Horizon's Gate

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 879 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Horizon's Gate Game Cover
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In "Horizon's Gate," set sail in a fantasy world and shape your journey as an explorer, trader, or pirate. Recruit a crew from 8 races, unlock 36 classes, and engage in tactical land and sea combat. Your choices serve one of three factions, amass wealth, or become a pirate, while abilities offer creative solutions to environmental challenges in this unique world.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 879 reviews
story46 positive mentions
grinding45 negative mentions
  • Horizon’s Gate combines the exploration and trading mechanics of Uncharted Waters with the tactical combat of Final Fantasy Tactics, creating a unique and engaging experience.
  • The game features a deep class system with a wide variety of classes and abilities, allowing for extensive character customization and strategic depth in combat.
  • The exploration aspect is rewarding, with numerous locations to discover, secrets to uncover, and a charming world filled with lore and interesting interactions.
  • The story is minimal and feels underdeveloped, with only a few key plot points and limited character development throughout the game.
  • Some players may find the naval trading mechanics to be simplistic and repetitive, lacking the depth found in other trading sims.
  • The game can feel grindy at times, especially when trying to level up characters or gather resources, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • story286 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and often takes a backseat to its sandbox gameplay, with players experiencing a basic narrative framework primarily during the introduction and conclusion. While some players appreciate the freedom to explore and create their own stories, many express a desire for a more developed and engaging plot, noting that the main quest feels short and lacks depth. Overall, the focus is on gameplay mechanics and exploration rather than a rich narrative experience.

    • “Its the pacing, progression, the cohesion, and the well thought out story that only a craftsman game developer would be able to design that impresses me the most with this game.”
    • “The quests are simple but enjoyable, and the fact they are this way means they do not overtake the sandbox aspect of the game, allowing you to immerse and create your own stories and scenarios if you so wish.”
    • “Light on story but really rich in building out a unique world.”
    • “The storyline and quest system are shallow, so people looking for a deep character-driven narrative will be disappointed.”
    • “The main quest is also very short, being only the tutorial + one fleet battle + one final dungeon with a handful of battles.”
    • “The story is very minimal, with little to no plot outside of the intro and final dungeon.”
  • gameplay212 mentions

    The gameplay of "Horizon’s Gate" is characterized by a rich blend of tactical turn-based combat, exploration, and trading mechanics, offering players a deep and engaging experience. While the naval combat and trading systems are generally enjoyable, some players find them repetitive and lacking in depth compared to the more robust land combat mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its customization options, satisfying gameplay loops, and the ability to tailor difficulty, making it appealing to both veterans of the genre and newcomers alike.

    • “The joy of class discovery and customization, the depth of available mods that add to the playtime, and the seamless duality of gameplay from sailing to role-playing all create an immersive and captivating experience.”
    • “It combines the exploration, discovery, and trade merchant elements of Uncharted Waters 2 with the (much accelerated) combat mechanics, depth, and diversity of Final Fantasy Tactics.”
    • “The core of this game focuses on tactical gameplay and it does it incredibly well.”
    • “There is a lot of things to do, but if the core gameplay of trading until you have money, doing stuff, and then more trading (which is just going from any port to another, no price tracker needed or anything like that) is not enjoyable, then the game will probably not be great.”
    • “I couldn't get to the gameplay because the controls were so weird and unintuitive.”
    • “For me personally, the main gameplay loop of spending 15 minutes of heading to a port to buy goods, sail for another 15 minutes to another port at the other side of the map and selling the goods, with a brief combat encounter with pirates along the way is enough to keep me engaged, but there's honestly not a lot outside of that.”
  • music107 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, varied, and nostalgic qualities, often drawing inspiration from classic JRPG soundtracks. While some players noted occasional ill-fitting tracks or a lack of original compositions, the overall sentiment highlights the music's ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and charm, making it a memorable aspect of the experience. Many reviewers found themselves humming the tunes long after playing, underscoring the soundtrack's impact on their enjoyment.

    • “And the soundtrack is very good, seeming to take inspiration from lots of classic JRPGs, which feels familiar in a very good way.”
    • “The soundtrack is really great and really sets the mood for each town.”
    • “The music ranges from spooky to cheerful to pounding, and it's one of the few games I've played recently where I've found myself humming snippets of the music after I've stopped playing.”
    • “I found the music ill-fitting a lot of the time.”
    • “There was an issue with the soundtrack for me.”
    • “The soundtrack, while somewhat repetitive after a few hours, never got old to me.”
  • graphics94 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly pixel-based, evoking nostalgia for classic 16-bit titles, which some players find charming while others consider simplistic or unappealing. Despite the retro aesthetic, many reviews highlight the game's engaging mechanics and interactive world, suggesting that the visuals do not detract from the overall experience. While opinions vary, those who appreciate pixel art often find it enhances the game's character and depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The graphics in the game are absolutely stunning and will definitely leave an impression on players.”
    • “The graphics are charming, the combat is well-balanced, the mechanics are interesting, and the lore is intriguing.”
    • “Don't let the SNES-era graphics fool you; there is a lot of richness and depth here.”
    • “The graphics are simplistic (and sometimes a bit unclear to be honest), but that's pretty much my only gripe.”
    • “The graphics are where this game suffered the most, but they have done remarkably well with what they had available.”
    • “For how interesting the world is, I'm not sure that the art style does it justice.”
  • grinding48 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely noted as both enjoyable and tedious, with many players feeling that the amount of grinding required for leveling up characters, ships, and fame is excessive. While some appreciate the exploration and unique encounters, others find the repetitive nature of tasks, such as sailing and resource gathering, to be a chore, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall grindiness of the experience. Ultimately, the game caters to those who enjoy extensive grinding, but it may frustrate players seeking a more streamlined progression.

    • “Somehow though, it's not tedious to play - I'd quite like to know why Domino's Pizza wants to destroy Commodore Amiga; maybe I'll find out one day.”
    • “It has the same vibe and chill play style, but no farming.”
    • “After the tutorial, there's no direction and no grinding spots for loot, money, and experience.”
    • “There is a lot (like an absurd amount) of moving around, which made me go for the faster boats instead of the stronger boats; most locations are two rooms and underwhelming; and reaching maximum levels in stuff (characters, ports, ships) takes a lot more grinding than should be necessary.”
    • “I explored the entire map and got pretty much every single location and entry in the journal and I only had a little above 4000 exploration fame after doing that. Maybe if you find every single pixel on the map you might get to 5000, but grinding for the rest by finding monster dens gives you like 1 fame, and trying to grind the other fames is a chore (I finished the entire game with less than 2000 in both, after 30+ hours of playing).”
    • “To shorten it, I don't like the progression loop solely due to how much time you have to devote to grinding for minimal gain.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers significant replay value through side quests, exploration, and the ability to unlock all races after completion, others criticize its limited storytelling and writing, which can diminish the overall experience. The workshop feature is highlighted as a major contributor to replayability, but some players desire more depth and variety to enhance the sandbox experience. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some comparing its replayability favorably to titles like Skyrim, while others feel it lacks sufficient content for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The workshop gives you a ton of replayability, added to a game that's also replayable as hell.”
    • “After completing the game, you unlock all races as playable characters, so there is also replay value.”
    • “As you can probably tell by the hours I have sunk into this game, there is a lot to do with a lot of replayability, and I still have yet to even start the main quest.”
    • “At its worst, it has limited writing and storytelling and provides relatively low replayability (once you've done more or less everything there is to do in the game, which will certainly take less than 100 hours even if you take your time).”
    • “There is little to no replay value in this game.”
    • “I guess what I'm saying is I want more lore; this would create a deeper sandbox for increased replayability.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of clever writing and whimsical interactions, reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with amusing descriptions of mundane objects and funny character dynamics. Players appreciate the comedic elements in gameplay, such as absurd naval combat scenarios and the humorous consequences of their actions, which enhance the overall experience. While some aspects, like finding trainers, may lack humor, the game's charm lies in its ability to balance lightheartedness with deeper themes.

    • “I enjoyed the naval combat and exploration, and the characterization of your crew was fun and funny.”
    • “You can 'look' at almost anything which adds an entry to your journal, and even the most mundane objects have interesting, humorous, and nuanced descriptions.”
    • “Funny character interactions, incredible worldbuilding, and an engrossing guide character are really the cherry on top of a really robust system.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic homage to classic JRPGs, featuring rich lore and immersive environments, particularly in longer dungeons. While the overall ambiance and music create a relaxing exploration experience, some survival elements detract from this enjoyment by introducing unnecessary stress.

    • “It's very reminiscent in its atmosphere of old JRPGs, but in a good and not 'humoristic' way.”
    • “Great lore and atmosphere.”
    • “Love the atmosphere and music in the game; it is really relaxing to come home after work and just explore around in my ship.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, describing it as fun, cute, and at times heartbreaking. The depth of the crafting system and character development fosters a sense of continuous discovery, making the experience feel rewarding and immersive. Overall, the emotional impact is enhanced by the freedom to explore and experiment, reminiscent of classic RPGs.

    • “This game is worth every penny; it has more depth than a lot of modern releases and really made me feel like I was discovering something new.”
    • “I played 30 hours without touching the main quest; it feels like Fallout and Elder Scrolls playing that way.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with few significant issues reported. While some players experienced specific bugs, such as the ending script not triggering and character visibility problems, these were not widespread. The developers have effectively created a versatile experience, though players are advised to save frequently during transactions to avoid potential glitches.

    • “Relatively bug-free; just be sure to save before buying, selling, or looting equipment.”
    • “The ending script didn't trigger when it threw me back to the world map, and I was left traveling around it in a buggy state where my characters wouldn't even show up.”
    • “Other than that, yeah, I don't think there were many issues I really had, whether fighting with the UI or other really pressing glitches.”
    • “The devs did an amazing job covering for the lack by making everything extremely versatile and sandboxy, and it is feature complete - no content is missing or buggy, there's just not too much of it.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth and engagement, with some players noting a basic premise and overarching goals but minimal storytelling. However, others appreciate the potential for exploration and highlight the presence of deeper character development in certain combat systems, contrasting it with previous iterations. Overall, the feedback suggests a mixed experience regarding character growth and narrative depth.

    • “There's much to explore in both the overworld and in character development.”
    • “... but it also adds really great tactical combat outside of the sea battles with much deeper character development.”
    • “The only downside for me is the lack of story and character development.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, players report mixed experiences with optimization, noting that while combat is engaging and allows for strategic team adjustments, performance issues arise during intense scenarios like sailing and high-level battles. Some users have encountered technical difficulties that detract from the overall experience, particularly in challenging combat situations.

    • “Some of the higher-level pirates, battle fleets, dojo trials, and endgame fights are absolutely brutal; you will turtle up to apply group buffs and be group stunned or hit by a fully optimized AoE.”
    • “Combat was fun, and I never felt like I was fighting against the system. I was always looking to tweak my team for the best performance.”
    • “I managed to get Proton working, but the performance is not good while sailing.”
    • “Technical issues and performance.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

34hMedian play time
36hAverage play time
10-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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