Guardian Tales

"Guardian Tales" is a Role Playing game with an intriguing story, beautiful graphics, and ingenious music, offering a link to classic adventure. The game features amazing gameplay with a wholesome story and plenty of humor, but can be very grinding and buggy at times. Its high replayability makes it a great choice for those seeking a lengthy RPG experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,000 reviews

story2,935 positive mentions

grinding471 negative mentions

Engaging storyline with humorous and emotional moments.
Unique graphics and charming character designs.
F2P friendly with generous rewards and no intrusive ads.

Significant difficulty spikes in later worlds, particularly World 11.
Frequent crashes and lag issues, especially during loading screens.
Some players experience problems with the gacha system and low drop rates for unique characters.

story
5,075 mentions
58 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, humor, and emotional resonance, with many players noting its engaging narrative and well-developed characters. Reviewers appreciate the clever integration of pop culture references and the balance between lighthearted moments and darker themes, making the storyline both entertaining and thought-provoking. However, some players express frustration with difficulty spikes in later chapters, which can hinder their enjoyment of the story progression. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “This game tells a great (and depressing) story while having great gameplay with not many glitches.”
- “The story is beautiful with many twists and turns, along with so many fun characters.”
- “The writing for the main story is great; it can achieve being heartwarming, dark, and funny without feeling forced.”
- “What I'm finding really bad is the lack of story content being released, and a whole bunch of useless grind mechanics added in 'for more stats'.”
- “The story sounds not serious at all; it has goofy choices and all.”
- “The story is actually rubbish, like everybody is just OP and you suck, that's the story.”
gameplay
1,968 mentions
60 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, nostalgic references to classic titles like Zelda, and a well-crafted storyline. While the game offers a variety of gameplay modes, puzzles, and character interactions, some users have noted issues with difficulty spikes, grinding mechanics, and occasional lag. Overall, the gameplay is described as fun, fluid, and rewarding, making it a standout title in the mobile RPG genre.
- “The gameplay is wonderful, and the worlds and challenges are amazing.”
- “Gameplay is fun and the story is engaging, with plenty of side quests and character interactions.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and very optimized which is a big thumbs up to me.”
- “What I'm finding really bad is the lack of story content being released, and a whole bunch of useless grind mechanics added in 'for more stats'.”
- “The requirements to pass that level are ridiculously different from all the levels before, basically limiting the gameplay to nothing.”
- “The gameplay is way too easy and there is literally no challenge to be found here.”
graphics
1,329 mentions
65 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique blend of pixel art and modern 2D/3D elements, creating a visually appealing experience that resonates with nostalgia. Players appreciate the charming character designs, vibrant environments, and smooth animations, which enhance the overall gameplay and storytelling. However, some users have reported performance issues, such as lag and freezing, even on lower graphic settings, which detracts from the otherwise polished visual experience.
- “The graphics are a mix between 2D characters and 3D environments, which is much of my style. The evolution and awakening increases your stats and makes you feel stronger.”
- “The graphics are stunning! The blend of 2D pixel and 3D graphics works really well.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the gameplay is fun, and the gacha isn't half bad.”
- “It's a good game to be honest but the main issue while playing this game is the constant freezing, even though I put all the graphics in low, it's still freezing.”
- “The game is laggy and sometimes freezes, even in some maps, the game just freezes, lowering graphics quality or fps doesn't even help the situation, what's the point of having a gorgeous game like this if you can't play?”
- “I really like the game but the only thing that makes me sad is the fact that even with mid spec (8/128 RAM/ROM) phone I can't run this game at 60 fps; I can only run it around 40-45 fps at best. I hope they make the optimization for graphics a little better.”
humor
826 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and a mix of lighthearted and dark moments that enhance the storytelling. Players appreciate the abundance of pop culture references and easter eggs, which add a nostalgic and comedic touch to the gameplay. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant strength, making the game both entertaining and memorable.
- “The writing for the main story is great; it can achieve being heartwarming, dark, and funny without it feeling forced.”
- “The story is interesting and funny, and the characters with their voice acting are really amazing.”
- “The characters are enjoyable, and the plot manages a perfect balance of funny and genuinely emotional moments, especially in the later levels.”
grinding
483 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious, especially in the later stages where it becomes a significant barrier to progression. While some appreciate the improvements made to make grinding more manageable and less repetitive, others feel that the grind can become overwhelming and time-consuming, particularly after world 10. Overall, the game is considered relatively free-to-play friendly, offering various ways to earn resources without necessarily spending money, but the grind remains a common point of frustration for many players.
- “I honestly like it for the fact that it's not too grindy.”
- “Its fun, the characters are beloved, and the gameplay/upgrade system is balanced enough that it's not grindy but doesn't hold your hand through.”
- “Not very grindy like most gacha and very free-to-play friendly.”
- “After world 10 though, grinding becomes all you can do for months, and still not able to win.”
- “The grinding is tedious and annoying; there's not much variety of customization other than the characters themselves, and some balancing is in order with certain heroes and even PvE difficulty.”
- “World 11 gets far too tough for free-to-play players; the gacha pull rate is low, grinding is slow, and there's only girl characters unless you count the male knight.”
monetization
462 mentions
28 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the absence of intrusive ads and the option for microtransactions that are not necessary for progression. While some users note that in-game purchases can be expensive and feel like a cash grab, many emphasize that the game remains enjoyable and accessible without spending money. Overall, the game is praised for its fair monetization approach, allowing players to experience the full content without feeling pressured to pay.
- “You can boost your progress by microtransactions, but it isn't in your face at all.”
- “There are no ads which is really surprising for a free-to-play game, especially with a complex one like this.”
- “The loot is generous and rewarding, and the in-game purchases only provide convenience, not advantage.”
- “This game is just a cash grab.”
- “The current trend with mobile games is developers releasing unfinished games full of micro-transactions and ads.”
- “The only reason why it's a 4-star is because it takes a little bit to load and it crashes every once in a while; maybe you could make it have less storage as well, but other than that it's a really good game. It's not one of those cash grabs either; there's not even any ads and the resources are renewable and it's all balanced.”
music
240 mentions
63 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience and captures the mood of various scenes. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel of the music, often drawing comparisons to classic RPGs, while some note minor issues with audio glitches or repetitive tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music is great, the storyline and side quests are fun and the adventure aspect is amazing.”
- “The soundtrack is addictive and I want to dance to it.”
- “The music, art design, sound effects, and normal gameplay make the game a wonderful experience.”
- “The only complaint I have is that the option to turn down the music, voice, and sound effects doesn't stick around.”
- “The music is directly ripped off from some of the most popular RPGs like The Elder Scrolls and The Legend of Zelda.”
- “Good game, but the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because halfway through the tutorial, the music starts to get distorted and following that, 1 fps.”
stability
178 mentions
1 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, lagging, and crashing during gameplay, particularly during loading screens and critical moments. While some players have noted improvements after updates, many still experience persistent issues that disrupt their gaming experience, leading to frustration and the need to restart the app frequently. Overall, despite the engaging gameplay and story, the game's stability issues detract from its overall enjoyment.
- “The game runs great and is fun to play levels in.”
- “Combat encounters are fun, and I love this game overall!”
- “The game is fun and entertaining, but the low score is due to poor optimization, poor performance, constantly freezes, restarts.”
- “The content, events, characters, weapons, builds, teams, all of that is honestly amazing and I really wish to keep playing the game... but the game crashes, freezes, bugs at an unbelievable rate, and every time it happens I have to restart the game, and it's honestly keeping me from playing the game as much as I'd like to.”
- “I really like this game, but the guild hall is extremely buggy.”
character development
107 mentions
71 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is widely praised, with players highlighting the depth and uniqueness of each character's story and design. Many reviews note that the character designs are not only visually appealing but also contribute significantly to the overall narrative, making players feel attached to them. The game offers extensive opportunities for character growth through various gameplay elements, including side quests and strategic choices, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Best story I've played for a mobile game (for me at least, better than the more famous ones because this game has significant character development).”
- “The character design is surprisingly expressive and each hero has their own story.”
- “The story is fun and silly but has interesting plot and lore too and the character designs are beautiful.”
- “So expect a lot of grinding and waiting, but the story is alright and the character design is neat too.”
- “Fun but grindy, don't get me wrong, I love the story, character design, and game mechanics, but as a free-to-play player, it can get challenging very fast.”
- “Do far an amazing visual game with fairly easy to use controls and engrossing character development.”
emotional
98 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to tears. The storytelling is described as deep and impactful, featuring heartwarming, dark, and humorous moments that resonate with players, often leading to genuine emotional responses. Many reviewers highlight the well-developed characters and engaging plot twists that create an emotional rollercoaster, making the game a memorable experience.
- “The writing for the main story is great; it can achieve being heartwarming, dark, and funny without it feeling forced.”
- “The story is incredibly good with lots of emotional moments.”
- “This game made me feel things that other games couldn't!”
optimization
53 mentions
47 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate its smooth performance and beautiful graphics, numerous reports highlight issues such as frame drops, freezing, and crashes, particularly on mid to low-end devices. Users express a desire for better network optimization and options to adjust graphics settings for improved performance. Despite these concerns, the game's engaging gameplay and art style keep players invested, with hopes for future updates to address the optimization problems.
- “Overall, the game runs smoothly and is very addictive.”
- “Everything is gorgeous with a cute and colorful art style, and it is all optimized to run beautifully smooth.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and very optimized, which is a big thumbs up to me.”
- “Experiencing some slight in-game pauses ever since I installed it, and it ruins performance in timed content. I have already tried to fix the problem by reinstalling, but nothing has changed.”
- “The game is fun and entertaining, but the low score is due to poor optimization, poor performance, constantly freezing, and restarts.”
- “The game tends to run slow after a few minutes of gameplay. When I checked the RAM in the settings, it shows the game consumes 1GB worth of RAM. Please fix the optimization of this game for some phones; that's all my complaint.”
replayability
30 mentions
43 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with players praising its engaging gameplay, compelling story, and varied challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. Features such as replayable dungeons, character selection, and the pursuit of collectibles enhance the experience, making it rewarding and dynamic. While some users noted a desire for improved story replayability, the overall consensus highlights that the game effectively offers a rich and enjoyable replay experience.
- “This level-based, top-down action RPG does not disappoint; excellent visual presentation, combined with gameplay reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, makes for a unique experience that feels more like a 'proper' gacha title that knows you're here for the gameplay and replay value.”
- “It's one of those games that has high replay value because to get the full 3 stars for the maps or to complete the quests, you would have to unlock certain things and return to them, which makes this game both challenging and rewarding.”
- “Replayability is one of this game's greatest points!”
- “If you can't design a game with adequate replayability to do without the energy system, it demonstrates a little laziness.”
- “Only real complaints I have is the game doesn't have much replayability and the difficulty scaling in PvE is a bit too much.”
- “The only part I hope can be improved on is the story replayability option?”
atmosphere
11 mentions
55 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique storytelling, memorable characters, and a blend of lighthearted and darker undertones, creating an engaging experience. The 8-bit aesthetics and diverse settings, including medieval and technological elements, enhance the overall enjoyment, while the comedic tone adds to the fun. Players appreciate the balance of relaxing gameplay and immersive environments that draw them into the game's world.
- “The 8-bit aesthetics are also awesome coupled up with the atmosphere of the stories.”
- “This game is phenomenal, it has everything I wanted in a mobile game: solid story, relaxing gameplay, easy events, fun atmosphere, and it pulls you deep into it so much that you'll love every character in the game.”
- “The comedic atmosphere of the game makes it easier to laugh at jokes that aren't in the appropriate situations.”
- “This game has a mix of medieval backgrounds, Chinese atmosphere, and technological guns.”
- “The atmosphere looks simple and light, but has a ton of much darker undertones that make everything very well conceived!”