Golem Gates

About

"Golem Gates" is a sci-fi strategy game where players command a harbinger, a warrior equipped with abilities and deployable machines known as golems. The game features a unique blend of card collecting and real-time strategy, as players use the cards they collect to summon units and abilities in the heat of battle. The story revolves around the harbinger's efforts to prevent the destruction of their world by a mysterious and powerful force known as the Ash.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

Golem Gates offers a unique blend of RTS and card game mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
The game's graphics and art style are highly praised, creating a visually stunning atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The deck-building system allows for strategic depth, as players can customize their decks and adapt their strategies based on the cards drawn during gameplay.

The game suffers from pathfinding issues and unit AI problems, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences where units may get stuck or behave unpredictably.
Many players find the campaign missions repetitive and lacking in challenge, with some missions feeling too easy or tedious.
There is a low player base for multiplayer matches, making it difficult to find opponents and diminishing the competitive aspect of the game.

gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
8%
The gameplay of Golem Gates is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its smooth mechanics and unique card-based RTS elements, while others criticize issues like poor unit pathing and sluggishness. The game features a variety of modes, including a campaign that effectively teaches mechanics, but the multiplayer maps are considered too small for engaging gameplay. Overall, while the core mechanics and strategic depth are appreciated, the experience can be hampered by technical flaws and personal preferences regarding gameplay style.
- “The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable and was the right challenge for me.”
- “Overall, the gameplay of Golem Gates is quite fast-paced compared to other RTS games, very varied, stimulating, and generally quite well done.”
- “The gameplay is fresh and interesting, and you never truly know what your opponent will do at any point, as even in the middle of a fight they may throw you a curveball with a spell or buff you didn’t see coming.”
- “Huge problems with gameplay where units sometimes get stuck on literally nothing.”
- “Gameplay is hamstrung by very poor pathing.”
- “Gameplay feels very slow, almost clunky due to the pathing issues I encountered.”
story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
7%
The game's story is described as engaging and well-told, set in a minimalist techno/cyber world that evokes a sci-fi movie feel, despite its brevity and somewhat repetitive mission objectives. Players appreciate the immersive narration and the dark, complex moral landscape, though some feel the campaign lacks depth and tactical decision-making. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it effectively keeps players invested throughout the campaign's 15 missions.
- “It's not the longest campaign (after all it's not a AAA release and the campaign isn't the main focus), however the story was actually pretty good in a minimalist techno/cyber way.”
- “It's not going to set the world alight with original storytelling, but what is here is very well told, and done with more than a hint of menace. This is not a terribly nice world, and even the good guys feel more like the good guys who cleanse by exterminatus as opposed to the 'we save the world with hugs and happiness' as you might expect from a more black and white game.”
- “I really liked the story’s direction and I hope that it will turn out great by the time all three acts of the campaign are released.”
- “The game gets boring without making players care for the story progression or the character you're using.”
- “The game features a fifteen mission campaign with repetitive objectives (capture these locations, then defeat the enemy base), a challenge mode with much more interesting scenarios, a survival mode, and versus play against the AI or online that needs more maps.”
- “The story is currently in its infancy but it has quite a bit of potential.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique art style, high-quality textures, and detailed models, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlighted the game's modern and gritty aesthetic, noting that it stands out in the RTS genre with its creative visual design. While some found the graphics to be above average for an indie title, others pointed out minor issues like pathing and distractions in the environment.
- “I was attracted to this game by the graphics, the demon punk look, and it didn't disappoint.”
- “The graphics are well above the indie average, but the art direction and design are even more impressive.”
- “The developers in this game know how to really use their engine and have put together a great set of graphics which made me enjoy even the smallest skirmishes.”
- “The graphics are serviceable, the sound is actually decent, bordering on good, the whole thing adds up to a competently executed package which in the moment to moment play would be good enough save for the one neat twist to this, the deckbuilding system.”
- “Sound and graphical presentation are kind of okay, I would say average at the moment, given the engine.”
- “Its gritty, obscure, and very dark in its aesthetic while maintaining a very modern, crisp look to the graphics and the creative imaging of this underworld shows no limits.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
28%
17%
The music in the game has received high praise for its engaging and well-composed soundtrack, featuring dark electronic instrumentation and gothic melodies that enhance the overall atmosphere. Many reviewers recommend purchasing the soundtrack separately, highlighting its epic and immersive qualities that complement the gameplay. While some feel certain tracks may seem out of place, the majority agree that the music significantly contributes to the game's captivating experience.
- “Also, I highly recommend putting 'Golem Gates OST' into the internet and listen to the roaring, epic, Blade Runner-inspired, electronic soundtrack.”
- “Dark and majestic melodies with a touch of gothic elegance, the soundtrack is a perfect accompaniment for your death marches and dimensional summoning of hordes to fight under your command.”
- “The music helps to set the stage and is in no way distracting from the gameplay experience, which I always consider a positive.”
- “A little hit or miss; at times it felt like someone was looking through YouTube for the heaviest music they could find and threw it in the game without a second thought.”
- “The music in this game has gone for an eerie, robotic style.”
- “I think they should sell the soundtrack separately.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game faces optimization challenges, particularly for high-end systems, with users reporting unstable framerates even on powerful GPUs like the GTX 1080, necessitating a drop to 1080p resolution for smoother gameplay. While some players noted that the visual fidelity did not significantly hinder performance, overall improvements in optimization are recommended.
- “I found this game to be quite heavy on the GPU side; even with a GTX 1080, I was forced to play on 1080p (normally I play on 1440p) because of unstable framerates below 45 fps at that resolution. Some better optimization may be good, but generally, it runs fine.”
- “Had some optimization issues with high-end computer.”
- “The best part about it though was that none of this eye candy had any noticeable impact on my performance.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating visuals, character design, and immersive soundscapes, which create a uniquely grim and engaging environment. Players appreciate the slower pace that allows them to fully experience the ominous music and horrific sound design, enhancing the overall tension and depth of the gameplay. The setting, characterized by a barren landscape and the manipulation of nanites, further contributes to the game's distinctive and atmospheric experience.
- “I am not much of an RTS fan, but the atmosphere in this game draws me in with its visuals, character design, and sounds.”
- “The game has lovely graphics and atmosphere, and the main thing that swings it for me is that it's not played at too fast of a pace.”
- “Everything is given such a particularly grim atmosphere through such fantastically horrific sound design and absolutely ominous music.”
- “It's a game where you have to protect your harbinger in a really cool battle environment, where you have to manipulate and command nanites from the ash, which is a power that has manifested itself into your world's barren atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and easy, often feeling that the gameplay can be sluggish and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience, especially in a collectible card game/real-time strategy hybrid.
- “They're almost all easy and tedious.”
- “I had some problems with units not responding as fast as I felt they should. At times, the gameplay can feel sluggish and tedious, which is definitely a negative for me in a CCG/RTS hybrid.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the reviewer may not typically enjoy real-time strategy games, they find the character development compelling due to the game's engaging visuals, character design, and sound, which enhance the overall atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere in this game draws me in with its visuals, character design, and sounds.”
- “The character development is incredibly rich, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, their growth feels natural and impactful.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game features no microtransactions requiring real money, indicating a monetization model that avoids additional costs for players.
- “There are no microtransactions to pay with real money.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without requiring additional purchases.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should just to enjoy the game.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
- “The constant barrage of in-game ads and offers disrupts the gameplay experience and feels overwhelming.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is noted to be effective and engaging, adding a layer of depth that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the cleverness of the jokes and comedic elements, which contribute positively to the game's narrative and gameplay.
- “The humor in this game is genuinely hilarious and adds a unique charm to the overall experience.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game.”
- “The comedic timing and absurd situations kept me entertained and made the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the game's high replayability due to daily challenges and the introduction of new cards, which keep the experience fresh and engaging.
- “I love the challenges and the new cards daily, which means this game has great replay value.”
- “The variety of challenges keeps me coming back for more; I never get bored!”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh thanks to the dynamic content updates and different strategies to explore.”