Geneforge

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 338 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Geneforge Game Cover
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Geneforge is an indie fantasy RPG and the first in the five-game Geneforge Saga, known for its vast world, intricate plot, and innovative game mechanics. Create your own army of obedient creatures and use cunning enemy AI to shape your experience. With multiple endings and high replay value, Geneforge offers a rich, immersive adventure where your choices determine the outcome.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 338 reviews
story96 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story with rich lore and multiple endings based on player choices.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that allow players to summon and create creatures to aid in combat.
  • Open-ended exploration with meaningful consequences for player decisions, enhancing replayability.
  • Dated graphics and clunky user interface that may deter some players.
  • Combat can be frustratingly difficult, with some encounters feeling unbalanced.
  • Lack of music and sound effects can make the game feel empty at times.
  • story205 mentions

    The story of the game is widely praised for its depth, originality, and engaging writing, often described as a standout feature that compensates for its dated graphics and mechanics. Players appreciate the intricate world-building, moral complexity, and the freedom to explore various quests and character choices, making it a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs. While some find the pacing slow and the text-heavy delivery challenging, the overall consensus is that the rich storytelling and immersive lore make it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts.

    • “The story is really original with some amazing world building.”
    • “The game does a good job of challenging your beliefs along the way and giving you liberal options of how to proceed in the story.”
    • “Geneforge offers what I would personally feel is the goal of all RPGs: to create a story and setting that is compelling in its mystery, intriguing in its theme, and captivating in its storytelling.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's an excruciating slog to actually play through to see that story.”
    • “The only criticism I'd level against the story is that it is delivered almost too arbitrarily; I felt at times I would have been better served experiencing the story through my actions rather than being told what to think with a text box.”
    • “The story is okay for the time that the game came out.”
  • graphics137 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and simplistic, often described as "primitive" or "amateurish," which may deter players accustomed to modern visuals. However, many reviewers emphasize that the game's strengths lie in its rich storytelling, unique mechanics, and engaging gameplay, allowing players to overlook the graphics in favor of a compelling narrative experience. Overall, while the visuals may not impress, they are functional enough to support the game's depth and charm.

    • “The graphics, while hand-drawn and pitiable by modern standards, are far simpler and easier to comprehend than Baldur's Gate or Arcanum.”
    • “Don't be fooled by the simple graphics; this game is better than 80% of bigger budget games out there... same goes for the sequels.”
    • “It's an isometric view without super flashy graphics, but it makes up for it in incredible storytelling with real choices you can make that determine the outcome.”
    • “The graphics are rubbish, but understandable considering it was made by such a small team.”
    • “The only problem with that is the graphics which don't really convey the grandiose nature of the world being explored.”
    • “Graphics are definitely out-of-date, but a solid story can still convey the mood ridiculously well.”
  • gameplay106 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its old-school mechanics, which, while somewhat clunky and dated, still provide a solid and strategic experience, particularly in combat and character development. Players appreciate the depth of the shaping mechanics and the engaging story, though some find the difficulty unbalanced and the interface lacking modern quality-of-life features. Overall, it offers a rich RPG experience with a high replay value, especially for fans of classic turn-based gameplay, despite its graphical limitations.

    • “The mechanics are interesting and well-executed, and the worldbuilding is great, as with most games from this developer.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, though it takes a bit to get used to the 'looting' system where you open the grab menu and you look at all the items around you or click containers to view what's inside.”
    • “It's a journey, both plot and game mechanic wise of hard decisions.”
    • “The mechanics definitely show their age, as a lot of quality of life enhancements from bigger or more modern RPGs are missing.”
    • “But the gameplay is so repetitive I can't finish this game ever.”
    • “When I first tried to play it, the graphics and sound and simplistic gameplay turned me off, and I put off playing the game.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in Generforge is largely absent, with only a minimal soundtrack present, primarily at the title screen. Players often find the lack of music disappointing, opting to mute the game and play their own music instead, as the ambient sounds do not compensate for the sparse audio experience. Overall, the game's sound design is criticized for being outdated and lacking the engaging musical elements that enhance gameplay.

    • “I look forward to hi-res versions of Geneforge Saga and hope that music will be added to the game.”
    • “There is not much music here aside from the title screen, but enough from towns with the kids playing and running around to outside where there will be animal sounds.”
    • “Other than the title screen, there really isn't any music; it's mostly just light ambient sounds of your surroundings.”
    • “The almost total lack of music and no voice acting should be mentioned as the disadvantages of this classic RPG.”
    • “Honestly, some music would have made some of the more annoying slog parts of the game much more palatable.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits high replayability due to its multiple endings, diverse classes, and various factions to join, allowing for at least three unique playthroughs. While some players find the length and repetitiveness a deterrent to frequent revisits, others appreciate the depth and challenge that encourage exploration of different choices and strategies. The combination of story quality and gameplay variety contributes significantly to its replay value.

    • “There is a good bit of replayability; at least 3 unique playthroughs can be done with different classes and sects joined.”
    • “With multiple endings, several factions you can join, and a healthy challenge curve between the different classes, there's days of replayability to be found.”
    • “There are many different endings to find, which helps increase playtime and overall, I have put more than 50 hours into this game.”
    • “If it were shorter, I'd say this lends to replay value, but because of its length, I'm not sure I'd want to replay it again. I mean, I did... about 10 years later, but I've got lots of games I don't mind revisiting once a year, and this isn't one I'd replay that often.”
    • “It often ends up being too repetitive and annoying, so I very much welcomed the minimalist sounds of this game as it made it more playable with sounds on for me.”
    • “There are many different endings to find, which helps increase playtime and replayability. Overall, I have put more than 50 hours into this game.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its immersive writing and unique world, captivating players and enhancing the RPG experience. While some titles, like Geneforge, may lack in audio-visual detail, they compensate with strong atmospheric elements and engaging dialogue that keep players invested. Overall, the atmosphere is a key highlight, drawing players into thrilling adventures despite varying levels of graphical sophistication.

    • “The game's writing does a very good job of setting up the atmosphere and making you want to play for longer.”
    • “Great atmosphere and writing will introduce you to the highly unique and mysterious world which is sure to provide any true RPG fan with an adventure of a lifetime.”
    • “What the game lacks in audio/visual detail it more than makes up for with incredible atmosphere and dialogue.”
    • “The graphics and sounds are simple, but the mechanics work, and Fogel's script feels magical, creating a thrilling atmosphere that remains engaging throughout the game.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players report that the game elicits strong emotional reactions, often making them feel like emotional puppets, particularly in its early stages. While it may lack the depth of emotional interactions found in classic titles like Baldur's Gate, it effectively creates discomfort and challenges players' typical choices, standing out from many modern games that offer more simplistic emotional responses.

    • “There are very few games I have played that have caused a legitimate emotional reaction out of me.”
    • “I can't explain my emotional response without them.”
    • “Compare that to a lot of modern games where your only options are 'barf rainbows and friendship' or 'be a complete psychopath.' As the type of person who can't seem to choose anything other than rainbows and friendship, this series made me feel really uncomfortable.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dated graphics and amusing bugs that add to its charm, alongside clever writing that features dark humor and intricate worldbuilding. Players appreciate the developers' lighthearted approach, making the overall experience entertaining despite its technical shortcomings.

    • “The devs seem pretty cool and the game is funny.”
    • “While the graphics are fairly ancient, even for when this game was released, the writing's combination of dark humor, fascinating worldbuilding, and complex choices makes this first installment likely the best.”
    • “There are also bugs that seem to have never been fixed - nothing game breaking but rather hilarious.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Geneforge excels in character development by prioritizing individual actions and their consequences over traditional party dynamics, offering a unique and immersive roleplaying experience. Its masterful storytelling and character design contribute significantly to the RPG genre, making it a standout title.

    • “Geneforge is, without a question in my mind, a complete masterclass of game story and character design.”
    • “Both in character development and a roleplaying aspect.”
    • “An amazing addition to the RPG genre, it takes a turn away from party character development, focusing on the world, your actions in it, and the repercussions of those actions.”
    • “Both in character development and a roleplaying aspect, the game falls short.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “While the game offers an interesting world, the focus on character development is minimal and unsatisfying.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the grinding aspect for providing a break from the tediousness of traversing hostile maps, but some fans of traditional RPG grinding are disappointed by the lack of enemy respawns, limiting opportunities for experience and loot farming.

    • “Bad because if you're a fan of grinding in RPGs like I am... well, you see where I'm going when I say the enemies do not respawn.”
    • “Grinding can feel tedious and repetitive, making the game less enjoyable over time.”
    • “The lack of enemy respawn makes grinding feel pointless and frustrating.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that while the games are generally easy to play and free of major glitches, there is a notable issue with stability, particularly with freezing occurring for about 10 seconds when accessing the pause menu in the first three games.

    • “However, I have a problem where in games 1-3, whenever I open the pause menu, the game freezes for around 10 seconds.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game offers extensive optimization options for character development and storyline choices, enhancing its deep world. However, players report that combat can be simplistic and performance issues, particularly on Windows 7, lead to a choppy experience.

    • “This is an immensely deep world with a storyline, but plenty of choices for optimization for your character, monsters, and the storyline choice.”
    • “Combat is rather simple and performance is quite choppy, especially on Windows 7.”
    • “This is an immensely deep world with a storyline, but there are plenty of choices for optimization for your character, monsters, and storyline choices.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

37hMedian play time
44hAverage play time
8-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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