Lords of Exile

About

Lords of Exile is a single player arcade platformer game with fantasy, anime, dark fantasy and violence themes. It was developed by Squidbit Works and was released on February 14, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Lords of Exile is a 8-bit side-scrolling action platformer set in the far Lands of Exilia where a cursed knight makes his way to the revenge. A combination of classic retro mechanics and linear level design in 8-bit graphics!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%Audience ScoreBased on 125 reviews

music31 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Strong homage to classic NES Castlevania and similar retro platformers with authentic pixel art and nostalgic music soundtrack.
Fair and balanced difficulty for most of the game with well-designed boss fights and generous checkpoint system that reduces frustration.
Unlockable second character with faster movement and ranged attacks offering a fresh and more dynamic gameplay experience.

Double jump mechanic is inconsistent and unresponsive, causing frustrating deaths especially during platforming and the final boss fight.
Protagonist's movement speed is very slow, which combined with clunky controls and tight jumping windows can make gameplay feel tedious.
Short game length with limited content and minimal replay value; some mechanics like shadows and gambling add little meaningful depth.

music
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The game's music is widely praised, featuring an excellent, energetic chiptune soundtrack that evokes nostalgic 8-bit and 16-bit vibes and greatly enhances the atmosphere and boss battles. Reviewers highlight its seamless fit with the retro visuals and classic gameplay style, often calling it a standout element even when other aspects falter. Some note similarities to Cyber Shadow's music due to shared composers, but overall the soundtrack is considered a major highlight and a strong draw for retro game and music fans alike.
- “The soundtrack leans heavily into chiptune styles, echoing the energy and drama of old-school action games.”
- “Together, the graphics and music create a nostalgic yet polished atmosphere that enhances every stage and boss encounter.”
- “The music is very good; each track is nice to listen to and fits the game so well.”
- “This is worth it on a sale just to see the art and music, but the gameplay is kind of boring, I wouldn't recommend it at full price.”
- “Visually the game looks nice, 8-bit era aesthetics (although I much prefer 16-bit), music is decent, but nothing to write home about.”
- “The game also ripped off Cyber Shadow's stage 2: Disposal Facility soundtrack.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The gameplay is a nostalgic yet somewhat limited homage to classic 8-bit platformers, offering solid core mechanics like double jumps and ranged attacks with fair difficulty and smooth controls. However, it is often criticized for rigid level design with single-solution sections, underutilized mechanics such as the shadow system, and occasional frustrating inconsistencies, resulting in a somewhat bare-bones and repetitive experience. Fans of retro-style platformers may enjoy its pacing and challenge, especially on sale, but those seeking variety or innovative gameplay might find it lacking.
- “Double jumps, slides, ranged options, and other upgrades help the gameplay evolve throughout the campaign, adding new tactics without breaking the classic feel.”
- “Now then let’s get into the likes, the gameplay is really good—it's your traditional side scroller get from point A to point B while killing enemies and bosses, sort of like old school side scrollers, but unlike those old school side scrollers that were stupidly hard, here this game has the right balance of being hard but fair; all it takes is learning the controls and soon you'll be able to become a master of the game.”
- “The core action platforming gameplay is great and closely mirrors the glory days of NES action platformers in look and feel.”
- “These kinds of mechanics shine when players get agency; creative liberty to experiment and find new ways to go through levels using the powerups, sadly in this case each section only has one "solution" and therefore results in unsatisfying gameplay.”
- “Additionally, certain platforming sections can feel overly rigid due to strict timing windows, and occasional inconsistencies with mechanics like the double jump can lead to minor frustration.”
- “The gameplay is really bare bones and the game just feels cheap.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The game features detailed and charming 8-bit pixel art that effectively captures a nostalgic 1980s retro aesthetic, with diverse and visually appealing levels inspired by classic platformers. The gothic European style is swapped for a unique Japanese folklore theme, complemented by a fantastic, memorable soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. While some find the visuals polished and engaging, others note a lack of advanced display options, describing the graphics as solid but somewhat bare-bones.
- “The pixel graphic art style is really good, very detailed with a nice use of colors, designs, and scenery that really captures the look and feel of classic 1980s games. The levels are very good, each level is quite diverse from a ghost ship to a castle to even the inside of a monster, and each one makes you just want to stop and look at everything.”
- “Together, the graphics and music create a nostalgic yet polished atmosphere that enhances every stage and boss encounter.”
- “The graphics and audio are all a treat, and it is very satisfying to play.”
- “Short and easy, visuals and music are decent, but overall experience is underwhelming.”
- “And while it does deliver on classic visuals and a banging soundtrack, it's mostly a very pretty shell.”
- “The best things I can mention about it are that it's a solid baseline for future installments and that I dig the artstyle.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The story in this Castlevania-inspired platformer is minimal and straightforward, focusing more on gameplay than deep narrative or character development. While it introduces a dark, mystical setting and a basic revenge quest, the plot lacks complexity and emotional depth, with limited world-building and cutscenes. Additional characters like Lyria receive minimal backstory, and overall, the story is considered adequate but not a standout aspect of the game.
- “You play as Gabriel, a cursed knight whose quest for vengeance carries him across the dark land of Exilia—a world brimming with demonic warriors, corrupted beasts, and supernatural strongholds.”
- “Also, when you beat the game as Gabriel, you unlock another character, a ninja girl named Lyria, who can run, has projectile weapons, and her own story.”
- “While the story hints at tragedy and mysticism, it never attempts deep world-building or emotional character arcs.”
- “You play through the same stages, fight the same (mini)bosses and have basically no difference in story.”
- “The story is barely there and I'm not even sure I understood it or how the levels and characters were related to each other.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game offers decent replayability through alternate modes, unlockable characters, and challenges, though its short length and limited content may leave some players wanting more. While fans appreciate its retro style and difficulty, others feel it lacks the depth and replay value found in comparable titles.
- “Not a bad game, short, replayable, perfect difficulty, and awesome retro styles.”
- “Quite short game, but has replayability with a new character you unlock and a boss rush mode (the bosses were the highlight of the game).”
- “The campaign, composed of eight stages, can be completed in just a few hours, and although alternate modes like boss rush, speedrun challenges, and an additional playable character add replay value, the overall experience remains compact.”
- “Buy Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (1 & 2), they are better than this game and offer more replayability.”
- “What really drags it down is the lack of content and replay value.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is generally viewed as tedious, with frequent delays and repetitive actions hindering the pacing. However, the lack of backtracking and minimal grinding is appreciated for keeping the gameplay fresh and avoiding common modern retro game pitfalls. Some gimmicks that slow down gameplay due to grinding mechanics are also seen as tiresome.
- “At first the game was good but later on it became too much tedious.”
- “It's like every 10 seconds you need this guy to clear the path for you, and considering that there's several seconds of delay between each of his shots, it can feel very tedious at times.”
- “Gimmicks that rely on these JoJo stand powers become tedious really fast by slowing down gameplay.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic yet polished blend of graphics and music, effectively enhancing each stage and boss encounter. The music notably contributes to the immersive experience, complementing the well-crafted environment despite some challenging platforming sections.
- “Together, the graphics and music create a nostalgic yet polished atmosphere that enhances every stage and boss encounter.”
- “The music is great, atmosphere is on point, and while there are a few spikes in difficulty (less with bosses, more with falling platforms and jumping in some of the later stages), nothing that cannot be overcome with a few retries.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect is understated, with the story suggesting tragedy and mysticism but lacking in-depth world-building or meaningful character development.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is initially light and amusing, adding to an easygoing experience, but it loses its charm near the final level, becoming frustrating and less enjoyable.