Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen sets a new benchmark for all Soulslikes out there. It masters what we love about the genre, and adds to it in many ways. It won't get better than this for a while.

Starting at $1.49Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

Get on Epic Games Store

Get on PS Store

"Lords of the Fallen: Master of Fate" introduces over 30 updates with advanced game modifier system for full playstyle customization. Experience significant performance enhancements, difficulty balancing, and improved multiplayer matchmaking, following player feedback since launch. This version concludes the free content roadmap, providing a significantly improved experience for new and returning players alike.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,689 reviews

gameplay1,650 positive mentions

optimization971 negative mentions

gameplay
4,659 mentions
35 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Lords of the Fallen" (2023) has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the innovative dual-world mechanic involving the umbral realm, which adds depth to exploration and combat. However, criticisms often focus on clunky controls, frustrating mechanics, and a lack of enemy variety, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel tedious and unbalanced. While the game showcases stunning visuals and a rich atmosphere, the execution of its mechanics has left some players feeling that it falls short of the high standards set by other titles in the souls-like genre.
- “The gameplay is great and the umbral mechanics are really innovative.”
- “The dual-world mechanic is one of the most used parts of the game and the abundance of broken weapons you find even early on means you will have a great time.”
- “The umbral mechanic is a great idea but it is not enjoyable as you are practically hounded by trash mobs all the time in it.”
- “Gameplay, I'm 50/50 on. I love the weapon and enemy design and I adore the world-changing mechanics and gorgeous graphics, but the positivity ends there with very few different movesets and gimmicky weapon mechanics that are frustrating or boring, a poorly implemented multiplayer that is just old, and sometimes frustrating level design that lowers the enjoyment.”
- “The umbral mechanic is a unique and clever exploration mechanic - it's just kind of a disaster in practice.”
- “The gameplay is fast but tight; it doesn't feel clunky or loose like most souls-like games feel, in my opinion, which makes me not want to play them most of the time.”
optimization
4,303 mentions
13 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Lords of the Fallen" has been a contentious topic among players, with many reporting significant performance issues at launch, including stuttering, frame drops, and crashes. While some users have experienced improvements following numerous patches, others still encounter problems, particularly in high-density enemy areas and during boss fights. Overall, while the game shows potential and has received commendable post-launch support from developers, many recommend waiting for further optimization before purchasing, especially for those with lower-end hardware.
- “I tried it again at v1.5 and now that it runs smoothly, I can confidently say it's a fun time.”
- “I bought it at release when it was initially review bombed for performance issues, and now a year later I still come back to it and can notice significant improvements in the performance.”
- “The devs have done a great job of responding to player feedback and continue to improve the game's performance and quality of life.”
- “From running incredibly bad while not looking remotely good enough to justify the performance, having a disgusting launch and being hardly a game, I'd recommend to stay as far away from it as possible if you don't enjoy burning money. Technical issues aside, the 'game' is not much more than a series of unoptimized empty areas with no good sense of design.”
- “The performance is bad and getting stuck on geometry and beaten to death stinks.”
- “Performance issues: the game is riddled with bugs and performance issues.”
graphics
2,726 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Lords of the Fallen" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and intricate art style, often described as breathtaking and on par with or superior to other titles in the genre, such as "Elden Ring." However, many players have reported performance issues, including frame drops and stuttering, particularly on lower-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these technical challenges, the game's aesthetic and dual-world mechanic have been praised for enhancing immersion and exploration.
- “The graphics are beautiful and it ran pretty well for me.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is engaging.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are actually insane.”
- “The graphics are much worse than they looked in the trailers, even on the highest settings.”
- “It's unfortunate that despite running well, Lords of the Fallen has severe issues with AMD-based graphics cards, especially those that are based on Polaris or Vega architectures.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, you need a 4080/4090 to run it anywhere on medium graphics, plus the FPS is stuttering around 30-45.”
story
1,907 mentions
26 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of "Lords of the Fallen" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its dark fantasy themes and environmental storytelling, which is more straightforward than typical souls-like narratives. However, the quest design has been criticized for being overly cryptic and easy to fail, often requiring players to consult guides to avoid locking themselves out of important content. While some find the lore engaging and the world richly crafted, others feel the overall narrative lacks depth and coherence, making it less memorable compared to its inspirations.
- “The story is captivating, engaging, and full of twists and turns.”
- “The story, while vague, is good and is mainly given to you through ethereal phantoms along your journey.”
- “The story is interesting so far and I feel like I have a pretty clear vision of what to do and how to progress.”
- “The quests are extremely easy to fail just by progressing a bit after finding needed items.”
- “The story is convoluted, as is tradition.”
- “The story is dull and almost non-existent. You spend much of the game just killing enemies and not even really knowing what your endgame mission is or what you're trying to achieve.”
grinding
744 mentions
1 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Lords of the Fallen" has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating. Players report that the game features a high density of repetitive enemies, long runbacks to bosses, and a lack of meaningful rewards for grinding, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many feel that the mechanics intended to create challenge instead lead to a monotonous experience, making the game feel more like a chore than a rewarding adventure.
- “This combined with a lot of shortcuts makes the huge maps not that tedious to navigate.”
- “Pretty amazing Dark Souls game; if you're not grinding, you're failing.”
- “It can seem boring to play through the game twice, but you need to farm experience and items to progress anyway, so at least you're not farming in one place.”
- “Collecting all weapons requires doing all of those byzantine NPC quests and then also farming random drops from enemies.”
- “Getting to the bosses has to be the worst part though; you are forced to run through a trillion of the exact same enemies to get anywhere, it is some of the most tedious shit imaginable.”
- “The game is the definition of tedious.”
stability
594 mentions
17 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting it as "buggy" and "unoptimized," particularly at launch. While numerous patches have improved performance and resolved many issues, players still encounter glitches, crashes, and inconsistent multiplayer experiences. Overall, while some users report smooth gameplay on high-end systems, the consensus is that the game remains prone to various technical problems that can detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs great and the gameplay is a breath of fresh air.”
- “All the negative stuff I've seen mentioned on release seems to be completely resolved, and it runs great on the deck straight out of the box.”
- “The developers have patched this game for every single day since its release and it works like a charm and is not buggy at all anymore.”
- “Even though the game is much more stable than after release, the game is still incredibly unoptimized and buggy.”
- “Trying to play with a friend or two is a bit of a joke too, the game feels pretty buggy while playing co-op, you get stuck at the top of ladders, sometimes your character seizes up and won't move or attack, all things that really should have been sorted out by now with how long the game has been out.”
- “The game is so buggy/glitchy it's almost unplayable; especially if you want to play online.”
atmosphere
579 mentions
63 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Lords of the Fallen" is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed environments, which evoke a dark, gothic fantasy reminiscent of the Souls series. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a haunting ambiance through its art direction, sound design, and the unique dual-world mechanic, enhancing the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is compelling, it can be undermined by repetitive gameplay and level design issues.
- “Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the environments are richly detailed and atmospheric, ranging from crumbling gothic cathedrals to eerie, otherworldly landscapes.”
- “The game's atmosphere is deeply immersive, with a rich and engaging lore that pulls you into its dark and twisted world.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful landscapes, coupled with an immersive soundtrack, create an atmosphere that stays with you long after you've put down the controller.”
- “Some of the worst level design I've ever experienced, a mediocre story that misses the point of why FromSoftware's Souls games have such a dreary atmosphere, and extremely repetitive enemy encounters.”
- “I had to pretty much force myself into playing the game hoping it would get better, but the game basically offers the best it has in the starting couple of hours and then drags out what little it has in terms of enemies and bosses over and over the entire way till the end. The game is kind of deceiving in a way that the visuals and atmosphere hook you up and encourage you to play, but then the gameplay doesn't really match the cool atmosphere, leading to frustration.”
- “On the one hand, there are secrets and nooks and crannies; on the other, nothing in the world looks or feels beautiful and distinct. Everything feels cramped, and the atmosphere is always oppressive.”
music
425 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Lords of the Fallen" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and thematic fit within the game's dark fantasy setting. While some tracks are noted as memorable and impactful, particularly during boss fights, others are described as forgettable or generic, lacking the standout quality often associated with the genre. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's ambiance but may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
- “Aesthetically, it's very well done with a dark religious, fantasy gothic horror theme present throughout the entire game with an epic soundtrack.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful landscapes, coupled with an immersive soundtrack, create an atmosphere that stays with you long after you've put down the controller.”
- “The music is really great, the atmosphere is very nice, and the visuals are impressive.”
- “The soundtrack, however, is probably the biggest problem.”
- “The music is forgettable; I went through the entire game and not one OST stuck in my mind.”
- “The soundtrack is kind of back to typical Dark Souls style: very little music while exploring and generic choir epic music for bosses.”
humor
116 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of subtle and slapstick elements, with players finding amusement in quirky animations, unexpected bugs, and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics. While some moments are genuinely funny, such as comical enemy behaviors and amusing character animations, others are perceived as frustrating or poorly designed, leading to a blend of laughter and irritation. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the experience, though it can sometimes detract from the intended seriousness of the game's dark themes.
- “While the story and setting is dark and bleak (as expected), the game also has a nice, subtle sense of humor too.”
- “The funny thing about this is the people are literally complaining about 'the game'.”
- “It's just hilarious to me that the biggest challenge of the game isn't the bosses or enemies but rather how often you fall to your death.”
- “Especially towards the end of the game, I just kept running through because it is too annoying, unfair, and not funny at all.”
- “This is not funny.”
replayability
114 mentions
35 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through multiple endings, new game plus (NG+), and various game modifiers that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the interconnected level design and the ability to experiment with different builds and classes, although some note that limited enemy variety can detract from the overall replay value. Continuous updates and improvements from the developers further bolster the game's replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre.
- “There is a wealth of replayability baked right into the game itself.”
- “The game's replayability is enhanced by its multiple endings, encouraging players to delve into various choices and paths to uncover different outcomes.”
- “The addition of what I call 'the upside down' is a cool way to get replayability and give players a feeling of there being a doubly big world to explore for secrets and items.”
- “The ending being so lackluster kind of killed the replay value for me.”
- “There are multiple endings and a lot of achievements, but there isn't really much replay value in my opinion, since now the exploration aspect would be gone after knowing most of the areas.”
- “Ng+ completely lacks the replayability that this genre is known for.”
monetization
62 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling that it prioritizes advertising and marketing over quality gameplay. Reviewers describe the game as a "cash grab," highlighting misleading claims about seamless co-op and excessive in-game ads that detract from the experience. Despite the absence of microtransactions, the overall sentiment is that the game's monetization strategy has left it feeling underdeveloped and frustrating.
- “And it's all even for free, no microtransactions.”
- “Constant updates from the developers, and no microtransactions.”
- “It's just sad that the farming mechanics make me think that at some point they were thinking of having in-game purchases or some live service system.”
- “It's a huge disappointment that all the money they had went into marketing and advertisement so the videos look good and pretend to be a good game and hide the disgusting reality of this 'new' game.”
- “This game's advertisement is very misleading when it comes to co-op.”
emotional
51 mentions
96 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players expressing deep feelings of frustration and disappointment due to gameplay mechanics and design choices, while others find moments of emotional resonance through character interactions and the soundtrack. Many players feel a lack of emotional investment in the story and characters, leading to a sense of disconnection, yet some highlight poignant moments that evoke genuine feelings, such as heartbreaking dialogues and nostalgic connections to past games. Overall, the emotional experience varies widely, with some players feeling moved and others left feeling indifferent or frustrated.
- “The characters are not just placeholders; they are compelling entities with their own motivations and histories, adding emotional depth to your journey.”
- “Following her story correctly lets you summon her for the penultimate boss fight against her demonically transformed husband, and after you bring him down she appears in the throne room and gives a brief line of heartbreaking dialogue before vanishing into a cloud of moths.”
- “From the haunting melodies during exploration to the intense crescendos during boss battles, the soundtrack effectively enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
- “Lore 2/10: Really boring story-wise; even Nioh does a better job there.”
- “Story: I was expecting a boring storyline (Dark Souls copy-pasted), but it is not the case.”
character development
38 mentions
42 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising the artistic quality and variety of character designs, particularly in terms of bosses and enemies, which enhance immersion. However, some players find the technical execution outdated and express disappointment in the limited customization options, especially for female characters. Overall, while the narrative and character progression systems add depth, there are calls for more meaningful character interactions and development throughout the gameplay.
- “The progression of magic spells and sorceries adds depth to character development, offering players a variety of strategic options.”
- “However, where 'Lords of the Fallen 2' truly shines is in its narrative and character development.”
- “The dark ambiance, coupled with intricate character development, enhances the overall atmosphere.”
- “That's mainly because most of them have very little reaction or character development during these quests.”
- “Character design is very limited and all the female character design options look horrendous.”
- “Character design is iffy.”