Drova: Forsaken Kin

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,011 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Drova: Forsaken Kin Game Cover
Drova: Forsaken Kin is a deep experience that feels enjoyable whether you're jumping in for an hour, or five.
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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.

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Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,011 reviews
story134 positive mentions
grinding13 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art that enhances the immersive experience.
  • Challenging but rewarding combat system that encourages skill and strategy.
  • Engaging story with meaningful exploration and character interactions.
  • Some players find the combat clunky and frustrating, especially against multiple enemies.
  • Lack of quest markers and guidance can lead to confusion and aimless wandering.
  • The writing and dialogue can feel inconsistent and sometimes detract from the overall experience.
  • story399 mentions

    The story in "Drova" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and character development, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Gothic. However, some critiques highlight a lack of detail and coherence in certain plot points, particularly in later chapters where player agency diminishes. Overall, while the story offers intriguing twists and meaningful choices, it can feel constrained by its linear progression and vague quest guidance.

    • “The story is compelling, the two sides aren't just 'the good guys' and 'the bad guys'.”
    • “The main storyline of Drova is good enough to get the player hooked, and even when you are not doing the main quests, characters and stories of the side quests do not deviate far from the main storyline so you won’t feel disconnected.”
    • “The story is rich and really displayed a culture of peoples.”
    • “But my biggest issue is the story, which is what made me ultimately stop playing.”
    • “The story is probably the weakest part; you're on hard guard rails the whole time, there are parts of the story that just don't make sense. One minute you're forced to be one type of person and character, and the next, the complete opposite.”
    • “You might be forced to save a group, and then the next mission is to brutally murder them. Your character does not react, and you have no choice.”
  • gameplay127 mentions

    The gameplay in Drova is praised for its engaging and addictive mechanics, reminiscent of classic CRPGs like Gothic, while incorporating modern features that enhance exploration and combat. Players appreciate the challenging yet fair combat system, the absence of intrusive monetization, and the rewarding exploration that encourages immersion in the game's world. Despite some criticisms regarding the visuals and occasional clunky mechanics, the overall experience is described as fun, rewarding, and filled with secrets to discover.

    • “Difficult but fair and addictive combat mechanics.”
    • “Great gameplay, good story, and a rare sense of exploration; I enjoy it.”
    • “Drova manages to capture the feel and mood of the early Gothic titles with precision and combines it with modern gameplay that makes combat fun and tense without feeling unfair.”
    • “The game is not demanding, but there are consistent framerate drops across the entire gameplay on Steam Deck OLED.”
    • “The fight mechanics feel fuzzy and not impactful at all.”
    • “Either the gameplay loop feels weird, or it's frustratingly difficult, or it just doesn't grab my attention for a number of reasons.”
  • graphics109 mentions

    The graphics of "Drova: Forsaken Kin" are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs, particularly appealing to fans of gothic aesthetics. While some players note that the visuals may not be cutting-edge, the consistent art style and attention to detail create an immersive experience, enhancing the game's atmosphere and gameplay. Overall, those who appreciate pixel graphics and a gothic theme will find the art style both engaging and fitting for the game's narrative.

    • “The graphics of Drova are not top-notch at first glance, but it successfully brings the audience a vivid world supported by detailed small animated objects like flies around corpses, birds casting shadows from the sky, and butterflies moving around.”
    • “The pixel graphic style is very nice looking, and the whole experience so far has been very immersive.”
    • “Everything from the art style, gameplay, storytelling, and world-building is, dare I say… perfection!”
    • “The graphics are subpar and all the characters look very similar; it's just boring to look at.”
    • “At the beginning, I was quite skeptical because of the graphics.”
    • “I was a bit miffed by the character creator, which wouldn't be much of a problem with the game's graphic design anyways since... well... the faces are not really detailed.”
  • atmosphere48 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty qualities, featuring a gothic aesthetic that enhances the storytelling and exploration. Reviewers highlight the effective sound design, ambient music, and detailed world-building, which collectively create a captivating and foreboding environment. Many note that the atmosphere is not only visually stunning but also deeply engaging, making the gameplay experience feel rich and rewarding.

    • “The atmosphere and exploration, especially, are immaculately done and put a lot of other big budget RPGs to shame.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, and the music and sound highlight this to great effect.”
    • “The atmosphere the game creates is extremely convincing and gripping.”
    • “I think the atmosphere tries to be gritty but it falls a little flat.”
    • “More ambient sounds could also enhance the atmosphere further.”
    • “Without spoilers, you end up in a closed off world with a few camps/sides to choose from, NPCs with a lot of dialogue and a lot of quests to give and do, open world that doesn’t hold your hand, no quest markers, every enemy can kill you if you’re not careful, atmosphere, and combat.”
  • music39 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immersion of the experience. While some players find the soundtrack charming and fitting, others note a lack of variety and a tendency for certain tracks to feel repetitive. Overall, the sound design complements the game's gothic aesthetic, though there are calls for more upbeat tracks to improve the journey between locations.

    • “The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, and the music and sound highlight this to great effect.”
    • “The art style and music are absolutely charming with open-ended gameplay that actually makes you feel the weight of your actions and immerse you in the world.”
    • “The musical score sets the mood beautifully.”
    • “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.”
    • “I guess the only thing I don't enjoy is the music; it doesn't live up to the gothic standards.”
    • “The music could be a bit more upbeat to make the journey from place to place feel more enjoyable.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. Many feel that combat encounters are drawn out and frustrating, with enemies taking too long to defeat and offering minimal rewards, leading to a sense of monotony. While the story and quests are engaging, the overall grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “For starters, the game is too grindy; you will not get a decent weapon or gear probably until 1/3 of the game. Until then, you will have to settle for gear that's just barely slightly better than the one you had, which means you'll be doing very little damage and also taking a lot of damage. It takes a huge amount of hits to take down even the regular starting enemies in this game. For example, there are these creatures called rippers, which are dog/rats hybrids that are like your basic enemy. They take about 12-16 hits to take down at your first levels but can still take you out in 4-5 hits. Leveling up doesn't seem to do much because only at level 10 did I finally feel that I was doing some considerable damage to them. Add to this that they always come in packs of 4-6, so every single encounter with these things will take you about 10 to 15 minutes without cheesing the AI. This is true for most enemies in this game; a lot of them come in groups and can take huge amounts of damage before going down.”
    • “Hopefully you get the idea; every encounter in this game feels long and tedious. Whenever you win a battle, you don't feel like you used your wits and patience to come out on top like in a good Souls game. Rather than feeling accomplished after a tough battle, you feel frustrated mainly because it feels like you won just by pure luck.”
    • “Cheating makes it less grindy, but it's still grindy.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the hilarious side quests, quirky dialogue, and clever animations that enhance character interactions. While some feel that the abundance of humor can detract from immersion, many appreciate the engaging and varied comedic elements throughout the gameplay. The text-based storytelling and dark humor add depth, though it may not appeal to those who prefer less reading.

    • “Talk to dozens of NPCs, complete hilarious side quests, follow the engaging main storyline.”
    • “The hilarious part is that I said in that reply 'we should be allowed to talk about it' and the devs don't want us to talk about it and censor it.”
    • “Interesting plot with quirky and funny dialogue.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players have found the game to be an emotional journey, with a compelling story that features unexpected twists and heavy consequences, leading to moments of sadness and nostalgia. The impactful decisions and strategic gameplay create an immersive experience that resonates deeply, evoking feelings reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences. Overall, the game is described as an emotional roller coaster that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “The combat is simple at face value but surprisingly strategic and punishing, the story is super compelling with some incredibly emotional beats, the exploration is great, and the role-playing/decision making makes this an amazing experience that I could hardly put down.”
    • “The whole project turned out surprisingly emotional, featuring unexpected twists and surprises in the plot and isn't afraid to involve heavy consequences to the world and to its people, even though players are definitely getting hurt by that and won't enjoy it at first glance!”
    • “These choices are not few and far between either, it was definitely an emotional roller coaster.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report numerous glitches and ongoing patches, others have experienced a bug-free experience, particularly on the Steam Deck and mid-range PCs. Many players are pleasantly surprised by the game's performance, noting that it runs smoothly without significant issues.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck out of the box.”
    • “Bug free for me so far.”
    • “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.”
    • “There are lots of glitches and bugs that are still being patched as we speak.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I experienced constant frame drops and stability issues during gameplay.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized for mid-range PCs and higher, with users reporting smooth performance and no significant issues. However, there are concerns regarding its compatibility with the Steam Deck, as it has not been optimized for its controls.

    • “If you are playing on anything stronger than a Steam Deck, you won’t encounter any performance problems.”
    • “Runs great, not a demanding title, but I experienced no performance drops on a mid-range PC.”
    • “Unfortunately, I couldn’t get this game on Steam yet due to it not being optimized for the Steam Deck controls.”
    • “If you are playing on anything stronger than a Steam Deck, you wouldn’t meet any performance problems.”
    • “Beautiful and gives space to your imagination, while ensuring zero performance issues.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The game features a classless character development system that is straightforward yet satisfying, emphasizing player skill alongside character growth. While it lacks complex mechanics like stealth or branching skill trees, it offers an immersive RPG experience with engaging storytelling and concise dialogues, making the character development feel both simple and expansive.

    • “Classless character development system, quite simple but satisfying.”
    • “It's immersive from the start, giving you a full RPG experience with a cool story, short but engaging dialogues, and 'simple yet wide' character development.”
    • “There's not much in terms of stealth, stealing, or 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.”
    • “It requires both player skill and character development.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability due to its two main factions, diverse side quest outcomes, and a vast world filled with secrets, quests, and exploration opportunities. Players can experience different perspectives on the main plot and discover new elements in subsequent playthroughs, enhancing the overall replay value.

    • “Replay value with two factions to choose from, good quests, weapons, magic, and armor to find in a big map with tons of caves, ruins, and locations to explore.”
    • “With two main factions and a variety of side quest outcomes in the game, you will have some decent replayability.”
    • “This adds replayability as, although the main plot likely unfolds in a similar way, it's worth seeing the variation and how it unfolds from the opposite perspective.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of intrusive elements such as in-game shops, advertisements, or loot boxes, allowing players to focus on gameplay without distractions. Reviewers appreciate the straightforward progression system that emphasizes exploration and character development, contrasting it with the grind and microtransactions found in other titles. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing single-player experience that deserves more recognition.

    • “I was burned out on microtransactions and the grind of Lost Ark, and was looking for a truly beautiful single-player game to dive into.”
    • “I had my fill of Path of Exile and was waiting for Path of Exile 2.”
    • “I'd 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.”
    • “Truly a shame because with a little bit of advertising this game very much deserves more acclaim than it is getting (although what it is getting isn't bad at all).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

20hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
12-33hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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