Evoland

About

Evoland is a single-player Role Playing Game that takes you on an intriguing journey through the evolution of adventure video games. With good game mechanics, fantastic graphics, and a great soundtrack, it offers plenty of humor, despite being quite grinding and buggy. The game's description boasts "A short story of adventure video games evolution. No Ads, No IAP," providing a pure gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,971 reviews

gameplay55 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

Unique concept that showcases the evolution of RPGs, providing a nostalgic experience for players.
Charming graphics and humor, with clever references to classic games like Zelda and Final Fantasy.
Engaging gameplay that keeps players entertained, with a fun mix of different game mechanics.

Controls are frustrating and unresponsive, making precise movements difficult, especially in challenging sections.
The game is very short, often completed in just a few hours, leading to a feeling of insufficient content for the price.
Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly during key gameplay moments, detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic references and the clever evolution of mechanics throughout the experience. However, numerous criticisms highlight poor touch controls, simplistic gameplay, and frustrating design choices that detract from overall enjoyment. While some find the concept and graphics engaging, others feel that the execution falls short, leading to a tedious and sometimes unplayable experience.
- “The way that gameplay features continually get unlocked is very clever and there is enough charm to make it enjoyable.”
- “The evolution of the graphics, sound, and gameplay through the course of the game is a lovely touch, and takes the player through the history of RPG video games.”
- “The constantly changing gameplay kept it from having any dull moments.”
- “However, the gameplay itself is simplistic and somewhat boring.”
- “But this game is not fun to play - checkpoints are terribly placed, gameplay is really shallow (turn-based gameplay means just spamming attack and heal), 90% of the game is easy, 10% is really tough.”
- “The controls feel rigid and flat, the gameplay loop is tedious, enemies are the most generic they could be. If you remove the evolution component, you're simply left with a terribly boring adventure game.”
story
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
8%
The story of the game is generally perceived as short, simplistic, and somewhat generic, often revolving around a typical "save the world" premise. While some players appreciate the nostalgic references and the unique concept of evolving gameplay alongside the narrative, many express disappointment over the lack of depth and development in the storyline. Overall, the game is seen as entertaining but lacking in substantial storytelling, with a desire for a more fleshed-out plot and longer gameplay experience.
- “Congratulations to the creatives and developers who brought the idea of making a game that evolves in specs along with the story, which makes it really addictive.”
- “The concept is original, the story is terrific, and the shout-outs to other games are both funny and heartwarming!”
- “Fantastic storyline, ideas, and execution.”
- “Eventually though that premise is lost, and what's left is an unfinished game with no plot or advancement.”
- “Unfortunately the game is short and the story is barely there.”
- “The story is too short though, I was expecting more levels and challenges.”
graphics
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics in Evoland are a standout feature, showcasing a nostalgic evolution from simple black-and-white pixel art to vibrant 3D models as players progress through the game. This clever design not only highlights the history of RPG graphics but also enhances gameplay with smooth transitions and fitting music. While many players appreciate the artistic journey, some have noted technical issues and a desire for more depth in the storytelling aspect.
- “The evolution of the graphics, sound, and gameplay through the course of the game is a lovely touch, and takes the player through the history of RPG video games.”
- “I loved how the graphics 'evolve' from simple monochrome 2D to full 3D; I'm giving it 5 stars for that alone.”
- “Starting out from old school 8-bit and evolving into graphical fidelity that surpasses FFIX is absolutely amazing.”
- “The game actually gets worse graphically with time.”
- “Graphics are too primitive for these days and ages.”
- “I played for a while now and the graphics are still primitive.”
humor
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, witty references, and nostalgic nods to classic RPGs, making it a delightful experience for players. Many reviewers noted that the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, resulting in a fun and entertaining adventure, though some mentioned that it feels a bit short. Overall, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The graphics and mechanics are very clever and the hidden flavor text is hilarious.”
- “Amazing... definitely digging the humor, nostalgia, and the gameplay.”
- “The game has everything I love in RPGs and purposely mocks everything I hate. It's a great game with whimsical humor throughout.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
48%
14%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many praising its fittingness for each "evo" and the smooth transitions between music and visuals. While some users experienced glitches and noted that the HD music didn't match the quality of the original 16-bit versions, the overall sentiment highlights the creativity and effort put into the soundtrack, making it a standout feature of the game. However, a few reviews mentioned that the gameplay is short, which may detract from the overall experience.
- “The music was fitting for each 'evo' and the transitions of music and visuals were smooth as butter.”
- “The music is great, a lot of work has gone into this and it's definitely paid off!”
- “Well done guys, I'm loving the art and music.”
- “Also, the music glitches every 5 seconds for me, driving me crazy.”
- “Also, the 3D looks worse and the HD music sounds worse than their 16-bit versions.”
- “Soundtracks are incredibly short.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
95%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, freezes, and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. While some players noted that the game runs smoothly at times, the overall experience is marred by issues such as music glitches, character freezing, and problems with controls. Despite its cute concept and enjoyable elements, the persistent technical problems detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Runs great”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any noticeable lag.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a very stable gameplay experience.”
- “But man, is it buggy.”
- “The game freezes immediately when I select a new game.”
- “But holy man, the glitches are out of this world, from a repeating dialog box to the entire game glitching out and going white every time I receive a notification, every time.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the frequent random encounters and rigid controls. While some appreciate the nostalgic RPG elements, many feel that the gameplay becomes monotonous, especially during boss fights and dungeon exploration. Despite its fun concept, the excessive grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration rather than engagement.
- “The beginning of the game is tedious, annoying at best.”
- “The controls feel rigid and flat, the gameplay loop is tedious, enemies are the most generic they could be. If you remove the evolution component, you're simply left with a terribly boring adventure game, a terribly boring turn-based game, and a terribly boring story.”
- “Brilliant concept, just needs too much grinding to get simple things done. It does not have cloud save even though it logs in with Google Play, which caused me to lose my progress.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
8%
46%
The game is praised for its monetization model, featuring no ads or in-app purchases, which many players find refreshing and enjoyable. Reviewers appreciate the absence of microtransactions, highlighting that the game offers a pure gaming experience without interruptions or additional costs. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as a significant positive aspect of the game.
- “Best of all, no in-app purchases, no ads either.”
- “Fun game well worth the price and no microtransactions.”
- “No in-app purchases, no annoying gameplay, just classic fun I can pull out and use anywhere.”
- “This game I was expecting to be some falsely advertised garbage game with microtransactions and ads.”
- “Ads though which is nice but I still wouldn't recommend.”
- “It very slowly fades into the first advertisement.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many users noting its linear campaign and short length as significant drawbacks. While it offers a nostalgic experience, the lack of a compelling story or varied gameplay makes it unlikely for players to return after completing it.
- “This is not a game with a life-changing story, or enough action and replay value to last forever.”
- “Fun game to experience nostalgia of the evolution of RPGs, but it lacks replayability as it is pretty much a linear campaign.”
- “However, the game is very short with little replay value.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant performance issues on older devices, particularly in high-action sequences and specific dungeons. While the controls are generally well-received, the combat mechanics are criticized for being clunky, further detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many players still find the game to have console-quality potential.
- “Controls are good, and I only experienced performance problems in one sequence on my S8+ due to many enemies on the screen at once.”
- “The dungeon with the Undead King does have serious performance issues on slower devices, but the rest of the game is great.”
- “This is easily console quality, performance issues aside.”
- “The dungeon with the undead king has serious performance issues on slower devices, but the rest of the game is great.”
- “Combat is terrible and clunky due to poor design and optimization.”
- “Performance is poor on my S7, with no option to increase performance.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt tribute to classic titles, blending humor and nostalgia effectively. While some find the storyline linear and lacking excitement, others appreciate the original concept and the ability to evoke laughter and tears, making for a memorable experience.
- “A great concept, heartfelt tribute to Diablo, Zelda, Final Fantasy, and more.”
- “The concept is original, the story is terrific, and the shout-outs to other games are both funny and heartwarming!”
- “I laughed, I cried from laughing, then I clapped...”
- “The storyline is very linear and pretty boring.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters feels lacking and unengaging.”
- “I didn't feel any real connection to the story or its characters.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve significantly throughout the story. Many reviews highlight the emotional arcs and personal growth of the characters, making them relatable and engaging. However, some players feel that certain characters could benefit from more backstory or resolution to enhance their overall impact.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game; their growth feels organic and impactful, making every decision feel significant.”
- “The way the game handles character arcs is masterful, with each character facing personal challenges that resonate with real-life experiences.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
- “The choices I made didn't seem to impact the characters' growth, leaving me feeling like my decisions were meaningless.”