Otherland

About

"Otherland: Next" is a massively multiplayer role-playing game based on Tad Williams' critically acclaimed novels, featuring a new storyline and spectacular visuals using the Unreal Engine. Explore diverse simulated worlds ranging from sci-fi to medieval, engaging in activities such as challenges, dungeons, PvP battlegrounds, and trading while fighting the NeoGrail to save the network's inhabitants. However, be prepared for some bugs in this virtual multiverse.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

38%

Audience ScoreBased on 369 reviews

story22 positive mentions

stability56 negative mentions

The game has a unique and interesting setting based on the novels by Tad Williams, which captivates fans of the series.
The graphics and art style are visually appealing, creating a vibrant and immersive world.
The developers are actively working on improvements and are responsive to community feedback.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, making it difficult to play and enjoy.
The combat system feels clunky and unresponsive, lacking the fluidity expected from modern MMOs.
Many players experience server connectivity issues, leading to frustration and inability to progress in the game.

story
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
7%
The game's story is described as generally interesting but poorly executed, with many players finding it shallow and linear, primarily consisting of typical fetch and kill quests. While some appreciate the immersive world and unique environments, numerous technical issues, such as quest-breaking bugs and lack of voice acting, detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers express hope for improvements, particularly in quest variety and narrative depth, to better align with the source material.
- “The story is immersive and very enjoyable.”
- “The story itself was pretty interesting and gripping for me, too.”
- “The main story is interesting and this game will set itself apart from other MMOs if they focus on the plot instead of tedious World of Warcraft style quests.”
- “The story is so far shallow and poorly executed.”
- “The quests are highly linear and must be completed.”
- “Maybe it gets better later on, but I've been unable to complete much of the game due to getting stuck or scripting failures that do not allow the story to progress.”
graphics
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style and visual appeal, noting that it can look beautiful at times and runs smoothly on high settings. However, many criticize the game's optimization, reporting issues such as graphical glitches, low frame rates on certain hardware, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. While the potential for stunning visuals is acknowledged, players feel that significant improvements are needed to meet modern standards.
- “The graphics look beautiful at times and it shows the true potential of this MMORPG.”
- “Graphics are gorgeous and I've yet to get less than 60fps on high settings, usually getting 85 to 100.”
- “The graphics, while not state-of-the-art, are very detailed and - together with some really nice music and sound effects - provide a very immersive atmosphere.”
- “If the game was free to play I would understand, but they're charging you $20 for a 2007 game with 2015 graphics and no optimization for current-gen hardware.”
- “The graphics look nothing like the screenshots, and on top of it all, the game runs like utter garbage.”
- “The tutorial looks like a wannabe Matrix and literally hurts my eyes; when you get out of the throne room and into the first area, everything looks like the graphic design was never finished and the colors are so crazy that you get sick of it.”
stability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and optimization issues that render it often unplayable. Many players experienced significant lag, graphical glitches, and broken quests, leading to frustration and a lack of progress. While some acknowledge the developers' efforts to address these issues, the consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess" that requires substantial improvements before it can be recommended.
- “It was plagued with optimization issues, crashes, numerous bugs, disconnects, and other strange glitches.”
- “The screenshots are pretty much a fabrication; you will never see any of that due to the game being so broken and buggy. I have had to restart characters 3 times, and this time it won't let me past the tutorial.”
- “This game is full of glitches, bugs, crashes, and freezes.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels unfinished and repetitive, plagued by bugs and connectivity issues. Combat mechanics are described as straightforward and reminiscent of other MMOs, lacking innovation and engagement. While some players find enjoyment in the setting and art style, the overall consensus leans towards disappointment, particularly regarding the character classes and gameplay depth.
- “Combat is pretty straightforward, and like many of the game mechanics, isn't exactly a new system for anyone who has played other MMOs, but they don't feel like I'm just playing a different game in a new package either.”
- “Fun setting, interesting gameplay, average combat.”
- “This game is fun; it has its ups and downs with the server, but according to their Facebook, they are working hard on that right now to fix it. The gameplay is fun, and I did not expect to like it myself, but I fell in love fast.”
- “Fantastic idea for an MMO and I love the art style, but the gameplay and other aspects feel really unfinished.”
- “But after getting into the game, if you ever get past the login bugs... the game gets very repetitive and the mechanics are very buggy.”
- “The gameplay even in the tutorial left much to be desired and a sour taste in my mouth.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
78%
9%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including crashes, bugs, and poor performance, with many players reporting low frame rates even on recommended hardware. While some improvements have been noted, the overall consensus is that it remains a "buggy, unoptimized mess" that requires further development and optimization efforts. Players are advised to wait for a full release before investing, as the current state is not satisfactory for a paid title.
- “Optimization has improved.”
- “Just needs some optimization which will usually come after full release and NVIDIA (or the other graphics cards) get a hold of it to create the patches.”
- “Game has potential, need optimization.”
- “It is a buggy, unoptimized mess, and to make matters worse, despite multiple developer changes, the base game seems to have remained the same throughout.”
- “If the game was free to play I would understand, but they're charging you $20 for a 2007 game with 2015 graphics with no optimization for current-gen hardware.”
- “The game is a hot mess of technical and performance issues.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players noting that it sets the mood effectively and stands out compared to other MMOs. The soundtrack, along with detailed sound effects, contributes to an immersive experience, making the game feel engaging despite some criticisms of the gameplay elements. Overall, players appreciate the well-crafted music, particularly in starter areas and player housing.
- “The graphics, while not state-of-the-art, are very detailed and - together with some really nice music and sound effects - provide a very immersive atmosphere.”
- “After a lot of nonsense in the hub city... long conversations with characters... you finally get to see your player housing... an apartment where you bug out and can't leave... you can change the floor, walls, and music... but there's not much there... oh, and you can add rooms, but it kind of tells you what rooms you get.”
- “The soundtrack makes it stand out from other MMOs.”
- “The music is very well done and sets the mood for the game extremely well.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding it amusing despite the overall lack of quality and numerous bugs. Inside jokes and quirky elements, like shiny buttons with unclear functions, add a layer of humor, but many feel the game ultimately falls short of expectations. Overall, while there are moments of fun, the humor does not compensate for the game's shortcomings.
- “One: that's really funny because of an inside joke at work.”
- “There are also funny shiny buttons with a skill for buttons E and Q, but you can't use them somehow (so no idea what they do).”
- “Well, it's funny in some way, but I definitely expected more from Unreal Engine. There are a lot of crazy bugs in quests, but it's still an enjoyable game.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the game features a linear progression system that requires grinding beyond level 35, primarily through quests for experience points. While the main story is engaging, many find the grinding aspect tedious, reminiscent of traditional MMO questing styles. Completing the introductory tutorial is recommended to better understand the game's mechanics before diving into the grind.
- “The ones that exist give you a very linear progression up to about level 35, and quests are where the bulk of the experience comes from, so that's pretty much as far as you can get without grinding.”
- “The main story is interesting, and this game will set itself apart from other MMOs if they focus on the plot instead of tedious World of Warcraft-style quests.”
- “One tip: if you want to try this title, then please do finish the tedious intro tutorial.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is distinct from typical MMOs, characterized by detailed graphics and an immersive combination of music and sound effects. Players find it to be a cool and engaging environment that enhances the overall experience.
- “The graphics, while not state-of-the-art, are very detailed and - together with some really nice music and sound effects - provide a very immersive atmosphere.”
- “It's a different atmosphere than most other MMOs.”
- “Cool atmosphere.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a "cash grab scam," with users expressing disappointment over the lack of promised features, such as battlegrounds, which were highlighted in advertisements.
- “Bottom line: cash grab scam.”
- “There are no battlegrounds available, unlike their advertisement.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong negative emotional response to the game, with one user expressing feelings of distress and disappointment, describing the experience as overwhelmingly negative.