King Arthur: Knight's Tale
- April 26, 2022
- NeocoreGames
- 25h median play time
Regardless of your King Arthur fandom, Knights Tale is a feast with meaty tactics, a sumptuous story, and luscious visuals, all fit for a king.
Get on Steam"King Arthur: Knight's Tale" is a role-playing tactical game where you play as Sir Mordred, King Arthur's nemesis, brought back to life to finish what you started and kill King Arthur. Experience a unique blend of turn-based tactical combat and RPG character management, as you explore a dark fantasy version of the Arthurian mythology, make moral choices, and rebuild Camelot in a land on the brink of ruin.
PC
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Engaging tactical combat with a variety of classes and unique abilities for each knight.
- Rich atmosphere and dark take on Arthurian legend, with well-crafted visuals and sound design.
- Meaningful choices in morality and character recruitment that enhance replayability.
- Repetitive gameplay with similar missions and enemy types that can become tedious over time.
- Limited character customization and inability to change equipment during missions, leading to frustration.
- Significant difficulty spikes in later acts that can make the game feel unbalanced and punishing.
- story3,857 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "King Arthur: Knight's Tale" is generally described as engaging and offers a unique twist on the classic Arthurian legend, focusing on the character of Mordred as an anti-hero. While many players appreciate the dark atmosphere and character development, some criticize the writing quality and repetitiveness of missions, leading to a sense of monotony as the game progresses. Overall, the narrative is seen as solid but not groundbreaking, with a mix of interesting lore and predictable elements that may not captivate all players.
“The game offers a rich story, diverse character development, and challenging gameplay.”
“The story is quite good as well.”
“The story is engaging, recruiting and battling with new heroes is fun.”
“Some of the writing is straight garbage and a more experienced writer could have gotten more mileage out of the story.”
“The story is completely bland starting by putting you in the shoes of a hatred knight and then telling you that you need to retake a throne for the greater good (so wasn't I supposed to be a bad guy?).”
“The edgy story and setting quickly get predictable and boring.”
- gameplay1,048 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "King Arthur: Knight's Tale" is characterized by a mix of turn-based tactical combat and RPG elements, drawing comparisons to titles like XCOM and Darkest Dungeon. While many players appreciate the depth of mechanics, character development, and the engaging combat system, there are frequent criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay, simplistic mechanics, and a lack of diverse challenges. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation for strategy enthusiasts, but its repetitive nature and some frustrating mechanics may detract from the experience for others.
“Its unique take on the Arthurian legend, combined with challenging gameplay and a richly detailed world, makes it a standout title in its genre.”
“The mechanics are engaging and interesting; every choice feels like it matters, whether in dialogue, choosing what to do with your units, or choosing what to do with your gold and resources.”
“Gameplay is excellent, with multiple hero classes and some minor variation available between characters of the same class by way of a tiered skill system with choices that feel like they matter across the greater span of the game.”
“The gameplay loop did get repetitive for me, mostly because there weren't sufficiently diverse challenges within the game to make use of all the awesome tools my characters had earned throughout the main game.”
“In terms of gameplay, the main problem is that the battles aren't really tactical; they just involve getting swamped by the same 3 enemies every battle (shield dude, archer dude, two-handed dude).”
“Gameplay becomes rather dull pretty quick, missions are very much alike each other, UI is horrible and - oh god, don't even get me started about the plot.”
- graphics762 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the dark, gothic art style and detailed character designs, while others criticize the repetitive and bland environments, as well as performance issues, particularly on AMD graphics cards. Some players appreciate the atmospheric visuals and cinematic quality, but note that the overall aesthetic can feel monotonous and dated, lacking variety and polish. Despite these criticisms, many agree that the graphics contribute positively to the game's immersive experience, though they may not meet the expectations set by more modern titles.
“The voice acting is pretty good, the graphics above average, and the music is okay, not great, not bad.”
“The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, creating an immersive and atmospheric experience that really brings the Arthurian legend to life.”
“The graphics have amazing attention to detail and are blended perfectly with the world they're going with here.”
“The graphics are dull and depressing.”
“It's mediocre with a lot of tediousness, poorly explained mechanics and very grey dull graphics.”
“The graphics are deceptively very bad and the fog of war on every map gets old fast.”
- music346 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its decent quality and atmospheric fit for the setting, but also highlighting its repetitiveness and lack of memorable tracks. While some praise the soundtrack as beautiful and immersive, others find it dull and unvaried, leading to a desire for more diverse compositions. Overall, the music enhances the game's ambiance but may not leave a lasting impression on players.
“With a talented cast of voice actors and an excellent soundtrack, the game's audio design adds even more depth and immersion to an already exceptional game.”
“The music is really good and relaxing.”
“The soundtrack is great and really adds to the feel and atmosphere of the game.”
“Music is repetitive/boring.”
“The soundtrack is pretty awful.”
“I hated the music, found it to be boring and the same tracks played way too often during battles, so I turned it off.”
- atmosphere230 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and dark aesthetic, effectively capturing the essence of Arthurian legend and Gaelic fantasy. Reviewers highlight the combination of atmospheric visuals, fitting soundtracks, and thematic lore, creating a compelling and gritty experience that enhances gameplay. While some note that the atmosphere can feel repetitive in later stages, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's appeal and engagement.
“The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, creating an immersive and atmospheric experience that really brings the Arthurian legend to life.”
“Filled with atmosphere & grit, story & lore, and stellar production values -- it never got stale for me.”
“The setting, atmosphere, story, and presentation are all stellar -- they absolutely nailed what it appears they set out to do here.”
“Cons - the repetitive atmosphere with maps being reused started to get to me in the late game.”
“I really wish the developers left the blood splatter as it is without it disappearing as it adds to the immersion given the gloomy atmosphere with gore and death.”
“The atmosphere is dark, the graphics and the sound underline it.”
- optimization220 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 35 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems. The large file size and poor graphical performance further exacerbate these problems, leading to a frustrating experience for many users. While some updates have improved performance slightly, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and not recommended for those without powerful hardware.
“A satisfying tactical turn-based RPG with fun team and gear optimization elements.”
“They have now optimized the game in response to community feedback, and it's now roughly 40GB.”
“Update: the game is much better optimized at this point and they even decreased the file size significantly some time back.”
“The characters and their aptitudes seem nice, it's just too bad that the game is unplayable because of the bad optimization and those huge FPS drops.”
“If you buy this game on sale, make sure you install it and attempt to play it; I had to request a refund because the frame-rate and stuttering make it unplayable.”
“There are some major performance issues with the game which seem to stem from a lack of optimization, which can cause lag or crashes on some missions and also mean the file size is ridiculously large to download.”
- replayability190 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its random loot, diverse character alignments, and a morality system that influences gameplay outcomes and unlocks different content. Players can experiment with various strategies and party compositions, enhancing the overall experience. However, some reviewers noted that the linear mission structure may limit long-term replay value, leading to potential repetitiveness.
“The treasure that you find on the map and the equipment in the stores are random, which gives the game great replayability.”
“Great replayability with different morality paths to take, choices to make, and knights to recruit.”
“The morality system is an interesting mechanic that lends the game depth and replayability.”
“Low replayability - long missions for no reason with static encounters.”
“In a way, this makes it have some replayability... but it doesn't, unfortunately, because the game becomes a slog when you replay it and have seen the missions before.”
“Overall a 6/10, definitely not bad but gets stale fast and has almost no replayability worth talking about.”
- grinding124 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game suffers from excessive grinding, with many players finding the combat and exploration tedious and repetitive, particularly as the game progresses. While some enjoy the combat mechanics and side quests, the overall experience is marred by a lack of variety in missions and characters, leading to a feeling of monotony. Players often express frustration with the slow pacing and the necessity of grinding to progress, making the game feel longer and less engaging than desired.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“By the end, it was a slog and a bit grindy, and I was glad to end it though.”
“The game is super slow and grindy across all fronts: the story is obtuse and confusing; characters are uninteresting, don't banter with each other, and have no interaction among themselves; castle meta progression is uninspired and unsatisfying; combat and missions, while having a decent enough system underneath, end up being samey and repetitive.”
“Grindy missions with no rewarding loot, the frustrating system of healing injuries vs vitality, and the overall repetition makes for a weak experience.”
- stability89 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs, graphical glitches, and occasional crashes, particularly during specific missions or when certain effects are present. While some users have experienced a relatively stable gameplay experience, others have faced significant performance issues, including system freezes and lost save files. Overall, the game is considered to be in a buggy state, with players hoping for future patches to improve stability.
“The game for me has been very stable and bug free.”
“I have been playing after all patches and now the game runs great.”
“As long as you have the bandwidth to download the game and storage space, it runs great and the gameplay is very fun.”
“Game crashes mid-stage on certain maps and even scrolling over certain parts freezes your whole rig.”
“I have crashed 4 times in 33 hours, soft locked twice, lost a save twice (in fact my first campaign was lost because it seemed to have never made a save file in the first place), and encountered many graphical bugs including glitches, frame rate drops, and texture problems.”
“No communication since launch, would hardly call this a game in the current state - incredibly buggy, shallow gameplay and frankly abysmal scripting and voice acting - which I would forgive if there was even the slightest sign of activity 3 months after purchasing a game that is theoretically in active development.”
- character development59 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and variety, particularly in character design and personality, while others criticize it as shallow or lacking. Many players appreciate the integration of a morality system and the uniqueness of characters, but some feel disconnected from the narrative and find the overall development insufficient. Overall, the game offers a blend of character development and engaging gameplay, though opinions vary widely on its effectiveness.
“The dialog and story are clever, and character development is top-notch.”
“Great game with lots of depth and character development.”
“Love the character development throughout the game!”
“No character development.”
“Shallow character development.”
“Even with character development and a decent world to play in, I somehow still feel disconnected from the game.”
- humor29 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as sparse but occasionally effective, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter, particularly from the over-the-top voice acting of characters like the zombie knight. While some players find the unintentional humor from bugs and voice acting amusing, others feel it detracts from immersion and the overall tone. Overall, the game has potential for humor, especially with its grumpy main character, but it could benefit from richer character interactions and more polished voice performances.
“I burst out laughing when some zombie knight, with a voice so gravelly it would put Batman to shame, said 'we will drench the earth with your blood'.”
“The black knight is as hilarious as it is bad; I strongly recommend recruiting him for the amusement, but I can't take him seriously, which I thought was the tone of the game.”
“You play as Sir Mordred, the guy in overlord costume, who behaves like one, but unlike the original overlord, he does speak and he is funny as hell.”
- monetization16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and in-game purchases, allowing players to fully enjoy the experience without distractions. Reviewers appreciate the developers' passion and commitment to creating a genuine gaming experience, contrasting it with other titles perceived as cash grabs. However, some concerns about game balance and developer communication have been raised, leading to mixed feelings about long-term support.
“Thankfully, there are no microtransactions or in-game purchases to detract from the experience.”
“After no updates since February after they promised monthly updates and basically zero feedback from the devs, don't buy this cash grab scam.”
“I recommend buying it if only to support the developers; here's to crossing our fingers this isn't just another quick cash grab like most EA games.”
“Stay away from the 40k titles; they are horrible lately and only getting worse cash grabs. Stay away from those types of studios, and go for games like this one to get a real game made by passionate developers.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with players expressing disappointment over a lack of engaging storylines and meaningful character interactions, such as the absence of the lady of the lake and celebratory moments. The gameplay is described as tedious and uninspiring, leading to a sense of emotional detachment, despite a lingering fear of losing invested champions. Overall, the game fails to evoke the intended emotional responses, leaving players feeling unfulfilled.
“I haven't lost a champion yet, but I fear the investment into and loss of said champion will be near heartbreaking.”
“The lady of the lake fails to make an appearance to thank you for rectifying her mistake, and there's no heartwarming compilation of your knights celebrating victory.”
“Never have I played a single-player buy-to-play game that made me feel like I was out of 4-7 different resources, currencies, energy, and health packs simultaneously.”
“No storyline, no reason to keep playing and boring storyline.”
“Boring story.”
Critic Reviews
King Arthur: Knight’s Tale
Regardless of your King Arthur fandom, Knights Tale is a feast with meaty tactics, a sumptuous story, and luscious visuals, all fit for a king.
90%King Arthur: Knight’s Tale Review
King Arthur is dead. Or at least he should be.
80%King Arthur: Knight’s Tale Review (PC)
King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is a clear departure from the King Arthur titles that Neocore Games is known for. It’s not just the new setting, but also the combat mechanics and the management aspect of your base of operations that makes the game very engaging. Although I’d hoped King Arthur: Knight’s Tale would be something different than what we’re used to, I certainly didn’t expect it to be so good. If you’re a fan of turn-based strategy games and love a compelling, yet dark story, I can’t recommend King Arthur: Knight’s Tale enough, it’s an exceptional game. Review code provided by the publisher.
85%
