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Pagan Online

Fun hero designs and solid combat offer a promising start, but it needs to shed its grind and borderline game-breaking bugs.
Pagan Online Game Cover
50%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, monetization
47% User Score Based on 1,159 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
Pagan Online Game Cover

About

Pagan Online is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Mad Head Games and was released on August 26, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

"Pagan Online" is an action RPG with hack-and-slash gameplay and a pantheon of pagan gods and heroes. Fight against hordes of enemies in fast-paced, combat-focused missions, and customize your character with a variety of abilities and gear. Play solo or in co-op mode, and delve into a rich, fantasy world inspired by Slavic mythology.

Genres & Tags
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47%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,159 reviews
story77 positive mentions
grinding84 negative mentions

  • The game features immersive gameplay with a unique WASD control scheme that enhances combat dynamics.
  • The character designs are diverse and interesting, each offering unique abilities and playstyles.
  • The graphics and art style are visually appealing, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and lag during gameplay.
  • Character progression is heavily gated, requiring extensive grinding to unlock new heroes and higher-tier gear.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive and linear, with missions often consisting of small, confined areas and predictable enemy waves.
  • story
    460 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging narrative and unique elements drawn from Slavic mythology, while others find it shallow and repetitive. Many reviews highlight the linear mission structure, which detracts from immersion and leads to a sense of monotony, as players often feel they are grinding through similar tasks without significant story progression. Overall, while the voice acting and lore are praised, the execution of the story delivery and mission design leaves room for improvement.

    • “The storyline was great too and the five environments are stunning.”
    • “The characters are interesting, the story is interesting, there's full voice acting, and there are just certain mechanics I haven't seen in an ARPG.”
    • “The lore and story is awesome as well.”
    • “The story is too bland for a singleplayer game, but the multiplayer was scrapped, so there is nothing to find amusing in the game...”
    • “The world is uninspiring and bland in its story and appearance.”
    • “The story is really lackluster and uninteresting characters.”
  • gameplay
    246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its immersive mechanics and character diversity, while others criticize it for being shallow, repetitive, and lacking depth. Some users enjoy the unique WASD movement system and the satisfying combat, but express frustration over bugs, unbalanced mechanics, and a lack of engaging content. Overall, while the core gameplay shows promise, it is hindered by various issues that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The gameplay is smooth and responsive.”
    • “The core gameplay is fun, I'm excited to see where the game goes in early access.”
    • “Awesome ARPG, haven't had this much fun on an ARPG in a while, gameplay close to Lost Ark for those who've played it.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely shallow, repetitive, and grossly unrewarding.”
    • “The game mechanics seriously just feel downright lazy and the game quickly becomes boring.”
    • “Pointless grind to unlock new characters, boring repetitive gameplay that is fun for the first hour, very low character building.”
  • graphics
    161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style as vibrant and unique, reminiscent of titles like Torchlight and Diablo, while others criticize the visuals as dated or simplistic, likening them to a mobile game aesthetic. Overall, the graphics are described as polished and visually appealing, though some users note performance issues and a lack of depth in certain animations. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the game's artistic direction and character designs, highlighting the graphics as a strong point of the experience.

    • “I love the graphic style and the characters.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous; did we mention beautiful artistry?”
    • “The graphics are very detailed and give you a certain level of depth when playing.”
    • “The graphics are dated; at times it does look like a game from 2011 with its graphics and animation.”
    • “The game is not so bad, but I don't like the graphics; it looks like a mobile phone game and the systems are the same.”
    • “The graphics feel like a flash-based browser game.”
  • grinding
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some enjoy the grind as a core part of the experience, appreciating the challenge of unlocking characters and crafting materials, many find it tedious and overly time-consuming, often leading to frustration with slow progress and repetitive gameplay. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant element of the game, with opinions varying on whether it enhances or detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “It is not that grindy.”
    • “This would be all well and good if the early challenge was appropriately managed by your selection of early skills, but it's frankly a slow-paced dance of shaving off trash mobs and tediously chipping away at unreasonably beefy or evasive ones.”
    • “After some time grinding it, they wiped the servers and all progress was lost.”
    • “As much as I enjoy the combat and want to love this game, the amount of grinding to unlock characters without a chance to try them out is a dealbreaker for me in a game I paid for.”
  • monetization
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has generated mixed reviews, with many users expressing concern over potential future microtransactions despite the developers' assurances that there will be none. Currently, players can unlock everything through gameplay without any in-game purchases, but skepticism remains regarding the game's design, which some feel is conducive to a cash grab model. Overall, while there are no microtransactions at present, the community is wary of possible changes in the future that could compromise this model.

    • “No microtransactions; you can unlock everything by just playing (at least for now, praise the gods).”
    • “There are currently no microtransactions; however, the developer has confirmed there will be in the official release.”
    • “The developer has repeated that the vision for this game is not and will not be based around microtransactions, but a game with an upfront cost and no in-game monetization.”
    • “Now they slapped a new name on it and put it back up, trying to cash grab from people unaware of its issues.”
    • “This sets itself up to be freemium crap, with cash grab microtransactions and stuff that's only available if you pay hard dollars.”
    • “I know this is in early access but this game is setting itself up to be nothing more than a cash grab game similar to a mobile phone game.”
  • stability
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is severely criticized, with numerous reports of persistent glitches, bugs, and performance issues that render it nearly unplayable. Players have experienced constant freezes, lag, and desynchronization, particularly in cooperative modes, leading many to feel the game is unfinished and abandoned by its developers. Despite its visual appeal and potential, the overwhelming consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of polish and support, making for a frustrating experience.

    • “Looks pretty nice (reminds me of Torchlight), runs great, gameplay is solid.”
    • “A ton of the spells do not work the way they are meant to, and the bonuses also are vastly buggy.”
    • “Once the online finally came out, it was a laggy, buggy mess.”
    • “In current state the game is unplayable due to constant freezes and stuttering (every mob spawn, every loot you loot you get this) and I have a pretty decent PC.”
  • optimization
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth gameplay and solid performance, while others report significant issues such as frame stuttering, freezes, and bugs that hinder playability. Many users noted that performance varies widely depending on system specifications and settings adjustments, with some finding success by tweaking graphics options. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who find it playable and those who deem it unplayable due to persistent performance problems.

    • “The WASD controls work very nicely and feel smooth, and after a bit over 3 hours, I have not experienced crashes or performance issues.”
    • “I have read through a bunch of reviews from people hating on performance issues; maybe they fixed them in the latest patch because I have experienced nothing but quick and smooth gameplay the entire time, not one second of lag.”
    • “I was happily surprised when I started this game; I did not expect an early access title to be this polished in terms of performance and gameplay.”
    • “When more than a few enemies are on screen, it has massive frame stuttering.”
    • “In the current state, the game is unplayable due to constant freezes and stuttering (every mob spawn, every loot you loot you get this) and I have a pretty decent PC.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess; it has been ever since the big patch was implemented in early access. I voiced my concerns to the devs, and they assured me that all the performance decline and bugs that occurred after that patch would be resolved, but to this day they are present.”
  • music
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players noting a lack of presence while others praise its quality and emotional impact, likening it to classic titles like Warcraft III. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gaming experience, though some suggest it could benefit from more variety or specific genres, such as metal. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, there are calls for improvement and expansion.

    • “The music, the graphics, the environment, the story... truly a candy of a game, for years to come.”
    • “Music is awesome; it could use some Marcin Przybyłowicz and Percival magic, but that's just my imagination going nuts.”
    • “Music is also very nice, even epic at some points, and since I never turn off game music, I'm glad when I get the chance to really enjoy it.”
    • “Music is... actually, I didn't have an opinion before I brought it up because there's not much of any music there.”
    • “The sound is a bit lacking and the music is okay.”
    • “I'd recommend having some upbeat music in the background though.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while changing heroes can alter combat dynamics and some players find it "endlessly replayable," others note limitations due to fixed class kits and weapon choices that hinder customization. Despite these drawbacks, many players appreciate the variety of modes, daily challenges, and loot opportunities that contribute to a rewarding experience.

    • “Luckily, changing heroes also changes the way combats play out, thus giving the game a sense of replayability that would otherwise be absent.”
    • “"Endlessly replayable" is what they call it on their official website in big bold letters.”
    • “Lots of replayability.”
    • “Luckily, changing heroes also changes the way combats play out, thus giving the game a semblance of replayability that would otherwise be absent.”
    • “The game is indeed playable but not entirely replayable.”
    • “I realize it lacks the depth and replayability when compared to its opponents in the genre; but it has enough twists and nuances to stand out.”
  • character development
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the unique and colorful character designs while others criticize the lack of depth and meaningful customization options. Many players feel that the focus on gameplay has come at the expense of character development, resulting in a system that feels shallow and outdated. Overall, the character development aspect appears to be a significant area for improvement, as it currently lacks the depth and engagement found in modern ARPGs.

    • “This is not innately bad; however, the character designs are quite good and unique, and I feel they have more depth than with standard character creation.”
    • “I feel like they focused more on the actual gameplay than overburdening the player with character development choices, and I love it.”
    • “Character designs are colorful and fluid, and environments look no worse than Diablo III.”
    • “Character development is essentially non-existent right now; the devs apparently plan to improve it.”
    • “Also, there was no real character development.”
    • “Character development is slightly shallow (+x% damage to skill on every ability).”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is appreciated for its self-awareness and witty character lines, contributing to an engaging experience. While some players enjoy the comedic elements and character interactions, others feel that excessive humor can detract from the game's overall structure. Overall, the blend of humor with gameplay mechanics and character development adds a unique charm to the experience.

    • “Funny character lines; I like that humor.”
    • “Gameplay is mostly linear, but all the characters are very funny. There are some riddles to handle, which is very interesting—not only do you deal damage, but you also sometimes avoid traps.”
    • “Victor Vran has really good combat, a funny and interesting story, and so many more customization possibilities that really make the game feel different.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its laid-back vibe, unique Slavic paganism lore, and well-designed levels, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the variety in models and decent NPC voiceovers, enhancing the overall ambiance.

    • “I'm loving the atmosphere of the game; the level design is fairly nice, there is decent variety in models, and most of the NPC voiceovers aren't actually bad.”
    • “The lore of the game isn't one I've seen before: Slavic paganism (hence *Pagan* Online), and this provides a very unique atmosphere and story that is worth researching in your spare time if gods and religions of other cultures interest you even slightly.”
    • “The game has a really cool atmosphere.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express frustration with the game's emotional impact, citing a lack of engaging story and mechanics that detract from enjoyment. The presence of bugs and balance issues, along with concerns about potential paywalls for character customization, contribute to a negative emotional experience, leading some to predict the game's decline.

    • “The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no attachment to the storyline; it was predictable and uninspiring.”
    • “The game tries to evoke emotions but fails miserably, leaving me feeling indifferent.”
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8h Median play time
17h Average play time
4-24h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Pagan Online is a role playing game.

Pagan Online is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 17 hours playing Pagan Online.

Pagan Online was released on August 26, 2019.

Pagan Online was developed by Mad Head Games.

Pagan Online has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Pagan Online is a single player game.

Similar games include Torchlight III, Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr, Killsquad, Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, WH&S and others.