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Portal Knights

Portals Knights manages to capture the best qualities of the building of Minecraft while also maintaining a combat style that can be as difficult as Dark Souls if you're not prepared. Be ready to spend many, many hours in this charming game.
77%Game Brain Score
graphics, story
grinding, stability
87% User Score Based on 6,124 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 27 reviews

Platforms

iPadiPadiPhiPhoneNSNintendo SwitchPCPCPhoPhoneP4Playstation 4P5Playstation 5SDSteam DeckWinWindowsXOXbox OneXSXXbox Series X|SAndAndroidMPMobile PlatformPlaPlayStationTabTabletXboxXbox
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About

"Portal Knights" is a 3D sandbox action RPG where players explore randomly-generated islands, build and customize their own structures, and level up their character by vanquishing enemies in real-time tactical combat. Players can choose to be a Warrior, Mage, or Ranger, and unlock new talents as they progress. The game also allows players to build and create their own unique items and private islands. In a world torn apart by the Fracture and terrorized by the Hollow King, it is up to the Portal Knights to restore order.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
Portal Knights screenshot
+58

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,151 reviews
graphics384 positive mentions
grinding339 negative mentions
  • graphics
    745 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Portal Knights" have received widespread praise for their vibrant, colorful, and charming aesthetic, often compared favorably to titles like Minecraft but with more polished visuals. Players appreciate the unique designs of each portal island, the cute art style, and the overall visual appeal that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some users have noted issues with optimization and occasional graphical glitches, which can detract from the otherwise impressive presentation.

    • “The graphics in Portal Knights are bright and colorful.”
    • “Vivid graphics and high-quality sound make the entire experience even more attractive.”
    • “The graphics are adorable and the core idea and gameplay fantastic.”
    • “I doubt I'm alone in this, but when I look at the game's visuals, I'm reminded of Mega Bloks, a style of block toy slightly similar to Lego, yet only ever comes across as a cheap knock-off.”
    • “This is a very shallow ARPG, with lazy mobile app tier graphics, and the pricing here is a sheer insult to PC gamers.”
    • “The game is very poorly optimized; I have a computer capable of running any game well optimized on either high to ultra settings no problem, but this gets very laggy, even more annoying is that the sound gets all choppy when it lags and in reality, there should be no reason for this, the game is not graphically intensive enough to justify these problems, it's just poor optimization.”
  • story
    730 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Portal Knights" is often described as simplistic and lacking depth, with many players noting that it primarily consists of basic fetch quests and repetitive tasks. While some appreciate the light narrative framework that connects the gameplay, others find it underwhelming and feel that the quests do not significantly enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on crafting and exploration rather than delivering a compelling story, making it suitable for players who prioritize gameplay mechanics over narrative depth.

    • “The story concept isn't terrible; in fact, it sets up a great framework for an RPG world.”
    • “The story is interesting and feels like an adventure.”
    • “The prebuilt worlds and quests that come with the game are surprisingly high quality, with an engaging storyline, good pace and boss fights, and more hidden locations than I can count.”
    • “The story is so insignificant that it might as well not exist, and is told through blue guys that say one sentence when you enter the level.”
    • “The quests are so dumb and short and the reward sucks.”
    • “The storyline is so completely forgettable that it barely even exists, which is strange for a game with so many RPG-like elements.”
  • gameplay
    693 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Portal Knights" is a blend of sandbox exploration, crafting, and RPG mechanics, reminiscent of titles like Minecraft and Zelda. While it offers a charming art style and intuitive mechanics, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in combat and quest variety. Despite its engaging building elements and cooperative play, the overall experience can feel grind-heavy and simplistic, leading to mixed reviews on its long-term enjoyment.

    • “Every 5 levels you unlock new talents, and you can pick one from the row, which not only changes your gameplay with the class, but also can be changed anytime you want in the talent window, so you can adapt it to your build, especially if you decide to change what weapon you'll use with your class.”
    • “The gameplay is super simple and I have so much fun exploring all the worlds.”
    • “The game has plenty of features, including areas to explore, building mechanics, tons of quests, combat, and lots of character progression!”
    • “At first, the game itself looks promising, but as you play it, you end up noticing that the gameplay is not really fun.”
    • “The gameplay becomes extremely repetitive after the first few islands, and when you play with a friend, they have to travel with you wherever you go, making it very frustrating when you want to set up bases on different islands.”
    • “The gameplay loop is extremely basic with little depth; fun at first, but it gets old very quickly.”
  • grinding
    348 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it can be enjoyable and rewarding, it often becomes tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages. Some players appreciate the depth of resource gathering and crafting, while others find the process overly time-consuming and lacking in excitement. Overall, the game is best suited for those who enjoy grinding and resource management, but it may frustrate players looking for a more streamlined experience.

    • “The combat is not bland but also not too complicated, the progression is satisfying, and the loot system is great, not too grindy, but also not too short.”
    • “Enjoyed playing this game, it's cute, simple, not too grindy.”
    • “I like this game's class system and skill trees, leveling isn't too grindy, you are rewarded with loot for exploring most worlds, it is fun to play solo or with friends, and its artistic style is fun to look at.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game has become as grindy as an MMO where it becomes painstakingly tedious to build better equipment and level up.”
    • “The late game aspects don’t offer much more than farming bosses for all the best gear to add to your collection.”
  • music
    133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive and whimsical qualities that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and dull, leading to a desire to mute it during extended play. Many appreciate the calming and relaxing nature of the soundtrack, which fits well with the game's environments, but note that the limited variety can become tiresome over time. Overall, while the music is generally seen as pleasant and fitting, its repetitiveness detracts from the experience for some players.

    • “The music and sound effects create an immersive experience that is truly music to my ears.”
    • “The music is fantastic, and the environment is welcoming to a new player.”
    • “The music suits the environment and always gives you a sense of wonder and adventure.”
    • “The worst offender of the game is the soundtrack.”
    • “If you spend a good chunk of minutes playing in the same chunk, you'll grow sick of the music, and probably will want to mute the music of the game.”
    • “The music is...meh.”
  • stability
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly impact gameplay. While some users have experienced smooth performance with minimal issues, a substantial number have encountered game-breaking glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading to frustration and loss of progress. Overall, the game's stability appears inconsistent, with ongoing concerns about its reliability and the developers' responsiveness to these issues.

    • “And they got everything right - there's enough inventory space, menus make sense, controls beautifully with keyboard & mouse or controller, no glitches or bugs whatsoever, fun for all ages.”
    • “- virtually bug free gameplay, we haven't experienced a single crash during 34 hours so far.”
    • “This is one of the few early access games that is actually not buggy, glitchy, or empty whatsoever.”
    • “The game has game-ending glitches that cause a recycling loop of corrupt save files that can never be recovered.”
    • “This game is annoying and filled with bugs and glitches that take away all the fun. It ruins my characters, doesn't save the game properly, and half the time doesn't load or closes. I'm sick of it; I paid money for this game plus the DLCs and I get all this worthless content. If I could, I would refund all of it in a heartbeat and would never recommend it to anyone.”
    • “The multiplayer is laggy, buggy, and almost unplayable at times, which completely ruins the game!”
  • optimization
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and impressive graphics, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, audio problems, and crashes. Some users with lower-end systems find the game runs well with adjustments, but there are calls for further optimization to enhance stability and performance across a wider range of hardware. Despite these concerns, many players appreciate the game's visual quality and stability, especially for an early access title.

    • “The game has high-quality performance and has a bunch of content!”
    • “Optimization is great and the game looks very well.”
    • “This game is well optimized and runs without lags or glitches.”
    • “Unfortunately, there's a load of technical problems with the game, from constant audio stuttering to freezing, to resetting the resolution of the game to 640x480, and it even locked up my entire computer once.”
    • “The performance is absolutely terrible; if you are unlucky, you will experience sound problems and extreme lags after just a few minutes.”
    • “This game needs so much work on the handling and the performance settings, and it needs better explanations on how to advance to other worlds.”
  • replayability
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of combat classes and randomly generated worlds that enhance replay value. However, some reviewers note that the repetitive nature of combat and limited end-game content can diminish long-term engagement. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replayability, such as creative building and multiplayer experiences, some players feel it lacks sufficient depth to keep them coming back consistently.

    • “Replayability is high since there's different classes to choose from.”
    • “The game plays well, looks cute, and with the new DLC it has so much replayability.”
    • “Great game with lots of replay value because you can create anything you can imagine.”
    • “But don't expect this to be a game you constantly come back to as it really lacks a sense of replayability.”
    • “There is a limited amount of replayability here.”
    • “The grind is kinda boring and it has little replayability.”
  • humor
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny graphics, amusing NPCs, and entertaining moments, especially when played with friends. While the writing and dialogue are considered standard, the quirky character interactions and humorous situations, such as using emoji heads in combat, contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with gameplay, making it a fun choice for those looking for a comedic gaming experience.

    • “Amazingly funny game to play with friends!”
    • “Awesome graphics and the humor is on point.”
    • “The DLC is also worth it, I bought the emoji pack for $2.99 and I was not disappointed as I ran around with a laughing emoji head, killing monsters, while laughing my butt off in real life.”
    • “Plenty of odd stuff which leaves you wondering whether it's supposed to be funny or not, like 'explosion bomb' - I guess that's a bomb that explodes.”
    • “The game also endorses loot boxes and some of the achievements are very tedious and not funny; the enemies level up with you, so the game does not really get easier as you level up, and combat only gets prolonged.”
  • monetization
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the lack of updates and the presence of microtransactions for classes. Players express disappointment over the game's reliance on paid DLC and microtransactions, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience and potential of the game. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to overshadow the game's initial charm and gameplay quality.

    • “Also, microtransactions for classes.”
    • “An example of a game that went out of early access too soon, didn't bother with proper GUI scaling, and wants to really push the fact you can buy microtransactions.”
    • “Because it means the game will never go microtransactions pay to play like Creativerse (and now many other early access games similar to this).”
    • “Unlike other similar games, this game hasn't received any updates for years now; it's just a very bad cash grab DLC, that's about it.”
    • “It's become apparent this game is a cash grab, and it's very disappointing because it looks bright and colorful and had lots of potential.”
    • “This game feels like a cash grab on what was originally a new take on the voxel survival game.”
  • atmosphere
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming visuals, engaging soundtracks, and immersive environments, creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience reminiscent of titles like Minecraft and Zelda. Players appreciate the vibrant graphics, diverse biomes, and the overall light-hearted yet adventurous tone, which enhances both solo and multiplayer gameplay. Despite some repetitive quests, the game's creative potential and well-crafted atmosphere make it a standout in the genre.

    • “Not only that, the game looks all cute but it is very atmospheric and immersive.”
    • “The game's music and sound effects are also top-notch, adding to the atmosphere.”
    • “Sometimes, it feels like a Zelda world and the friendly atmosphere that the animated graphics provide just makes it relaxing and enjoyable, along with the wonderful soundtrack.”
    • “I love the atmosphere of the game's graphics when the sun is setting and makes the treeline glow gently, as well as small details like cindering ash rising from a hot plane.”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the ability to choose specific classes and the fun mechanics tied to progression, while others find the overall character design and development options lacking depth and variety. The graphics and design are noted as appealing, but many feel that the quests and storyline do not provide a satisfying sense of growth or engagement. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the character development aspect is often described as shallow or simplistic.

    • “Even character development (weapons, armor, and magic!) and boss fights are well done - not really difficult but fun!”
    • “In addition to this, the RPG character development is tied to jumping through progressively harder worlds.”
    • “Keep in mind that the game is still unique in its character design and story, plus the gameplay mechanics add a neat feel that anybody can master.”
    • “Together these elements should have still provided a really enjoyable game with longevity, but it always felt like something was missing... the quests, character development, story line, landscapes... everything just seems shallow/hollow somehow.”
    • “The character design is bare-boned and childish.”
    • “While character design really doesn't win any awards, you do have the ability to move your character into specific classes.”
  • emotional
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of frustration and joy that resonate deeply, such as feeling overwhelmed after a long play session or finding solace in a wholesome gaming environment during tough times. The presence of friends enhances the experience, making it more enjoyable and supportive, while the game's charming aesthetics and cooperative elements foster a sense of community and emotional engagement. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia and connection, particularly in challenging times.

    • “I played so well these 9 hours that I ended up with nothing; honestly, I want to cry, even if I am 26 years old.”
    • “I don't want to delete what I said that time because it was really emotional for me.”
    • “Why I want to recommend this game is if you have friends, in my case it was my cousin who helped me in this emotional situation, and I ended up having so much fun.”

71%Critics’ scoreBased on 29 critic reviews

Buy Portal Knights

17h Median play time
44h Average play time
5-50h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 78 analyzed playthroughs

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