Fictorum

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,710 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Fictorum Game Cover
Fictorum deliveries on the promises it makes and is an enjoyable experience. It might look and feel a bit dated don’t let that put you off what is a brilliant title. If you can get yourself lost in it’s spellcasting and shaping mechanic then you will find a lot of fun to be had.
Starting at €8.19Buy now
Get on Steam

Fictorum is a single-player fantasy RPG with a good story, spectacular game mechanics, and plenty of humor. As a powerful mage, you can customize and shape spells to devastating effect, with fully-destructible structures and a randomized world map providing a unique experience. However, the game is poorly optimized and has lots of bugs and grinding, but its wonderful replayability makes it worth considering for fans of the genre.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,710 reviews
story98 positive mentions
optimization36 negative mentions
  • Unique and satisfying spell customization system that allows for creative combinations.
  • Destructible environments provide a fun and chaotic gameplay experience.
  • Active developer support and regular updates improve the game over time.
  • Repetitive gameplay and environments can lead to boredom after a few hours.
  • Performance issues, including crashes and frame rate drops during intense spellcasting.
  • Basic AI and lack of enemy variety diminish the challenge and engagement.
  • story483 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered minimal and repetitive, often serving merely as a backdrop for the action rather than a driving force. While some players appreciate the procedural storytelling and lore snippets that add flavor to the gameplay, many find the narrative lacks depth and variety, with missions often feeling redundant and disconnected from the overarching plot. Overall, those seeking a rich narrative experience may be disappointed, as the focus is primarily on chaotic gameplay and spellcasting rather than a compelling story.

    • “I find myself reading all the little story snippets as they add to the flavor of being a powerful wizard running around destroying everything.”
    • “The story is engaging enough, the gameplay is ridiculously fun, destructible structures allowing for all kinds of ways to take out large groups of enemies, like blowing up a bridge from right under them, or bringing a castle down on them.”
    • “The randomly-generated book-style storytelling adds character to an otherwise simple premise, and gives context to the ever rightward map progression.”
    • “The plot is nigh nonexistent, which also isn't really a problem; this is hardly a story-oriented game and would get in the way of epic powers and rampant destruction, though it would be nice to have some reason to care about the words.”
    • “The story ends up repeating the same lines/scenarios over and over.”
    • “The general story is somewhat generic and the quests you're given are uninspired, repetitive and seem to have no impact on the world or your character.”
  • gameplay413 mentions

    The gameplay of this rogue-lite dungeon crawler is characterized by a fun and engaging spell-casting mechanic, allowing for creative customization and satisfying destruction of environments. However, many players find the core gameplay loop repetitive and lacking depth, with performance issues and simplistic AI detracting from the overall experience. While the game has solid mechanics and potential, it often feels unfinished and could benefit from more variety and polish to enhance replayability.

    • “The core gameplay of flinging spells and wrecking havoc is top notch and worth the buy based on that alone.”
    • “It's a fun little time waster with a very interesting gameplay mechanic.”
    • “While the spells and devastation are the main selling point, the gameplay itself is surprisingly well put together.”
    • “I really tried to enjoy this game, but the sudden performance issues and repetitiveness of the gameplay makes this something that isn't really fun to play.”
    • “While there's a lot of variation with runes, spells and abilities, the central gameplay loop is too simple with little challenge.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely repetitive and it feels like there is no real reason to it.”
  • graphics212 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely described as outdated and mediocre, often reminiscent of titles from over a decade ago. While some players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and find them acceptable given the game's price, many criticize the poor optimization, repetitive environments, and lack of variety in design. Overall, the visuals do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, but the chaotic spellcasting mechanics can provide some enjoyment despite the graphical shortcomings.

    • “The visuals do a good job of bringing a bit of nostalgia.”
    • “The graphics are fine, a little bland, but they do their job well.”
    • “The mechanics are great, and the graphics are amazing.”
    • “The graphics are literal garbage, the unfinished state of the game is painfully obvious, and it overall gives you an empty feeling due to there being almost no content whatsoever.”
    • “The visuals look like something out of a 2008-2012 game, and the actual gameplay consists of moving to a zone, clearing said zone by killing enemies, then moving on.”
    • “Quickly becomes boring and repetitive, not to mention it runs like ass, considering the overall low graphic quality of the game.”
  • optimization132 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay scenarios like large explosions or when many enemies are present. While some users with higher-end systems report smooth performance, others with mid-range or older hardware experience stuttering and crashes, indicating that the game may not be well-optimized for a broad range of setups. Overall, while recent updates have improved performance for some, many players still feel that substantial optimization work is needed.

    • “I have 16 GB of RAM, a relatively fast SSD, an AMD Ryzen 4800H CPU, and an NVIDIA 2060, and the game runs perfectly fine, most of the time above 80 FPS with no stuttering (at the highest graphics settings).”
    • “And a really pleasant surprise was that it's awesomely optimized: I've got a decent PC, but absolutely not top notch (GTX 970 8 GB, AMD FX-8300), and Fictorum runs smoothly on high settings.”
    • “Performance-wise I had no issues, running it on 3440x1440 at about ~60 FPS on a GTX 1070 and an i5 6600K after having tweaked some settings like shadows or AA.”
    • “I really tried to enjoy this game, but the sudden performance issues and repetitiveness of the gameplay makes this something that isn't really fun to play.”
    • “Horrible optimization, extremely repetitive and has little to no story for an RPG.”
    • “The concept is fun, however it is currently poorly optimized with many framerate stutters.”
  • replayability80 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the procedural generation, diverse classes, and spell customization that contribute to a fun and varied experience. However, some reviewers note a lack of depth and repetitive elements that can diminish long-term engagement. Overall, while it offers decent replay value, especially for those who enjoy experimenting with different playstyles, it may not sustain interest for everyone.

    • “The game is wonderfully fun to play and has a decent amount of replayability and excels at what it's attempting to do for the budget it is on.”
    • “Fictorum is obviously influenced by other rogue-likes, but it does a lot to make itself unique and fun - different starting classes, variable gameplay length, lots of interactions between runes and spells to keep the replay value high, and above all just really fun - it's hard, but not 'you'll die every run unless the random-generation gods bless you' hard, and accessible enough that even if you're maybe not onto a perfect winning run, you'll still enjoy the journey.”
    • “The combination of runes, gear, spells, scrolls and the ability to enhance/power-up (enchant) any of the runes, spells and gear makes the game and replayability great.”
    • “Lacks depth and replayability.”
    • “I mean, don't mind that the graphics are a little dated and that the AI is pretty dumb, but when it comes to immersion, replayability, and story, this game has zero.”
    • “Blowing up houses is fun for the first hour, but neither the story nor the gameplay holds up to any type of replayability.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game is frequently described as buggy and unpolished, with issues such as glitches, stuck characters, and disappearing textures, particularly in buildings. While these problems can detract from the experience, many players still find the game enjoyable and appreciate the developers' responsiveness to feedback. Overall, despite its stability issues, the game runs well without major crashes.

    • “No freezes or crashes.”
    • “No freezes or crashes.”
    • “Game is still pretty buggy and feels unfinished.”
    • “This game is a game that is clearly made by amateurs, and it is so buggy that it borders on unplayable.”
    • “Menus, icons, mechanics, sounds, lots of things are uncompleted and buggy; also, even with a mid-upper PC, you only get 40-50 fps. Weird, so I don't recommend it. I have never met a good game with Unreal Engine, at least that's legit for me.”
  • humor32 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its humor, with players enjoying the over-the-top destruction and hilariously overpowered abilities that make them feel invincible. While the comedic elements and spell combinations provide plenty of laughs, many reviewers note that the lack of challenge can lead to boredom after the initial excitement. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, contributing to a fun, albeit less challenging, gameplay experience.

    • “It's hilarious.”
    • “So what can I do with a fireball? But after the very first location, I was already raining fiery hell on the next town, watching enemies fly like ragdolls and buildings explode into so many little pieces, and laughing like a maniac at all the destruction.”
    • “I just finished a run where I had multiple projectiles all homing in on enemies and then bouncing to the next enemy, complete hilarious madness.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort for 100% completion. While some appreciate the experimentation with spells and runes, many criticize the repetitive nature of looting and the clunky inventory system, leading to a feeling of monotony. Overall, the grinding can feel excessive, with some players suggesting it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Grinding for 100% completion mostly varies on how much you want to research underdeveloped and outdated wiki pages.”
    • “Perhaps there are too many chapters; perhaps there could be some asset variation, but it just becomes quite tedious to play the same thing over and over again.”
    • “Things like the bad AI and tedious grinding for health/loot seem like problems that could've easily been spotted during playtesting, which makes you feel like you're playing a beta.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is described as fun and immersive, enhancing the fast-paced action and combat experience. However, some players find it somewhat repetitive and forgettable, with a limited selection that doesn't significantly stand out outside of combat scenarios. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes to the game's atmosphere, it may not leave a lasting impression.

    • “The soundtrack is also very striking, which helps in immersion.”
    • “Fully destructible environments, fast paced action and suspenseful music.”
    • “The music is fun, the combat pretty much drives the show, and if you like experimenting with spell combos, it's not a waste of money.”
    • “The music...honestly can't remember.”
    • “Music is somewhat repetitive.”
    • “Slim selection of music; decision trees repeat from time to time, and non-combat sections feel thin.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting its immersive experience enhanced by a rogue-like flavor. The effective map system, along with compelling text and story elements, contributes to a captivating overall ambiance.

    • “This all makes for a great atmospheric experience with a little rogue-like flavor added in.”
    • “The map system works really well for this game (just like it did for FTL) and the text, story, and atmosphere are perfect.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for poor advertising, particularly regarding the promotion of in-game currency or gems, leading to a negative user experience.

    • “A terrible job at advertising your gem!”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being poorly executed and lacking depth, with messy menus and a disorganized presentation that detracts from the overall experience. The quests and storyline further suffer from this lack of polish, leaving players dissatisfied.

    • “It lacks polish; everything is so messy in the menus, and character development is awful. Quests and storyline are poorly portrayed.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

Buy Fictorum

Play time

10hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
5-17hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News