Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

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Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a single player hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by 38 Studios and was released on February 10, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" is a single-player, open-world fantasy hack and slash game with a unique atmosphere and intriguing story, brought to life by the creators of Spawn and New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore. It boasts great gameplay, stunning graphics, and soundtrack, but can be very grinding and buggy. Its high replayability makes for intense action combat and lots of laughs, resulting in an epic RPG experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning screenshot

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,725 reviews

story1.8k positive mentions

grinding211 negative mentions

Engaging combat system that allows for fluid transitions between melee, magic, and ranged attacks.
Rich world-building with a vibrant art style and a plethora of quests to explore.
Flexible character customization and progression system that encourages experimentation with different builds.

Repetitive quest design that often relies on fetch and kill objectives, leading to a sense of monotony.
Limited enemy variety and predictable combat encounters that can diminish the challenge over time.
Technical issues and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including game-breaking glitches and inventory management problems.

story
5,740 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The story of "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" is often described as a blend of classic fantasy tropes, featuring a protagonist known as the "fateless one" who is resurrected to change the course of fate in a war-torn world. While the main narrative is considered somewhat generic and predictable, many players appreciate the depth of lore and world-building, with numerous side quests that add richness to the experience, even if they can become repetitive. Overall, the storytelling is engaging enough to keep players invested, but it may not stand out compared to other RPGs in terms of originality or emotional impact.
- “The story itself is well-structured and provides a satisfying overarching mystery, but its true strength lies in its world-building.”
- “The extensive lore provides context to quests and character interactions, enhancing the overall narrative experience.”
- “The main story is interesting and well written, with lots of lore sprinkled around the game.”
- “The main storyline is shallow and generic (you will find yourself difficult to care at all), side quests are basically story-less chores and fetch tasks, and guild quests are poorly written and confusing.”
- “The story is pretty generic; you are risen from the dead as the 'chosen one' to go save the world because I said so.”
- “The quests are repetitive and boring, fighting the monsters is repetitive and boring, the action is repetitive and boring, leveling is repetitive and boring, the environments are meh, finding and upgrading gear is repetitive and boring, and the world design and lore isn't special or anything you haven't seen before.”
gameplay
1,488 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
The gameplay of "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" is characterized by its engaging combat mechanics, which blend hack-and-slash elements with RPG progression, allowing for a variety of playstyles through its flexible class system. Players appreciate the fluidity and responsiveness of the combat, alongside a rich crafting system that enhances character customization. However, some critiques highlight repetitive quest design and a lack of depth in storytelling, which can detract from the overall experience, making it feel somewhat like a single-player MMO. Despite these issues, the game offers a vast world to explore and a significant amount of content, providing hours of gameplay for those who enjoy action RPGs.
- “It fuses real-time, combo-driven mechanics with the strategic flexibility of traditional RPG progression.”
- “The gameplay is a true masterpiece, blending hack-and-slash combat with role-playing elements in the most seamless way imaginable.”
- “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning delivers exactly what it promises: a pitch-perfect fantasy RPG, with visceral, intuitive gameplay that is easy to pick up, difficult to master, wildly flexible and just plain fun, in a way that has yet to be seen in the genre.”
- “While it may initially capture your interest with its expansive world and promising combat system, the game ultimately falls short due to its lackluster storytelling, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues.”
- “The gameplay is not very gripping even as far as RPGs go.”
- “The gameplay craves a controller but then the UI requires a mouse/keyboard.”
graphics
1,466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The graphics of "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" are characterized by a vibrant, stylized aesthetic reminiscent of games like "World of Warcraft" and "Fable," which many players find charming despite being somewhat dated. While the visuals are colorful and detailed, they show signs of age, with some textures appearing low-resolution and occasional technical issues detracting from the experience. Overall, the game's unique art style and engaging environments contribute positively to its appeal, even if they don't match the graphical fidelity of more recent titles.
- “Visually, Amalur stands out for its vibrant and stylized aesthetic.”
- “The attention to detail in the environment is remarkable, with stunning visuals and varied locations that encourage exploration.”
- “The graphics and art style in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning are impressive, with a colorful and detailed world that is a pleasure to explore.”
- “The graphics are obviously dated.”
- “The graphics look very dated for a game released in 2012.”
- “The graphics are a little cartoony and the max resolution is 720p, but very colorful.”
music
370 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The music in "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" receives mixed reviews, with many praising its orchestral score composed by Grant Kirkhope for enhancing the game's atmosphere and immersion. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and fitting for various scenarios, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety, leading to moments of monotony during extended gameplay. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, though opinions vary on its memorability and impact.
- “From hauntingly beautiful ballads to adrenaline-pumping orchestrations, the music adds a layer of enchantment that enchants your senses and elevates the whole immersive experience.”
- “The game's soundtrack is also excellent, with a sweeping orchestral score that complements the game's epic story and setting.”
- “The music is soothing; it calms my nervous system down.”
- “The music is lacking and some of the game mechanics, like speech, lock picking and removing wards, are weak and could have had more time in the oven.”
- “The music, the art, the graphics, the animation, the color palette, the characters, the combat, the quests, the open world, the gameplay, the voicework -- all combine to give you a full, consistent, enjoyable experience.”
- “The soundtrack is terribly repetitive and NPCs like talking during battles which results in you missing half of what they are saying because the background noise is so loud.”
grinding
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the repetitive nature of quests—often involving fetch and kill tasks—tedious and uninspired. While some appreciate the abundance of content and the ability to level up quickly through side quests, others feel that the lack of variety in gameplay and the extensive backtracking can lead to boredom. Overall, the game offers a blend of enjoyable mechanics and grindy elements, appealing to those who enjoy RPGs but potentially frustrating for players seeking a more dynamic experience.
- “Combat is challenging, the story is amazing, and there is more than enough to do in terms of side quests (and no grindy ones either).”
- “There is no grinding required whatsoever in this game.”
- “There is absolutely no grinding.”
- “The game was fairly engrossing at first, but after 8 hours I just found each quest more and more tedious, and didn't even feel like blitzing through the main questline.”
- “Started promisingly, but turned into a tedious grind, and the QTE in the final fight is nonsense.”
- “The game maintained my interest throughout the whole playthrough, but I will admit that the side quests started feeling tedious and I started to ignore them altogether in favor of seeing how the main storyline plays out.”
replayability
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its extensive character customization, diverse builds, and numerous quests that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted limitations due to linear gameplay and the ability to respec abilities, which can reduce the incentive to replay. Overall, while many find significant replay value, others feel it lacks depth for repeated runs.
- “Amazing replay value and hours of fun discovering and unlocking new crafts and items.”
- “This game has amazing replay value - R.A. Salvatore is behind the game universe and lore, and Todd McFarlane does the art - and Grant Kirkhope does the fantastic musical score.”
- “Hours of fun, feels awesome to play (with or without a controller), and the infinite possibilities for character builds lend huge replayability.”
- “It has no replayability value and is quite short.”
- “Pick it up in a sale and it'll give you a good thirty hours or so of moderate entertainment, but it's a mostly unremarkable experience with next to no replay value.”
- “There isn't a ton of replay value, because you can reclass any time you want and experience everything the game has to offer the first time.”
stability
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and game-breaking issues that can severely impact gameplay. While some players have experienced minimal problems, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by technical issues, particularly in its original version, leading to a frustrating experience for many. The remastered version reportedly has fewer glitches, but players still advise frequent saving due to the game's instability.
- “Runs great on my 5+ year old desktop toaster, running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit.”
- “For the most part though, it is pretty bug-free and the game in general is very polished.”
- “It's a very stable and bug-free game; the downsides are all in the gameplay mechanics.”
- “Furthermore, the game's visuals, while impressive at times, are marred by frequent technical issues and glitches that can detract from the overall experience.”
- “Unfortunately, it has so many bugs and glitches that it's unplayable.”
- “The end product is far from what it was originally meant to be, and I by no means recommend this for anyone looking for a polished experience, with various glitches, bugs, and other shenanigans which can be pestering at times.”
humor
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it entertaining through quirky NPC interactions, funny dialogue, and amusing combat moments, such as characters being bested by trivial obstacles. However, some reviews note that the humor can feel repetitive or awkward, with a lack of polish in character animations leading to unintentional hilarity. Overall, while the game has its funny moments and clever quests, it could benefit from a more consistent and refined comedic approach.
- “It is hilarious to see your character, a spell-slinging badass who gets bested by a knee-high fence or a tree root.”
- “The humor was good and the story was great.”
- “This game is filled to the brim with incredible adventures, quirky and humorous dialogue, fantastic visual combat & spell casting.”
- “Think Fable 2 but less barebones, bigger, a bit buggier, not funny, less charming, hella more generic, and with uninteresting lore, plot, people, and world. There's more emphasis on having a huge map (with not much in it), and this game is very much 'go from point A to point B' rather than having unique quests with interesting characters or dungeon designs.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat, lacking the wit and charm that made similar games enjoyable. It feels forced and unoriginal.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off. It just doesn't land.”
character development
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and flexibility, allowing for multi-classing and a variety of skills, while others criticize it for being somewhat linear and lacking in meaningful relationships or standout characters. The character design is often described as repetitive and unoriginal, which detracts from the overall narrative experience. Despite these criticisms, many players find the character progression system engaging and enjoyable, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.
- “Character development is a core element of the game, with a compelling system for leveling up and acquiring new skills.”
- “Character development is excellent and the skill trees demand some thought - endless loot and options to craft/enhance weapons and armor.”
- “The character development and building is great, you can obtain special abilities for all 3 classes, new skills, progress in skills and can create a true hero.”
- “I couldn't put my finger on it at first, I thought it was perhaps poor dialogue, but upon second thought I believe it actually was the fact that there is very little character development.”
- “The character development is very limited, lacking any relationships or interesting deep characters.”
- “Characters in general: there are not many characters that stand out; in general, there is just too little character development and there are just a few instances of characters that are well developed enough that you will grow attached to them, like other games have.”
atmosphere
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant and diverse environments, ranging from lush forests to foreboding swamps, complemented by a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the charming art direction and immersive world design, some note inconsistencies in cohesiveness and depth, with a few feeling that certain areas lack dynamic elements. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique and engaging atmosphere, making it a standout in the RPG genre.
- “The world is divided into distinct regions, each with its own atmosphere—lush forests, sun-drenched plains, cavernous ruins, and cities teeming with architectural detail.”
- “The atmosphere of the game tells a story of itself; from lush sun-bathed grasslands to dry, mysterious deserts to gloomy, dark, dangerous swamps, they all visually describe the living conditions and what could be around any corner awaiting your next battle.”
- “Amazing soundtrack, hauntingly beautiful fantasy graphics, and an atmosphere you just can't match with the games nowadays.”
- “But the game lacks a truly cohesive atmosphere and leveling system to keep you invested.”
- “There is also a lack of foliage and little in the way of scenery animations such as rocking tree limbs or waving grass, giving the overall graphics a near motionless, stagnant atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is sterile and feels more like a kitschy elven theme park than a deep mystical forest full of dangers and fantastic creatures.”
optimization
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
42%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance even on lower-end hardware and minimal bugs or crashes. However, some users noted issues with UI scaling, controls, and occasional stuttering, particularly on PC, indicating that while the game performs well, there are areas that could benefit from further refinement. Despite these concerns, the game stands out for its ability to run efficiently across a range of systems, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- “The game is optimized well and runs really well with zero performance issues and no crashes after nearly 60 hours of play.”
- “Runs smoothly even on a mediocre ultrabook and still looks great at minimal settings in 1080p 60fps!”
- “One of the best optimized games out there.”
- “Which is fine, because the scale of the UI really is not optimized for 4K gameplay.”
- “It's a great game when I can get it to stop stuttering, pausing, and characters moving on their own.”
- “It doesn't help that the inventory has a gamepad-optimized UI that feels horrible and slow to use with a mouse.”
emotional
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement. While some players found moments of emotional resonance, many felt that the storytelling was uninspired and failed to create meaningful connections with characters or the overarching narrative. The game is described as having a vast world filled with interesting ideas, but without strong emotional stakes, it often feels like a hollow experience.
- “Each quest you undertake feels like a small saga within the larger tapestry, leaving you emotionally invested in the outcomes and consequences.”
- “I felt emotionally touched and it is definitely worth checking out!”
- “This game has a heart-touching story and amazing gameplay to back it up.”
- “The game has the best combat system I've ever played; however, it has a really boring story with a lot of padding.”
- “But by all means, if you're interested in a game with a forgettable art style, a boring story, combat so easy that you can hardly call it a game, poor voice acting, poor dungeon and world design, then this is the game for you.”
- “A lackluster role-playing game with an uninteresting combat system, a boring story, even more boring sidequests, mediocre game design, and plenty of bugs.”
monetization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
14%
73%
The game's monetization strategy is largely praised for its absence of microtransactions and DLC, which contrasts sharply with other titles perceived as cash grabs. However, the lack of advertising and promotion has hindered its visibility, leading to mixed feelings about the remastered edition, which some view as an opportunistic move by the publisher. Overall, while the game itself is well-regarded, its monetization approach has been overshadowed by poor marketing efforts.
- “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is yet another piece of evidence about why you shouldn't let EA handle your game, but interestingly enough, it wasn't microtransactions that ruined things this time.”
- “When it came out, I don't remember any commercials, no ads, no nothing to promote this game.”
- “The re-reckoning edition seems more of a cash grab and I would not recommend.”
- “But let me tell you about THQ Nordic trying to get a quick cash grab for them acquiring the IP for the game.”
- “There is just so much this game offers that would be DLC or microtransactions.”

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78%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews

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46h Median play time

64h Average play time

32h Main story

104h Completionist

18-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 156 analyzed playthroughs

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Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a hack and slash game with fantasy theme.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 32 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 104 hours to finish. On average players spend around 64 hours playing Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was released on February 10, 2012.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was developed by 38 Studios.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a single player game.

Similar games include Divinity II: Ego Draconis, Divinity II: Developer's Cut, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning, Avowed, Torchlight II and others.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

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