Master Bladesmith

About

"Master Bladesmith" is a VR role-playing game that allows you to craft your own weapons from raw ore. The game uses custom physics code for realistic interactions and includes mining mechanics to process ore and upgrade your washplant. In addition to weapon creation, you can burn calories by busting targets and testing your blades in exhilarating combat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 384 reviews

gameplay39 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

The crafting mechanics are engaging and satisfying, allowing players to create weapons and armor with a hands-on approach.
The game offers a unique blend of blacksmithing and combat, providing a rewarding gameplay loop that keeps players coming back.
The developer is responsive to community feedback and actively works on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.

The game has been criticized for being grindy, with progression often tied to repetitive tasks in the Time Chamber.
Many players have reported bugs and issues with hit detection, particularly in the Time Chamber, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The tutorial and guidance for new players are lacking, making it difficult to understand some mechanics and features of the game.

gameplay
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive yet satisfying loop involving crafting weapons and testing them in a combat arena, often described as engaging but grindy. While the mechanics, particularly crafting and physics, are praised for their uniqueness and fun, many players express frustration with the lack of variety, poor collision detection, and a need for better tutorials. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from issues that detract from the immersive experience, leading to mixed feelings about its value for the price.
- “The gameplay loop is extremely fun and rewarding, and the overall grind isn't too bad.”
- “The physics and the gameplay loop are so enjoyable and feel very unique to this game; it rewards you in so many little ways as you play and discover all the little things.”
- “Really fun and addictive gameplay, all you would hope for in an RPG-like style with a main focus on smithing; it's like leveling up the smithing profession in WoW but you get to play in first person.”
- “The trailer is misleading; the core gameplay is actually swinging swords at wood in one room while the mining machine does its thing in the other room.”
- “Unfortunately, an additional problem is that the sloppy main gameplay also happens to be extremely grindy, which goes hand in hand with crafting, a major selling point of the game.”
- “The overall gameplay of the 'time chamber' is a bit boring and even sometimes broken; this can be good or bad for you, either it's good and you do better because it breaks.”
grinding
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game is heavily focused on grinding, which some players find satisfying as it leads to progression and crafting better weapons, while others view it as tedious and frustrating, particularly due to issues like collision detection and slow resource gathering. While fans of grinding may enjoy the experience, those who prefer a more streamlined gameplay loop might find it overwhelming and not worth the price. Overall, the grinding aspect is a defining feature that can either enhance or detract from the enjoyment, depending on individual preferences.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's not a game centered on creativity or building; it's about grinding your stats to acquire a sword with double the durability, enabling progress through the next five levels.”
- “Unfortunately, an additional problem is that the sloppy main gameplay also happens to be extremely grindy to go with crafting, which is a major selling point of the game.”
- “Failed to grab my interest in the hour I played - the game feels extremely grindy without being enjoyable in the process.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and poor design choices that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. While some players acknowledge its potential and express hope for future improvements, many are frustrated by the developer's abandonment of the project and the lack of updates to address the issues. Overall, the game is seen as a buggy mess, particularly in its early access state, leading to a recommendation against purchasing until significant fixes are made.
- “The game is very buggy, and the physics engine needs work, but I guess that doesn't matter, because it's early access so things are going to be weird!”
- “But when I got into the game, I was hit with so many bugs, glitches, and poor game design choices that hindered my experience terribly.”
- “And while I would be more forgiving for actual early access, the dev himself reportedly mentioned working on the second part of Master Bladesmith, rather than polishing the buggy mess the game is in currently.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with players noting that the original tracks are lackluster and repetitive, often leading them to prefer their own playlists for a better experience. While the sound design is appreciated, particularly in crafting areas, the combat music lacks variety and can become monotonous during extended play sessions. Overall, the game functions better as a backdrop for personal music rather than relying on its own soundtrack.
- “I also find the game a bit more fun putting some tavern radio on in Spotify and listening to some good music to set the mood while playing.”
- “The crafting is oddly relaxing, the sound design is nice and music helps set a relaxing aura in the shop and smith area while the combat music in the chamber makes sure you know it's time to test the works you have made.”
- “Just play some music in the background and it's Beat Saber but you craft your weapons.”
- “The music, however, gets repetitive, and so far I have found no way to turn it off.”
- “It's nice, but when you're smelting for a couple of hours with the 2 or 3 songs (each area has a different song: the workshop, mine, and store), it can drive you a bit crazy.”
- “Progression is slow, the time chamber is boring as hell, there's no NPCs to break the drone of the music, and the actual blade creation is locked behind levels (earned by doing the time chamber).”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their high quality, with many users noting stunning visuals and well-designed weapon crafting elements. While some textures may feel generic or default, the overall aesthetic aligns well with the fantasy/medieval theme, and the game is considered visually impressive by current standards. However, there are calls for more customization options in graphics settings.
- “The graphics are top notch, the weapons you can make are well done, and the combat portion of the game (while repetitive) is very good too.”
- “Stunning graphics”
- “The graphics range from 'oh my god that's real' to 'that dude's nose is way too big', but overall it's an amazing looking game.”
- “It feels like it's mainly default textures for a lot of stuff, and as a result, it looks alright for today's standards of graphical fidelity for VR.”
- “The game also needs more options: graphics, audio, and general game options are missing entirely.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and repetitive, with many players feeling that it lacks depth and variety. While some find the gameplay addictive, the reliance on the time chamber as a central narrative element detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration rather than engagement. Overall, the narrative feels unfinished and is overshadowed by gameplay mechanics that do not effectively support a compelling story.
- “It has an interesting story and addictive gameplay.”
- “My only problem with the game is that the 'story' revolves around the time chamber, and I dread every time I have to go into it.”
- “Do not buy this game; it is not finished. The dev has abandoned this game to start a sequel for more money without finishing this game. There are so many bugs and unfinished aspects. For example, the relics are not added. You can do all the extra steps, but you won't be rewarded because the dev didn't add it in. There's no story or continuation of any sort, just the same actions over and over. In my opinion, we need to stop supporting devs like this.”
- “I'm new to VR and new to this game, but so far there isn't too much story or a very large variety of gameplay.”
- “My only problem with the game is that the 'story' revolves around the time chamber, and I dread every time I have to go into it. I was having a blast just forging stuff and making money, but once I capped all my levels, I have to do the time chamber, which put all the fun to bed.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is inconsistent, with some users reporting excellent performance while others experience significant issues. Control mechanics, particularly item handling, are criticized for being uncomfortable and confusing, especially when compared to better-optimized titles. Overall, the game's performance and controls leave room for improvement.
- “Performance is great.”
- “The performance is absolutely horrible.”
- “Rewards in each round are based on performance.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model is criticized for being a cash grab, but it offers a more favorable approach by allowing players to sell unwanted items and use the proceeds to buy equipment, upgrades, and crafting materials, avoiding predatory microtransactions.
- “Thanks for the rug pull cash grab.”
- “Rather than containing predatory microtransactions, this game allows you to sell your unwanted metal and weapons to purchase equipment, upgrades, and materials for crafting.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often self-referential and light-hearted, with players enjoying the comedic elements while still being engaged in gameplay. Many find the humor adds an entertaining layer, making the experience enjoyable even during extended play sessions.
- “If you thought you might be funny like me and only play for the smithing elements, think again.”
- “Most of my reviews have been funny, kind of poking fun at the game, but I could actually play this for twelve hours straight without getting bored.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features an intriguing atmosphere that captivates players from the outset, enhanced by a well-crafted introduction.
- “This game has an interesting atmosphere and a neat introduction into the game.”