Exiled Kingdoms
- February 23, 2018
- 4 Dimension Games
- 130h median play time
"Exiled Kingdoms" is a 2D single-player open-world action RPG set in a fantasy world inspired by the classics. You are a lone stranger trying to recover your lost memories in a land plagued by wars and monsters. With over 130 quests and 60 hours of gameplay, the game offers a rich and immersive experience, with many paths to choose from.
Reviews
- Engaging old-school RPG experience reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo and Baldur's Gate.
- Rich world-building with a variety of quests, characters, and lore to explore.
- Challenging gameplay that encourages strategic thinking and careful planning.
- Clunky controls and movement mechanics can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Difficulty spikes and lack of healing options can make progression tedious and grindy.
- Graphics and audio quality are dated, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- story243 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Exiled Kingdoms" is praised for its rich lore, engaging quests, and immersive world-building, offering players a vast array of side quests and character-driven narratives that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the main plot and side quests to be somewhat generic or grind-heavy, many appreciate the depth of character interactions and the freedom to explore the game at their own pace. Overall, the game successfully combines classic RPG elements with a compelling storyline, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
“If you're a fan of Eschalon, Diablo I and II, and solid quests/storytelling, Exiled Kingdoms will keep you busy for a long time.”
“The story, writing, lore, and immersion are great, although I tend to skim read/skip much of it in these types of games until choices come up.”
“The main story is quite interesting, but what makes this game shine is the side quests and lore that it offers, which if you invest yourself, is very intriguing.”
“The main storyline and most of the side quests are not straightforward since you are practically thrown into the world with only a map and a brief introduction to the main storyline.”
“The story could have been made by an 8-year-old: hundreds of years ago monsters appeared, the people then all moved to an island and there they rebuilt their kingdoms; therefore, they are now the Exiled Kingdoms.”
“The game is extremely slow - quests don't give you enough XP, you have to grind and grind and grind to get levels and leveling up doesn't really even make an impact - as the enemies scale with you.”
- graphics84 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple, dated, and reminiscent of 90s titles, which may deter some players seeking modern visuals. However, many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and argue that the graphics do not detract from the overall gameplay experience, highlighting that the game's depth and content compensate for its visual shortcomings. While some find the graphics unpolished and basic, others enjoy the charm and old-school feel, suggesting that the game's strengths lie in its mechanics and storytelling rather than its visual presentation.
“Good game, love the graphic style.”
“Graphics are nice to look at, and they help that old school feel.”
“The simple 2D graphics and 1990s-esque isometric style are not at all representative of the amount of well-polished content and gameplay that this game is full of.”
“The only real thing holding me back was the graphics and style.”
“The graphics are terrible.”
“The simple graphics are a detriment to the overall experience, but literally everything else about the game is so good that it feels like a nitpick to even point it out.”
- gameplay80 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this indie RPG is characterized by its simplicity and nostalgic mechanics, appealing to fans of old-school titles, though some players find it overly grindy and lacking in strategic depth. While the combat and progression systems have received mixed reviews, many appreciate the addictive nature of the gameplay and the extensive content available, with over 100 hours of potential playtime. Overall, the game offers a well-rounded experience with a balance of exploration, character customization, and engaging quests, despite some clunky mechanics and dated graphics.
“The mechanics are simple and easy to understand, which is a good thing for me.”
“120+ hours worth of perfect indie RPG gameplay for a ridiculously fair price.”
“The gameplay is truly classic and I love it.”
“I mean, the very idea implies that the player is expected to grind to reach the next marked objective... in a single player old school RPG. If I wanted to spend time grinding, I would do it on an MMO that has better mechanics.”
“I get the idea of going for a classically styled game, but there's a reason some mechanics died: being unable to buy back stuff from shops, quests not sorting in any meaningful way, quests just throwing you into the deep end to figure out what to do, slow and unsatisfying progression, ridiculous status effects (10-second stuns), etc.”
“The gameplay is alright, though it suffers from some progression issues; you get a static amount of 'trait' and 'skill' points per level, and to upgrade skills, they require an increasing amount of points, which means you end up leveling up for little to no actual progression.”
- grinding56 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and overly time-consuming, particularly in the later stages. While some appreciate the nostalgic grind typical of old-school RPGs, others criticize it for being unnecessarily repetitive and frustrating, especially when it comes to leveling up and resource management. Overall, players recommend approaching the game on casual difficulty to mitigate the grind and enhance enjoyment.
“Grinding here is unnecessarily tedious.”
“It's an incredible achievement for a first and solo-developed game, but fatally misdesigned: even on 'casual' difficulty it's painfully grindy and slow.”
“Such a captivating story, such a promising world spoiled by tedious grinding and fighting!”
- music20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its nostalgic and epic qualities that enhance the RPG experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive and of mediocre quality. Despite its shortcomings, many find the soundtrack to be a pleasant addition that complements the gameplay, even if it doesn't reach the heights of classic titles. Overall, while the music may not be groundbreaking, it serves its purpose within the game's context.
“I never thought that an indie RPG with a generic (but also somewhat unique) fantasy setting that uses premade sound effects and music would become one of my favorite games of all time, but here we are.”
“The soundtrack is phenomenal, if slightly repetitive.”
“Game mechanics are great, a little clunky but great, music is awesome, story is rich and graphics are old school done right!”
“It has recycled assets like RPG Maker music, it has clunky combat, and the ranged combat is so bad that it's almost unplayable.”
“It's ugly, the music is terrible, and the combat isn't good, so why am I recommending it?”
“Music and sound is meh.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and witty dialogue, reminiscent of classic RPGs, often poking fun at genre tropes and delivering clever references. While some users noted occasional attempts at humor that fell flat, the overall consensus is that the writing is well-crafted, engaging, and filled with amusing character interactions and item descriptions, making for an entertaining experience. The blend of humor with serious themes adds depth, enhancing the enjoyment of the gameplay.
“The dialogue is great, and reminds me of that classic witty Obsidian style/humor.”
“There is some decent humor in the dialogue, usually making fun of RPG tropes or subverting expectations (the demonic lawyer, Barahid, and Tremadan's phantom are some of my favorites).”
“The quest system is amazing as well and the story and writing are actually great, funny as hell without any cringy stuff like new high-end RPG games.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse classes, unique guilds, and extensive customization options, allowing players to experience different play styles and builds. With an open world to explore and engaging plot twists, players can enjoy dozens of hours of entertainment, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking long-term gameplay. Overall, the combination of immersive content and community engagement enhances its replay value significantly.
“High replayability with different classes and skills.”
“Interesting plot twists, iconic classes, very wide customization ranges for different builds, and dozens of hours of entertainment on just the first play-through with tons of replay value.”
“There are 4 guilds for each of the classes, and you can only join 1, so that adds replayability.”
“I'd recommend buying it to support the devs, but I'm broke and would rather spend my money on a more playable game.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with users reporting zero crashes or major glitches during gameplay. However, some minor issues exist, such as poor geometry in certain areas and glitches related to fullscreen mode, which can affect the user experience.
“The game design is a very bug-free beast and provides smooth gameplay.”
“The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for an uninterrupted gaming experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game runs; it rarely crashes and maintains a consistent frame rate.”
“There are some glitches with the game, such as some areas having poor geometry, allowing enemies to hit you through walls.”
“I also advise not playing in fullscreen, as there are too many glitches with the pointer.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic homage to old-school RPGs, blending immersive wilderness settings and distinct maps reminiscent of the Eschalon series with engaging characters and storylines akin to Spiderweb games. Additionally, it incorporates the fast-paced real-time combat found in classic ARPGs, creating a rich and captivating experience.
“Thanks to the author for the atmosphere of old-school RPGs.”
“I would characterize it as a very well-executed mix of many of my favorite CRPGs of the last 20 years: immersive wilderness atmosphere and intriguing, geographically distinct maps like the Eschalon series, the interesting characters and story arcs from Spiderweb games like Avernum, and the fast-paced real-time combat of classic ARPGs like Diablo II, Sacred, or Divine Divinity.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization model is generally viewed positively, with users noting a small initial purchase cost and the absence of "pay to win" mechanics. However, there are concerns about the prevalence of microtransactions, leading some to perceive the game as a potential cash grab.
“The game has a small cost to buy, and there are no 'pay to win' in-app purchases.”
“I appreciate that the monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend more.”
“The game offers a great balance between free content and optional purchases, making it enjoyable for everyone.”
“Aren't they all just cash grabs with microtransactions?”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic titles, which enhances their emotional connection to the experience. However, some frustrations, such as abrupt stops upon minor interactions, can detract from the overall emotional immersion.
“Besides that, it really made me feel like playing another great old game, and this is a rare thing nowadays that we need more.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's charming low-resolution graphics contribute to its excellent optimization, resulting in a fast and smooth performance.
“The charming low-res graphics result in very speedy game performance.”
“The charming low-res graphics mean very speedy game performance.”