Elderand

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 419 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Elderand Game Cover
Elderand is an enjoyable, old-fashioned hack ‘n’ slash adventure that will challenge you without punishing you.
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"Elderand is a single-player, violence-filled hack and slash game with a wonderful gameplay and outstanding visuals. Explore a dark, Lovecraftian world and engage in brutal, skill-based combat against terrifying creatures using a variety of weapons and abilities. Customize your character and delve into satisfying Metroidvania-style exploration."

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 419 reviews
story16 positive mentions
grinding32 negative mentions
  • Elderand features excellent pixel art and a nostalgic old-school ambiance that appeals to fans of the genre.
  • The game offers a variety of character builds and customization options, allowing players to choose between different playstyles.
  • Exploration is rewarding, with many secrets to discover and a solid RPG-style leveling system.
  • The combat system is clunky and lacks responsiveness, with issues such as no invincibility frames during dodges and slow attack animations.
  • The game is relatively short and may feel grindy, especially when farming for upgrades and materials.
  • There are numerous bugs and unpolished elements, including a lack of fast travel early on and a confusing map system that doesn't allow for marking locations.
  • story78 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it convoluted, poorly communicated, and lacking depth. While some appreciate the intriguing lore and gothic aesthetics, others criticize it as generic and forgettable, often comparing it unfavorably to other titles in the genre. Overall, the narrative seems to leave much to be desired, failing to cohesively engage players despite its potential.

    • “Personally, I'm biased toward loving this genre of gameplay and story, so it was an enjoyable 7-hour experience.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and an intriguing storyline shrouded in mystery adds to the pleasure of playing this awesome game.”
    • “The story is somewhat generic, with some souls writing style, but it's good enough to keep you curious, and most of the metroidvania stuff which we are used to is present, plus a few things more.”
    • “The combat leaves a lot to be desired, there's barely any exploration for a metroidvania, and even the story is poorly written.”
    • “I'm grasping at straws trying to tie it all together, and I read every note, so I think they failed to make a coherent story here.”
    • “The story just isn't there.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally enjoyable, featuring solid mechanics, engaging exploration, and challenging boss fights, reminiscent of classic metroidvania titles. However, some players noted that the mechanics can feel clunky and repetitive, with a grindy progression system that may detract from the overall experience. While it offers a compelling mix of metroidvania and hack 'n slash elements, it lacks innovation and may not satisfy those seeking modern gameplay refinements.

    • “Great mechanics and feel, and the content that is offered is enjoyable, as well as the boss fights feeling challenging.”
    • “Feels great, requires careful gameplay, nice gear upgrades, fun fights, lots of great exploration, interesting setting.”
    • “Very good, the gameplay and progression hooked me from the start.”
    • “I also found it quite grindy, as I felt it necessary to farm materials to upgrade weapons, something that definitely ate up a few hours of my entire gameplay.”
    • “The game mechanics are pretty standard and it got a bit repetitive at the end, and I didn't have enough motivation to grind to the last few achievements.”
    • “Add to this the absolutely horrible mechanic of enemy hurtboxes, and you're left with a combat system that is frustrating as often as it is fun.”
  • graphics53 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their excellent pixel art and appealing aesthetic, contributing to a visually engaging experience. Players appreciate the beautiful environments, well-designed enemies, and fluid animations, which enhance the overall gameplay. While some reviews note minor roughness, the overall consensus is that the graphics are solid and complement the game's atmosphere effectively.

    • “Elderand is a fun metroidvania with great pixel graphics and enjoyable gameplay.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and an intriguing storyline shrouded in mystery adds to the pleasure of playing this awesome game.”
    • “The environments are aesthetically great, with spiraling cathedrals, sweeping caverns, and ruined cities.”
    • “The graphics, the weapons, and the bosses are underwhelming.”
    • “The art style is reminiscent of classic games, but it feels derivative rather than innovative.”
    • “While the graphics are cute, they lack depth and fail to create a truly immersive atmosphere.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and fitting nature, particularly highlighting the heavy metal influences and retro tunes. However, some players noted a lack of variety and cohesion, feeling that certain tracks felt out of place or became repetitive, especially during boss encounters. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-regarded, opinions vary on its memorability and consistency.

    • “Wonderful art style, great soundtrack, and some really cool monster designs also help push this one towards the top of the heap.”
    • “Music is very fitting and catchy!”
    • “The music in the game is good and upbeat, despite the grim theme, reminding us of Castlevania again.”
    • “The soundtrack is a bit of a mixed bag; however, with some good tunes that are kind of retro, there are also some metal soundtracks that feel out of place.”
    • “There's also not much variety; every single boss (even the true final boss) uses the same soundtrack, which gets stale after a while.”
    • “The music was shredding at times, so that's sick, but the story and setting were generic and underutilized.”
  • grinding34 mentions

    The grinding aspect of Elderand receives mixed reviews; while some players find it bearable and even enjoyable for farming materials and upgrades, others describe it as tedious and unnecessarily time-consuming. Many players note that grinding is essential for leveling up and enhancing equipment, with some feeling that it detracts from the overall experience, especially without efficient fast travel options. Overall, the game balances enjoyable combat with a significant grind that can become monotonous.

    • “Prohibitively grindy and unnecessary.”
    • “I also found it quite grindy, as I felt it necessary to farm materials to upgrade weapons, something that definitely ate up a few hours of my entire gameplay.”
    • “Got so boring with necessary grinding and bad controls that I couldn't bring myself to finish the game.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by cute graphics and a strong sense of immersion, enhanced by non-linear exploration that invites players to engage with the environment in a meaningful way.

    • “The game features cute graphics, creating an atmospheric experience with non-linear exploration.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game evokes frustration and nostalgia, as players express their discontent with the punishing mechanics reminiscent of old-school titles like Castlevania, where contact with enemies results in significant damage. This design choice elicits a sense of challenge but also irritation, highlighting a divide between modern gaming expectations and retro-inspired gameplay.

  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently praised, with users finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable.

  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, while the game's performance is generally solid, it is significantly marred by numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience.

  • stability2 mentions

    Players report experiencing random freezes and GPU usage spikes after extended gameplay sessions, typically around the 10-hour mark. Restarting the game temporarily resolves these issues, indicating potential stability concerns.

    • “After running the game for 10 hours, you will experience random freezes and GPU usage spikes. It's really weird, but restarting the game helps.”
    • “After running the game for 10 hours, you will experience random freezes and GPU usage spikes. It's really weird, but restarting the game helps.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Elderand offers a compelling world that encourages players to return, thanks to its engaging battle mechanics and various replayability factors. Users appreciate the game's ability to maintain interest throughout multiple playthroughs.

    • “The world of Elderand captivated me from beginning to end, and its engaging battle mechanics and replayability kept me coming back for more.”
    • “Elderand offers a rich experience that encourages multiple playthroughs, with each run feeling fresh and exciting.”
    • “The replayability in Elderand is impressive, as it allows players to explore different strategies and character builds.”
    • “The world of Elderand tickled my fancy from beginning to end, but the replayability factors felt fairly standard and didn't keep me coming back for more.”
    • “After completing the game, I found little incentive to replay it, as the story and mechanics didn't offer enough variety.”
    • “While the initial experience was enjoyable, the lack of meaningful choices and consequences made replaying the game feel redundant.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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