ELDERBORN

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,288 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
ELDERBORN Game Cover
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Elderborn is a single-player, fantasy hack and slash game with brutal first-person melee combat and souls-like/RPG progression. Immerse yourself in its dense atmosphere, featuring fantastic game mechanics, awesome graphics, and an amazing soundtrack. Despite some grinding and bugs, Elderborn offers a good plot and hilarious moments for fans of the genre.

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Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,288 reviews
gameplay93 positive mentions
stability17 negative mentions
  • Engaging and satisfying melee combat that feels fluid and responsive.
  • Great heavy metal soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Interesting level design with a mix of linear and open areas, encouraging exploration.
  • The game is quite short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete.
  • Some enemy attacks can feel unfair and lead to frustrating moments.
  • The final chapter feels rushed and lacks a proper boss fight.
  • gameplay296 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by a solid and engaging combat system that combines elements from various genres, notably first-person melee mechanics reminiscent of "Doom" and "Dark Souls." Players appreciate the tight controls, satisfying parry mechanics, and a variety of weapons, although some find the RPG elements and enemy variety lacking. While the game is relatively short, its fast-paced and frenetic gameplay loop keeps players entertained, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of action-oriented titles.

    • “The gameplay is hitbox-based melee like Vermintide; it has all of the mechanics you would expect from a modern melee game, and they are tight.”
    • “The combat is like the best parts of Doom and Dark Souls, and it feels great. It has to be some of the best first-person melee combat I have ever felt.”
    • “The core gameplay loop, where you're a dude or dudette whacking the shit out of a bunch of goons with varied and interesting weapons, is very, very fun and rewarding.”
    • “However, you will also be spending half of that gameplay wandering maze-like stages with only a vague idea of where to pull a lever or insert a key.”
    • “If I can ignore 90% of your gameplay systems and play it brain-dead, your game is fundamentally broken.”
    • “Not very often do I come across a game where all the mechanics are poorly implemented, yet the game has a 'very positive' rating.”
  • music288 mentions

    The music in "Elderborn" has received widespread acclaim for its heavy metal soundtrack, which enhances the game's fast-paced melee combat and overall atmosphere. Many players appreciate how the music complements the action, creating an adrenaline-pumping experience reminiscent of classic titles like "Doom." However, some critiques mention that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, though it remains a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment.

    • “The soundtrack is superb and probably one of my new favorites.”
    • “The music enhances the combat experience so much; if they chose another genre of music, I think the game's experience would not have been as enjoyable.”
    • “Great combat, fantastic art design, and an adrenaline-pumping heavy metal soundtrack to accompany the barbarian brutality; what's not to love?”
    • “The music lacks personality and gets very grating very fast.”
    • “For a game that sells itself as 'metal af', I was expecting a lot more than the phoned-in, generic soundtrack.”
    • “Its metal soundtrack isn't as powerful or intense as it could be, leaving many moments feeling flatter than they should.”
  • story164 mentions

    The story in "Elderborn" is generally considered simplistic and underdeveloped, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players found the lore and setting intriguing, many noted that the narrative felt rushed and lacked depth, with most of the storytelling conveyed through codex entries and brief cinematics. Overall, the game is not story-driven, but it offers enough context to enhance the experience without detracting from the action.

    • “The story is interesting although a little absent.”
    • “The story is there; it's a plot for a violent fantasy game.”
    • “The story and world are interesting and I feel could be expanded further in a sequel.”
    • “The story failed to draw me in at first; it seemed like the classic paper-thin plot.”
    • “I found the story to be really bland--I wasn't expecting much--but Elderborn seems to think it's really clever.”
    • “The story is definite 'meh' and the voice acting, for the female character at least, is laughably bad.”
  • graphics102 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising its striking art style and aesthetic reminiscent of 80s heavy metal and classic games, while others criticize the inconsistency in texture quality and janky animations. Many players appreciate the overall visual appeal and unique design, but note that the graphics can feel dated or lack polish, particularly in certain areas. Overall, while the visuals may not reach AAA standards, they are often described as charming and fitting for the game's indie nature.

    • “The game has an incredibly striking art style too.”
    • “Amazing graphics and amazing mechanics.”
    • “Elderborn takes the aesthetic of good old sword & sorcery, injects it with heavy metal and sci-fi, and gives it a beautiful stylized look.”
    • “However the game lacks much polish, the animations can be very janky especially the chapter 1 boss, the graphics and textures range from competent to abysmal (main offenders are metal floor and wall textures in chapter 2), janky hitboxes and some enemies are just 'why' (mainly looking at you, scorpions).”
    • “The visuals are unpolished and make the game look older than it is, and there is a lot of jank in general.”
    • “Graphics are a disappointment, about the same as Skyrim before the HD remaster.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and darkly captivating qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and impressive art direction. While many players appreciate the lore and environmental design, some note that the game can feel empty at times, particularly in later acts. Overall, the combination of atmospheric elements and engaging combat creates a compelling experience that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “The atmosphere and art direction is also really great for this game and that caused me to pause and just look at the landscapes a lot.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game is really nice and puts you in this dark, dilapidated world where only your sword and other weapons are your friends.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is amazing, I felt really immersed in the environment.”
    • “The story and atmosphere seems a bit lacking.”
    • “In act II, the atmosphere disappears and the gameplay doesn't feel as crisp due to a lot of 'rusher' type enemies.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is more in line with the Souls universe, let down a little by the voice acting and cut scenes... would prefer they removed them, but it's not a deal breaker.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as moderate to high, primarily due to the inclusion of a New Game+ mode, ironman mode, and various challenges that cater to players seeking increased difficulty and achievements. While some players find the game short, they appreciate the replay value offered through its engaging gameplay and semi-open world design. However, a few reviewers express that the game lacks significant replayability, particularly for those who do not pursue completionist goals.

    • “There's a new game+, and ironman mode, a bunch of challenges and quite hard achievements for replayability.”
    • “Maybe a bit short for some people (I finished it in one tense sitting of about 5 hours) but it has replay value due to the semi-open world feeling and new game+.”
    • “Short but sweet and replayable with new game+, challenging but fair all the way through, fun to explore due to a semi-open level design nature.”
    • “No replay value.”
    • “At that price, it's worth goofing around with, but I don't see any replay value to Elderborn.”
    • “To me, there is no replayability at all.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing minor glitches and bugs, particularly related to combat and enemy interactions, while others report smooth performance and minimal issues. Although many find the gameplay enjoyable, the presence of bugs—ranging from clipping to freezing—has led to frustrations, suggesting that the game may not be fully optimized for all platforms. Overall, while it runs well for some, the stability issues are significant enough to detract from the experience for others.

    • “As of this review, the game runs great on Linux via Proton; the only issue is that videos don't work.”
    • “This game is a lot of fun, runs great, and is good to play again too.”
    • “For example, you have the mummy that leaps at you in a smooth arc, and then you have the drowner, which literally freezes mid-air for a moment at the end of its leap before landing its attack.”
    • “All in all, this game very much feels like a Unity project, with buggy gameplay, exploits that just degrade the already easy combat, and an at-best strange design philosophy.”
    • “Really buggy and inconsistent combat.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant framerate drops and performance issues, particularly in the second act. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly in certain sections, others reported that it struggles on older or lower-end systems, leading to a less enjoyable experience. Despite ongoing developer efforts to improve optimization, many players feel that it still falls short of expectations.

    • “Performance could be better; some places in Act 2 chugged a little bit, but not enough to get me killed or ruin the game.”
    • “Wish optimization was a little better, but overall still very enjoyable.”
    • “At least the game is well optimized and presented.”
    • “Performance is fairly subpar - while the developers make consistent effort to optimize the game, there are still way too many FPS drops to simply overlook it.”
    • “Neat idea and greatly developed by most parts of the story, but it has horrible optimization, poor audio problems, and poor voice acting.”
    • “Finally, though this might just be a sign I need a better computer, I've found that performance, even on the lowest settings, to be really lacking - which is a shame, because Elderborn is clearly a game to be played at high speed with heavy metal blasting your eardrums.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be both rewarding and tedious. While the combat is enjoyable and offers a sense of progress, the necessity of grinding for levels and achievements can lead to frustration, especially with enemies respawning after death. Overall, the game provides a fun experience, but the grinding can become monotonous and detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The fact that all enemies resurrect every time you die makes the game exasperating and tedious past a certain point.”
    • “Overall the game is not that bad, but I can't recommend it due to how difficult it gets for dumb reasons to the point that it just becomes tedious.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the over-the-top physics and absurd combat mechanics genuinely funny, while others feel the humor lacks originality and depth. References to pop culture and playful wordplay, such as "jurmum," add to the comedic experience, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate lighthearted humor. Overall, while the game may not prioritize humor, it still manages to elicit laughs through its quirky elements and absurdity.

    • “You could just kick the hell out of everything and the physics were hilarious and over the top.”
    • “It's hard to tell how much of it was homage vs copying another kid's homework, but it made me laugh either way.”
    • “Just to start, I want to mention that this game makes reference to 'jurmum' quite a lot and myself being Scottish, the pronunciation sounds a lot like 'your mum', so I had an absolute ball laughing at that.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with a simplistic mastery system that offers minimal choices and little differentiation between characters. Reviewers express a desire for more complex skills, stat variations, and meaningful progression, suggesting that the current system feels more like a basic framework than a fully realized feature. While the voice acting and character design are praised, the overall character development leaves much to be desired.

    • “To me, this feels more like a proof of concept for a larger project with (hopefully) more character development in terms of additional skills and stat differentiation, and perhaps even a bit of itemization or weapon specialization.”
    • “Great game, beautiful level and character design, and epic music.”
    • “I don't feel like the mastery system and the challenges add much of anything to character development, which basically asks 'do you want attacks to do more damage, be faster, or do you want more HP?' with some useful perks in between.”
    • “The skill tree and character development might as well not even exist because they are so basic that they aren't worth mentioning - the game would be better for it, honestly.”
    • “Character development is shallow and gives you very little to look forward to.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for being a cash grab that fails to deliver on its advertised features, offering little innovation. However, a positive note is that there are no intrusive microtransactions, allowing players to experience the game as intended without additional costs.

    • “A big plus is that there are no microtransactions shoved in your face; this is a game sold as a game.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without making them feel necessary to enjoy the game.”
    • “It's just a cash grab with nothing new or interesting.”
    • “I can't recommend it largely because it doesn't live up to the advertising; it's only 'soulslike' in the most surface fashion.”
    • “Big plus is no microtransactions shoved in your face ... this is a game and sold as a game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game engaging, as the manageable length encourages them to fully immerse themselves in the content and pursue 100% achievements, fostering a sense of accomplishment and connection to the game.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
4-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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