No Rest for the Wicked

About

In "No Rest for the Wicked," players navigate a dark ARPG world from the developers of Ori, where King Harol's death and the return of the Pestilence set off a chain of events. The ambitious church figure, Madrigal Seline, seeks to take advantage of the chaos, leading to a tense power struggle in this action-packed game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,386 reviews

gameplay1.7k positive mentions

optimization944 negative mentions

The graphics are stunning, featuring a beautiful blend of painterly aesthetics and dark, atmospheric elements that create an immersive world.
The story is engaging with rich character development and high-quality voice acting, contributing to an overall immersive experience.
The game offers high replayability potential with diverse character builds, engaging combat mechanics, and a variety of endgame content.

Performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, significantly detract from the overall experience, especially on lower-end systems.
The current content feels limited and incomplete, leaving players wanting more and making the game feel rushed.
The grinding mechanics can be tedious and time-consuming, leading to frustration for players seeking a more streamlined experience.

optimization
5,186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
71%
18%
The optimization of "No Rest for the Wicked" has received mixed feedback from players, with many citing significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems and the Steam Deck. While some players with high-end rigs report stable performance, the general consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization to enhance the overall experience. Frequent updates and hotfixes from the developers show promise for improvement, but many recommend waiting for further patches before diving in.
- “With this latest update, performance has greatly improved making the game even more enjoyable.”
- “The performance has improved, but was a major barrier initially.”
- “Despite significant improvements to the game performance (the game has over doubled in performance for me, not even including upscaling that was added... previously it would barely run on a top end pc), it still has a long way to go.”
- “However, the game is poorly optimized; it was a nightmare at the very beginning.”
- “The art style, voice acting, story, tone, the direction, the potential of the combat are all fantastic, but the performance - non-stop stuttering and frame drops - currently for early access is immersion breaking.”
- “Performance is still not amazing, but the worst offender is the combat mechanics.”
gameplay
4,850 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The gameplay of "No Rest for the Wicked" has garnered mixed feedback, with many players praising its innovative mechanics and engaging combat that blends elements from both souls-like and ARPG genres. However, criticisms often focus on the clunky controls, frustrating durability mechanics, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While the game shows great potential and offers a visually stunning world, players express a desire for further refinement and optimization to enhance the gameplay loop and address the tedious aspects of resource gathering and crafting.
- “The gameplay is where No Rest for the Wicked truly stands out.”
- “The developers have introduced innovative mechanics that keep you engaged and constantly strategizing.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying and addicting.”
- “Performance is still not amazing, but the worst offender is the combat mechanics.”
- “Gameplay gets muddled unnecessarily with crafting mechanics.”
- “Slow, barely-responsive combat controls, a clunky verticality mechanic, and punishing item durability mechanics all add up to a bad experience for a person who plays games not professionally.”
graphics
4,802 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
2%
The graphics of "No Rest for the Wicked" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, which many reviewers describe as a beautiful blend of painterly aesthetics reminiscent of the Ori series and dark, atmospheric elements. Players appreciate the intricate level design and vibrant environments, although some have noted performance issues and a lack of detailed graphical options, which can hinder the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the visuals are often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive world and engaging gameplay.
- “Even in its early access phase, the game shines with breathtaking graphics and a captivating aesthetic that immerses you in its dark, atmospheric world.”
- “The graphics are dark and cartoon-y, which seems like a hard thing to achieve, but they've done a fantastic job with it.”
- “The art style is gorgeous, being simultaneously vivid and stylized, with truly stunning lighting; I could look at it all day, honestly.”
- “Graphics are very upsetting for the eyes, it's like playing in a painting canvas made with waterbrush.”
- “Unfortunately this is a major mis-step and the pretty visuals are i think wasted.”
- “The graphics options are nearly nonexistent.”
story
3,696 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The story of "No Rest for the Wicked" has garnered a mix of praise and criticism from players. Many appreciate its engaging narrative, rich character development, and high-quality voice acting, which contribute to an immersive experience. However, some players express disappointment over the limited content available in early access, noting that the story feels incomplete and can be rushed through in a few hours, leaving them eager for more substantial updates and expansions in the future. Overall, while the foundation of the story is seen as strong, players are hopeful for further development and depth as the game progresses.
- “Even the story and characters are rich and have great voice and dialogue.”
- “The story is presented well.”
- “The story and characters are well crafted with compelling voice acting and animations.”
- “All in all, a game that has an easy enough story to get into with some really bad flaws keeping it from being worth the asking price.”
- “The story is not complete just yet if that is something you want to see in its entirety. I would recommend holding off until 1.0 launches. If the gameplay looks fun to you and you are okay with not having the story finished just yet, then I think you will have a fun time with this game.”
- “The story content is relatively short currently but what's there will leave you wanting more.”
grinding
1,426 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of "No Rest for the Wicked" has received mixed feedback from players, with many expressing frustration over the excessive resource farming and tedious mechanics. While some appreciate the depth and challenge that grinding provides, others find it overly repetitive and time-consuming, particularly due to limited inventory space and the need to constantly gather materials for crafting and upgrades. Overall, the game is seen as rewarding for those who enjoy grinding, but it can feel like a chore for players seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “The resource gathering and building aspect of the game is something I love because it is not grindy; it actually blends in very well with the exploration and quests.”
- “Love the resource grind as it forces you to go out into the world to upgrade, but it isn't too grindy.”
- “The survival elements are not tedious nor overwhelming, and this game blends a perfect balance of RPG with light survival mechanics.”
- “I am tired of tediously using tools for items, them breaking, going to get more of those tools or repairing them, then repeating over and over again.”
- “The need to spend time mastering boss encounters without the benefit of respawning healing items makes the gameplay feel more tedious than engaging.”
- “The resource gathering is surprisingly grindy, and the construction and refining material takes *real-time*.”
atmosphere
670 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
1%
The atmosphere of "No Rest for the Wicked" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and captivating art direction, creating a dark and engaging world that draws players in. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of tension and exploration, with dynamic weather and lighting enhancing the overall experience. Despite some minor gameplay issues, the rich atmosphere and attention to detail are considered standout features that contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Even in its early access phase, the game shines with breathtaking graphics and a captivating aesthetic that immerses you in its dark, atmospheric world.”
- “The world is hauntingly beautiful, dripping with atmosphere that perfectly complements the dark narrative.”
- “The atmosphere is dark, yet gorgeous.”
- “I could list a ton of more things that I hate about this game, like the cringe story and lore, that is also just an embarrassing caricature of the atmosphere you would find in a From Software game, or several specific bugs and flaws in game design, but I have wasted enough time with it already.”
- “Yes, I get it, the storm building the dark atmosphere, and that's fine, but combined with trying to learn basic movement, targeting controls and game feedback it's too much for casual players.”
- “The pervasive darkness enhances the atmosphere, but it's excessively harsh when you cannot identify key elements like ladders or entries, which can be very annoying.”
music
550 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly during key moments like boss fights. However, several players expressed disappointment over the lack of consistent background music during exploration, feeling it detracts from immersion. While some tracks are memorable and fitting, others are considered forgettable, especially when compared to the acclaimed soundtracks of previous titles like Ori.
- “The music is pretty great with the main hub's soundtrack being the most memorable for me.”
- “The beautiful soundtrack and excellent voice acting give the game an authentic atmosphere.”
- “The music, while subtle, stands out during key moments and perfectly accompanies cinematics and boss battles, enhancing the overall player experience.”
- “With no rest for the wicked, music is unfortunately absent; perhaps this is an early access issue, who knows, but it leaves the game sonically sounding empty, lifeless, and dull.”
- “If you are playing the game for the music, you will be sorely disappointed.”
- “I was disappointed in the lack of music while generally exploring.”
stability
344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
1%
80%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players noting it is somewhat buggy, experiencing random freezes, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. However, some users report that it runs well on higher-end systems and the Steam Deck, indicating that while there are glitches typical of early access titles, the game is still enjoyable and shows promise for future improvements. Overall, players are hopeful that ongoing updates will address the stability concerns.
- “This game may be in early access, but it's relatively bug free.”
- “No stutters, no blackscreens, game runs great.”
- “Looks beautiful and runs great for being in early access.”
- “Please fix the game, it's buggy and unbalanced, and all the need to support older hardware is pointless when it destroys the game...”
- “Game has unacceptably terrible performance and glitches.”
- “Very frequent stutters, micro freezes (especially during boss fights) are simply game breaking for me and I don't complain about the processing power of my PC whilst playing other, more demanding titles.”
replayability
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
70%
4%
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability potential, driven by diverse character builds, engaging combat mechanics, and a variety of endgame content such as daily/weekly quests and randomized dungeons. However, some players express concerns about the current lack of content and the grind associated with resource gathering, which may detract from the experience. As the game is still in early access, many anticipate improvements that could further enhance its replay value.
- “This game has a ton of replayability, end game farming, daily/weekly quests, exploration of the likes I've never seen in an isometric ARPG, a story that doesn't treat the audience like idiots... there is a lot to say here.”
- “The build variety, precise combat, and the nature of how the RNG works for drops makes this game almost infinitely replayable, even in an early access state.”
- “The diversity of move sets and the ability to add gems (similar to weapon arts in Dark Souls) significantly enhance the potential for different builds/play styles and the replay value of the game.”
- “The only thing I'm missing is more playable content and more places to go.”
- “After discovering how the RNG system works with enchanting items as well as randomized legendary drops from bosses - I can already tell that the replayability of this game is going to revolve around grinding enemies for favorable drops, which I am personally not a fan of.”
- “For me, the game is exhausting, tedious, and feels like work to play - I do not enjoy it as it makes progression and replayability feel like a massive boring chore.”
humor
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in quirky character designs, unexpected dialogue, and the game's various glitches. Many reviewers noted that the game's mechanics and challenges often lead to unintentionally funny situations, such as bizarre character animations and humorous item interactions. Overall, while the game has potential, its comedic elements are highlighted as a standout feature, providing levity amidst its more serious gameplay aspects.
- “With characters that have more secrets than a grandmother at a family gathering and a pace that doesn't let you breathe (not even for a sip of water), this story is a whirlwind of action and dark humor.”
- “Also has made me laugh out loud, my current favorite line is 'the wood remembers the shape of my ass' from a drunk regular at the bar.”
- “The amount of times this happens is absurdly funny.”
- “The game has huge potential, and the combat is very good, but almost everything is broken at this point. The bosses are extremely difficult, especially at the beginning. I died to the first boss 40 times; it's not funny. Don't buy early access, wait, unless you enjoy suffering.”
- “The game has huge potential, and the combat is very good, but almost everything is broken at this point. The bosses are extremely difficult, especially at the beginning. I died to the first boss 40 times; it's not funny. Don't buy early access, wait, unless you enjoy suffering.”
character development
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning character designs and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. However, some players find the character designs to be grotesque or unappealing, which detracts from their enjoyment. While the combat and story elements are engaging, there is a call for deeper character development and a more balanced upgrade system to fully realize the potential of the characters.
- “The attention to detail with the story, the character design, and the environments is amazing.”
- “The biggest draw for me so far for 'No Rest for the Wicked' is the immersion given to the player through the world atmosphere, story building, and character design.”
- “Visually, 'No Rest for the Wicked' is a feast for the eyes, with stunning environments and character designs that make you forget for a moment that you're knee-deep in a kingdom on the brink of collapse.”
- “This game has no direction, the character design is bad and they look grotesque, the art style is meh and barely looks decent in HDR mode.”
- “The character designs are laughably bad.”
- “On a more subjective note: the character design is just ugly.”
monetization
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
50%
45%
The monetization aspect of the game has elicited mixed reactions from users. While some praise the absence of microtransactions and view the developers as respectful and community-oriented, others express concerns about potential future monetization schemes and mobile-themed mechanics that could detract from the experience. Overall, the game is currently free of pay-to-win elements, but skepticism remains regarding its long-term monetization strategy.
- “Moon Studios is also a group of very passionate gamers who respect the community and are not greedy; their monetization model is one of the best I've seen in a decade.”
- “I have been enjoying the game very much and I'm glad that there are no in-game purchases like there are commonly in other games of this type.”
- “Presently, there are no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements.”
- “What takes this game from a positive into a negative review, however, is the obvious mobile-themed monetization scheme that the developers are preparing the game for, seen already in the early stages of the game.”
- “Looks like the game is made to have microtransactions in the future.”
- “Upgrading the town is tied to real-life waiting periods (up to 4 hours for high-tier upgrades), and I vehemently detest any of these types of features which can potentially be milked for microtransactions.”
emotional
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
Players express a mix of emotional engagement and frustration with the game, highlighting its potential through beautiful art, intense gameplay, and emotional voice acting. While some feel deeply invested and moved by the experience, others struggle with performance issues and gameplay mechanics that detract from their enjoyment. Overall, the emotional impact varies widely, with many hoping for improvements to enhance their connection to the game.
- “The art style, story, intensity, gameplay, and emotional roller coaster that is the two Ori games just gives us a peek at the potential we have in No Rest for the Wicked.”
- “It's been a couple of years since a game has made me feel this way.”
- “The voice acting is emotional, and the character designs are beautiful.”
- “Could be fun if it weren't for the terrible performance, sloppy combat, boring story, and the ham-fisted diversity box checking.”
- “You don't need a very long and boring story to explain the world.”