Lords of Exile

Starting at $3.48Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

In "Lords of Exile" , players traverse 8 levels of linear design as a cursed knight named Gabriel, battling creatures of the night and samurais in ancient Far Eastern lands. With a variety of mechanics, from throwing weapons to melee combat, players face off against powerful bosses and gain new skills to enhance abilities. Upon completing the game as Gabriel, players can unlock two additional game modes and play as Lyria, offering a distinct gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

music14 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Great retro-inspired graphics and music that capture the essence of classic 1980s platformers.
Solid platforming mechanics with a fair difficulty curve, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans.
The game offers replayability with a second character and various unlockable features after completing the game.

The game lacks cloud saving and has issues with character movement, particularly with the double jump being unresponsive at times.
Some players found the game too short and easy, with a significant difficulty spike only occurring during the final boss fight.
There are design flaws, such as tedious boss battles and a lack of meaningful upgrades, which detract from the overall experience.

music
28 mentions
50 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality, catchiness, and how well it complements the gameplay. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature, appealing particularly to fans of retro gaming, and is noted for its engaging compositions that enhance the overall experience. However, some criticisms mention similarities to other games' soundtracks, suggesting a lack of originality in certain tracks.
- “The music is very good; each track is nice to listen to and fits with the game so well.”
- “If you enjoy action platformers at all, this one is worth it for the music alone.”
- “A really solid game with awesome graphics, solid game design, and a banging soundtrack.”
- “The game presents well to start and has a solid soundtrack, but it feels hollow.”
- “Lords of Exile pretty much made Cyber Shadow's level 2 music the entire theme tune for the whole game.”
- “The music is catchy, but this seems like a clone of an IGA game, Curse of the Moon.”
graphics
17 mentions
53 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Lords of Exile" are highly praised for their detailed pixel art style that effectively captures the nostalgic essence of classic 1980s games. Each level features diverse and visually appealing designs, enhancing the overall experience, although some players noted a lack of display options. Overall, the game's retro aesthetic, combined with a compelling soundtrack, makes it a standout for fans of the genre.
- “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.”
- “From its graphic style to a soundtrack that I can't get out of my head, Lords of Exile is a game made by retro gaming fans for retro gaming fans, and another lesson that Spain has great game developers.”
- “The game is easier than NES Castlevania, but with similar graphics.”
- “The game has an extremely convincing NES-era aesthetic and incentivizes methodical gameplay.”
- “From its graphic style to a soundtrack that I can't get out of my head, Lords of Exile is a game made by retro gaming fans for retro gaming fans.”
gameplay
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its balance of challenge and accessibility, reminiscent of classic 1980s side-scrollers, with engaging mechanics and a retro aesthetic. Players appreciate the fun platforming elements and the variety of interactive systems, although some feel that certain mechanics, like the double jump, can be inconsistent. Overall, the game offers a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre, despite some minor criticisms regarding level design and gimmicks.
- “The gameplay is really good; it's your traditional side scroller where you get from point A to point B while defeating enemies and bosses. Unlike those old school side scrollers that were frustratingly hard, this game strikes the right balance of being challenging yet fair. All it takes is learning the controls, and soon you'll be able to master the game.”
- “Lords of Exile is a very good retro-styled action platformer that serves as a great love letter to classic 1980s platformers while improving upon them. It features really good gameplay, excellent pixel graphic art style, and engaging enemies and bosses. I highly recommend getting this game if you're interested in school-styled side scrollers.”
- “The core action platforming gameplay is great and closely mirrors the glory days of NES action platformers in both look and feel.”
- “50% of the difficulty comes from the double jump just outright deciding, despite being a required mechanic, 'nah, I don't feel like activating right now, guess you'll just die.'”
- “Looking at the store page, I thought the shadow system was going to be a major gameplay component, but it's barely there.”
- “Gimmicks that rely on these JoJo stand powers become tedious really fast, by slowing down gameplay.”
story
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The story in "Lords of Exile" is generally considered average, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While players appreciate the retro homage and the addition of a second character, Lyria, her backstory is revealed too late in the game, leaving players wanting more context from the start. Overall, the narrative does not significantly enhance the experience, but it remains enjoyable for fans of classic platformers.
- “Lords of Exile is a very good retro-styled action platformer that is a great love letter to classic 1980s platformers while improving on it, okay the story.”
- “Also when you beat the game as Gabriel, you unlock another character, a ninja girl named Lyria, who can run and has projectile weapons and her own story.”
- “Short story - I highly recommend for retro game lovers, and the soundtrack I recommend for anyone who loves great game music.”
- “Also for the ninja girl Lyria, I wish they had a backstory for her in the beginning; we only find out her story way later in the game, so when we play as her, it would have been appreciated to know what her deal is.”
- “You play through the same stages, fight the same (mini) bosses, and have basically no difference in story.”
- “The storyline is okay, but the controls are pretty fluid with the gameplay.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the lack of backtracking and grinding, others feel that certain gameplay mechanics can become tedious and slow down the overall pace. Overall, the absence of grinding is seen as a positive feature by some, contrasting with the repetitive nature of other elements.
- “At first the game was good, but later on it became too tedious.”
- “Gimmicks that rely on these JoJo stand powers become tedious really fast, slowing down gameplay.”
- “I liked the lack of backtracking; it adds to the variety of modern-day retro games, which all allow for backtracking and grinding.”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that while the game has some replay value, titles like "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon" (both 1 and 2) provide a more engaging and replayable experience. Overall, the game is considered short but enjoyable, with decent replayability.
- “Short but great with good replay value.”
- “Buy Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (1 & 2); they are better than this game and offer more replayability.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and variations in gameplay makes it hard to want to replay.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for being entertaining and lighthearted, particularly in the early stages, but it takes a sharp turn towards frustration and disappointment as players approach the final levels.
- “The humor in this game is spot-on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game balances its challenging moments with hilarious dialogue and situations.”
- “The quirky characters and their witty banter add a delightful layer of humor to the gameplay.”