Mirthwood

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,985 reviews

story193 positive mentions

grinding533 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and immersive atmosphere.
Engaging gameplay with a mix of farming, crafting, and exploration.
Active developer support with frequent updates and responsiveness to community feedback.

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.

story
734 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it compelling and immersive, while others describe it as bland and underdeveloped. Many appreciate the charming art style and the potential for deeper storytelling, but criticize the quest system for being vague and lacking clear direction. Overall, while there are intriguing elements and local stories that add depth, the main narrative often feels rushed or incomplete, leaving players wanting more.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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
537 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
The grinding aspect of "Mirthwood" has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting that while the game offers a variety of activities like farming, crafting, and combat, the resource gathering can feel excessively tedious and repetitive. Players appreciate the depth of the farming mechanics and the cozy atmosphere, but often find the grind for materials and upgrades to be a slog, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, some players still find the grind rewarding and engaging, particularly if they enjoy the farming and survival genre.
- “Didn't feel like there was a lot else other than grinding for items and kiting monsters all day.”
- “Repetitive farming becomes boring and mundane while the story itself is bland and nothing unique or mysterious.”
- “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.”
graphics
472 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, hand-drawn art style that evokes a charming, storybook-like atmosphere. Many players appreciate the meticulous detail in the environments, which blend realism with a unique artistic direction, although some have noted performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the immersive experience despite some gameplay frustrations.
- “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.”
- “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 shouldn't have any issues even on ultra high graphics, the game stutters even on the lowest quality settings.”
- “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.”
- “I'm very disappointed with the graphics and movement style of the characters, player and NPC.”
gameplay
353 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The gameplay of Mirthwood presents a mix of exploration, crafting, and survival mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like Stardew Valley and Valheim. While the game features a charming aesthetic and engaging core loop, many players find the mechanics to be unpolished and clunky, particularly in combat and tutorials, leading to frustration. Despite its potential and enjoyable elements, the game is currently marred by bugs and a lack of depth in certain systems, suggesting it may benefit from further development and refinement.
- “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.”
- “Overall, Mirthwood stands out as a charming and promising game that captures the hearts of its players with its engaging gameplay, delightful animations, and the joy of farm design.”
- “Let’s talk about combat—if you can call swinging at thin air 'combat.' The clunky mechanics feel like they’re straight out of a medieval torture manual.”
- “The mechanics, especially combat, feel clunky and slow to respond to inputs (both on PC and Steam Deck).”
- “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.”
optimization
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
53%
37%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent stuttering, frame drops, and occasional crashes, which can disrupt gameplay. While some users have noted improvements following recent patches and appreciate the developers' responsiveness, the overall consensus is that significant optimization work is still needed to enhance performance, especially on higher-end systems. Players are encouraged to be patient as the developers continue to address these issues.
- “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.”
- “This game is cute and has a lot of potential but should not be considered a v1 release; it's pretty buggy, and the performance even on good hardware is pretty bad.”
music
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance immersion and complement the overall atmosphere, with many players noting its beautiful, medieval-inspired compositions that evoke a sense of nostalgia and emotional depth. While the soundtrack is described as solid and fitting, some users express a desire for more control over audio settings, particularly the ability to adjust or mute the music. Overall, the combination of charming visuals and atmospheric music creates a captivating experience that resonates well with players.
- “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.”
- “For the love of god, let us be able to turn off the music.”
- “The settings for this game are like a game from 2005; there are no settings to turn down music, ambient noise, etc. Just the whole volume itself, so you have background noise in the game really 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/disable the in-game music.”
stability
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
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 frequent crashes and performance problems. However, developers are actively addressing these concerns with regular updates, suggesting potential for improvement in the future.
- “Runs great, plays great.”
- “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 very buggy, combat feels like a placeholder, and there are entire systems that are not implemented yet coupled with a town that can't be accessed at this time.”
- “The game is currently incredibly buggy.”
atmosphere
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
24%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, featuring stunning hand-drawn art, atmospheric music, and a gothic aesthetic reminiscent of titles like "The Witcher 3" and "Stardew Valley." Players appreciate the blend of cozy and slightly eerie elements, creating a unique environment that enhances exploration and engagement, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and resource management. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a significant strength, drawing players into its beautifully crafted world.
- “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.”
- “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 hand-drawn art and atmospheric soundtrack create a visually stunning experience, while the deep character customization and engaging quests keep you hooked.”
- “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.”
- “The bleak and almost hopeless atmosphere only made me want to work harder to save these people.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky interactions and amusing NPC dialogues, which often lead to unexpected and funny situations, such as characters facing the wrong way during combat. Players appreciate the blend of light-heartedness and intriguing storytelling, with many noting that the humor enhances their overall enjoyment and engagement with the game. Additionally, the community surrounding the game adds to the humor, making for a fun and supportive environment.
- “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!”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply engaging, highlighted by a compelling story and touching local narratives that foster a sense of belonging through character relationships. The immersive soundtrack and captivating art style further enhance the emotional experience, making the world feel vibrant and alive. Overall, the game successfully creates a heartfelt atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “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.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The game offers strong replayability through diverse character creation options, multiple starting areas, and a variety of classes, allowing players to explore different playstyles. The inclusion of a morale system enhances this aspect by enabling good and evil playthroughs, although some NPC interactions can feel frustratingly inconsistent. While the game has some performance issues, it remains enjoyable and worth revisiting after further patches.
- “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 replay value is there.”
- “I love the addition of the morale system; I wish more games brought it back. It adds so much replayability, meaning you can do a good and evil playthrough.”
- “The variety in character creation and starting areas really enhances the replayability, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
17%
67%
The game avoids microtransactions, which is seen as a positive aspect in contrast to many recent titles. However, some players feel that the final product does not live up to the expectations set by the demo and promotional materials, leading to concerns that it may be a cash grab.
- “There's no microtransactions like a lot of recent games, 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.”
- “It's sad that we have to consider the absence of microtransactions as a plus, but at least there are none like in a lot of recent games.”