delays mar the experience.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
Character development in the game is praised for its simplicity and effectiveness, allowing players to feel a genuine connection to their characters without the grind often found in other RPGs. The system is intuitive and classless, providing meaningful choices that impact gameplay and narrative, while the immersive world and compelling storyline enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention limitations in character creation and conflicting writing, suggesting that while the development is engaging, it could benefit from more depth and variety.
- “Coupled with a compelling storyline and character development, Drova offers a truly immersive experience that will keep you invested for hours.”
- “The character development of the NPCs is superb, and wherever you find yourself, it feels organic and never forced or out of place.”
- “With a return to the old formulas of the RPG genre, a beautifully composed soundtrack, the freedom to explore the lovingly designed world of Drova, tangible character development and decisions with scope and consequences, this game does everything right and thus offers additional replay value.”
- “There's just a lot that feels weird and limited with character creation, and character development and building.”
- “Definitely 'you're not the chosen one but you choose to be the one' kind of character development.”
- “There's not much in terms of stealth/stealing/lockpicking gameplay, there are no classes and no branching skill trees for character development, but whatever - these aspects are made simple and they work just fine.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game is praised for its lack of monetization strategies, such as microtransactions and loot boxes, allowing players to enjoy a pure gaming experience focused on exploration and storytelling. Reviewers appreciate the game's commitment to artistry over profit, highlighting its dedication to providing a fulfilling single-player experience without the distractions of typical monetization tactics.
- “Playing this game brings me back to when making games were an art form, not a monetization strategy.”
- “No microtransactions.”
- “I had my fill of Path of Exile and was waiting for Path of Exile 2, burned out on microtransactions and the grind of Lost Ark, and was looking for a truly beautiful single-player game to dive into.”
- “Playing this game brings me back to when making games was an art form, not a monetization strategy.”
- “Thank you for creating something like this in a mass of microtransactions and all other bad stuff that ruin games.”
- “A game made with love and passion and not as a cash grab.”