Leafling

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 461 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • grinding
Leafling Game Cover
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Leafling Online is a free to play 2D Action MORPG with an evolving world. Explore, fight, craft, cast, and delve your way through dangerous dungeons and discover new areas on the Overworld.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 461 reviews
story9 positive mentions
grinding36 negative mentions
  • The game has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs, with charming pixel art and engaging gameplay.
  • The developers are very active and responsive, frequently updating the game and addressing community feedback.
  • The community is generally friendly and helpful, making it easier for new players to get involved and enjoy the game.
  • The game suffers from frequent server issues, including lag and disconnects, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • There are significant balance issues, with certain classes being overpowered while others feel underwhelming, leading to frustration among players.
  • The game lacks sufficient endgame content, making it feel repetitive after reaching the level cap quickly.
  • story76 mentions

    The game's story is currently inconsistent and underdeveloped, with many quests experiencing bugs, poor tracking, and lack of rewards, leading to player frustration. While some players find the narrative engaging and express excitement for future updates, others criticize the limited main storyline and the frequent downtime of quest availability. Overall, the game shows potential for a compelling story, but significant improvements are needed to enhance the questing experience and narrative coherence.

    • “Really fun game, good story and progression pacing.”
    • “And I have loved the game ever since; sure the game has bugs and imbalances here and there, but what game doesn't? The graphics style, gameplay, and story (which will continue) are all extremely awesome, and the music and graphics are especially beautiful. The music fits each place perfectly.”
    • “I can't wait until more lore and story is added to the game, and given the attention to detail by the developers and artists for this game, I'm sure the future content will be high quality.”
    • “The story (or main story quest) in Leafling is not consistent and barely exists, despite the lead developer's insistence that it is relevant.”
    • “Would not recommend the game in its current state even looking past that, as the main quest line was unavailable after the first town (~10 - 15 mins in if you do some side quests).”
    • “The current main story is 3 quests long and the side quests aren't anything to write home about.”
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as low-end but passable, with a distinct 2D pixelated style that some players find charming and fitting for the gameplay. While there are mixed opinions on the originality and quality of the art, many appreciate the aesthetic elements, such as lighting and day-night cycles, which enhance the overall experience. However, some users report performance issues, including frame drops during gameplay, which detracts from the visual enjoyment.

    • “Absolutely amazing graphics and pink mushroom final boss battle.”
    • “Banger MMO RPG with beautiful graphics.”
    • “The graphics are really good for a 2D game; it's not crowded and nothing seems out of place. There are also night and day cycles, which is really nice.”
    • “The graphics are pretty low-end but passable in terms of giving the sprites personality. The gameplay is very basic and straightforward (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), and the servers are really bad with rubberbanding constantly.”
    • “The art style is just terrible as well, legit not even original, has no charm to it for being a j-rpg pixel game while also having mediocre character customization.”
    • “To be honest, I would like to have settings for graphics or just the game frames drops because whenever I cast a spell or in just unpopulated places with little enemies and players.”
  • grinding37 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is described as both addictive and rewarding, particularly when playing with friends, but it can also feel monotonous and unrewarding due to RNG loot drops and the potential for newer players to surpass veterans quickly. While some players enjoy the nostalgic grind reminiscent of classic MMORPGs, others express frustration with the lack of balanced rewards and the overwhelming focus on repetitive farming activities. Overall, the experience varies widely, with some finding joy in the grind and community, while others feel jaded by the mechanics and competition for resources.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “If you like grinding with the homies and shitting on jabronis, this is the game for you.”
    • “After all that 400 hours of grinding, a new player can be stronger than me. Lmao, sad.”
    • “You basically beat the game within an hour, then the only actual content is grinding the same things over and over for absurd enchanting prices.”
  • gameplay34 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a wide variety of classes and basic mechanics, often described as simplistic and repetitive, involving grinding and basic combat actions. While some players appreciate the potential and fun concepts, many express frustration with bugs, poor quest design, and server issues that detract from the experience. Overall, the game shows promise but suffers from significant developmental flaws that impact gameplay enjoyment.

    • “There are a lot of classes to choose from with a wide variety of gameplay from each class.”
    • “Very fun game, neat art and well done mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay, and end game is there, and for a free-to-play (non p2w) it's worth checking out for sure.”
    • “But just because the game is in development doesn't mean those issues don't affect gameplay.”
    • “This dramatically contributes to a boring facetank-mashkeys-drink potion vs hit sponge type of gameplay.”
    • “There are some major bugs affecting the gameplay that after half a year haven't been solved (simply because they can't).”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its high-quality soundtracks that enhance immersion and fit the game's themes perfectly. Players appreciate the variety of tracks for different zones and boss fights, often describing them as "banger soundtracks" that elevate the overall experience. Many reviewers express a desire to listen to the soundtrack outside of the game, highlighting its appeal even beyond gameplay.

    • “As a supporting note, I'd honestly play just to hear the soundtrack, that's how good it is.”
    • “Music is well styled to fit the game theme.”
    • “The game has its own soundtracks for each zone and boss fights.”
    • “Music is also very well styled to fit the game theme.”
    • “I'd listen to the soundtrack to this game outside of it and I'm a bit of a music snob.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant bugs, glitches, and lag, which are common in early access titles. While some find it playable and promising, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that can hinder the overall experience. Overall, players acknowledge the issues but remain hopeful due to the game's potential and the developers' efforts.

    • “The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, making for a stable gaming experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; it rarely crashes and performs well overall.”
    • “Despite a few minor issues, the overall stability of the game allows for an enjoyable experience.”
    • “While I understand the game is early access, it was quite buggy.”
    • “It looks lovely, it really does, but it won't open and freezes past login.”
    • “Legit will say it's an early access game, but the game is just a buggy mess.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about the game's replayability; while some find it infinitely replayable, others criticize the grind associated with leveling classes, leading many to stick to optimal experience sources and miss out on exploring the rest of the game. This disparity suggests that while the potential for replayability exists, the current mechanics may limit players' willingness to fully engage with all content.

    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “✅ infinitely replayable”
    • “While the development team has shared their decision to carry out this drastic change and put forward that it adds replayability to the game, taking your main classes to the highest level still remains a grind in which players go to the optimal source of experience in each zone and don't touch anything else. For example, leveling some classes from 40 to 45 can be an utter pain, and instead of entering the dungeon (where the boss has the highest experience of the zone) and killing countless mobs with high HP and no experience to their name, some prefer doing a repeatable woodcutting quest. Safe to say the rest of that zone is still unknown to many players.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it is accessible and runs smoothly on lower-end computers, players report significant lag and server stuttering during gameplay, particularly in combat scenarios. This has led to frustrations regarding performance, especially in competitive situations.

    • “It is a simple game to start playing, and it still runs smoothly on a slow computer.”
    • “The optimization is impressive; I can enjoy the game without any lag, even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it loads quickly and maintains a steady frame rate throughout.”
    • “I stopped playing this game; there are few players poorly optimized, and when fighting against dragons, there is a lot of lag. Warspear, Curse of Aros, and Skylore are much better than Leafling.”
    • “This nerf coincided with a general armor nerf, which meant that I went from having decent solo performance to utter and complete garbage solo performance. I can barely kill a monster that the DPS classes can kill in 1-3 hits.”
    • “The game runs well, but the servers are constantly stuttering, making the game extremely slow.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is perceived as fair, with players noting it is entirely free to play and avoids pay-to-win mechanics, which is a refreshing change from typical cash grabs in the genre. While some grinding is required, this aspect is seen as adding to the game's charm rather than detracting from the experience.

    • “100% free to play, so there's no need to worry about player advantage through money or in-game purchases. It may take time and involve a bit of a grind, but that's what adds to its charm.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and balanced, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone while still providing optional purchases for those who want to enhance their experience.”
    • “This game feels like a cash grab.”
    • “Other free-to-play games like this are cash grabs, but this one feels more like a regular game.”
    • “While it's 100% free to play, it does require a lot of time and grinding, which can be frustrating.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about a vibrant community that has dwindled over time, leading to feelings of heartbreak and nostalgia. The decline in player interaction and community engagement is particularly poignant, with hopes for a revival of the camaraderie that once defined the experience. Overall, the emotional landscape reflects a mix of longing for past connections and concern for the game's future.

    • “Upon returning to the game, I was somewhat heartbroken. The community of this game is amazing, but it's like a flame slowly burning out. I hope that one day that flame gets rekindled.”
    • “As of writing this comment, there are only 5 normal players, which is just so heartbreaking. Maybe people will come back one day and we will relive the age where everyone was together, though it looks like that may only be a false dream.”
    • “It's downright heartbreaking that people with so much time in the game, the same people I probably laughed with and farmed with, would say things that are so wrong.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its focus on environmental themes, particularly the role of photosynthesis in sustaining life and oxygen levels on Earth. Players appreciate the developers' commitment to addressing ecological issues, which contributes positively to the overall ambiance and community spirit within the game.

    • “(Kudos to the devs for taking a stand on this issue, as it was causing a really bad atmosphere among players.)”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

27hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
4-95hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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