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Enclave is a single player hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Starbreeze and was released on October 4, 2013. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Enclave is a single-player historical hack and slash game with a good plot and atmospheric medieval combat. Experience two separate story-driven campaigns, playing as one of 12 character classes in over 25 detailed fantasy missions. Despite some bugs, the game boasts impressive 3D graphics, epic battles, and a touch of humor."

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73%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,227 reviews
story161 positive mentions
stability47 negative mentions

  • Engaging old-school hack-and-slash gameplay with a variety of character classes and weapons.
  • Atmospheric graphics and sound design that hold up surprisingly well for a game from 2003.
  • Dual campaigns (Light and Dark) provide replayability and different perspectives on the story.
  • Clunky combat mechanics and poor hit detection can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues, especially on modern systems, hinder overall enjoyment.
  • Linear level design with minimal exploration and repetitive objectives can make the game feel dull.
  • story
    732 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Enclave" is a straightforward fantasy narrative centered around the classic conflict of good versus evil, presented through two distinct campaigns—light and dark. While the overarching plot is simple and often criticized for being generic and lacking depth, it does offer some engaging moments and character variety, allowing players to experience the story from different perspectives. However, many reviewers noted that the storytelling is weak, with minimal dialogue and poor voice acting, making the narrative feel underdeveloped and forgettable.

    • “The story that ties these campaigns together is simple but effective, centered around the collapse of a magical rift that once divided the realms of light and darkness.”
    • “Each mission unfolds like a chapter in an epic saga, reinforced by narration and environmental storytelling rather than lengthy dialogue.”
    • “It's incredibly fun to play as both sides of the conflict, personally changing the outcome of the story and the fate of the world.”
    • “The story is pretty much just your average fantasy dribble and is totally forgettable.”
    • “The story is lackluster, the voice actors often sound like they are reading straight from the script, and the hit box is all wonky.”
    • “The story is simple; bad guys coming to kill you.. kill them before they can kill you.”
  • graphics
    444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 2003, are generally considered dated but still possess a certain charm and aesthetic appeal that resonates with players. While some reviewers note that the visuals can feel rough by modern standards, many appreciate the art style and level design, which have held up reasonably well over time. Overall, the graphics are seen as acceptable for their era, with some moments of beauty that enhance the game's dark fantasy atmosphere.

    • “I love the dark fantasy aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics, while dated by today's standards, still maintain a certain charm with impressive level design for its time.”
    • “The graphics are outstanding for such an old game, and it has a beautiful soundtrack, but the combat is really starting to show its age.”
    • “The graphics are extremely dated.”
    • “The graphics kinda suck and don't hold up at all.”
    • “The graphics are pretty outdated, since this game is old, but it is actually not bad.”
  • gameplay
    345 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring an addictive loop with familiar mechanics and some unique twists, but it suffers from dated graphics, clunky controls, and repetitive mission structures that can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and engaging combat, others find the mechanics frustrating and simplistic, leading to a lack of depth and variety. Overall, the game offers a blend of fun and frustration, appealing primarily to those who enjoy classic action RPGs despite its shortcomings.

    • “Addictive gameplay loop.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it has this mix of familiar elements and small twists that keep things from feeling stale.”
    • “If you’re looking for something that balances comfort with challenge, familiar mechanics with fresh touches, and a world that’s just fun to be in, then I genuinely think this one is worth giving a shot.”
    • “The visual fidelity and often clunky combat mechanics haven't aged gracefully, making the current experience feel decidedly lackluster.”
    • “Gameplay feels like barebones from a tech demo or something; it lacks the variety, and the core mechanics are not even good for the year it came out.”
    • “However, its clunky mechanics, poor balancing, and brutal checkpoint system make it tough for new players to enjoy.”
  • music
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the dark fantasy setting and enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's epic orchestral themes and haunting melodies, which create a captivating backdrop for both combat and exploration. While some mention occasional repetitiveness, the majority agree that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The game’s low, atmospheric soundtrack complements these visuals perfectly, creating a tone that balances dark fantasy with heroism.”
    • “The soundtrack enhances the atmosphere perfectly, creating an immersive medieval experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is surprisingly solid, with epic orchestral themes that fit the setting.”
    • “The soundtrack is lacking, with only a few songs that you keep hearing over and over, but hey, at least they're good.”
    • “None of them seem to have any personality whatsoever, and to make matters worse the musical score is incredibly generic.”
    • “The music all sounds the same.”
  • atmosphere
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Enclave" is widely praised for its immersive medieval fantasy setting, characterized by detailed environments, a captivating soundtrack, and rich lore that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a dark, heroic tone through its visuals and audio, despite some criticisms of outdated gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, drawing players into its enchanting and intense world.

    • “The game’s low, atmospheric soundtrack complements these visuals perfectly, creating a tone that balances dark fantasy with heroism.”
    • “Castles under siege, wizard mansions, lush forests with log cabins, massive structures in a volcanic land, the game has it all and it's very thick with atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is great, but what really makes this game stand out to me is the seemingly perfect blend of graphic style, sound effects, and music that all work together to create a strong atmosphere for this game.”
    • “Janky combat by modern standards, yet unforgettable atmosphere.”
    • “The visuals and atmosphere are the only strong sides.”
    • “Atmosphere, which is glorified in the trailer and the description, is as atmospheric and interesting as a generic action/adventure game of the later 90's.”
  • stability
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Players have encountered progress-breaking issues, buggy hitboxes, and inconsistent gameplay mechanics, leading to frustration and a sense of unplayability for some. While a few users noted that community patches and certain setups can improve performance, the consensus remains that the game is riddled with technical problems that overshadow its potential enjoyment.

    • “Now the technical bit, the game runs perfectly for me with no glitches. The map screen and character screens are small, but the actual gameplay fits the whole screen. I'm using Windows 10 64, Ryzen 7 3800X, 6800XT, and 32 GB RAM.”
    • “Other than a brightness glitch when changing video settings, which disappeared once I restarted the game, it runs great on elementary OS (Ubuntu 14.04 LTS).”
    • “The game runs great and with it on sale for less than a dollar, it's a steal.”
    • “The game is quite messy and buggy; in fact, even with doing whatever you can and fixing most of the bugs, there are still some progress-breaking bugs like doors getting stuck, forcing you to reset the level from the beginning.”
    • “Terrible game full of bugs and many glitches to the point where it is unplayable.”
    • “This game is a complete buggy mess with crashes, stupid collision, bad animations, super speed based on mouse movement, and other issues.”
  • replayability
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through its dual-faction system, allowing players to experience distinct campaigns from both light and dark perspectives, and to experiment with various characters and playstyles. While the gameplay can become repetitive, the ability to replay missions for collectibles and unlock new campaigns enhances its longevity. Overall, players appreciate the variety of characters and the potential for different strategies, making it a title worth revisiting despite some design flaws.

    • “This mirrored narrative approach gives Enclave more replayability than most linear action games of its time, allowing players to see the consequences of war from both sides and experiment with entirely different playstyles across multiple characters.”
    • “The game presents two distinct campaigns, allowing players to experience the story from both light and darkness perspectives, which adds nice replay value.”
    • “The character selection system also adds a bit of replayability as it's quite fun to play as each of the characters and finding which one suits your playstyle better, with different types of weapons and armor that are unlocked via the gold you collect.”
    • “While the likes of BloodRayne and Prince of Persia were backed by bigger budgets and better marketing, it was games like Enclave and MDK 2 that injected the third-person action genre with this thing called 'replay value.'”
    • “The 'coins' (money bags) are hidden so cheaply within all in all very badly designed levels that it doesn't feel like an achievement at the end of the level and doesn't really add a lot of replay value because that would require one to play a level again!”
    • “Though Enclave is without a doubt not without its flaws, it's still a very enjoyable game that offers a considerable degree of replay value.”
  • humor
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and unintentional comedy, with players finding amusement in the clunky cutscenes, cheesy dialogue, and hilariously bad voice acting. The game's physics and character interactions, such as enemies jumping off cliffs and the quirky personalities of goblins, contribute to its comedic charm, despite some moments being described as cringeworthy. Overall, while the humor may not resonate with everyone, it offers a mix of funny glitches and absurd scenarios that can be entertaining.

    • “Playing as a goblin is hilarious.”
    • “The narrative is paper-thin, told through clunky cutscenes and hilariously bad voice acting.”
    • “The enemies all have their own sometimes quite humorous personality.”
  • monetization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players initially frustrated by in-game advertisements and pop-ups that disrupted gameplay. However, many users noted that these issues have been addressed, as recent updates have removed intrusive ads, allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Overall, while there were concerns about cash-grabbing tactics, the current state of monetization appears to be improved and less intrusive.

    • “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
    • “Oh, and it has a built-in advertisement that opens your browser without your permission and shows you a newer game that the devs made.”
    • “First, they use a script to shove ads down your throat.”
  • optimization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While some players report smooth performance and good graphics on high settings, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, limited resolution options, and poor controller support. Despite some bugs being fixed, the game still feels unpolished for many users, indicating a need for further optimization.

    • “This keeps progression tangible and immediate, emphasizing player performance over grinding.”
    • “Bugs have now been fixed, and the game runs smoothly.”
    • “It's a well-managed port of a 1st & 3rd person action RPG Xbox game... to be honest, this PC version has way better optimized graphics and controls than the last one.”
    • “However, there are issues like limited resolution options, regular stuttering, poor controller support, and a tendency to crash on alt+tab.”
    • “Edit: to clarify, I mean this game isn't really optimized for PC; it crashes often and has odd controls.”
    • “It kept flickering and stuttering, even fast-forwarding through the menus so much that I couldn't even start the game.”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the focus on skill and immediate progression, others find the backtracking for resources and certain mechanics tedious. The exploration is enjoyable, but the need for grinding can detract from the overall experience, leading to feelings of anticlimax and frustration. Overall, the balance between grinding and skill-based gameplay remains a point of contention among players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This means that there is essentially no grinding!”
    • “It goes from being tedious to anticlimactic.”
    • “Grinding for stats vs actual skill and tactic in combat.”
    • “It gets tedious.”
  • character development
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in this game is largely absent, with players noting a lack of skill trees or meaningful growth for characters. While the character designs are appreciated and contribute to the game's aesthetic, the focus remains on acquiring better gear rather than evolving characters or their narratives. Overall, the game offers a mediocre fantasy story with simplistic mechanics and repetitive combat, appealing primarily to those seeking quick fun rather than deep character engagement.

    • “Although Enclave places little emphasis on character development, the game still manages to present a fairly interesting narrative, driven to a greater degree by the events of the story rather than the characters.”
    • “I also liked the character design and the feel of the game.”
    • “The character designs are rather decent.”
    • “And don't get me wrong, it was/is/will forever be enough for me, but don't come to this game hoping for any sort of character development.”
    • “There are no skill trees or character development, only gaining gold and buying better weapons between missions.”
    • “Character development is also pretty much non-existent.”
  • emotional
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of games like "Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons" and "Enclave" resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings through their storytelling and character experiences. While some titles may lack complex narratives, they still manage to deliver impactful moments that leave a lasting impression. Overall, the emotional engagement in these games is highlighted as a significant and cherished element by players.

    • “Then they made Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons—a milestone indie, emotional and beloved.”
    • “For me—and I think for a lot of people—Enclave hit something emotional.”
    • “It's beautiful and touching, but with big and bold moments too.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story feels lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments fell flat and felt forced.”
    • “The game tries to evoke feelings, but the execution is so poor that it ends up being unengaging.”
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81%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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33h Median play time
29h Average play time
18-45h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Enclave is a hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes.

Enclave is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

On average players spend around 29 hours playing Enclave.

Enclave was released on October 4, 2013.

Enclave was developed by Starbreeze.

Enclave has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Enclave is a single player game.

Similar games include Sudeki, Lords of the Fallen, Risen, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Blood Knights and others.