Knights of Pen and Paper + 1

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,303 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • grinding
Knights of Pen and Paper + 1 Game Cover
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"Knights of Pen and Paper +1" is a turn-based RPG with pixel-art graphics that pays homage to 90's classics. As the game master, players create and customize their party, choose battles, and interact with various in-game elements. The game offers multiple classes, character options, quests, and equipment for a personalized experience. Explore the world, battle monsters, and become the hero the Pen & Paper world needs.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,303 reviews
story132 positive mentions
grinding366 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging gameplay that captures the essence of tabletop RPGs.
  • Witty dialogue and numerous pop culture references add humor and charm.
  • Customizable characters and party compositions provide replayability.
  • Gameplay can become grindy and repetitive, especially in the late game.
  • Some achievements are broken and the save system has issues.
  • Microtransactions for in-game gold can detract from the overall experience.
  • story594 mentions

    The game's story is characterized as lighthearted and humorous, often filled with pop culture references and parody elements, appealing to fans of tabletop RPGs. However, many players find the narrative to be simplistic and repetitive, primarily revolving around generic quest types such as killing monsters or collecting items, which can detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the quirky writing and comedic dialogue, others criticize the lack of depth and engaging plot, leading to a grind-heavy gameplay experience.

    • “The game world is quirky and fun and also the story is surprisingly good, if you have the patience to read through all the dialogues.”
    • “The story is amusing and quirky with a lot of pop and nerd culture references littered throughout, spicing it up and providing a lot of humor to keep you going.”
    • “This game can make you laugh and entirely too excited at the same time while still having a storyline that is compelling enough to continue playing.”
    • “The main story has very little substance; most side quests are either fetching, battling, or 'escorting' and they hardly deviate beyond extremely simple means.”
    • “On top of the poor gameplay loop, the story being so basic is the biggest insult, because what incentive do I have to play this game if not to see how its narrative pans out?”
    • “The story is essentially non-existent and the attempts at satire are forced.”
  • humor392 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever references, puns, and meta-commentary, particularly appealing to fans of tabletop RPGs and pop culture. Many players find the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny, though some note that the humor can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game is considered a lighthearted and entertaining experience, especially for those familiar with Dungeons & Dragons and similar genres.

    • “Knights of Pen and Paper +1 edition offers you a cuddly adventure in which charm and humor are at the top and reminds of former times.”
    • “The dialogue is funny and I like the characters' interactions so much.”
    • “This game is full of humor and all standard old-school pen-n-paper RPG clichés that you have probably done when you actually played those pen-n-paper games with friends.”
  • grinding368 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, particularly in the later stages, which many players find tedious and repetitive. While some enjoy the grind as part of the RPG experience, others criticize it for detracting from the overall enjoyment and pacing of the game. The grinding often feels necessary for progression, leading to frustration, especially when combined with a lack of variety in combat and mechanics.

    • “Not too grindy, either.”
    • “However, I can't get myself to complete it due to its incredibly grindy, stale gameplay of clicking the screen until the HP sponges are dead.”
    • “This game is extremely shallow, grindy, and repetitive, down to the nth degree.”
    • “The actual concept of a fun D&D-like experience of Knights of Pen and Paper sounds fun and gives it a nice charm to it, but it's simply put down by extremely simple and boring battle mechanics, proceeding to follow by annoying dice rolls that become much more of an annoyance than an actual tabletop game, extreme grinding to the point of just annoyance.”
  • gameplay334 mentions

    The gameplay of "Knights of Pen and Paper +1" is characterized by its simple, turn-based mechanics that blend classic JRPG elements with tabletop RPG humor, making it accessible and engaging initially. However, many players find the gameplay becomes repetitive and grindy over time, with a lack of innovation and depth leading to a decline in enjoyment, particularly in the late game. While the game offers a charming aesthetic and humorous dialogue, the overall experience can feel shallow and tedious, especially for those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “Engaging, addictive gameplay.”
    • “Solid gameplay with meta humor.”
    • “The gameplay is simple to pick up but also offers some challenge to keep the game from being boring though like most RPG style games some grinding may be required.”
    • “However, I can't get myself to complete it due to its incredibly grindy, stale gameplay of clicking the screen until the HP sponges are dead.”
    • “It's charming but that charm fades away and all you're left with is shallow gameplay.”
    • “Unfortunately, the novelty wears off fairly quickly, and the actual gameplay just doesn't hold up.”
  • graphics190 mentions

    The graphics of "Knights of Pen and Paper" are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that appeals to fans of classic RPGs, evoking a nostalgic 80s aesthetic. While some players appreciate the simplicity and humor in the visuals, others criticize the scaling issues and lack of graphical sophistication, noting that the game is better suited for mobile devices. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose within the context of the game, though opinions vary widely on their quality and appeal.

    • “Graphics are cute with nice pixelated art; it serves its purposes and at least you can differentiate all the NPCs and adversaries.”
    • “The game's pixel graphics are sharp, and the gameplay is enjoyable.”
    • “The graphics are retro but appealing, as is the music.”
    • “There's no excuse for a game with old school graphics to max out a CPU.”
    • “Graphics are ok but the scaling is awful and messes up the proportion of the pixels.”
    • “The graphics are awful and the gameplay is worse.”
  • music104 mentions

    The music in the game is characterized by a chiptune soundtrack that, while fitting the retro aesthetic, tends to be repetitive and simplistic, often leading to a monotonous experience during extended gameplay. Some players find the music catchy and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic titles, but many express a desire for a more varied and engaging soundtrack. Overall, while the music complements the game's atmosphere, it may become tedious for players over time.

    • “The music matches the atmosphere.”
    • “I find myself humming the chiptune music for days after playing though.”
    • “The music is also one of the best parts of the game, with a pixelated style that reminds me of old-school western RPGs with a battle theme as addictive as that of any Final Fantasy game.”
    • “Seriously, the battle music has to be the weakest part of it for me.”
    • “Nothing musically stands out; most pieces are very simple, looped tracks which feel a bit generic.”
    • “Finding an error in programming within the first minute of playing the game and hearing the grinding, irritating, and monotonous music looping over and over again as frustration builds soured my opinion instantly.”
  • monetization80 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy primarily revolves around optional microtransactions for in-game gold, which many players find unnecessary and indicative of a design that encourages spending to alleviate grinding. While some reviews note that these purchases are not invasive and can be avoided with proper resource management, others criticize the presence of microtransactions in a paid game, suggesting it undermines the overall experience. Overall, the monetization approach has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling it detracts from the game's enjoyment.

    • “Some people may fear and loathe the presence of microtransactions, but this game brings comedy, pop culture, and tabletop RPG-meets-strategy together in a brilliant way.”
    • “You do not need to buy any microtransactions in this game as long as you manage your money well (read the guides and use +gold bonus modifiers).”
    • “The microtransactions are not required at any point in the game; they only help you by shaving off a few minutes of your time that would otherwise have been spent doing what you already have to do for the entire game.”
    • “Game bugs you for microtransactions or it's not really that playable.”
    • “While mobile version of this game might be worth your while, charging $15 for a PC version of this shallow game and keeping microtransactions in place is dirty.”
    • “The quests lack any distinction (the game breaks all quests down into a few archetypes), the progression system deteriorates into bland stat increases (each character has only 4 abilities), and the game's pacing entices the player to utilize the game's microtransactions to level quicker or buy better gear.”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of characters and build options that encourage experimentation and multiple playthroughs. While some reviewers note a lack of significant replay value beyond initial runs or for completionists, others highlight the potential for replay through unlocking new classes and achievements. Overall, the game offers decent replayability, particularly for those who enjoy customizing their gameplay experience.

    • “One of the nice things about this game is its replayability and customizability, through the many different characters and build options.”
    • “With a plot deep enough for a single D&D session, and a large amount of customization options, this game has a surprising amount of replayability.”
    • “No two parties will feel the same, giving the game great replay value.”
    • “So, there really isn't that much of a replay value, either.”
    • “No replay value.”
    • “In my opinion, there isn't much replayability except if you're a completionist, but being that it's 3 dollars right now for many hours of fun, I'd say it was a steal.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for frequent freezing, particularly on boot-up, making it unplayable for some users. Additionally, players have reported various glitches, broken achievements, and issues with downloadable content, which detracts from the overall experience despite the game's enjoyable gameplay and characters.

    • “Enjoyed this game a while back, came back to it here in 2023 - on second boot up it freezes on loading screen and is unplayable even after troubleshooting.”
    • “Some achievements are broken, some missions are broken, DLC doesn't work for some, and there's graphical glitches.”
    • “Another bad mission is the 'gather the 5 desert flowers... 8 furs... 5 glitches...' it's quite contrived, which doesn't help when the story is very minimalistic.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its humor and engaging meta references, particularly appealing to fans of D&D. The music complements the overall vibe, enhancing the experience, although some players express disappointment over the option to purchase in-game gold. Overall, the combination of great art and a fun atmosphere contributes to a fantastic gaming experience.

    • “You play as a group of people playing D&D, and it has a ton of meta references which are funny, and the atmosphere is really great.”
    • “The music matches the atmosphere.”
    • “Fantastic game, great art, and a fun atmosphere.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Users express a negative emotional response to the "deluxier" version of the game, feeling that it creates a sense of unfairness and a "pay-to-win" mentality, leading to disappointment and disengagement.

  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be simplistic and two-dimensional, yet it remains interesting and challenging. The art style and character design effectively complement the game's tone, with animations that feel natural.

    • “The art style and character design match the tone of the game well, and the simple animation feels natural.”
    • “Character development and turn-based combat are simplistic and two-dimensional, but interesting and challenging.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its solid gameplay and fine-tuned performance, indicating effective optimization. However, some users express concern over the implication of microtransactions, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “With solid gameplay and fine-tuned performance, the game delivers an enjoyable experience. The hilarious cast of zany characters adds to the charm, making it a standout title despite some concerns about microtransactions for acquiring more in-game currency.”
    • “The game's optimization is a major issue, as it often feels unresponsive and sluggish, detracting from the overall experience.”
    • “Despite the engaging gameplay, the optimization leaves much to be desired, with frequent frame drops and long loading times.”
    • “The lack of proper optimization makes it difficult to enjoy the game fully, as performance issues overshadow the fun elements.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

Buy Knights of Pen and Paper + 1

Play time

17hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
10-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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