Nevergrind Online
- June 9, 2022
- Neverworks Games
- 16h median play time
Nevergrind Online is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer online role-playing game that takes place in a vast fantasy world. The game offers a variety of character customization options, quests, and PvP battles. However, recent user reviews on Steam indicate that the game is currently plagued with numerous bugs and technical issues, making it difficult to recommend.
Reviews
- Nostalgic gameplay reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like Everquest and Diablo.
- Engaging multiplayer experience with a friendly community and easy party formation.
- Active developer who frequently updates the game and listens to player feedback.
- Lack of character customization and specialization, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Itemization issues with low-level loot dropping in high-level dungeons.
- Limited player base, making it difficult to find groups at certain levels.
- gameplay110 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Nevergrind Online is characterized by a simple yet addictive dungeon-crawling loop that emphasizes loot collection and character progression, reminiscent of classic RPGs. While the mechanics are easy to grasp and provide a nostalgic experience, many players note a lack of depth and variety, with some expressing concerns over outdated mechanics and the absence of meaningful exploration. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, particularly in multiplayer settings, but could benefit from improvements in quality of life features and gameplay complexity.
“Fluid gameplay that is easy to grasp and can provide a challenge when needed.”
“Nevergrind online is a fun, addictive, and simple game which can keep you hooked for hours in its simple, yet effective, gameplay loop.”
“The gameplay loop is satisfying and rewards players who like to see loot and damage numbers.”
“Another time the dev decided to change some damaging mechanics, then spent three days correcting the mistakes over and over again because it was not tested and overtuned.”
“Gameplay is just press the squares on the bottom of the screen to earn your little trinkets and gold, go back to town, identify/sell the trinkets, buy upgrades/skills, repeat the whole process.”
“The issue is that the mechanics feel 20 years old.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are largely described as rudimentary and reminiscent of 90s titles, with many players noting the use of AI-generated artwork that lacks depth and uniqueness. While the visuals may not be state-of-the-art, they effectively capture the nostalgic essence of classic dungeon crawlers, appealing to fans of the genre despite their limitations. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose within the context of the gameplay, though opinions vary on their quality and artistic integrity.
“It's a classic take on simple game design sporting vintage visuals.”
“The graphics work for that old school nostalgia and the type of game it is, combined with good multiplayer that functions well.”
“Great backdrop artwork, rendered animations and nod to all things Everquest and Diablo II make this a delight to play.”
“The graphics, classes, descriptions, and spells will be instant and constant reminders about where the inspiration for this game came from.”
“The music, sounds, art, and graphics are fine, but most of the character portraits look AI-generated and soulless.”
“It's a relatively slow, very grindy/gear-focused dungeon crawler that has visuals 2 decades old.”
- grinding49 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game "Nevergrind Online" is heavily focused on grinding, particularly in dungeon-crawling gameplay, which many players find addictive and rewarding despite its repetitive nature. While it offers a fun experience for those who enjoy loot drops and character customization, the grinding can feel tedious and overwhelming, especially for players who dislike grinding. Overall, it caters well to fans of traditional MMO mechanics but may not appeal to those seeking a more varied gameplay experience.
“Despite its name, Nevergrind Online is a game that is all about grinding.”
“The main disadvantage of the game is that it is basically nothing but grinding in its current iteration.”
“It's tedious and doesn't add anything good to the game.”
- story31 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and primarily revolves around dungeon running, with players tasked by a king to eliminate threats in a straightforward, chapter-based format. Many reviewers note the lack of traditional quests, exploration, and narrative depth, suggesting that the experience is more about cooperative gameplay than storytelling. Overall, those seeking a rich narrative or expansive world may find this game lacking, while players focused on dungeon combat may enjoy the simplicity.
“You start the game in Edenburg; the game's story is simple enough: the king tasked adventurers with slaying threats to the kingdom (the story is split into four chapters).”
“Still a (way) better co-op story than Diablo 4.”
“With games these days going hard with expansive storylines, massive landscapes to explore, and next-generation reactionary combat, it's hard to find a game that excels in the simpler things.”
“The game has no real quests and no open world: it all revolves around completing dungeons in a team.”
“But there is not a real story, more of just non-stop dungeons.”
“There is no world to explore, no sense of discovery, no sights to see, no communities due to geography/faction, no crafting, no PvP, no story, etc. This is a throwback; it’s a straight-up MUD with a graphical user interface slapped on top and nothing more.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered repetitive and uninspiring, leading many players to prefer using their own playlists instead. While some appreciate the chill vibe of the soundtrack, others find it lackluster and unmemorable, with a few noting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the sound design is seen as mediocre, with a mix of opinions on its effectiveness in enhancing gameplay.
“So far love the animations, gameplay, sounds, and music.”
“It takes many of the good things from EverQuest old school like class variation, good soundtrack, and most importantly the socialization aspect and dumps it into an easy to learn, easy to play grinder MMO for everyone to love.”
“Man, such a chill game that caught me right in the feels with that 90s MIDI style music.”
“The music and sound effects are very repetitive; you will get bored of it fairly soon and replace it with a personal playlist.”
“But it's definitely a game where having your own music and turning the sound effects to low is a bit more preferable.”
“As far as music goes, I could care less as I instantly turn it off on every game I play.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its complete absence of microtransactions, which users find refreshing and a significant positive aspect. Players appreciate the value for money, emphasizing that the lack of microtransactions enhances their overall experience and enjoyment.
“No microtransactions, ever.”
“Great game for the price and zero microtransactions, which is a breath of fresh air.”
“-dev's stance on no microtransactions is rare and refreshing to see.”
“The dev's stance on no microtransactions is rare and refreshing to see.”
“I know the price tag could be scary, but it's totally worth it (and the game has no microtransactions).”
“No microtransactions, ever!”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its goofy sound effects and monster designs, which provide a lighthearted experience, especially when played socially. While the repetitive dungeon layouts can be tedious, the ability to customize assets and the inclusion of humorous character interactions and damage numbers enhance the comedic elements. Overall, the game offers a fun atmosphere that encourages laughter and camaraderie among players.
“Great for playing with others in a room with drinks and snacks while laughing and sharing loot.”
“Game good, can change every asset in the game so it's funny on top of it.”
“Build your character, see funny damage numbers, dopamine acquired.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its diverse hero creation options, extensive item variety, and consistently added new content. The randomization of dungeon runs further enhances replay value, making each playthrough unique and engaging. However, there is a call for a more rewarding endgame system to maintain long-term interest.
“Highly recommend, very replayable and new content is consistently added.”
“This game has tons of replayability value because of the huge variety of heroes you can create and the large amount of items in the game.”
“However, the game is going to need a deep and replayable endgame system that will reward players with just as much fun as the leveling experience does.”
“Practically endless replay value with how the dungeon runs are always random; no one is ever the exact same.”
- character development5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game currently lacks depth, primarily limited to gear choices, but the upcoming addition of a talent system and skill trees is anticipated to enhance this aspect significantly. Players are hopeful for improvements as these features are expected to be implemented in the future.
“The talent system being added for the classes looks like a nice addition to character development.”
“It sounds like skill trees are in the works, so hopefully that improves character development.”
“Character development currently doesn't have a lot of choices beyond gear.”
“There's not that much character development.”
“Character development, which is on the solo developer's posted timeline, is still not in.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the deep character and loot systems, many report significant performance issues, including lag and stuttering, particularly in fullscreen mode on high-refresh-rate monitors.
“Been looking for a 2D MMORPG with deep character and loot optimization, and Nevergrind delivers.”
“Maybe the least optimized game I've played for its size.”
“Casting spells or targeting becomes impossible, and just trying to move through a hallway to the next room takes about a minute with the lag and stuttering.”
“My only issue has been performance on a 240Hz 1440p monitor; it does seem to stutter with G-Sync enabled in fullscreen, but putting it in windowed mode seems to smooth it out.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is impressive, with one reviewer giving it a perfect score despite noting some minor glitches and lag. The consensus suggests that while there are occasional issues, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“I rarely give any game a solid 10, but it's amazing, even with the small glitches and lag.”
“There are a few glitches.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highlighted as a key feature, with users appreciating the pleasant and engaging environment fostered by the community. The combination of gameplay and graphics further enhances this immersive experience.
“The community is a special feature in itself, and there is a pleasant atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players into the world.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to create any sense of immersion.”
“The overall ambiance is disappointing, with generic sound design and lifeless environments that don't engage the player.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome community, though players express a desire for more opportunities to connect with others.