Knights of Pen and Paper + 1

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,151 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

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,151 reviews
story66 positive mentions
grinding183 negative mentions
  • Charming and humorous take on tabletop RPGs, filled with pop culture references.
  • Engaging gameplay with a variety of character classes and customization options.
  • Fun for casual play, allowing players to pick up and play in short bursts.
  • Repetitive and grindy gameplay, especially in the late game, leading to potential boredom.
  • Microtransactions for in-game currency can detract from the experience, even if not necessary.
  • Some achievements are broken or bugged, leading to frustration for completionists.
  • story297 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by a lighthearted and humorous tone, filled with pop culture references and parody elements, particularly related to tabletop RPGs. However, many players find the narrative to be simplistic and repetitive, with quests largely revolving around generic tasks like killing monsters or collecting items, which can detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the quirky writing and comedic dialogue, others feel that the lack of depth and engaging plot makes the gameplay feel tedious, especially during grinding sessions.

    • “The game world is quirky and fun, and 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 sprinkled throughout, providing plenty of humor to keep you going.”
    • “This game will do just that, but the dungeon master is largely unamusing, which leads to a mundane story.”
    • “The main story has very little substance; most side quests are either fetching, battling, or 'escorting' and they hardly deviate beyond extremely simple means.”
    • “The story is essentially non-existent and the attempts at satire are forced.”
    • “The quests lack any distinction; the game breaks all quests down into a few archetypes, and the progression system deteriorates into bland stat increases.”
  • humor196 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 charming and entertaining experience, filled with nostalgic nods and lighthearted jabs at RPG conventions.

    • “It's got a lot of references, puns, and is funny as heck.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding184 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 being excessive and detracting from overall enjoyment, especially when it becomes necessary to progress or achieve goals. The balance between fun gameplay and grinding seems to vary, with some players appreciating the humor and charm, while others feel overwhelmed by the grindy 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.”
    • “The one major complaint I do have for the game is that it can become quite grindy at times, which makes the game take longer than you expect.”
    • “This game is extremely shallow, grindy, and repetitive, down to the nth degree.”
  • gameplay167 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and charm, appealing to fans of classic turn-based RPGs, but it often becomes repetitive and grindy, particularly in the later stages. While the mechanics are easy to grasp and allow for some strategic depth, many players find the combat and quest structure lacking variety, leading to a sense of monotony over time. Despite its humorous writing and nostalgic references, the overall experience can feel shallow and unengaging after extended play.

    • “Engaging, addictive gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics are simple, the story is lovable geek fun done well, and it got the devs a ton of goodwill on my part which translated into more purchases.”
    • “Fun, interesting mechanics keep the battles at varying levels of difficulty, and the party dynamics are interesting as well.”
    • “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 gameplay does not change very much after the first hour.”
  • graphics95 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that appeals to fans of classic JRPGs and tabletop RPGs, effectively blending nostalgia with humor. While some players appreciate the simplistic and cute aesthetic, others criticize the graphics for being outdated and lacking in detail, with occasional scaling issues. Overall, the visuals serve their purpose within the game's context, though they may not satisfy those seeking modern graphical fidelity.

    • “The 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 art style and character design match the tone of the game well, and the simple animation feels natural.”
    • “There's no excuse for a game with old school graphics to max out a CPU.”
    • “Graphics are weak, but if you like classic console games, you'll feel at home.”
    • “The graphics are awful and the gameplay is worse.”
  • music52 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as catchy and fitting the retro aesthetic, with a chiptune soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for classic titles. However, many players find the music repetitive and monotonous, particularly during battles, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the simplicity and charm of the soundtrack, others feel it lacks variety and can become grating over extended play sessions.

    • “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 that feel a bit generic.”
    • “The music is repetitive, but catchy.”
  • monetization40 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the presence of microtransactions that feel unnecessary and intrusive, especially given the game's grindy nature. While some users appreciate that these transactions are not mandatory and can be bypassed with effective gameplay, others argue that the game was designed with monetization in mind, leading to a lack of balance and enjoyment. Overall, the monetization strategy has been seen as a negative element, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “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 the 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 progression system deteriorates into bland stat increases, and the game's pacing entices the player to utilize the game's microtransactions to level quicker or buy better gear.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of characters, classes, and customization options that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviews highlight significant replay value due to unlockable content and different party combinations, others note that the replayability is limited, often depending on individual play styles or completionist tendencies. Overall, the game offers decent replay value, particularly for those who enjoy experimenting with different setups, but it may not sustain long-term interest for everyone.

    • “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.”
    • “This game has a little replay value if you want to try different combinations of characters and classes.”
    • “So, there really isn't that much of a replay value, either.”
    • “Although the replay value is weak, there is the option of using the different and new classes and items to get some replay value, but don't expect to be playing through half a dozen times.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for frequent freezing, broken achievements, and glitches that hinder gameplay, making it unplayable for some users. While the overall performance is generally fine-tuned, these issues significantly detract from the experience, especially with certain missions and DLC not functioning properly.

    • “Enjoyed this game a while back, came back to it here in 2023 - on second boot up it freezes on the 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.”
    • “Lots of fun and plenty of achievements to unlock (some of which are quite buggy).”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging blend of humor and meta references, enhanced by fitting music that complements the experience. While some players express disappointment over the option to purchase in-game gold, the overall ambiance, art, and enjoyment of the game remain strong highlights.

    • “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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express a negative emotional response to the "deluxier" version of the game, feeling that it creates a sense of unfair advantage or "pay to win," which detracts from their overall enjoyment and engagement with the game.

  • character development2 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, while the simple animations contribute to a natural feel.

    • “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, lacking depth and complexity.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with their stories or motivations.”
    • “There is a noticeable lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally praised for its solid gameplay and fine-tuned performance, typical of retro RPGs, though concerns about potential microtransactions for in-game currency have been noted as a significant drawback.

    • “The game features solid gameplay and fine-tuned performance, making it a joy to play.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, ensuring smooth performance even during intense gameplay moments.”
    • “The developers have done a great job optimizing the game, resulting in minimal bugs and a seamless experience.”
    • “The game's optimization is a disaster; it frequently crashes and lags, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “Despite the engaging gameplay, the optimization issues are so severe that they ruin the overall experience.”
    • “The performance is inconsistent, with frequent frame drops and long loading times that detract from the enjoyment of the game.”
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 7 analyzed playthroughs

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