Hardland

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 758 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Hardland Game Cover
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"Hardland is a single-player, open world fantasy game with a good plot and masterful graphics, featuring mild swearing, alcohol use, and surreal themes. As an adventurer in the kingdom of Hardland, you'll uncover secrets, solve mysteries, and search for clues to influence the power struggle between the Elder King, the Queen in Snow Peak, and shadowy forces. The game encourages exploration and delving deep into the stories of its inhabitants for a memorable and hilarious experience."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 758 reviews
story54 positive mentions
optimization6 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and unique art style that evokes a whimsical, fairy-tale atmosphere.
  • Engaging exploration with a sense of mystery, encouraging players to discover secrets and interact with the environment.
  • Regular updates from developers show commitment to improving the game and adding content.
  • Game feels incomplete and lacks a clear storyline or quest tracking, leading to confusion and aimlessness.
  • Frequent bugs and crashes, particularly during transitions, can disrupt gameplay and lead to loss of progress.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel unbalanced, with enemies often dealing excessive damage.
  • story322 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its dark undertones and unique world-building, while others criticize the lack of a coherent narrative and quest tracking. Many enjoy the challenge of deciphering quests without guidance, likening it to a nostalgic, old-school RPG experience, but others find the absence of a quest log frustrating and indicative of lazy development. Overall, while the potential for a rich story exists, it remains underdeveloped, leading to a sense of aimlessness for some players.

    • “The surreal story is exciting and captivating, and you always want to find out more.”
    • “Cleverly written and wrapped in layers of symbolism, it gives you the feeling like you're making things up as you go along but comes together quite brilliantly at a number of points when multiple quest lines converge in a real 'aha!' moment.”
    • “Hardland is an open-world RPG that does things differently; beyond its beautiful clay art style, it has a brilliant story, and a quest structure that, while hard to grasp for most, is wildly refreshing in a world where games love to hold your hand.”
    • “Story was non-existent and, after going dark for many months and then hiring a writer, is still weak and kind of doesn't make sense.”
    • “A big world full of potential and an art style that drew me in, only to find there is no content to this game, it's a huge empty island with not even a thread of a plot to follow, tough enemies and weak weapons make any form of combat boring, repetitive, and frustrating and there is no story to follow, not even one to really stumble into.”
    • “There is no storyline in the game, it's basically just a sandbox with random mobs scattered about and the devs have been silent since November 2017.”
  • graphics224 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and charming art style, often compared to claymation and reminiscent of classic titles like Fable. Players appreciate the stunning visuals and attention to detail, which create an enchanting and whimsical world, although some note that the gameplay may not fully match the quality of the graphics. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is a significant draw for many, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the people and the quests are charming, it's open world, everything is a mystery waiting to be solved, it's just amazing.”
    • “The graphics remind of claymation, and are truly what sets this game apart from others: not only the art design is amazing, but the overall quality is insane.”
    • “The graphics are still stunning, like claymation come to life, and there's a lot of small new touches like being able to rest and sit down on benches and things.”
    • “Even though Fable is old, the gaming industry hasn't really progressed that much graphics-wise for years.”
    • “As for my opinion, the game was basically a tech demo showing off the insanely creative style of almost claymation graphics.”
    • “They're worried about polishing the graphics (see the last update) and not worrying about the game experience at all!”
  • gameplay142 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its primitive mechanics and bugs that hinder the experience. While some appreciate the unique art style and potential for exploration, others find the combat shallow and the overall gameplay lacking depth and direction. Despite these criticisms, there are glimpses of enjoyable elements, suggesting that with further development, the game could improve significantly.

    • “Nevertheless, the art and design as well as the overall gameplay experience is still worth experiencing and has some of the more unique elements I've seen.”
    • “The gameplay is nice, nothing too complex or innovative, but good enough to keep the story going.”
    • “Hardland has a perfect balance between moderately challenging gameplay and the fun of exploration and looting.”
    • “The gameplay is riddled with bugs.”
    • “There is zero voice acting, there is no way to look at keybinds/controls (I cannot even draw my weapon), there is nothing to do in terms of gameplay at all.”
    • “Honestly, the game crashes all the time, some mechanics are broken, and there really isn't a whole lot to do.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its charm and ability to enhance the whimsical atmosphere, while others criticize it as sparse or boring. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's contribution to the game's lore and ambiance, but there are calls for more variety and depth in the music and sound effects. Overall, while the music is generally seen as pleasant, it is noted that improvements could elevate the gaming experience further.

    • “Besides the gorgeous graphics and charming music, there is a deeper and almost darker undertone to this fairy tale-like world.”
    • “It perfectly establishes the whimsy of the game, and when the music and lighting are tweaked during certain circumstances, they propel you into the surreality that gushes beneath the surface of this world.”
    • “Fantastic graphics, play control, great sound effects, and music.”
    • “And these negative points just go on, from map exploration that just does not feel rewarded to a boring soundtrack or if there would be any ambient sounds at all.”
    • “- boring soundtrack”
    • “Same enemies everywhere, same looking rooms, very dull sound effects and 'music'.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant issues such as long load times, slowdowns, and crashes, particularly in later stages. While some users have noted improvements in performance and frame rates after updates, others continue to experience glitches and unoptimized gameplay, indicating that the game remains rough around the edges despite its potential. Overall, the optimization is seen as a major area needing attention, with ongoing developer support being a positive aspect.

    • “The graphic style is great, the performance is good (with the random FPS fall, only for 1-2 seconds), but the most important part: the devs are pushing constant updates, content, and are here on the discussion board, ready to answer any question and repair any bug.”
    • “Edit 2 (9/18/15): Optimization got a big improvement as my FPS has had a huge jump, from an average of 20 to an average of 60!”
    • “A well optimized game!”
    • “The game is also badly optimized, started to get long load times, slow downs, and even crashes late into the game.”
    • “Horrible, glitchy, unoptimized and boring.”
    • “This game has potential, but my main issue with Hardland is the optimization.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny writing, hilarious character interactions, and absurd scenarios that often lead to laughter. The blend of beautiful visuals and quirky, surreal elements enhances the comedic experience, making exploration enjoyable and entertaining. Overall, the game is described as a delightful mix of humor and casual play, with memorable moments that keep players engaged.

    • “The writing is also quite funny; some dialogue exchanges had me bursting out laughing.”
    • “A strikingly beautiful and surreal journey into a world full of intrigue, action, bizarre lore, and humor.”
    • “The interactions are fun, funny, and sometimes downright crazy.”
    • “I have started over so many times from this bug, it's not funny.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is praised for its beautiful visuals, immersive world-building, and an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some describe it as bleak rather than surreal, others find it soothing and dreamy, making it a refreshing alternative to darker, more serious games. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players, particularly those who enjoy RPGs with depth.

    • “Beautiful looking mystery/adventure game with an amazing soundtrack, lore, and atmosphere.”
    • “The world-building in the story, atmosphere, and art is good and was enough for me to ignore the weaker parts of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere in the demo is soothing and the sound effects are very nice: everything feels a bit dreamy.”
    • “The atmosphere is more bleak than actually surreal as they like to claim.”
    • “Are you getting exhausted from playing games with a dark intimidating atmosphere that take themselves too seriously?”
    • “Recommended to RPG players who like Zelda but would like more depth and atmosphere.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, lagging, freezes, and crashes, which detract from the overall experience. Many users express frustration over incomplete features, such as controller support and sound, leading to the perception that the game is unfinished despite being in early access.

    • “There still seem to be some glitches like missing sounds, incomplete controller support (menus...) and action activation at the wrong time.”
    • “Horribly buggy, it almost seems unfair that the devs are charging people for such an unfinished product.”
    • “Technically, Hardland needs a lot of work (lagging, freezes, and crashes on my rig), but early access and all that.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to a tedious combat system and cumbersome armor management, which detracts from the overall exploration experience. The need to frequently change armor during battles adds to the annoyance, especially when bugs further complicate gameplay.

    • “A seemingly interesting exploration game completely ruined by bugs and a tedious combat system.”
    • “I found managing your armor really tedious, and I disliked changing out my armor in the middle of a fight in the menu because without it, I could be seriously hurt easily.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely linear and automatic, with health and stamina increasing upon leveling up without player input, and equipment requiring specific levels. This formulaic approach contributes to a sense of stagnation in character progression, making it difficult for the game to stand out in a crowded genre where unique character design is often the only distinguishing feature.

    • “Character development is linear and automatic (HP and stamina increase on level up without any additional input from the player); equipment has level requirements.”
    • “Static world RPGs are a dime a dozen; at this point, all that differentiates them is the character design.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing concerns about its abandonment and the presence of potentially fake reviews. Overall, players feel that the focus has shifted away from quality gameplay to profit-driven tactics.

    • “Dead game... abandoned and turned into a cash grab!”
    • “It seems to me to smell of a cash grab and get a lot of fake reviews posted.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the developers' heartfelt apology and their commitment to updating a title that many players had considered abandoned, demonstrating a genuine connection and responsiveness to the community's feelings.

    • “The developers have given a heartfelt apology and an update to a game that most of us had written off as abandonware.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Reviewers indicate that the game prioritizes visual appeal over replayability and depth, resulting in a perception of it being an average mid-tier indie RPG with limited incentive for repeated playthroughs.

    • “The focus on prettier graphics and visual effects over replay value and depth will ultimately lead to just another average mid-tier indie RPG.”
    • “The game lacks the depth and variety needed to encourage multiple playthroughs, making it feel more like a one-time experience.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the choices and outcomes feel limited and predictable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
2-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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