Moonring

About

Moonring is a single player open world role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Fluttermind and was released on September 28, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Moonring is a retro-inspired open-world, turn-based, tile RPG in the style of the old Ultima games, but created with modern design sensibilities, and a unique neon aesthetic. The world is fixed,...

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,999 reviews

gameplay132 positive mentions

grinding53 negative mentions

Moonring is a beautifully crafted love letter to classic RPGs, blending deep lore, eerie atmosphere, and satisfying turn-based combat into something that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
The game features a unique milestone system for progression that players find refreshing, allowing character growth through devotion to various gods rather than traditional leveling.
The dialogue system is engaging, allowing players to type keywords to converse with NPCs, adding depth to interactions and encouraging exploration.

The game can be confusing and overwhelming at first, with a lack of clear quest tracking and organization in the notes system, making it difficult for players to know what to do next.
Some mechanics, such as the poise system and the difficulty spikes in certain dungeons, can feel punishing and frustrating, especially for new players.
The combat can become repetitive, and the reliance on procedural generation for dungeons may lead to a lack of variety and excitement in gameplay.

gameplay
340 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The gameplay of Moonring is a captivating blend of traditional roguelike mechanics and structured RPG elements, offering a rich exploration experience with engaging combat and unique mechanics like the poise and keyword conversation systems. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of the gameplay, which rewards experimentation and discovery, although some mechanics may feel tedious or poorly explained. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals, immersive world, and the balance between challenge and accessibility, making it a standout free title for fans of classic RPGs.
- “I don't think I've ever played a game where I was so effortlessly guided to use and appreciate nearly every game mechanic, item type, weapon type, magic system, etc.”
- “The gameplay is enjoyable, fairly smooth, and keeps you playing for a long time.”
- “This game fuses old PC RPG/roguelike gameplay with a lot of visual style.”
- “With no option to command allies, that mechanic seemed unfinished and sloppy.”
- “The developer chose not to do the job of a real game developer and create meaningful bespoke levels, narrative-based gameplay progression, and so on.”
- “The gameplay is just lacking in anything fun.”
story
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The story in "Moonring" is praised for its rich world-building, engaging narrative, and the rewarding nature of exploration and discovery. Players appreciate the intricate lore and the way the story unfolds through cryptic dialogue and environmental storytelling, though some find the lack of clear quest tracking and guidance frustrating. Overall, the game offers a compelling and immersive experience, reminiscent of classic RPGs, but requires patience and attention to detail to fully appreciate its depth.
- “World building was absolutely insane, story was really focused while also allowing the player to explore and uncover secrets as they go.”
- “The storytelling and lore of this game was so captivating I found myself theorizing about this world constantly, the interactive townsfolk and map full of secrets really made everything feel full of life and like a world truly separate from our own.”
- “The story is complex and engaging.”
- “One complaint is that it's really hard to figure out how to get an ending in the game or figure out the story, as there are pretty much no directions in it, just wandering around aimlessly.”
- “You're plonked into the world with very little context aside from 'you are in a special class of people who have to find your own way in this world'... the reasons for which are fascinating if you're willing to dig for the answers, but makes the start of the game feel incredibly slow, when you're bumbling around hoping to bump into the plot by accident.”
- “The storyline is vague and cryptic and relies on the player doing the reading and investing the time to connect the dots.”
graphics
210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The graphics of Moonring are characterized by a vibrant, retro aesthetic that pays homage to classic RPGs from the 80s and 90s, featuring a unique blend of pixel art and neon colors. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic design, others find the visuals overwhelming or simplistic, particularly those accustomed to modern high-fidelity graphics. Overall, the game's visuals are praised for their creativity and ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.
- “Moonring has a tastefully beautiful and old-school art style fused into an RPG that has a 'I have played this before and loved it' vibe.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous old-school, reminding me of games on the Commodore 64, but with lots of snazz and juicy feedback.”
- “The art style is captivating, from the beautifully crafted landscapes to the intricate character designs.”
- “The developer also decided to replace the video game graphics that you normally expect to see in video games with grievous bodily harm to the eyeballs... some kind of 'neon pixel art'.”
- “It is one thing to take inspiration from very limited and often poorly executed visuals of the past era, but taking the most electric and saturated colors of the opposite side of the color wheel four times and then slapping it onto a deep black background, with visible pixel squares, is either the result of someone being absolutely color blind or on very hardcore sedatives.”
- “In the screenshots, it looks interesting, but mostly, it is a hot mess of Atari-Commodore-like limited visuals dipped into most eye-tormenting contrast colors with very annoying music, some sort of unclear narration, queer mechanics, and more oddities.”
music
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a captivating soundtrack that complements the art style and gameplay. Many reviewers noted the blend of retro and dungeon-synth influences, creating a haunting ambiance that draws players into the game's world. While some found the sound effects excessive, the majority praised the music as a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and depth.
- “The soundtrack is an atmospheric masterpiece.”
- “The music and general style of the game is very finely crafted, and the enemies are fair but difficult most of the time.”
- “Absolutely love the atmosphere and music of this game.”
- “In the screenshots it looks interesting, but mostly, it is a hot mess of Atari-Commodore like limited visuals dipped into most eye-tormenting contrast colors with very annoying music, some sort of unclear narration, queer mechanics, and more oddities.”
- “First of all, music: it is super bad.”
- “I now hate the music and color scheme.”
grinding
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
98%
The reviews present a mixed perspective on grinding in the game, with some players appreciating the absence of traditional XP grinding in favor of task-based progression and exploration, while others find certain mechanics and dungeon designs tedious and repetitive. Many highlight that while grinding for gear and resources can be necessary, it often feels unfulfilling and can detract from the overall experience, especially in the mid to late game. Overall, the game attempts to balance engaging gameplay with the potential pitfalls of grind-heavy mechanics, resulting in a varied reception among players.
- “No grinding, no time-wasting, silly fetch quests.”
- “The grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced, making progress feel meaningful.”
- “They put your patience to the test as they are lengthy, grindy, and difficult (without legendary weapons), and you lose all progress if you die.”
- “Game is grindy and tedious as hell.”
- “In the end, this game is far too massive and is therefore unfocused, and it becomes extremely tedious.”
atmosphere
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
30%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, blending beautiful art, a compelling soundtrack, and deep lore to create a mysterious and alive world. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke nostalgia while offering a fresh experience, with a unique aesthetic that sets it apart from typical dark-fantasy titles. Overall, the combination of atmospheric storytelling, engaging visuals, and strategic gameplay contributes to a richly rewarding exploration experience.
- “The atmosphere pulls you in right away, and the world feels mysterious and alive without needing a huge story dump.”
- “Moonring is a beautifully crafted love letter to classic RPGs, blending deep lore, eerie atmosphere, and satisfying turn-based combat into something that feels both nostalgic and fresh.”
- “The pixel art is incredible, the soundtrack is at once atmospheric, enchanting, and ominous, and the gameplay is fantastic, making the world itself incredibly interesting.”
- “I know that's what the game is aiming for; it fits in with the atmosphere, and I appreciate the mindset of forging through an unforgiving world... but even traversing the overworld between towns, expect to die a lot, often going mad and losing control of your character's directional movement.”
- “The bleak atmosphere - visual, musical, conceptual - and the lack of companionship made me feel as though I completed a quest to save a dead world, void of other people.”
- “The atmosphere of the game's environments is very dark and gives you a sense of the danger of this game's world.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its bug-free experience and constant updates, while others report significant glitches, lag, and animation issues that disrupt gameplay. Although it has improved over time, many users still describe it as a "bug-ridden mess," particularly around death mechanics and scene transitions. Overall, while the game shows promise and is appreciated for its free access and active development, stability remains a concern for many players.
- “Super stylistic art style, cool dungeon-synth soundtrack, full game experience, bug-free, and constantly updated.”
- “Also, runs great on a 4090.”
- “Be warned: this is still in a buggy state, especially around deaths.”
- “A massive buggy mess, it lags and stutters for minutes at a time during scene transitions.”
- “The game is a bug-ridden mess.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Replayability in the reviewed games varies significantly; while some titles, particularly those with roguelike elements, offer near-infinite replayability through diverse builds and multiple endings, others suffer from limited replay value due to their hand-crafted worlds and static narratives. Players appreciate games that balance engaging content with replayable mechanics, but those with a strong focus on a singular experience may leave little incentive for revisiting once completed. Overall, the presence of roguelike features tends to enhance replayability, while more linear designs can restrict it.
- “With its roguelike structure, Moonring boasts near-infinite replayability.”
- “Gorgeous art style and color scheme, great progression, fleshed out world and lore, fantastic music, mixes old school gameplay with modern quality of life features, and offers replayability with multiple endings and builds.”
- “The game gives you a ton of interesting stuff to discover and learn, while still preserving a good amount of replayability.”
- “Yet the rationale here seems to be replayability, which doesn't jive with the hand-crafted overworld and clues that lend themselves to a strong one-time experience.”
- “Once you completed the game, there's not much replayability left as you have all stats maxed and maybe just a few abilities still locked.”
- “That and the static, mystery-driven story limit replayability.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional aspect of the game as deeply impactful, evoking feelings of nostalgia and joy reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences. The heartfelt storytelling and immersive atmosphere create a sense of accomplishment and intelligence, while the poignant themes of loneliness and exploration resonate strongly, leading to moments of genuine emotional release, such as tears during the true ending. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to connect with players on a profound level, making it a standout experience.
- “Exploring this heartfelt handcrafted mystery box of a game has been a joy.”
- “It's an RPG that cut through how jaded I am to deliver a gaming experience that literally made me feel quite like I was a kid and games were new again.”
- “I cried when I got the true ending.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The monetization model of the game is highly praised, as it offers a full gaming experience completely free of charge, with no microtransactions or ads. Players appreciate the absence of predatory monetization practices commonly found in other free-to-play games, highlighting the value provided by indie developers.
- “Insane amount of content for a free game without microtransactions.”
- “Insanely good for a free game with no ads or microtransactions whatsoever.”
- “And not f2p with predatory microtransactions as most stuff now, it's just free with no strings attached.”
- “Gotta love indie devs, man... instead of paying an arm and a leg for a buggy mess of a game with a bunch of useless stuff like fish AI and annoying microtransactions, we get an amazing game and they don't even charge you for it!!”
- “Guys, they weren't kidding; this is a full game that was released for free with 0 microtransactions.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a standout feature, with players appreciating its quirky style, witty dialogue, and entertaining patch notes. While many find the humor charming and enjoyable, some critics feel it lacks sophistication, comparing it to the comedic sensibilities of a child. Overall, the humor adds a unique and engaging layer to the experience, making it a recommended play for those who appreciate a lighthearted approach.
- “Highly recommended, even just to read the humorous patch notes.”
- “Very stylish, quirky and funny, and a passion project from a single developer, who is giving it away for free!”
- “I enjoyed avoiding the amber on the world map, the humor peppered throughout the main cities, the dialogue system with hidden options and the lore around the cataclysm.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly with minimal crashes and is well-suited for keyboard and controller use, the alchemy system is cumbersome and not user-friendly, particularly for players looking to craft multiple potions efficiently. Additionally, there is a lack of optimization for Steam Deck users, indicating a need for improved control scheme support. Overall, the developer's effort is commendable, but certain systems require significant refinement.
- “Cheers to the solo developer! The amount of care put into this game is impressive; I experienced only one crash, and it runs smoothly.”
- “The game controls are optimized for both controllers and keyboard, providing a seamless experience.”
- “It would be great to see some love for Steam Deck users in terms of control scheme optimizations, as the game is really intended for mouse and keyboard.”
- “Alchemy is clunky and is not optimized for making more than one potion at a time, requiring you to open the inventory, scroll to the alchemy tab, scroll to the bottom searching for the empty flask, enter, sift through the 30 available potions, enter, rinse and repeat. Not to mention the only important potions are Arnaut's Panacea, Potion of Healing 1 and 2, Blackwater Draft, Acitra Nectar, Bitterleaf Brew, and maybe Staria Draft.”
- “The game controls are optimized for controllers or keyboard only.”
- “Would appreciate some love for Steam Deck users in terms of control scheme optimizations, as it's really intended for mouse and keyboard.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development is highlighted as a strong point, with the developers' passion evident in the story and character design. However, reviewers suggest that adding more depth and narrative twists could further enhance the overall experience.
- “The dev's passion for the world jumps out at every turn - from the story to the character design.”
- “The art style is captivating, from the beautifully crafted landscapes to the intricate character designs.”
- “More depth in character development and narrative twists would elevate the experience.”