Nox Archaist

About

Nox Archaist is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by LLC and was released on January 28, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Nox Archaist is a new Ultima-style CRPG with a deep and engaging story, where you control characters traveling through the world of Vali, visiting towns, castles, exploring dungeons, and fighting monsters. As your characters gain wealth, experience, and skills, they will face increasingly difficult challenges and foes, in a quest to save the world from a mysterious danger. Notable figures, including Lord British and Richard Garriott, have endorsed this game, which is available as a digital download and collector's boxed set for Windows, MacOS, and original Apple II hardware.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

story8 positive mentions

Nox Archaist successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic 80s RPGs, particularly the Ultima series, with its engaging gameplay and intricate world design.
The game features numerous quality-of-life improvements over older titles, such as easier inventory management, automatic target selection in combat, and a quest tracker, making it more accessible while retaining its challenge.
Players appreciate the depth of character customization and the strategic turn-based combat, which encourages exploration and thoughtful planning.

Many players find the font and overall graphics to be difficult to read, which detracts from the overall experience, especially for those with aging eyesight.
There are reports of significant input lag, which can hinder gameplay and frustrate players who expect a more responsive experience.
Some players feel that the game lacks modern conveniences like quest markers and hand-holding, which may not appeal to those unfamiliar with the old-school RPG style.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The story of Nox Archaist is praised for its depth and complexity, featuring a rich world design and numerous side quests that encourage exploration and critical thinking. Players appreciate the blend of tactical combat, exploration, and NPC interactions, although the game requires players to take notes for non-critical quests and clues. Overall, the narrative experience is rewarding, especially for those who enjoy old-school RPG mechanics without hand-holding.
- “But the great and real strength of Nox Archaist is the fascinating, unique world design and concept of the title, which makes the hours spent in-game so rewarding: it's fun to explore, uncovering piece by piece more of the complex storyline, which adds depth to the old-school playing experience.”
- “Quality open world old school RPG with a pretty even split between simple yet tactical combat, exploration, and conversation to acquire needed information to progress the story and side quests.”
- “Edit: Just finished my first playthrough of the main storyline and it was so fun and satisfying; even the grind was enjoyable because there were so many places and unique creatures to encounter.”
- “Like the Ultima games, Nox Archaist expects that you will keep your own notes to track quests, the plot, secrets, etc. There is a quest tracker, but it doesn't care about the many other non-critical adventure threads that turn up casually in conversation with NPCs.”
- “If you want quest markers or hand-holding, this may not be for you.”
- “Your quest progression is tracked with a handy and readily accessible log, though you'll still want to jot down some notes regarding specifics here and there.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are intentionally designed to evoke the charm of classic titles, particularly the Ultima series, offering a nostalgic experience rather than modern visuals. While some users note that the graphics can be rough, especially the font, the overall art style and audio contribute to a rich, immersive atmosphere that celebrates simpler gameplay. This retro aesthetic is a deliberate choice, appealing to those who appreciate the historical context of gaming rather than contemporary graphics.
- “The art style, music, and immersion provide unparalleled charm and beauty.”
- “A nice trip back in time when games were simpler in graphics, but richer in gameplay.”
- “No, it doesn't have modern graphics and modern functions, but it wasn't meant to.”
- “My only complaint is; the graphics are a bit rough (mainly the font).”
- “If you want 2020 graphics, this isn't for you (though you are missing out).”
- “It was coded in 6502 assembly, the graphics were made for the Apple II.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the exploration is consistently entertaining and filled with well-placed easter eggs. This clever integration of humor enhances the overall experience, making it a delightful aspect of gameplay.
- “The curiosity never leaves, and the exploration is so funny.”
- “The well-placed Easter eggs and the occasionally spread humor are a nice bonus on top.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted as a key feature, offering an intricate planning system that allows players to find, equip, and level up a diverse cast of party members within a strategic, turn-based environment. This depth enhances the classic CRPG exploration experience, making character progression both engaging and rewarding.
- “It combines a strategic, turn-based world (complete with combat), an intricate planning and character development layer, a bunch of cool party members to find, equip, and level up, and classic CRPG exploration!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for effectively capturing the spirit of traditional 80's RPG systems, reminiscent of the iconic Ultima series. The tile-based visuals contribute to a nostalgic and immersive experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “The enthusiastic people of 'Workshop 6502' did a brilliant job capturing the spirit and atmosphere of a traditional 80's RPG system, with the tile-based look taken from its clearly inspiring series, the legendary Ultima series from Origin Systems.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is characterized as very satisfying, adhering closely to traditional RPG mechanics, which appeals to fans of the genre.
- “Very satisfying traditional RPG gameplay.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its ability to enhance the overall charm and beauty, contributing significantly to the immersive experience. Reviewers highlight its integral role in creating a captivating atmosphere.
- “The art style, music, and immersion provide unparalleled charm and beauty.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting that it features no level scaling or rigid class systems, which contributes to a more enjoyable and straightforward RPG experience.