Lynked: Banner of the Spark

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In "Lynked: Banner of the Spark," lead the resistance against evil Combot overlords by assembling a team of robot allies and executing flashy combos with your Wyre grappling hook. With a variety of weapons to unlock and upgrades to earn, you'll build your base and recruit new allies to save the natural world in this co-op or solo adventure. The world is your weapon as you turn deadly environmental traps against your enemies.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game successfully blends ARPG combat mechanics with town-building elements reminiscent of Animal Crossing, creating a fun and engaging gameplay loop.
The art style is vibrant and charming, with a variety of unique characters and weapons that enhance the overall experience.
Multiplayer functionality is smooth and allows for cooperative play, making it enjoyable to play with friends while offering a good mix of challenge and relaxation.

Some players have reported performance issues and bugs, particularly in early access, which can detract from the overall experience.
The lack of difficulty options has frustrated some players, as certain missions can feel too easy or unbalanced.
The town-building aspect may feel underdeveloped or unnecessary to those primarily interested in the combat mechanics.

story
71 mentions
20 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as engaging yet somewhat simplistic, serving primarily as a backdrop to the gameplay, which consists of a series of missions and town-building activities. While some players find the narrative and characters enjoyable, others feel it lacks depth and is overshadowed by the more addictive elements of combat and exploration. Overall, the game offers a mix of core story progression and side quests, with the potential for future updates to enhance the narrative experience.
- “It has such a beautiful art style, an amusing gameplay loop that never fails to keep me entertained, and a story that's actually super fascinating.”
- “The storyline is equally impressive, featuring rich, multifaceted characters and a plot that continually surprises and engages.”
- “Every decision feels meaningful, with choices that impact not only the story but also how players connect with the game.”
- “The story is... there.”
- “I have no interest in the story.”
- “I just do the quests because that's what the game is telling me to do but it feels lifeless.”
gameplay
28 mentions
36 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay combines action-roguelike mechanics with town-building elements, reminiscent of titles like Hades and Animal Crossing, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. Players enjoy a variety of combat options, smooth mechanics, and a charming art style, though some may find the blend of gameplay elements overwhelming if they prefer a singular focus. Overall, the game offers a fun and addictive loop that balances combat, exploration, and community-building.
- “It has the roguelike run mechanics like Hades, but the town building and resident friendship like Animal Crossing, except it's about cute little robots.”
- “The variety of abilities and weapons means that no two encounters are the same, keeping the gameplay dynamic and challenging in the best way possible.”
- “Cozy meets combat, really tight gameplay, with the cherry on top of town building!”
- “The core gameplay loop hasn't hooked me yet.”
- “Now let me say something in regard to gameplay because it is worth noting: the way the gameplay elements blend together could potentially be off-putting for people who only want to engage in one specific part of this game.”
- “I highly recommend watching some YouTube videos or Twitch streams about the actual gameplay first, as what I saw in the trailers was giving me a slightly different picture.”
graphics
14 mentions
57 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and vibrant art style, reminiscent of classic titles like Mega Man. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and intricate textures that enhance the game's unique universe, although some suggest adjusting the default low graphical settings for a better experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable and engaging atmosphere.
- “It has such a beautiful art style, an amusing gameplay loop that never fails to keep me entertained, and a story that's actually super fascinating.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking, blending vibrant colors with intricate textures that bring the game’s unique universe to life.”
- “The art work at first surprised me but as I played it really grew on me.”
- “A fun quirky game not officially Steam Deck verified but works out of the box (may want to increase graphical settings though, it defaults to low across the board)”
- “The general aesthetic reminds me a lot of Mega Man.”
- “There is so much to do and its art style is very polished.”
music
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as subtle yet fitting, contributing to a relaxing and vibrant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers praise the excellent soundtrack for its ability to complement the game's visuals and gameplay, creating a cozy and enjoyable vibe. Overall, the music is a standout feature that adds to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The soundtrack is excellent.”
- “The music is something that is kind of subtle but also very fitting.”
- “Super vibrant game, the music is amazing; I could go on forever, but you should just buy the game and check it out yourself!”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous over time.”
- “The soundtrack feels generic and doesn't enhance the gaming experience.”
- “The music is often drowned out by sound effects, making it hard to appreciate.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has seen significant improvements with recent updates, addressing initial performance issues. However, some players still report that as they expand their towns, performance can degrade, indicating that further optimization may be needed. While there are still some bugs, the game remains largely playable.
- “Performance is great.”
- “There are some bugs, and the game can be optimized further, but it is still a completely playable experience.”
- “Originally a negative review because of the performance, with newer updates, the performance issues were fixed!”
- “The game needs optimization as I can run the game, but it takes so much power.”
- “The more I add to my town, the worse it seems to get - hoping that's a fixable optimization issue.”
- “There are some bugs, and the game can be optimized further, but it still is a completely playable experience.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in the game involves extensive fishing and farming to afford upgrades, with some tasks feeling more like chores than enjoyable activities. While the farming mechanics could use improvement, the overall blend of town-building, farming, and roguelite elements, along with regular updates, keeps the experience engaging.
- “You will need to do a lot of fishing and farming to just afford upgrades.”
- “There can be some improvement on tasks that feel more like chores than fun (no one likes to dig up dozens of crops, why is fishing so fun but farming feels braindead).”
- “Gathering rocks, plants, and farming feels tedious, especially when it resembles chores rather than enjoyable gameplay.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its fun gameplay, required skill, and the presence of random elements that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging.
- “Super fun, some skill required; the random elements make replayability high.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic events and character interactions.”
- “Super fun, some skill required, random elements make replayability high.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game shows significant potential but suffers from stability issues, including frequent crashes and bugs at launch.
- “Great game, a lot of potential, but it's a bit buggy at launch with crashes occurring somewhat frequently.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever dialogue and charming characters, contributing to an engaging world that players find delightful and entertaining.
- “It's basically everything I wanted; the art direction and sense of world-building are incredible, with cute characters and funny dialogue.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every interaction a delight and keeping me engaged throughout.”
- “I love how the game balances humor with its storyline, creating memorable moments that always make me laugh.”