Expeditions: Conquistador

About

Conquer the New world: In the 16th Century, Spanish explorers and soldiers reached the shores of America. The search for gold, fame, and adventure drove these travelers into a treacherous wilderness where they faced hunger, disease, and dangerous predators. In their wake, the Aztec Empires lay in ruins. Re-write the history of the Conquistadors: Forge diplomatic alliances with the natives... or c…

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Play Modes

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,405 reviews

story206 positive mentions

grinding60 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-written characters and meaningful choices that impact gameplay.
Unique setting during the Spanish conquest of the Americas, providing a fresh perspective in gaming.
Challenging turn-based combat that requires strategic thinking and careful resource management.

Frequent crashes and technical issues, particularly when trying to load or save games.
Combat can feel unbalanced, with high miss rates for player characters compared to enemies.
Repetitive camping mechanics and tedious resource management can detract from the overall experience.

story
596 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The game's story is a central highlight, offering a rich and immersive narrative that explores themes of human aggression and greed through the lens of a Spanish adventurer's expedition in the New World. Players appreciate the depth of character backstories and the meaningful choices that impact the storyline, although some find the overall narrative and pacing lacking compared to the historical events it draws from. While the game features a lot of text and reading, many players find the storytelling engaging and rewarding, making it a compelling experience for fans of story-driven RPGs.
- “The best part of the game without a doubt is its story, rich, diverse and very entertaining.”
- “The story is captivating enough to make you wonder what is coming next; the traveling mechanics, class-based party setup, and resource management were all adequately well done.”
- “The storytelling is fantastic, and every possible combination of characters you take with you subtly changes how your expedition unfolds.”
- “The story is dull.”
- “So, all that we've got in the end is only ten poor and boring story missions, about sixteen side missions that feel even more poor and even more boring, and... that's pretty much it.”
- “The problem is – with pretty much no story and the characters who are just... nobodies, it's close to impossible to feel involved.”
gameplay
334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
10%
The gameplay of the game is a blend of turn-based tactical combat and resource management, offering a nostalgic feel with its old-school mechanics, though many players find them outdated and clunky. While the core combat is enjoyable and features a variety of tactical elements, the overall experience can become repetitive and tedious, particularly with the camping and exploration mechanics. Despite its flaws, the game provides a unique setting and engaging story, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre, especially those who appreciate strategic RPGs.
- “This game has a very strong gameplay, a lot of unexpected events and a very clean atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay, the story, the art, the sound - it's all done so well.”
- “With engrossing gameplay to keep a player in thrall of this game, this is truly one of the great hidden gems within the strategy RPG genre.”
- “Given that each character can only level up five times, with most abilities acquired upon leveling being the same among each of the classes, not much difference in gameplay will be noticed.”
- “Unfortunately, the game gradually reveals minor flaws across the board, and gameplay becomes overwhelming and tedious early on as you attempt to cross the map whilst juggling a barrage of ambushes, party management, random party events, and much more.”
- “But gameplay is very basic; the combat has no tactics or depth to it, progression is lackluster, and the story is boring.”
graphics
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
48%
18%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and unremarkable, with many users noting issues such as choppy performance and a lack of visual appeal. While some appreciate the artistic elements, like hand-painted artwork and classical styles, the overall consensus is that the visuals do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many players find the gameplay and story engaging enough to overlook these flaws.
- “The graphics and ambient sounds are great for a game at this price point.”
- “The main pros of this game come in the rich story, beautiful graphics, and battles.”
- “The graphics are pretty simple but it doesn't take away the charm of the adventure one bit!”
- “Graphics and most mechanics feel outdated on this point.”
- “The graphics are dull, very dull; look here is a book on radiators dull.”
- “The graphics aged poorly.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
37%
6%
The music in the game is generally well-composed and immersive, featuring catchy tunes that enhance the atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, many players note that the limited number of music loops can lead to repetitiveness, with some tracks becoming annoying over time. Overall, while the soundtrack is praised for its thematic relevance and quality, there are calls for more variety to maintain engagement during longer play sessions.
- “The game's soundtrack is well-suited to the game's theme, with rousing music that will make you feel like you're leading your team into battle.”
- “The music and art is what I believe put this game over the top; they work so well together with the story and gameplay mechanics that I almost feel I am there.”
- “The soundtrack, although short, is excellent and I often find myself whistling the tunes when I'm not playing the game.”
- “There are too few different music loops, which is a shame, and they rapidly get repetitive and slightly annoying over time.”
- “The other is about music... a game based on conquistadores with Portuguese, Italians, Spanish, and Mexicans should have an awesome soundtrack, while this is slightly below average at most.”
- “Sound 4/10: the music is basic and often repeated.”
grinding
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious, particularly due to the frequent camping mechanics and the management tasks associated with it, which can interrupt the flow of gameplay. While the camping system offers interesting mechanics initially, it quickly becomes repetitive and burdensome, detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, the constant need to navigate the overworld and manage resources contributes to a sense of overwhelming monotony, making the game feel grindy and less engaging as it progresses.
- “Unfortunately, the game gradually reveals minor flaws across the board, and gameplay becomes overwhelming and tedious early on as you attempt to cross the map whilst juggling a barrage of ambushes, party management, random party events, and much more.”
- “You have to camp periodically which involves assigning tasks and rations to your party which is interesting at first but rapidly becomes tedious and repetitive as you have to do it every 20 seconds or so when you're traveling overland.”
- “Every single part of the overworld is pure tediousness that keeps you from getting to the game's good bits.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
Overall, "Expeditions: Conquistador" is praised for its strong replayability, driven by meaningful choices, branching storylines, and diverse character interactions that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviewers note limitations due to its linear structure and static maps, many still find the game engaging enough to warrant several runs, with playtimes averaging 20-30 hours. The combination of well-written dialogue and varied scenarios contributes to its appeal for fans of turn-based RPGs.
- “One of the most heavily underrated games of its time, Expeditions: Conquistador is a well-written and deeply engrossing masterpiece that has hours upon hours of content on top of having great replay value.”
- “This game has replayability in many of the events and even multiple endings that acknowledge the things that you did during the game and not just at the very end.”
- “I was surprised at the amount of unique content, and the degree of replayability.”
- “In spite of that, the game is quite linear and as a result, replayability is limited.”
- “Although the stagnant maps can seem to limit the replay value, the potential of learning more about each potential party member helps to make up for that.”
- “I do not see much replay value in it, but I do look forward to the Expeditions: Viking game, which I will most certainly be purchasing.”
atmosphere
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging historical setting, compelling storyline, and effective use of music and artwork, which together create a unique and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the successful integration of unexpected events and player choices that enhance the overall feel, despite some criticisms regarding graphics and replayability. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The game's historical fiction setting, morally ambiguous choices, great artwork, and music make this an incredibly atmospheric game, even if the graphics can be very basic at times, and the initial learning curve a steep one.”
- “It has a compelling storyline, great atmosphere, and challenging turn-based battles.”
- “I wanted to feel some of that atmosphere.”
- “The writters picked up the historical atmosphere and the political complexities of precolumbian Mexico really well (apart from the female conquistadores, seriously?!).”
- “The not-so-popular age of discovery setting is great not simply because it is fresh, but the game does a lot to really engage you in the atmosphere and spirit of those days.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
15%
The game elicits strong emotional responses through its character-driven narrative and the weight of player decisions, creating a sense of responsibility and connection to companions. Despite some technical flaws and a lack of engaging missions, players find the emotional stakes high, particularly during tense moments that challenge their moral choices. Overall, it offers a genuinely affecting experience that encourages players to care about the characters and their fates.
- “It can be a little technically jank at times, and the departures from historical realism where the Spanish Empire appears to be more gender egalitarian than any modern society are a bit... confusing to say the least, but if you can suspend your disbelief a little bit and let yourself care about the characters, it's a game that's genuinely emotionally affecting and tactically fraught.”
- “Wether it be the racist doctor with a complete inability to shoot a rifle (until it literally all rested on him during one tense battle), the open-minded scout who seemed appalled at every one of my less than noble decisions (and made me feel terrible) or the unbelievably aggressive and greedy soldier who I had a love-hate relationship with (hated me, I loved that he was an absolute tank on the field).”
- “A really emotional game that will challenge you at every turn while you try to keep your companions alive during your expedition in the New World!”
- “In the end, we are left with only ten poor and boring story missions, about sixteen side missions that feel even more lackluster, and... that's pretty much it.”
- “The emotional depth is severely lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or the story.”
- “I expected a rich narrative experience, but instead, I found a shallow and uninspiring storyline that failed to evoke any real feelings.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly when switching between screens, which can disrupt graphics and gameplay. However, some players noted that despite these issues, the game remains enjoyable and relatively smooth for an indie title, with only minor bugs that do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Overall, while stability is a concern, it does not overshadow the game's fun factor.
- “For an indie game, this is amazingly smooth and bug-free. It's also incredibly flexible; there is a storyline, but the pace and the outcome all depend upon player choices - your actions have consequences!”
- “If you alt+tab to another screen, half the time when you come back the graphics and text are all buggy.”
- “Gameplay is buggy.”
- “This game is too buggy to bother with.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The optimization of "Expeditions: Conquistador" receives mixed reviews, with some players noting that the game is well-balanced and offers a tactical experience, while others report severe performance issues, including crashes and the inability to run the game even on low settings. Many users express frustration over the need for careful character optimization and early-game decisions, which can significantly impact gameplay. Overall, the game's performance is criticized as being poor, leading to a frustrating experience for some players.
- “The game is surprisingly well balanced and optimized.”
- “I had owned this game for a while but rage-quit the first time I played it because I realized early on that I hadn't optimized my character and early-game decisions for the type of game I wanted to play.”
- “Plus, the game is horribly optimized.”
- “I've restarted the game from scratch 4 times, turned all the options to lowest performance, it simply does not work.”
- “Game has a decent storyline but overall very bad performance.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players noting that the writing is genuinely funny and enhances the overall experience, including music and combat. The ability to make humorous decisions adds depth to the RPG elements, while the interactions between characters can lead to amusing outcomes, especially when managing contrasting personalities. Overall, the game is praised for its comedic elements, drawing comparisons to classics like Heroes of Might & Magic.
- “The writing was actually pretty funny at times, and the entire game from the music to the combat to the exploration all meshed well and supported the story and ambiance.”
- “This game has a great premise; I haven't seen other games in this time period, and I love the way you can make your own, sometimes truly humorously written decisions in this RPG.”
- “Very funny game, a little bit like Heroes of Might & Magic.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Character development in the game is multifaceted, focusing on combat skills (ranged, melee, defense), outdoor survival abilities, and unique talents akin to RPG feats, all of which enhance gameplay through the acquisition of more powerful equipment and strategic advantages.
- “Individual character development occurs on different axes - combat skills (ranged, melee, defense) which translate as new, more powerful equipment use, outdoor skills to help your party survive, and specific talents (think RPG feats) that provide unique advantages.”
- “Individual character development occurs on different axes - combat skills (ranged, melee, defense) which translate as new, more powerful equipment use, outdoors skills to help your party survive, and specific talents (think RPG feats) that provide unique advantages.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's monetization strategy has led to it being overlooked, as it lacks advertising, which may have limited its visibility and reach among potential players.