Mirthwood

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 941 reviews
  • story
  • grinding
  • graphics
Mirthwood Game Cover
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"Mirthwood is a single-player open-world RPG life sim with grinding elements, where you manage a homestead, craft items, and trade with towns. Experience an immersive medieval fantasy world with hand-drawn graphics, real-time combat, and survival-lite features. Battle various enemies across diverse regions in a bid to build a peaceful life."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 941 reviews
story93 positive mentions
grinding251 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and immersive atmosphere.
  • Engaging gameplay with a mix of farming, crafting, and exploration.
  • Active and responsive developers who are committed to fixing bugs and improving the game.
  • Combat feels clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating at times.
  • Numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and stuttering.
  • Lack of clear guidance on quests and NPC interactions, leading to confusion.
  • story346 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it charming and engaging, while others describe it as bland and underdeveloped. Many appreciate the unique art style and the environmental storytelling, but criticize the quest system for being vague and poorly marked, leading to confusion and frustration. Overall, while there are intriguing elements and potential for deeper narratives, the execution often feels lacking, leaving players wanting more from both the main and side quests.

    • “Mirthwood is a transcendental experience in the gaming universe, a true milestone that masterfully combines storytelling, immersion, and innovation.”
    • “The storyline in Mirthwood is gripping, filled with complex characters and a plot that hooks you from start to finish.”
    • “Every choice made by the player has a tangible impact on the story's progression, offering a rare sense of agency.”
    • “Repetitive farming becomes boring and mundane while the story itself is bland and nothing unique or mysterious.”
    • “The main story moves pretty fast once you finish these 4 nodes and after that, the game just ends with no other real objective.”
    • “It certainly isn't the storyline which is as bland as rice (apologies to rice lovers) and you're not even sure you've finished the main quest when you have.”
  • grinding253 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and unfulfilling due to repetitive tasks and a lack of meaningful rewards. While some appreciate the depth added by life skills and crafting, others criticize the resource gathering and inventory management as overly cumbersome, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements to its grinding mechanics to enhance player enjoyment.

    • “It's not the combat, it's not the farming, it's not the crafting or building.”
    • “The game is really grindy and involves a lot of boring repetitive activities that don't feel rewarding because all they do is unlock the next grind without making the game much easier as a reward.”
    • “The actual gameplay isn't really bringing much to the table in comparison to the other farming type games I have played, such as Stardew Valley, Traveler's Rest, Harvest Moon, and Rune Factory.”
    • “Farming probably would have been a better and more profitable experience if I'd figured out earlier how to properly prepare the soil.”
  • graphics226 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning, hand-drawn art style that creates an enchanting atmosphere reminiscent of storybook illustrations. While many players appreciate the unique aesthetic and detailed environments, some have noted performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive quality.

    • “Visually, the game is a feast for the eyes; each environment is meticulously crafted, featuring stunning graphics that blend realism with a unique artistic direction.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and evoke a fairy tale setting which reminds me a lot of Wildermyth (another good one if you haven't played it).”
    • “The artistry behind the graphics is truly a standout feature, giving the game a unique, almost storybook-like charm.”
    • “While it gives Mirthwood a distinct aesthetic, it can make gameplay frustrating, especially in combat.”
    • “The game needs some fine tuning when it comes to the performance department; I have a lot of stuttering and frame drops which sometimes makes the game unplayable.”
    • “I'm very disappointed with the graphics and movement style of the characters, player and NPC.”
  • gameplay166 mentions

    Gameplay in this title presents a mixed experience, with some players appreciating its unique blend of exploration, crafting, and moral choices, while others criticize its clunky mechanics and lack of polish. The combat system is often described as frustrating and unresponsive, detracting from the overall enjoyment, though the farming and building aspects are generally well-received. Many reviewers suggest that the game has potential but currently suffers from bugs, shallow mechanics, and a need for more depth and clarity in its systems.

    • “The developers have laid a solid foundation with a unique mix of exploration, moral choices, and crafting mechanics.”
    • “Gameplay stands out as a masterpiece, with polished mechanics that flow seamlessly, offering dynamic combat, intuitive exploration, and a constant sense of meaningful progress.”
    • “The exploration and survival mechanics add good depth and tension to an otherwise calm genre.”
    • “My problem is with how unpolished this game feels... the mechanics are there, but they feel like they were tacked on because they needed to be there.”
    • “The combat is clunky and frustrating and the fishing mechanic is awful.”
    • “Gameplay is poor with little direction for quests and I got incredibly dizzy from the graphics after only playing for a very short amount of time.”
  • optimization96 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent stuttering, frame drops, and occasional crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users note that the developers are actively working on patches to improve performance, the overall consensus is that significant optimization is still needed for a smoother experience. Despite these issues, many players express hope for future improvements and continue to enjoy the game.

    • “The devs are very responsive in their Discord, and in the coming patches, they will make the game more optimized and complete :)”
    • “Plus, there are almost two fixes a day, and the developers are really working hard to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
    • “The developers are working on optimizing the game even further to improve the performance to make it a great experience for everyone.”
    • “The game's optimization is the one area where it falters, with occasional performance drops that may disrupt the experience for some.”
    • “The game needs some fine tuning when it comes to the performance department; I have a lot of stuttering and frame drops which sometimes makes the game unplayable.”
    • “The performance of this game is poor and doesn't even feel like a 1.0 game, more like early access.”
  • music83 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the medieval aesthetic and enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, which features haunting melodies and ambient sounds that create a charming and relaxing environment. However, some users express frustration over the lack of audio management options, making it difficult to adjust the music volume to their preference.

    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the experience, wrapping players in an emotional soundscape that heightens immersion.”
    • “The music blends seamlessly with the game's melancholic tone, enhancing the feeling of stepping into a medieval world on the brink of collapse.”
    • “The hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning experience, while the deep character customization and engaging quests keep you hooked.”
    • “More time should have been spent prototyping the systems advertised as features, with proper art and music coming in only much, much later.”
    • “For some reason, there is no option to adjust the ambient music.”
    • “The game has no audio track management to adjust the music volume separately from the gameplay volume.”
  • stability62 mentions

    The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, leading many players to describe it as feeling unfinished and akin to an early access title. While some users report that these issues do not significantly detract from their enjoyment, others find the instability frustrating, with game-breaking bugs and performance problems being common. However, players appreciate the developers' responsiveness in addressing these issues through frequent updates.

    • “Runs great, plays great.”
    • “It's an unfinished and quite buggy game with a short storyline and a minor subset of subquests when considering the price.”
    • “The game is extremely buggy in terms of rendering.”
    • “The game is currently incredibly buggy.”
  • atmosphere43 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, featuring stunning visuals, atmospheric music, and a unique blend of dark fantasy and cozy elements. Players appreciate the attention to detail, including hand-drawn art and sound design, which create an enchanting yet sometimes eerie environment reminiscent of beloved titles like "The Witcher 3" and "Stardew Valley." However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is strong, it may not be enough to compensate for gameplay issues such as resource grinding and combat challenges.

    • “The dark fantasy atmosphere oozes through every pixel, making even the smallest hamlet feel like a place where an undead knight might pop out for some ale and giggles.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, things to do, night/day/seasons changing, overall beautiful world has beyond captivated me!”
    • “Mirthwood is immersive, it's cozy, the visuals and atmosphere are gorgeous and exactly what I was hoping for out of a medieval/fantasy focused sim of this genre.”
    • “The game is ugly, has a different atmosphere than suggested, the controls are uncomfortable and the view is tiring.”
    • “The art style and general atmosphere was the only thing drawing me in but this flubs everything else.”
    • “I suppose I could say the one thing they got right is the atmosphere/art.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by amusing interactions with NPCs, quirky character behaviors, and a blend of light-heartedness and intriguing storytelling. Players appreciate the comedic elements in dialogues and situations, which contribute to an engaging and entertaining experience. Additionally, the community surrounding the game adds to the humor, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

    • “Its not uncommon to appear to be stabbing where you're supposed to only for nothing to happen or for your character to insist on facing the wrong way instead of facing the enemy, or, hilariously enough for the enemy to face the wrong way for a while and attack the air.”
    • “The conversations with NPCs are so funny sometimes!”
    • “Fun mystery and intrigue as well as enough humor and lightheartedness to keep me playing for hours.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Players highlight the game's emotional depth through its compelling story, immersive soundtrack, and meaningful character relationships, particularly with characters like the innkeeper Clifford, which foster a sense of belonging. The combination of a mesmerizing art style and ethereal melodies enhances the overall emotional experience, making the world feel vibrant and alive. Additionally, the supportive community surrounding the game contributes to its wholesome atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the experience, wrapping players in an emotional soundscape that heightens immersion.”
    • “I found the story to be quite compelling, and the localized stories in locations are quite touching and sometimes amusing.”
    • “Building friendships with characters like the innkeeper Clifford made me feel like a new guy in town, but as our bond grew, I felt more and more like I belonged.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively due to the absence of microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape. However, some players express concerns that the final product feels incomplete and may be perceived as a cash grab, especially in light of the promising demo and marketing.

    • “There's no microtransactions like a lot of recent games, either, so that's a plus (it's sad that we have to consider that!).”
    • “I loved the demo, but somehow, even after delaying release, the 'finished' game is a mess and lacks the depth that the demo and advertising promised.”
    • “Feel like this might be a cash grab.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability through diverse character creation options, multiple starting areas, and a variety of classes. The inclusion of a morale system allows for good and evil playthroughs, although some players noted inconsistencies in NPC interactions. While there are minor performance issues, the overall experience is significantly improved.

    • “There are multiple different creation options for your character, different areas you can start from, and a good amount of classes to choose from, so the replay value is definitely there.”
    • “I love the addition of the morale system. I wish more games would bring it back! It adds so much replayability, allowing for both good and evil playthroughs.”
    • “The variety of choices and paths you can take in the game ensures that each playthrough feels unique and engaging.”
    • “There are multiple different creation options for your character, different areas you can start from, and a good amount of classes to choose from, so the replay value is there.”
    • “The game lacks significant changes in gameplay for subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
    • “Once you've experienced the main story, there isn't much incentive to replay, as side quests feel uninspired and similar.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
3-29hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 15 analyzed playthroughs

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