Grim Tides - Old School RPG | Game Brain

About

"Grim Tides - Old School RPG" is an adventure game with a wonderful story, great gameplay, phenomenal graphics, and fantastic music. However, it features heavy grinding, annoying ads, several bugs, and occasional humor. As a classic single player RPG, it offers a detailed and immersive fantasy world for players to explore.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 820 reviews

story127 positive mentions

monetization270 negative mentions

Engaging storyline with rich lore that keeps players invested.
No intrusive ads; players can choose to watch ads for in-game rewards.
Variety of character builds and customization options enhance gameplay.

Combat can feel repetitive and grindy, especially at higher levels.
Some players experience crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, particularly with certain enemy abilities.

monetization
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
4%
94%
The monetization strategy of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the minimal and non-intrusive ads that do not hinder gameplay. Most ads are optional and can be watched for in-game rewards, while a one-time purchase allows players to remove ads entirely, which many find reasonable. Overall, the game strikes a good balance between free access and monetization, avoiding aggressive paywalls or forced ads.
- “A very good game with little to no ads.”
- “The monetization is very fair.”
- “It's by no means pay to win, and the in-app purchases it does have are quite reasonable!”
- “The main issue is the ads; the push for monetization is not bad, but the ads are the issue.”
- “At level 10, the ads are no longer a choice; you get them thrust at you at the start of every dungeon, with no reward.”
- “The game itself is pretty decent, but it's ruined by frustratingly intrusive video ads that you have no control over.”
story
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The story in "Grim Tides" is generally well-received, characterized as engaging and immersive, with rich lore and detailed world-building that keeps players invested. While some find the narrative to be somewhat generic or slow-paced, many appreciate the depth and quality of the writing, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the storytelling is a highlight, drawing players into a captivating fantasy world filled with intriguing quests and character development.
- “The storytelling is amazingly great.”
- “The stories and descriptions behind not only the main quests and places but also for various events, items, skills, and character traits are immensely well written and create immersion.”
- “The story is immersive, and along with weapon modification, crafting potions, exploring the dungeons, and deciding how you want to build your character, you will never be bored.”
- “The story is alright, but just not very engaging.”
- “The storyline is well thought out.”
- “The story writing is a bit boring though but the game is good.”
gameplay
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by its old-school RPG atmosphere, featuring simple yet engaging mechanics that are easy to learn and suitable for mobile play. Players appreciate the balance between strategy and accessibility, with a satisfying gameplay loop that allows for character customization and varied combat experiences. While some find the gameplay repetitive over time, the overall design encourages casual play and offers a rich lore that enhances the experience.
- “The immediate saves, low battery demand, and round-based combat make it a perfect replacement for complex modern games based on the same mechanics.”
- “The mechanics are simple enough to pick up quickly but deep enough to encourage several play styles.”
- “Gameplay is both fun and simple.”
- “The gameplay is minimal.”
- “The gameplay feels grindy after a while; it could add more diversity to combat, followers, etc.”
- “Gameplay seems to be a bit repetitive after a couple of levels.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The graphics in the game have seen significant improvements, featuring colorful visuals, detailed character portraits, and a shift from monochrome to fully-colored art styles that enhance the storytelling experience. While not on par with AAA titles, the graphics are described as charming and suitable for the mobile platform, effectively complementing the game's lore and gameplay mechanics. Overall, players appreciate the aesthetic changes and the game's ability to deliver engaging content without relying on high-end graphics.
- “Great sequel to Grim Quest, the updated graphics and lighter theme make for a fresh yet new experience that is both fun and charming, just like its predecessor Grim Quest.”
- “The artwork, sound, and music are top-notch.”
- “Beautiful visuals, interesting gameplay, and a fascinating story.”
- “The graphics before were better.”
- “There are very limited graphics; in old school RPGs, you could see your character using their weapons/magic.”
- “One of the latest updates broke the graphics.”
grinding
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which many players find unbalanced and tedious, especially as they progress. While some appreciate the story and world-building, the repetitive nature of dungeon crawling and the slow progression can detract from the overall experience. However, a few players note that the grind can be rewarding and that the game still offers enjoyable elements despite its grindy core loop.
- “The world building and story is great, but annoyingly you have to do a lot of grindy dungeon crawling before you can really start the first quest.”
- “Unfortunately, it has a very grindy core loop which I honestly don't have time for.”
- “The game is pretty much just grinding the same short, uneventful dungeon over and over again.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
51%
10%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its nostalgic charm and ability to complement the storytelling and artwork. However, some players noted issues such as looping problems, audio compression, and occasional sound bugs that can detract from the experience during longer play sessions. Overall, while the music enhances the atmosphere, there are areas for improvement in audio quality and consistency.
- “It's a good, old-school traditional text-based RPG with decent musical background and great storytelling through texts and art.”
- “Very enjoyable game, the music is wonderful, the UI and art are amazing as well.”
- “The art stands out along with the music, complementing a harmony for the game, unlike its predecessor which focused on the dark fantasy aspect.”
- “The music has a bit of a looping issue in some spots, but I feel that almost adds to the experience.”
- “If I had to say something to have room for improvement, it would be the music audio quality.”
- “But there are certain issues the more you play; there are music bugs which you 'unlock' by playing more.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its immersive qualities, effectively blending old-school RPG elements with a rich, detailed world enhanced by art and music. While some players noted a jarring transition between exploration and combat themes, the overall tone is described as tense and engaging, appealing to those who appreciate darker narratives. Despite comparisons to other titles, the game's atmosphere is recognized as a significant strength, reflecting the developers' passion and care.
- “Great effort to create an old-school RPG atmosphere and smartphone-friendly gameplay.”
- “However, the story and the world the game creates is rich with detail, and the art and music create a quality background atmosphere.”
- “A huge disservice to the dark writing style that sets the atmosphere of the original game.”
- “Would recommend if you like a challenge and a darker tone adventure: creating the right tone and atmosphere is done really well.”
- “Great effort to create an old-school RPG atmosphere and a smartphone-friendly gameplay.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety of playstyles, customization options, and improved mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the repetitive elements and similar encounters diminish the experience for returning players. It is particularly noted as a good choice for casual gaming sessions, especially when offline, but may not offer enough novelty for those seeking extensive replay value.
- “If you like fantasy, worlds with well-written lore, and games with a lot of replayability, download this game and Grim Quest!”
- “A very satisfying time waster with lots of build potential and replayability.”
- “Varied playstyles are a treat, allowing for lots of replayability should you want to try a different class.”
- “Doesn't have that much replayability, but if you've got a few hours to kill while traveling without internet, then this is a great choice.”
- “The art style is newly decorated and complements a brighter story than Grim Quest, which may be more suitable to some. However, the UI and many of the random encounters are very much the same, making for a repetitive playthrough for returning players and reducing replayability.”
- “Now level 7 in the first campaign, so I cannot comment on the replayability factor yet.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the improvements in storyline and character crafting, others feel that it lacks depth and becomes stagnant after a few hours. Overall, the experience is enjoyable for many, particularly those new to the genre, but concerns about pacing and progression are noted.
- “There's character development, crafting, lore, and exploration of sorts. I'm a 35-year-old woman who has never played D&D but always liked the idea of it. I've picked up the premise quickly and have enjoyed the game so far!”
- “So far, I'm really enjoying the game. I haven't gotten that far yet, but I really like the improvements that the devs made, such as graphics, storyline, character development, and the overall theme of the game. I have both games downloaded now, and I really like both games a lot.”
- “There isn't very much character development, and I feel the experience falls off after you've played for a few hours.”
- “If you have to restrict players from progressing character development from the start of the game, it is a badly designed game.”
- “So far I'm really enjoying the game; I haven't gotten that far yet, but I really like the improvements that the devs made such as graphics, storyline, character development, and the overall theme of the game.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews; while some users report a reduction in lag, others experience frequent freezes and bugs, particularly during dungeon runs. However, a few players have noted that they encountered no glitches and found the rewards functioning properly. Overall, the game appears to have significant stability issues.
- “I have had no glitches, and the rewards worked fine for me.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows me to focus on strategy without interruptions.”
- “Overall lag reduction from your original was decreased to 3 - 5 seconds, though this version freezes, unlike the first one.”
- “At most, I can get halfway through a second dungeon run before it freezes and then restarts.”
- “Pretty buggy even before that.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the comedic elements such as funny scenarios and imagined sea shanties. While the game is appreciated for its humor, some players express a desire for more comedic dialogue and interactions, particularly in challenging situations, to enhance the overall experience.
- “I've sailed off in a ruined vessel more than once, which is funny.”
- “I imagined them singing sea shanties, etc. It was funny.”
- “It was so funny and on point I had to give the game a chance, and I'm glad I did.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to poor performance despite its appealing visuals and engaging gameplay. Users have reported that these optimization problems can severely impact the overall experience.
- “This game is extremely poorly optimized.”
- “The performance issues make it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- “Frequent frame drops and long loading times ruin the overall experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional response through its nostalgic charm, effective writing, and immersive worldbuilding, which together ignite players' imaginations while maintaining a user-friendly interface.
- “It's heart-warmingly old-school, with a suitably basic, convenient, and functional UI, good writing, and worldbuilding that sparks the player's imagination.”