Kingsvein

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 396 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Kingsvein Game Cover
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Kingsvein is a single-player Warfare Turn Based Strategy game set in the weird, subterranean realm of Graven. As the Wisp Slayer, investigate the lost city of Kingsvein, battling evil forces and customizing your team with 16 different classes. With dynamic combat, upgradeable abilities, and an intriguing story, Kingsvein offers a marvelous and challenging gameplay experience accompanied by wonderful music.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 396 reviews
story56 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • The game features engaging tactical combat with a focus on environmental interactions, allowing for creative strategies.
  • The story and world-building are intriguing, providing a unique setting that keeps players invested.
  • Exploration is rewarding, with many secrets and clever puzzles that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • The combat system has been simplified, which some players feel detracts from the depth and variety of previous titles.
  • Delayed abilities are often ineffective, leading to frustration in combat as they require specific setups that can be difficult to achieve.
  • The game lacks the same level of character customization and class variety found in earlier Rad Codex games, making it feel more restrictive.
  • story136 mentions

    The story in this game has been noted as a significant improvement over previous titles, offering a more focused narrative with intriguing twists and a darker atmosphere. While some players appreciated the depth and moral choices presented, others felt the overall amount of story was limited, often conveyed through campfire sequences rather than extensive dialogue. Overall, the game balances engaging gameplay with a compelling, albeit concise, storyline that keeps players invested in the world and its lore.

    • “A solid storyline follows you through a ravaged kingdom followed by your stalwart companions.”
    • “The story is enjoyable with quite a few moral choices, some of which are actually impactful (one even surprised me).”
    • “As you discover what is going on in Kingsvein, things escalate quickly and it's really satisfying to progress through the story.”
    • “It opens with a sequence which fails to establish a status quo, a motivation for the protagonist, or any other major story elements, and everything seems to fall apart even further from there.”
    • “I feel like the developer didn't challenge themselves when it comes to the overarching plot and themes that tie their characters to the game world, other than a small game filled with battles that barely carry any narrative weight or impact.”
    • “Great combat but lackluster/hollow story.”
  • gameplay88 mentions

    The gameplay of Kingsvein is characterized by its tactical RPG mechanics, featuring a mix of class-based skills, terrain manipulation, and a focus on positioning, which many players find engaging and addictive. While the game introduces new combat mechanics and offers a streamlined experience, some players feel that certain elements lack sufficient explanation and that the simplified turn order can detract from strategic depth. Overall, it maintains a strong emphasis on gameplay, appealing to fans of tactical strategy while also incorporating narrative elements through dialogue options.

    • “If you like tactical gameplay that lets you unlock classes with skills that you can mix and match, I think Rad Codex's games are definitely worth a try.”
    • “Every detail feels perfectly polished, the combat mechanics are rock solid and make you feel like a genius, the exploration and map design sit comfortably with the best I've ever seen, and the story and setting are creative and full of twists that made perfect sense only as they happened.”
    • “Gameplay here is a tactical RPG where each class has its own specialties, active skills, passive abilities, and stat boosts.”
    • “Mechanical elements such as character classes and skills are presented without sufficient explanation, and with no narrative context whatsoever.”
    • “The delayed healing mechanics are unforgivable.”
    • “Significantly reduced content in all facets, and gameplay downgrades across the board.”
  • music58 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its epic and fantastical quality that enhances the overall experience. Composed by Kevin Phetsomphou, the soundtrack is noted for its nostalgic feel and high production value, effectively complementing the game's unique world and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the music stands out as a significant highlight, contributing to the game's immersion and enjoyment.

    • “The world itself was very cool and unique, the music was awesome, and I couldn't get enough of the game.”
    • “Hiring composer Kevin Phetsomphou was a great move and the impact the soundtrack had on the believability and immersion of the game is outstanding.”
    • “The character design is charming, the dialogue options tug on the heartstrings, the characters are both relatable and well designed, the music is phenomenal, and the gameplay, while somewhat different from other Rad Codex titles, was not too much of an adjustment.”
    • “The music really brings in the nostalgia and the combat is tactical turn-based.”
    • “The challenges feel right and the soundtrack is absolutely killer.”
    • “Really high quality music, sound effects, and animations, despite its 'megadrive' art style.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the improved sprites and overall aesthetic, while others criticize the readability and clarity, describing them as muddy and less polished than previous titles. Many players appreciate the nostalgic pixel art style, but some find it ambiguous and lacking depth, leading to frustration in gameplay. Overall, while the visuals have their appealing moments, they seem to fall short of the standards set by earlier games in the series.

    • “Huge graphical and storytelling improvement from previous games.”
    • “The graphics are more obviously an improvement over the previous games, with larger and more detailed sprites for the diecast (stone people) main characters.”
    • “Graphics are beautiful pixels - gorgeous sprites and the magic is so satisfying.”
    • “The graphics are muddy and illegible, with textures too complex for the pixel art.”
    • “I absolutely hate the visual aesthetic for this game.”
    • “A good deal of the crunch that was in the earlier games is missing, the tactics are less nuanced, there's fewer character options than in the past, environments are a lot less interesting to look at, enemies are far less varied, exploration is quite a bit less interesting, your characters are limited to a single race with a really ambiguous blobby art style that makes it hard to tell where their faces begin and their chests end.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players find it tedious and unrewarding, others appreciate the opportunity for grinding as a means to enhance their experience and prepare for challenges. The combat is generally enjoyable, making some grinding feel less burdensome, and players can choose to progress without extensive grinding if they prefer. However, there are instances where players felt compelled to grind due to underleveled builds or to optimize their team's performance.

    • “If this all sounds really tedious, that's because it is, and it did not feel rewarding for me to play this way.”
    • “It's easy to think 'I think I'm supposed to be here, but my build is underleveled/bad, so I'll spam the random battles for XP.' It can get grindy if you make mistakes while leveling, and that needs correcting.”
    • “Some parts were a bit grindy, such as getting stats up to prep for key fights, but once you have your team's cohesion down, the skill trees really flourish.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game offers a mix of replayability, with some players noting its depth and multiple endings that encourage revisiting. However, others feel that the replay value is limited, primarily hinging on initial choices and unlocks after completion. Overall, while there are elements that promote replayability, it may not be sufficient for those seeking extensive replay options.

    • “Great depth and replay value.”
    • “The game also does have different endings and decisions you can make, so there is definitely a level of replayability.”
    • “Limited replay value, so the unlocks after beating the game could be initial choices.”
    • “If you want a game with an extremely similar tactical overlay but more length and replayability, you could consider Horizon's Gate.”
    • “Nearly finished at 20 hours with some level of seeming replayability.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its effective environmental storytelling and a darker tone that enhances the narrative impact. Players appreciate the balance of atmospheric elements with light puzzling and exploration, which keeps the experience engaging and immersive. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant improvement over previous titles.

    • “The atmosphere and story that it builds are so great.”
    • “I love the darker atmosphere compared to previous titles, and the story hit harder and faster in this one.”
    • “Just enough atmosphere and environmental storytelling keep things interesting, interspersed with lightweight puzzling and exploration.”
    • “+style - I love the darker atmosphere compared to previous titles, and the story hit harder and faster in this one.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as generally wholesome, despite some minor setbacks related to the new mechanics and abilities. Players express a sense of anticipation for deeper emotional engagement as they progress, although initial impressions suggest that certain features may not yet resonate strongly.

    • “However, it's a minor setback in an otherwise wholesome experience.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game demonstrates impressive stability, running smoothly even on low-end hardware and under Proton for Linux users, with only minor slowdowns in densely populated areas. Reviewers highlight its reliability as a standout feature, especially for an indie title priced at $20.

    • “The game runs smoothly even on my low-end laptop, with only minor slowdowns in a few crowded areas.”
    • “It works perfectly in Proton for Linux users, showcasing excellent stability across different systems.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as quirky and amusing, with users noting that it elicits laughter through its unique and unexpected comedic elements.

  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is praised for its charming design and relatable characters, enhanced by emotionally impactful dialogue options. The overall experience is complemented by phenomenal music, making the characters feel well-rounded and engaging.

    • “The character design is charming, the dialogue options tug on the heartstrings, and the characters are both relatable and well-designed.”
    • “The music is phenomenal, and the gameplay, while somewhat different from other Rad Codex titles, was not too much of an adjustment.”
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