Eador: Genesis

About

Eador: Genesis is a single player turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Snowbird Games and was released on August 7, 2009. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Eador: Genesis is an indie strategy game with RPG elements, where you shape the world of Eador as a mighty Master. Explore, conquer provinces, and negotiate alliances while outfitting heroes with powerful items. With a vast array of customization options and a rich, immersive world, Eador offers a unique and engaging experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 162 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

graphics6 negative mentions

Eador: Genesis offers a deep and complex gameplay experience, reminiscent of classic turn-based strategy games like Heroes of Might and Magic.
The game features a rich narrative with engaging quests and a variety of tactical options, making each playthrough unique and rewarding.
Despite its dated graphics, the game has a nostalgic charm and provides countless hours of strategic gameplay, especially with the New Horizons mod.

The game suffers from significant balance issues, with the AI often cheating and making the gameplay feel unfair, especially for new players.
Many players find the user interface clunky and the lack of clear tutorials frustrating, leading to a steep learning curve.
Technical limitations, such as crashes and poor compatibility with modern systems, detract from the overall experience.

graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
72%
15%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reminiscent of the 1990s, with many users noting their charm and retro appeal despite their simplicity. While some players find the visuals lacking, they often emphasize that the depth of gameplay and strategic elements compensate for the graphical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may deter some, they do not detract significantly from the game's enjoyment for those who appreciate classic turn-based strategy.
- “The graphics are charming and timeless, music is pretty good, the UI is easy to navigate, the battles are highly tactical and the game got tons of content.”
- “Graphics and design: 7/10 (old but with a nice touch to it. All in all fitting).”
- “If you can look past the graphics, I highly recommend it for any strategy-minded players.”
- “Nice M&M Heroes copy, though one would expect better graphics and at least animated sprites in a game from 2009.”
- “Graphics are just totally outdated and moreover, RNG is totally the same bad; please don't even try to defend this horrible RNG business.”
- “It's got crappy graphics and looks like it's from 1998!”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The gameplay of Eador Genesis is praised for its depth and clever mechanics, offering a rich and engaging experience reminiscent of classic titles. While the graphics may feel dated, the core gameplay remains addictive and satisfying, with a variety of mechanics that cater to different play styles. However, some players note that the lengthy tutorial fails to adequately teach the game's complexities, and the repetitive nature of battles can detract from the overall experience.
- “Brilliant gameplay”
- “It's deep, rich, and incredibly clever with its mechanics.”
- “It's hopelessly addictive, and the exploration, combat, and questing mechanics are all very satisfying.”
- “The tutorial is ridiculously long and yet teaches you very little of the game's actual mechanics.”
- “Also the gameplay - core to indie games - was just not that fun or engaging.”
- “If I have one complaint it's that the game does a poor job at explaining anything else than the very basics and the tutorial barely scratches the surface of the real gameplay.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a mix of humor and engaging lore that enhances the strategic gameplay. Players navigate a non-linear campaign filled with colorful characters, quests, and choices that impact their ruler's relationships and kingdom development. However, some find the quest system cryptic and the objectives lacking uniqueness, which can detract from the overall narrative experience.
- “The campaign has an interesting story, there are also choices to be made, especially what kind of ruler you want to be, and the relationship you want to build with others.”
- “It has a rather long campaign full of colorful characters and a pretty non-linear story.”
- “Even the story is interesting and full of humor.”
- “You can get quests, but again there is no easily accessible quest list.”
- “The game (especially the campaign) tells a story; you have to conquer shards to gain power and influence.”
- “You have to read each event story and navigate a dialogue tree to respond to the event in some way.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with players often spending hours farming for experience points before even engaging in meaningful gameplay. Many find the process repetitive and boring, leading to frustration, while a few suggest it may appeal to those who enjoy slow-paced grinding mechanics. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall experience.
- “However, the biggest drawback is grinding for 5 hours before you even start to play the game.”
- “The best strategy is to keep grinding in every province until your hero is like a super saiyan and can take down all the enemies by himself pretty much; we're talking dozens of hours killing small fry for XP.”
- “I tried so hard to like this game, but holy cow, this is one of the most tedious and repetitive games out there.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
The music in the game evokes nostalgia with its old-school tunes, resonating well with fans of medieval fantasy themes. While some players appreciate the charming soundtrack, others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to a mixed reception overall. Ratings suggest a general consensus of around 7/10, highlighting both its appeal and limitations.
- “The nostalgia is real - medieval fantasy pixel art, good music, old-school tactical combat.”
- “The graphics are charming and timeless, music is pretty good, the UI is easy to navigate, the battles are highly tactical and the game has tons of content.”
- “The music hits all the right chords, singing to the heart of a child living in the 90's playing fantasy games for the first time.”
- “There is nothing, and you just start over, listening to the same music again and again, doing the same things again and again, with crappy graphics and somehow laggy game.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its magical and charming qualities, enhanced by a fantastic score and retro art style. Reviewers appreciate the strategic depth and imaginative elements, which contribute to an engaging and immersive experience, despite some balance issues in gameplay. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating and enjoyable, making it a standout feature.
- “Countless tactics, magical atmosphere, and light graphics only add to the general impression - the emphasis is on strategy, tactics, and your imagination!”
- “Fantastic score which fits the theme and provides a pleasant atmosphere.”
- “It's an incredibly cool game with an amazing atmosphere!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a strong point, with players appreciating the witty dialogue and the presence of a funny companion that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers consider it the best in the Eador universe for its comedic elements, alongside engaging visual descriptions and gameplay.
- “A good story with a funny companion.”
- “I have tried all later developments of the Eador universe, but this one is still the best in terms of humor, visual descriptions, and gameplay.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability due to the ability to hire different units each mission, despite having only one castle compared to others in the genre. Players find it charming and engaging, contributing to its overall replay value.
- “There is only one castle (not 7 like in Heroes III), but you can hire new units each mission you start, such as centaurs, orcs, goblins, and elves. The game has high replayability value.”
- “This is a very charming game with a lot of replay value.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for being clunky and poorly executed, with users reporting issues such as animation bugs and audio stuttering that require unconventional fixes like underclocking the CPU. Overall, it appears to be a less refined update compared to its predecessor, Genesis.
- “It's basically a clunkier update to Genesis, where other than the newer poorly optimized engine and clunky UI, they're pretty much the same, so I recommend this cheaper version.”
- “The only way to solve the animation bugs and the audio stuttering is to put my computer in power saver mode and underclock the CPU.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, particularly when participating in hot seat matches, which foster a sense of connection and camaraderie. The tutorial is recommended to enhance understanding and appreciation of the game's emotional depth.