Of Gods and Men: The Daybreak Empire

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 43 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Of Gods and Men: The Daybreak Empire Game Cover
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In "Of Gods and Men: The Daybreak Empire," players become a god and build a following in a procedurally generated world. They must manage resources, expand their territory, and navigate political and religious relationships. The game emphasizes strategy, diplomacy, and empire-building in a religious and mythological setting.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews
story8 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features lovely sprite work and a nice variety of maps, creating an engaging world that expands as you progress through the chapters.
  • Character variance is commendable, allowing for diverse army configurations and strategies, which enhances the tactical gameplay.
  • Despite some flaws, the game provides a fun and nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic turn-based strategy games, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
  • The game suffers from significant balancing issues, with hero characters being overpowered while standard units are often rendered useless.
  • Technical problems, including bugs that affect gameplay and a confusing user interface, detract from the overall experience.
  • The story lacks depth and character development, making it difficult for players to become invested in the narrative.
  • story29 mentions

    The story in the game is generally seen as serviceable but lacking depth, with many reviewers noting it feels bland and predictable. While some appreciate the characters and their interactions, others criticize the lack of backstory for numerous NPCs and the overall pacing of the narrative. Despite its shortcomings, the story is considered sufficient to support the gameplay, though many players express a desire for more content and a deeper narrative experience.

    • “The game is great and has an interesting storyline.”
    • “It's a fun game with a nice little storyline.”
    • “The storyline is serviceable, and the characters and their conversations are enjoyable.”
    • “The story was bland and didn't feel like it was going anywhere interesting.”
    • “After meeting a dozen NPCs with no backstory, one wonders 'why not just add 2 or 3 NPCs and give them a proper story?' - just to be welcomed by a weird world map and economy that just feels wrong because all the units you can hire are one-shotted anyway.”
    • “The gameplay was okay, but the storyline was kind of boring.”
  • gameplay25 mentions

    The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring engaging tactics and turn-based mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like Fire Emblem, though it lacks depth and complexity. Players appreciate the smooth execution and the addition of a quick-time event system, but some find the combat repetitive and the user interface lacking. Overall, while the gameplay offers enjoyable moments and solid mechanics, it leaves players wanting more depth and variety.

    • “An absolutely fantastic tactics game with really good gameplay to keep you engaged in full throughout its battles and campaigns.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, the game does a fairly decent job at being a turn-based SRPG, akin to Fire Emblem and Tactics Ogre, which it balances decently with the war game elements.”
    • “The good: enjoyed the graphics, the story (though somewhat short and predictable) has heart, the soundtrack was appropriate, and the gameplay is my preferred mix of turn-based combat and team management.”
    • “Its gameplay has some good ideas but lacks any meaningful depth.”
    • “Gameplay is quite basic, and the UI has a lot left to be desired.”
    • “The combat gets a bit repetitive after a while, but your unit leveling mechanics and introduction of new unit types as the game progresses make it an interesting experience.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nice pixel art style and overall visual appeal, which is often highlighted as a strong point. However, some users criticize the graphics for being reminiscent of older games, and mention issues like black borders that detract from the experience. Overall, while the art style is generally well-received, it is not enough to compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are quite pleasing to look at, and it's cheap.”
    • “I enjoyed the graphics; the visuals that were used to give life to the world meet essentially every requirement and are perhaps the game's strongest point.”
    • “The nostalgic graphics set in a quite decent lore world make me wish for more titles in the future.”
    • “I expect a paper-thin story in most strategy games by indie developers, but the strategy part is the thing that's supposed to make us forgive the NES-level graphics, and there is no strategy.”
    • “The game has black borders making it less enjoyable to look at, although I do like its art style and the character design.”
    • “But I could forgive the graphics if the controls were smooth.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant yet lacking depth and emotional weight, particularly during key scenes and battles. While a few appreciate the soundtrack's appropriateness and enjoy its catchy elements, others criticize it for not fully embracing the 8-bit genre's melodic potential. Overall, the music is seen as decent but leaves players wanting more variety and impact.

    • “The good: I enjoyed the graphics, the story (though somewhat short and predictable) has heart, the soundtrack was appropriate, and the gameplay is my preferred mix of turn-based combat and team management.”
    • “A fun turn-based tactics game with music I just loved.”
    • “Overall though, I did love playing this game and was bobbing my head to the music and smiling as I found new unit types and saw the different maps.”
    • “Ear-clawing sound effects and terrible music.”
    • “Overall, however, despite how pleasant it might be to the ears the first few times, I think that the soundtrack failed to capture any of the weight behind most scenes and major battles, which is especially disappointing given it was used as one of the game's main advertising points.”
    • “The music of this genre and era of gaming is traditionally incisive and melodic, where most of what we hear in 'Of Gods and Men' feels more atmospheric and without as much character.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily due to its lack of depth and variety, especially on lower difficulty levels. Players noted that while the experience can be enjoyable, the absence of significant changes or a sandbox mode diminishes the incentive to replay. Additionally, its shorter length compared to similar titles, like the Fire Emblem series, further impacts its replay value.

    • “Additionally, a sandbox game mode where you could start in any capital you wanted and have a free-for-all would greatly enhance the replay value.”
    • “The variety of choices and paths you can take in the game makes each playthrough feel unique and encourages multiple runs.”
    • “With different factions and strategies to explore, the game offers endless possibilities for replayability.”
    • “If you want a deep strategy experience from this game, you definitely will not find it here (unless you are on the harder difficulties, I have not played them yet but I do not intend to as there is no replay value and the game never changes).”
    • “The game is also on the short side and lacks the replayability of the Fire Emblem series.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game features pun-based jokes related to fantasy names and races, but many players found it unengaging and lacking in depth.

    • “The game is filled with clever puns and humorous references that keep the experience light-hearted and entertaining.”
    • “I love how the characters have quirky personalities and their dialogues are packed with witty one-liners that always make me laugh.”
    • “The absurd situations and playful interactions between characters add a delightful layer of humor that makes the game truly enjoyable.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players feel that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious, suggesting that the default settings should be adjusted to provide a more engaging experience.

    • “The default setting should not be mind-numbingly tedious.”
    • “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have reported stability issues, particularly noting that the tutorial for creating units experiences glitches when played in widescreen mode.

    • “The tutorial that shows you how to create units glitches out in widescreen mode.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The reviews indicate that while the soundtrack was heavily promoted as a key feature, it ultimately fell short in conveying the emotional weight of significant scenes and battles, leading to disappointment among players.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere in 'of gods and men' is noted for its more subdued and ambient musical style, lacking the incisive and melodic qualities typically associated with its genre and era. This creates a unique but less character-driven experience for players.

    • “The music in 'Of Gods and Men' creates a deeply atmospheric experience, immersing players in its world.”
    • “The game's sound design enhances the overall atmosphere, making every moment feel more intense and engaging.”
    • “The visuals and ambient sounds work together to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that draws players in.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the game's art style and character design are appreciated, the presence of black borders detracts from the overall visual experience, potentially impacting the immersion in character development.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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