Evoland

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,775 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Evoland Game Cover
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"Evoland" is an action-adventure game that pays homage to the evolution of classic RPGs. Starting from simple 2D monochrome graphics, the game progressively unlocks new technologies, art styles, and gameplay mechanics, ranging from top-down exploration to 3D action. The story, humor, and diverse gameplay make it a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for all types of gamers.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,775 reviews
gameplay177 positive mentions
grinding90 negative mentions
  • Evoland is a delightful, genre-bending romp that celebrates the history of RPGs in a unique and humorous way.
  • The game features charming retro-future visuals that blend pixelated nostalgia with modern polish, creating a unique visual experience.
  • The clever concept of evolving gameplay mechanics keeps the experience fresh and engaging for players.
  • The core gameplay for each iteration is not polished, making it difficult to recommend to people.
  • There are persistent controller issues that hinder gameplay, especially on platforms like Steam Deck.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • gameplay787 mentions

    Evoland's gameplay is a nostalgic journey through the evolution of RPG mechanics, transitioning from simple 8-bit graphics to modern 3D visuals while incorporating various gameplay styles reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda and Final Fantasy. However, many players find the execution lacking, with repetitive mechanics, shallow combat, and a lack of depth in gameplay that diminishes the overall experience. While the concept of unlocking new features and mechanics is engaging initially, it quickly becomes tedious, leading to a mixed reception regarding its long-term enjoyment and replayability.

    • “Evoland is a great experience that uses its mechanics to let you relive the history of adventure and RPG games.”
    • “The gameplay and graphics improvements are unlocked as you play, progressing through the changes over the years in RPGs.”
    • “The game's beginning is unbelievably charming, with a simple mechanic: gameplay evolves, bit-by-bit, slowly adding color/music/new mechanics, changing how the game looks and plays every few minutes.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive without providing any real challenge.”
    • “Great concept for a game; however, the actual gameplay feels lacking, and after an hour or two, new changes from chests become less impressive and only exist to remind you what game you are playing and often feel unnecessary.”
    • “The gameplay is shallow and tedious.”
  • story582 mentions

    The story in Evoland is generally viewed as simplistic and heavily reliant on clichés from classic RPGs, often lacking depth and originality. While it serves as a nostalgic homage to games like Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda, many players find it underwhelming and disconnected from the evolving gameplay mechanics. Overall, the narrative is seen as a light framework that supports the game's primary focus on gameplay evolution rather than a compelling story.

    • “The story unfolds as you unlock new features, revealing a world threatened by darkness and in need of a hero.”
    • “Evoland creatively walks you through 30 years of gaming evolution without breaking immersion or making the storyline feel awkward.”
    • “The game gives you a very clear depiction on how games have evolved and managed to smoothly tell a story within that evolution and adapt to those changes as the game moves along while still making sense.”
    • “Even when it does take its own swing at telling a story, it's often unrewarding for the player, taking agency out of our hands at key moments when we should be feeling heroic.”
    • “There was a big opportunity to make a clever story that tied in elements of video games evolving, but instead it pokes fun at the genre then inserts a placeholder plot.”
    • “The story is absolutely not worth mentioning; it won't be why you played this, same goes for character development.”
  • graphics516 mentions

    The graphics in Evoland are a standout feature, showcasing a charming evolution from basic monochrome 8-bit visuals to more sophisticated 3D graphics, effectively capturing the nostalgia of various gaming eras. Players unlock graphical and gameplay upgrades through treasure chests, creating a satisfying sense of progression, although some reviewers noted that the evolution plateaus too quickly and the final graphics may not meet modern expectations. Overall, the game's visual journey is both a tribute to and a playful critique of the RPG genre's history, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of retro gaming.

    • “Charming retro-future visuals: evolving aesthetics blend pixelated nostalgia with modern polish, creating a unique and delightful visual experience.”
    • “It's extremely fun to see the game change and grow from simple green 8-bit graphics into much more rich and lavish visuals, and the upgrades actually manage to feel satisfying.”
    • “The graphics show an amazing progression from the early monochrome pixellated era to a type of quality we would see in 2007, all while providing an excellent sense of adventure and loads of tongue-in-cheek humour.”
    • “The evolution of graphics and gameplay appear to be no more than a gimmick on top of a very mediocre game.”
    • “The graphics start out poor and gradually advance to better 3D models as advertised in the description but then stops at around the 2007 era, this was a bit of a let down as the game goes from what's advertised to following a weak and short story with 2D, simple characters.”
    • “The graphics, mechanics and plot all hinge on bouncing around through the various tropes of the genre.”
  • humor229 mentions

    The humor in "Evoland" is widely appreciated for its clever references and playful jabs at RPG tropes, providing a nostalgic experience for seasoned gamers. While many players found the humor to be engaging and often hilarious, some noted that it can become repetitive and relies heavily on pop culture references. Overall, the game is seen as a light-hearted homage to the evolution of RPGs, filled with witty dialogue and amusing moments, though its brevity and shallow gameplay may detract from the overall experience.

    • “Evoland is a delightful, genre-bending romp that celebrates the history of RPGs in a unique and humorous way.”
    • “Humor with heart: be prepared for witty jokes and playful references that poke fun at RPG tropes while celebrating their charm.”
    • “The game is often clever, loves to poke fun at you, and is pretty funny in general.”
    • “The 'jokes' are largely not funny; the gameplay shifts so much that, even if there is a part of the game you enjoy, it doesn't last long at all.”
    • “It is just so poorly made; everything is sloppily placed, the music repeats until it's annoying, and the things the game says become so repetitive that it's just not funny anymore. There's no real narration or smart system to support the so-called gaming history they show.”
    • “Not funny.”
  • music204 mentions

    The music in the game is a nostalgic blend that evolves alongside the graphics, transitioning from simple 8-bit tunes to more complex orchestral scores, enhancing the immersive experience. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking in variety, with some tracks described as grating or forgettable. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its thematic relevance and nostalgic appeal, it often fails to leave a lasting impression.

    • “The game ingeniously combines elements of various gaming eras, from the pixelated graphics and chiptune music of classic RPGs to the 3D environments and orchestral scores of more modern titles.”
    • “The soundtrack follows suit, with each era accompanied by a fitting musical score that enhances the overall immersion.”
    • “The music is great but you have to unlock it, so don't think your speakers are broken.”
    • “The music is wretched.”
    • “This game is chock full of short, repetitive, plinky-plunky, nails on a chalkboard garbage that you will hear re-used all over the game.”
    • “Especially the music is one of the deciding features that made me quit this game; the constant looping soundtrack just made it that much more annoying to deal with.”
  • grinding91 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, often described as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages. Many players found the frequent random encounters and slow-paced combat to detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. While some appreciated the nostalgic elements and humor, the consensus is that the grinding can overshadow the game's initial charm, making it less appealing for those who dislike such mechanics.

    • “The actual game itself is painfully tedious and slow.”
    • “There was obviously a lot of soul and humor put into the game by the designers, but the joke goes a bit too far as the game forces upon you hundreds of tedious random encounters, slow-paced dungeons, and unfairly-hidden secrets.”
    • “The game is obviously a parody, is not made to present much difficulty, so if you are expecting an RPG to create builds, grinding and exchange equipment, you are looking at the wrong game.”
  • replayability64 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits very limited replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed quickly and lacks substantial incentives to replay after finishing. While some elements like achievement hunting and a card mini-game offer minor replay value, the consensus is that the game does not provide enough content or challenge to warrant multiple playthroughs. Many reviewers recommend waiting for a sale due to its short duration and minimal replay potential.

    • “In my opinion, replayability is why you really play a game; Evoland practically defines the word replay!”
    • “It's slightly based on RNG due to only getting 5 of the 23 possible cards to use in one game, but nonetheless enjoyable and replayable.”
    • “Honestly, I absolutely love this game; yes, it may be a tad short, but the game has amazing replay value.”
    • “The game lacks a substantial or original plot, has a fairly limited interface, is laughably short, gets repetitive quickly, and has absolutely no replay value.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's super short, no replay value, very few different monsters, the story is very weak, and there can be some unsatisfying grinding.”
    • “The replay value of the game is next to none; the secrets and sidequests are short and easy overall.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and issues such as texture tearing, collision detection problems, and unresponsive controls. While some players noted that certain bugs were resolved in later updates, many still experienced significant gameplay interruptions and frustrations, particularly towards the end of the game. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game remains quite unstable, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “No errors, no glitches.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
    • “Also experienced some pretty extreme buggy texture tearing about 2 hours in, right before ambient light kicked in.”
    • “Let's just say that 3D collision detection is awful and buggy as hell.”
    • “When the game was first released, it was a little buggy, and some of the bosses' hitboxes didn't trigger, which made beating the game frustrating.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments that evoke nostalgia and even tears, particularly through its music and references to classic RPGs. While some find the storyline lacking, the emotional resonance tied to memories of past gaming experiences enhances the overall impact for those who cherish those moments. The game successfully taps into feelings of nostalgia, making it a touching experience for fans of retro titles.

    • “You surprised me, you thrilled me, you made me cry a little.”
    • “I shed a tear when playing this, purely from nostalgia.”
    • “Made me feel really nostalgic, especially for Pokémon.”
    • “The storyline is incredibly boring and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
    • “The characters felt flat, making it hard to connect with their emotional journeys.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and underwhelming, with many reviewers noting that the storyline takes too long to unfold and lacks depth. While the character designs are appreciated for their charm, the overall narrative and character growth are overshadowed by a focus on humor and gameplay mechanics, leaving players wanting more substance. Ultimately, the game is seen as fun but lacking in meaningful character development.

    • “The character design is endearing enough to make the entire experience give you that warm, fuzzy feeling.”
    • “The Final Fantasy and Baldur's Gate style games rely heavily on skill trees and character development for entertainment, but Evoland omits these aspects in favor of satire, which, while funny, cannot carry the game through the long sections.”
    • “The storyline wasn't introduced for the first hour (of three), so it made the story and character development a little underwhelming.”
    • “The story is absolutely not worth mentioning; it won't be why you played this, same goes for character development.”
    • “I had expected at some point that it might 'evolve' into its own game, but that never happens and it is so short that the plot and character development may as well not even exist.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its dynamic evolution throughout different stages, effectively capturing the essence of classic RPGs. While the narrative may be minimal and not deeply engaging, the immersive environment and visual transitions from black and white to vibrant 3D are standout features. Overall, the atmosphere is a key highlight, appealing primarily to those who appreciate aesthetic and experiential elements over challenging gameplay.

    • “Atmosphere, gameplay, and graphics are continuously changing through the stages of the game and are always quite fitting.”
    • “Fantastic game - it's incredible how precisely the atmosphere of so many different old-school RPGs was captured.”
    • “You start off unable to move your character in black and white, ending the game in glorious 3D atmosphere and colors.”
    • “A story not told: the story is more or less non-existent, the atmosphere is there and yes there is a story but you don’t really care and there isn’t much to follow; but to be honest, this isn’t an issue.”
    • “You start off unable to move your character in black and white to ending the game in glorious 3D atmosphere and colors.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for its smooth performance and lack of significant bugs. However, some players noted minor issues with stuttering controls and occasional performance dips, particularly related to music and visual effects.

    • “In terms of performance, it has run extremely smoothly and I have not encountered any kind of hiccups while playing.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and I've experienced no bugs or issues.”
    • “Gameplay can be frustrating early on; you'll want to disable the music as soon as you unlock it, and its flash, so performance isn't always the best.”
    • “The controls were a bit stuttering; this is my only small complaint about it.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users feeling it resembles a cash grab and suffers from misleading advertising. Additionally, frustrations arise from technical issues, such as poor controller support, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The game just feels like a cash grab to me.”
    • “False advertising.”
    • “The monetization model is frustrating and feels exploitative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Evoland

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3hMain story
6hCompletionist
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 35 analyzed playthroughs

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