Orcs Must Die! Unchained
- April 19, 2017
- Robot Entertainment
- 300h median play time
Free-to-play games often carry the stigma of being “pay-to-win” — a design philosophy that says if you want to win, buy in. Orcs Must Die! Unchained isn’t that. It’s a hoopla of co-op action that works whether or not you want to drop some dough. While the new Sabotage mode is a welcome, albeit lesser refined addition to the series, it’s in Battlegrounds that Robot Entertainment flexes its action gameplay muscles and it's the game type that will keep me coming back for dozens more hours — or at the very least, to nab those daily login bonuses.
Get on Steam"Orcs Must Die! Unchained" is a free-to-play action tower defense game. Players choose from a variety of heroes and defend their fortresses against hordes of orcs and other enemies. The game features both PvE and PvP modes, and allows for cooperative gameplay with up to three players. Instead of the traditional survival mode, this installment in the series introduces a MOBA-like experience with multiple lanes and minions.
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable gameplay with a mix of tower defense and RPG elements, making it fun to strategize and play with friends.
- The graphics are visually appealing, and the game has a good variety of heroes and traps to choose from, enhancing the overall experience.
- The developers are actively working on improvements and updates, showing a commitment to enhancing the game based on player feedback.
- The game suffers from server issues, making it difficult for players to log in and play consistently.
- Many players feel that the free-to-play model leads to a grindy experience with microtransactions that can feel exploitative.
- The removal of PvP and changes to core mechanics have disappointed fans of the original Orcs Must Die games, leading to a perception that the game lacks the depth and engagement of its predecessors.
- gameplay19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable and smooth, appealing to fans of the series with its addictive mechanics and diverse character options. However, some players feel that recent changes have stripped away strategic elements and fun aspects from previous titles, leading to a less polished experience. While the core tower defense mechanics remain solid, the introduction of free-to-play elements has left some fans feeling disappointed compared to earlier games in the series.
“The gameplay is enjoyable and challenging.”
“The gameplay is super smooth; it runs really well.”
“However, the core tower defense gameplay is extremely solid.”
“Being a game dev myself, I understand there needs to be some adjustments when additional game mechanics are added, but making less of what was before is bothering me as a gamer.”
“Weapons that used to offer different gameplay now are just activatable passive buffs to damage from what I can tell.”
“Those core mechanics have bled through production to the extent that everything looks and feels 'cheapened' for the sake of PvP.”
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Orcs Must Die! Unchained" has received mixed feedback, with players expressing a desire for a dedicated single-player campaign mode, as the current story mode feels insufficient on its own. Many users found that the multiplayer experience enhances enjoyment, while newcomers to the series may struggle to engage with the narrative due to its abrupt introduction and difficulty. Overall, the lack of a cohesive story progression and reliance on random loot detracts from the storytelling experience.
“I generally only play single-player games and like story mode or campaign mode, and I would like to see a story mode added to OMD Unchained.”
“The quests can normally be completed within an hour of gameplay.”
“After I tried the online mode, I finally understood that the game must not be considered as a single-player game, because the story mode cannot sustain itself, but you can really enjoy it with the multiplayer mode!”
“To start off, I loved Orcs Must Die! 1 and 2, but this one was no good. You are dropped into the storyline as soon as you play, and it is hard as hell. If you have not played the other games, I would not recommend this game :(”
“I generally only play single-player games and like story mode or campaign mode, and would like to see a story mode added to OMD Unchained.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, often leading to a loss of interest and a reluctance to invest in microtransactions. The leveling and gear acquisition processes are described as chores, with a lack of rewarding systems exacerbating the grind. While some acknowledge the potential for enjoyment, many feel that excessive grinding detracts from the overall experience.
“And then it is extremely boring grinding, and by that time I lose interest in the game and have no interest in paying the microtransactions.”
“- Leveling up (aka, grinding) to do content is a chore.”
“The reward system for doing content is lacking; it's too grindy.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its cartoonish portrayal of deaths and witty quips from both heroes and villains, contributing significantly to its charm. Players appreciate the blend of fun and humor, expressing a desire for a campaign mode that could further enhance the comedic elements. Overall, the humor is a key reason for players' affection for the game.
“I loved the humorous quips and remarks that came out of all the various characters, both the good guys and the bad guys.”
“The humor is a big factor of why I fell in love with OMD in the first place.”
“We must have more strategic trapping and a little less MOBA... and a lot of hilarious, borderline sadistic one-liners!”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in the game includes microtransactions that allow players to progress faster or acquire cosmetic items, which some users find acceptable as long as it doesn't lead to a "pay to win" scenario. However, the slow progression system and grinding nature of the game have led to frustration, causing some players to lose interest and question the necessity of in-app purchases. Overall, while the free-to-play model is appreciated, the implementation of monetization has received mixed reviews.
“As long as the game won't become 'pay to win' and microtransactions (which I never liked in any game) are only used to get game progress faster (not the only way to progress!) or get some skins and characters, I can recommend this free-to-play game as a fun experience for anyone who loves tower defense or just senseless minion killing as it was in previous installments.”
“And then it is extremely boring grinding, and by that time I lose interest in the game and have no interest in paying for microtransactions.”
“Why did you put in in-app purchases?”
“Even after the new update, I'm still not completely convinced, especially with the relatively slow progression system, the difficulty of getting 5 stars, and, of course, microtransactions.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews; while some players appreciated the visuals and found them appealing, others criticized the overall quality and performance, suggesting that previous versions offered a better experience.
“Nice game with pretty graphics, I love it.”
“The graphics weren't good, performance was poor, and I hated siege mode.”
“Omdu 1.6 was better but still very rough in terms of graphics and playability.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized due to several performance-related bugs that detract from the overall experience, and many defensive mechanics feel ineffective until properly optimized.
“There are a lot of redundant defenses, and most of them aren't that good until they're optimized.”
“There were quite a few performance-related bugs that hurt the appeal.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops.”
“I experienced constant lag and stuttering, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users note that while previous games in the series had limited replayability due to maxed-out upgrades, "OMD 2" offers significantly more replay value, suggesting a more engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“OMD 2 offers a much higher level of replayability compared to previous games, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.”
“The variety of strategies and upgrades available in OMD 2 makes each playthrough feel unique and encourages multiple runs.”
“With its diverse challenges and different character builds, OMD 2 invites players to return for new experiences every time.”
“Once you hit so many skulls in the previous games, you maxed out the upgrades to traps. However, OMD 2 was a lot more replayable.”
“The lack of variety in levels and enemies makes it hard to find motivation for a second playthrough.”
“After completing the game once, there isn't much incentive to go back, as the story and gameplay feel repetitive.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, contributing to an impressive overall aesthetic that enhances the visual experience.
“Visually and musically, it looks and sounds great.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-received, but players have noted occasional bugs that can affect stability.
“Very cool game, sometimes a little buggy though.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I experienced several glitches that disrupted my gameplay.”
