Mirthwood

About

Mirthwood is a single player open world role playing game. It was developed by Bad Ridge Games and was released on November 6, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,242 reviews

story124 positive mentions

grinding339 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and immersive atmosphere that captures a dark fantasy vibe.
Engaging gameplay loop with a mix of farming, crafting, and exploration.
Active development team that is responsive to player feedback and regularly releases updates.

Combat mechanics are clunky and unrefined, making battles frustrating.
Game feels incomplete with many bugs and unpolished features, leading to a lack of depth in gameplay.
Resource gathering can be tedious, with limited availability of essential materials like wood and iron.

story
486 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The game's story is described as charming and engaging, with a fairy-tale-like art style that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and the intriguing main quest, they also note issues with quest clarity, bugs, and a lack of depth in NPC interactions. Overall, the narrative offers a cozy yet dark adventure, but it suffers from inconsistencies and a need for more refined storytelling elements.
- “I love the storybook feel to this game; I like how it's challenging without being complicated, the story was instantly compelling, and I also love the overall ambiance and atmosphere of the game.”
- “The story has been very engaging and fun - I'm enjoying both the main quest line as well as the side quests.”
- “The artwork is absolutely beautiful, the world feels mysterious and alive, and the quiet eeriness of the story keeps pulling me deeper in.”
- “The story is okay, nothing annoying about it, and the narration is solid, but at the end of the day, I didn't think much of it—it felt kinda shallow with repetitive quests that turn into busywork and NPCs whose chats lack real depth or nuance.”
- “The quests are really basic and tedious.”
- “The main story moves pretty fast once you finish these 4 nodes and after that, the game just ends with no other real objective.”
grinding
342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of Mirthwood has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting that resource gathering and crafting can feel excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the sense of progression that comes from grinding, others find it frustrating, particularly due to the lack of meaningful rewards and the cumbersome mechanics involved in farming and crafting. Overall, players suggest that while the game offers a unique blend of farming and RPG elements, the grind can detract from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's not the combat, it's not the farming, it's not the crafting or building.”
- “It's also pretty grindy and farming for materials and stuff isn't fun for me I find it annoying that I have to keep tabs on my hunger level too.”
- “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.”
- “Farming probably would have been a better and more profitable experience if I'd figured out earlier how to properly prepare the soil.”
graphics
304 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The graphics of Mirthwood have received widespread praise for their beautiful, fairy-tale-like art style, which many players find enchanting and immersive. The hand-drawn visuals create a unique atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience, although some users have reported performance issues such as frame drops and stuttering. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “The graphics are gorgeous and the developers are very active on Discord, listening to player feedback and wishes and are working hard on adding new content every few months.”
- “Mirthwood immediately pulled me in with its gorgeous art style and there’s a real charm to the world that makes exploring it a joy.”
- “The artwork is absolutely beautiful, the world feels mysterious and alive, and the quiet eeriness of the story keeps pulling me deeper in.”
- “I have a pretty decent setup and I've been getting constant FPS drops and generally low FPS for a game with simple graphics.”
- “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.”
gameplay
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
7%
The gameplay in Mirthwood offers a blend of resource gathering, farming, and exploration within a beautifully crafted world, but it is marred by clunky mechanics and a lack of depth in various systems. While players appreciate the cozy gameplay loop and engaging quests, many express frustration with the combat, restrictive mechanics, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential and charming aesthetics, the game feels unfinished, with many mechanics needing refinement and polish to enhance player enjoyment.
- “I like the gameplay loop; there's a lot of resource gathering and expanding your inventory is a very important goal to set for yourself when you start playing; but, the gathering aspect can be fun, especially with how large and interesting the map is to explore.”
- “The adventure and exploration aspects are a highlight, and the gameplay loop is both cozy and surprisingly addictive.”
- “Overall, Mirthwood blends relaxing gameplay with engaging adventure really well, and it's one of those games that's hard to put down once you get into the rhythm.”
- “A lot of the mechanics feel hollow or underdeveloped, and much of what you spend your time doing lacks depth.”
- “The combat is clunky and frustrating, and the fishing mechanic is awful.”
- “The mechanics aren't complex enough to make up for the dead NPCs - there's no 'organic stories' to be found in here.”
optimization
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
56%
35%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting frequent stuttering, frame drops, and performance issues even on high-end PCs and handheld devices like the Steam Deck. While some users noted that the developers are actively working on patches to improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization to enhance the gameplay experience. Despite its intriguing content and potential, many players find the current performance issues to be a major barrier to enjoyment.
- “The game's optimization is the one area where it falters, with occasional performance drops that may disrupt the experience for some.”
- “The developers are working on optimizing the game even further to improve the performance to make it a great experience for everyone.”
- “Sure, the game could use a bit of optimization and smoothing of mechanics, but it's a pretty darn good full release, especially for a small developer team.”
- “I bought this game at launch, played it a bit then gave up due to performance issues and how a lot of the mechanics felt clunky.”
- “All of the content is super intriguing and the lore is right up my alley but the gameplay and performance is an unplayable mess.”
- “The performance of this game is terrible and doesn't even feel like a 1.0 game, more like early access.”
music
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall immersive experience with a blend of soothing melodies and ambient sounds that evoke a medieval fantasy vibe. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement gameplay without becoming intrusive, although some express a desire for more control over audio settings. Overall, the combination of beautiful music and hand-drawn art creates a captivating and enchanting atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “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 soundtrack perfectly complements the experience, wrapping players in an emotional soundscape that heightens immersion.”
- “The hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning experience, while the deep character customization and engaging quests keep you hooked.”
- “The settings for this game are like a game from 2005, with no options to turn down the music or ambient noise, just the overall volume, making the background noise extremely loud and annoying.”
- “There are so many good ideas and intentions behind the game, but it lacks basic fundamental features that all games should have - I mean, there isn't even an option to turn down or disable the in-game music.”
- “It's annoying when you hear the battle music and just stay and wait for the enemy to come for like 5-20 seconds sometimes.”
stability
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
99%
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact stability and overall gameplay experience. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, many report game-breaking bugs, crashes, and performance hiccups, particularly during combat and fast travel. However, the developers are actively addressing these problems with frequent updates, leading to a sense of optimism among the community for future improvements.
- “Runs great, plays great.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any noticeable lag.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs.”
- “The game is very buggy, and the combat is something I dread — not because it’s hard in a rewarding way, but because it feels clunky and frustrating.”
- “Crashes and freezes all the time and the lagging is unbearable; it's unplayable for me.”
- “The game is currently incredibly buggy.”
atmosphere
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
23%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, featuring a blend of dark medieval aesthetics, charming visuals, and atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the cozy yet mysterious ambiance, reminiscent of beloved titles like "The Witcher 3" and "Stardew Valley," although some note that the game could benefit from further polish and refinement. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature, drawing players into its beautifully crafted world despite some gameplay challenges.
- “I love the storybook feel to this game; I like how it's challenging without being complicated. The story was instantly compelling, and I also love the overall ambiance and atmosphere of the game.”
- “After nearly 60 hours in Mirthwood, I’ve been thoroughly drawn into its moody, atmospheric world.”
- “The hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning experience, while the deep character customization and engaging quests keep you hooked.”
- “Lastly, the overall atmosphere is too bleak and depressing.”
- “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.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a profound emotional experience, with a compelling story and well-developed character relationships that foster a sense of belonging. The immersive soundtrack and captivating art style enhance the emotional depth, making players feel connected to the vibrant world and its inhabitants. Overall, the emotional beats resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “There are emotional beats that hit deep.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the experience, wrapping players in an emotional soundscape that heightens immersion.”
- “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.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky interactions with NPCs, amusing glitches, and a blend of light-hearted writing that keeps players engaged. Players appreciate the funny and sometimes absurd reactions of characters to various situations, as well as the entertaining community discussions. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the intriguing story and gameplay experience.
- “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.”
- “Love the humor and writing; my favorite part is the art. The game is beautiful and fun.”
- “The conversations with NPCs are so funny sometimes!”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game offers significant replayability through diverse character creation options, multiple starting areas, and various classes, allowing for different playthrough experiences. The inclusion of a morale system enhances this aspect by enabling players to explore both good and evil paths. However, some players have noted persistent technical issues that may affect the overall experience.
- “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 brought it back; it adds so much replayability, allowing for both good and evil playthroughs.”
- “I highly recommend this game, but I also highly recommend waiting for it until it's been patched a dozen times and is more playable.”
- “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.”
- “It's not 100% perfect yet; there are still some freezes or drops here and there, but it's much more playable than before.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
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, falling short of the expectations set by the demo and promotional materials.
- “There's no microtransactions like a lot of recent games, which is a definite plus (it's sad that we have to consider that!).”
- “I loved the demo, but somehow, even after delaying the 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.”