Prodigal

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 570 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Prodigal Game Cover
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"Prodigal" is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game with an intriguing story and splendid gameplay. As the runaway miner Oran, return to your childhood town of Vann's Point, fight through treacherous dungeons, solve unique puzzles, and rebuild relationships with past friends and new townsfolk. With delightful graphics, a spectacular soundtrack, and lots of grinding, prepare for a highly emotional journey filled with adventure and suspense.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 570 reviews
story104 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • Prodigal is a charming homage to classic 2D Zelda titles, featuring engaging puzzles and a delightful story.
  • The game offers a surprising amount of content, including a lengthy post-game that expands the world and character interactions.
  • The pixel art and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the nostalgic feel of the game.
  • The combat can feel simplistic and bosses are often not challenging, which may disappoint players seeking a more intense experience.
  • Some players may find the lack of direction and occasional confusion regarding quest progression frustrating.
  • The dating sim elements, while charming, can feel shallow and may not appeal to everyone.
  • story432 mentions

    The story of "Prodigal" is a blend of charm and complexity, featuring a main quest that can be completed in about 4-8 hours, but expands significantly with engaging post-game content and character-driven side quests. While the main narrative may initially seem straightforward, it evolves into a deeper exploration of relationships and world-building, though some players find the storytelling muddled and the fetch quests predictable. Overall, the game is praised for its well-developed characters and immersive atmosphere, making it a rewarding experience for those who invest time in its rich lore and optional content.

    • “Prodigal's story is enjoyable to experience, but the game also struggles with finding a consistent tone.”
    • “The story is well crafted and isn't afraid to explore more mature themes for some of the character's backstories.”
    • “The story stays interesting throughout the game, and the characters are endearing.”
    • “As for the main story itself, it's a ton of fetch quests with extremely predictable plot twists and emotional beats that really miss the mark for aforementioned reasons.”
    • “The biggest problem the story and world building/lore has is that it can be hard to follow, leading to moments that should feel more impactful than they do because you're too busy trying to piece things together and keep up.”
    • “The story itself is something you've seen before, but the downside is the conflict itself that practically comes out of nowhere and feels less of a betrayal, but more of a 'well that happened, I guess.'”
  • music134 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic chiptune style that perfectly complements the retro aesthetic. The soundtrack is described as diverse and engaging, featuring memorable tracks that enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience, although some noted occasional repetitiveness. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, with many players expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately.

    • “Great game to lean back and just sink into; there are a couple of benches you could just vibe out on for a few minutes and listen to the soundtrack.”
    • “The overall atmosphere of the game with all the different characters, the changing seasons, and the music is incredible.”
    • “The music absolutely slaps, the art is expressive, and the game uses color as part of the narrative, which is something really wonderful for a game that frames itself as a love letter to a handheld system I have fond memories of.”
    • “Music can be a bit repetitive in places, but generally it is good and plays a role in keeping me here.”
    • “If I had to nitpick, I would say that the music is... serviceable.”
    • “I do wish some of the songs were a bit longer, as it's clear to tell when it loops, but overall I really don't have any complaints about it.”
  • gameplay124 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its simplicity and engaging mechanics, reminiscent of classic Game Boy titles, particularly in its puzzle-solving and exploration elements. While some players appreciate the charming blend of Zelda-like dungeon mechanics and Harvest Moon-style social interactions, others note a lack of depth in combat and character development. Overall, the game offers a fun, nostalgic experience with a well-paced progression of abilities, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is simple and definitely reminiscent of old Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games.”
    • “The exploration is fun, the gameplay is good, and the endgame dungeons are fun and hard.”
    • “I really enjoyed it, and I have no hesitation in recommending it to those looking for a charming old-school experience with simple but satisfying mechanics, challenging bosses, and very gorgeous and colorful characters to get to know.”
    • “On the other hand, none of its mechanics really quite shine, making the overall experience somewhat lacking.”
    • “You don't find health and the death mechanic gets tiring quite quickly in that you respawn at home and have to make your way back to the boss arena each time.”
    • “There is not enough variety in weapons/items and enemies to carry the combat/exploration, and the dating/marriage mechanics are bare bones.”
  • graphics100 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, heavily inspired by the Game Boy Color and classic Zelda titles, creating a nostalgic experience for players. Reviewers highlight the effective use of simple colors and expressive character portraits, which enhance the overall aesthetic and complement the engaging gameplay. While the retro visuals are celebrated, some players note that the game may lean too heavily on old-school design choices, potentially impacting modern gameplay conveniences.

    • “Art direction is on point with what the developers were going for as the game uses simple colors and pixel art to recreate the old art style that you would find in a 2D Zelda game or even games that would be on a GBA.”
    • “A wonderful Game Boy Color art style, beautiful chiptune-style songs, and addictive dungeons set this game as the standard for future 'Zelda-like' games.”
    • “The pixel art style they used is very retro and beautiful, similar to the classic RPGs like Zelda from the Game Boy Color.”
    • “The game might take the retro aesthetic a little too far sometimes: there isn't an autosave, dungeon maps, or even an ability to reference characters and the items they want.”
    • “If you compare this to a Game Boy Color Zelda game like the other reviews do... it has the graphics but not the same gameplay.”
    • “Don't let those aesthetic choices fool you, though.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some fetch quests and dungeon mechanics can feel tedious, the overall simplicity of puzzles and the nostalgic blend of gameplay elements keep it enjoyable for many. However, the lack of healing options and the repetitive nature of certain tasks can lead to frustration, particularly after multiple deaths. Overall, the game strikes a balance between engaging and monotonous, depending on individual player tolerance for grinding.

    • “I came into this game really wanting to enjoy it, but it slowly started grinding me down.”
    • “Granted, there is a run button and teleporters you can unlock inside the dungeons, but it does get a little tedious having to go through that process every death, especially when, as far as I can tell, there isn't any way to heal yourself short of leaving the dungeon and resting in your bed.”
    • “While this was supposedly done to prevent people from exploiting the game, I don't see the point of making things more tedious for honest players just so some dishonest players have to play the game the 'right' way.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game boasts significant replayability, enhanced by various romance options, difficulty settings, and optional dungeons, alongside a robust New Game+ feature that introduces new gameplay mechanics. While achievements offer some replay value, they do not significantly alter the main story. Overall, players appreciate the depth and variety that encourage multiple playthroughs, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The game is quite beefy when it comes to content, and the new game+ adds new ways of playing through the game again, giving it more replay value.”
    • “Lots of replay value with the many romance options and difficulty settings, as well as optional dungeons and regular content updates.”
    • “There is some replay value as well in various achievements, but from what I understand they won't diverge the main story in meaningful ways outside of dialogue.”
    • “With the combination of different wives to marry, and altars and curses to change your game for the harder adds a handful of replayability.”
    • “This creates a level of replayability I haven't seen in this kind of game before.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its vibrant art style, engaging story, and well-developed characters, effectively capturing the essence of a nostalgic 90's video game. The changing seasons and music contribute to a strong sense of place, particularly within the small town setting, which is described as immersive and free of unnecessary distractions. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as the game's strongest element, despite some criticisms of its gameplay.

    • “The overall atmosphere of the game with all the different characters, the changing seasons, and the music is incredible.”
    • “Your main character’s background and the circumstances bringing him back to his hometown start the game off strong and create a good atmosphere of uncertainty.”
    • “I found it very eye-catching, with a vibrant color palette to help us experience even more that atmosphere of a 90's video game.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it delivers heartwarming and touching moments reminiscent of classic Game Boy Color titles, others criticize the predictable plot twists and fetch quests that undermine its emotional impact. Overall, the story is seen as deeper and more elaborate than expected, with entertaining twists and a wholesome narrative that resonates with many players.

    • “Using only text boxes, in-engine cutscenes, and a Game Boy Color palette, it managed to deliver some really funny, heartwarming, and touching moments between the various characters.”
    • “As the game goes on, the story unfolds with some interesting twists and turns, featuring some cool and a bit emotional moments, which kept me quite entertained until the end.”
    • “I feel like it's much deeper and more elaborate than I initially thought it would be, with quite a bit more content than it seems at first glance, a nice and somewhat emotional story, and a fantastic setting.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players reporting minimal bugs or glitches. However, a few users noted the presence of occasional glitches during gameplay, suggesting that while the experience is mostly smooth, there are some minor issues to be aware of.

    • “Fun Zelda clone that is just a little buggy.”
    • “The game overall is decently solid when it comes to glitches, but I did notice a couple of them during my playthrough.”
    • “I really enjoyed it, yet I am unable to find many websites discussing its details, easter eggs, secrets, and glitches.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted and self-aware approach, poking fun at typical RPG tropes, particularly lengthy endgame quests. Players appreciate the emotional depth of the characters and the clever use of text boxes and retro visuals to convey funny and heartwarming moments, making it a delightful experience for fans of 8-bit games and adventure narratives.

    • “It's funny and all of the characters have a lot of emotions.”
    • “If you like 8-bit games, romance, adventure, puzzles, and humor, this is your game.”
    • “Using only text boxes, in-engine cutscenes, and a Game Boy Color palette, it managed to deliver some really funny, heartwarming, and touching moments between the various characters.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its compelling and genuine portrayal of NPCs, despite a more linear narrative that limits relationship-building options. Reviewers suggest that integrating characters more deeply into the main story could enhance the overall experience, while also praising the game's effective level design and narrative structure.

    • “While there aren't tons of options for carefully building up relationships with NPCs, you instead get fairly compelling and genuine character development for all of them on a more linear path.”
    • “I think if they were treated as part of the main story, the whole game would have felt a lot bigger and allowed for greater character development.”
    • “While looking like a simple Game Boy game, Prodigal displays a very competent understanding of level design, narrative structure, and character development.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is generally praised, with users reporting solid performance and no encountered bugs or glitches.

    • “Performance was solid, and I didn't run into any bugs or glitches.”
    • “Performance was solid, and I didn't run into any bugs or glitches.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
7-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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