PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords

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In "PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords," engage in an epic single-player campaign with over 150 quests, where you save the kingdom of Etheria from evil through match-3 puzzle combat. Build your character, capture cities, and gain companions in this immersive puzzle game. Additionally, enjoy quick-play mode for a more casual experience.

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PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,465 reviews

story164 positive mentions

grinding62 negative mentions

Puzzle Quest combines match-3 gameplay with RPG elements, creating a unique and addictive experience.
The game features a variety of character classes, spells, and items, allowing for strategic gameplay and customization.
Despite its age, the game still holds up well and provides hours of entertainment with a compelling story and engaging mechanics.

The AI can feel unfairly challenging, often benefiting from lucky cascades and combos that the player cannot predict.
The game can become repetitive, especially with the grinding required for leveling up and completing quests.
Some players experience technical issues, such as crashes or performance problems on modern systems.

story
566 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The story in Puzzle Quest is generally described as simple and somewhat generic, often following typical fantasy tropes such as an evil lord to defeat and quests to complete. While some players find the narrative engaging and humorous, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, with many noting that the gameplay often overshadows the story. Overall, the combination of RPG elements and a match-3 puzzle format provides a unique experience, but the story may not be the main draw for all players.
- “The story is great - written with an amazing sense of humour - and is created by an Australian company.”
- “The story is interesting and the game offers many additional features (from collecting spells/weapons/companions to conquering your new empire, side quests) which make the game feel complete.”
- “I found the story to be extremely compelling and at times humorous.”
- “Yes, the story is crap, the AI cheats and the battles get repetitive, but it is still worth playing after all of this time.”
- “The story is extremely lackluster here and it's boring around 80% of the time.”
- “The story is the same old recycled 'dark lord guy comes back from the dead... again... and wants to kill everyone' RPG cliché.”
gameplay
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
The gameplay of this match-3 RPG hybrid is widely praised for its addictive mechanics and depth, combining traditional puzzle elements with RPG features like character classes, spells, and item crafting. While some players find the gameplay repetitive and frustrating at times, many appreciate the strategic layers and engaging systems that keep them coming back. Overall, it stands out as a unique and enjoyable experience within the genre, despite its age and dated graphics.
- “The unlikely combination of puzzle gameplay and RPG mechanics makes it one of the most addictive experiences on Microsoft's downloadable service.”
- “The gameplay is exceptional, even for someone like me who never liked 'connect 3' games.”
- “The quests, battles, training, forging, and all other mechanics are flawlessly worked into the puzzle format, providing an amazing experience for RPG players who are looking for something truly special.”
- “Gameplay is very repetitive and boring.”
- “The gameplay is frustrating, the UI is horrendous, and the use of abilities is inconsistent.”
- “The game stretched on way too long for the simple gameplay.”
music
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchy and epic quality that enhances the overall experience, particularly in conveying the fantasy theme. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and monotonous over time, with issues such as abrupt looping and volume inconsistencies. Overall, while the music is generally well-composed and enjoyable, it may not hold up for extended play sessions.
- “I can't stress how great the soundtrack is in this title as it expertly captures the fantasy theme of the game.”
- “Many of the songs are exceedingly catchy and really help to convey the mood of a certain location or bolster the feeling of winning/losing in a battle.”
- “Shockingly one of the best parts of the game in my opinion is the music.”
- “The music is not anything to write home about either, but it isn't horrible.”
- “The only negative feedback is the music doesn't loop very well; it can break your immersion suddenly when the music jumps to the beginning of a track halfway through a note.”
- “As well, the music is simply a set of tracks that play on a continuous loop, over and over, with the game altogether stopping for 1-3 seconds when the music changes.”
grinding
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The game is widely criticized for its excessive grinding, which many players find tedious and repetitive, especially as they progress into the mid-game. While some enjoy the addictive nature and various gameplay elements, the constant need to grind for levels and gear can overshadow the fun, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is a significant barrier for those who prefer a more streamlined gaming experience.
- “Awesome game that, yes, does get a bit tedious at times - but holy crap is it addictive! I couldn't focus on anything until I finally put Lord Bane to rest.”
- “You have to grind too much, which makes it tedious, and the game throws you tons of unavoidable monsters in the way to every quest.”
- “It's a fun and addicting game, but it drags on for quite some time and eventually becomes tedious.”
- “As is, this is a very grindy game that's balanced against the player with increasingly difficult enemy encounters and heavy reliance on having good gear and stats, to a point where it feels more like a game about grinding than a casual match-three title.”
graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated and simplistic, reminiscent of DS-era titles, with some users noting minor graphical glitches. While the visuals may not impress, many players appreciate the artwork and character design, finding them satisfactory for the gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose, allowing players to enjoy the engaging mechanics and story despite their limitations.
- “The story does a good job of keeping the player engaged with its amazing graphics and solid storyline.”
- “Fantasy themed 'Bejeweled' with many RPG elements, fun characters/companions & dialogue, great artwork and cool music.”
- “The artwork is - of course - JRPG, but I think it's nicely done.”
- “Puzzle Quest had decent if simplistic graphics as a DS-era handheld game, but on PC it leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “It's not great graphically, with the story unfolding via static character images over backgrounds with text bubbles.”
- “The graphics suck, but it's not about the graphics; it's very addictive.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
34%
12%
The game offers significant replayability through various classes, narrative choices, and play styles, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and approaches. While some users noted limited replay value for those uninterested in match-3 mechanics, many found the diverse puzzles and challenges to provide ample enjoyment and replay opportunities. Overall, the addition of mods and the game's casual nature contribute to a satisfying replay experience for those who appreciate its mechanics.
- “Absolutely amazing story, great gameplay, extremely replayable, a perfect game in my opinion.”
- “And after that, there is great replayability with the other classes, narrative choices, and play styles.”
- “I thoroughly enjoyed this game - it has great replay value as each puzzle is different, as well as the skills and spells.”
- “- Replay value is nearly non-existent unless you really need to play a match-3 game.”
- “Some replayability with the different classes and general randomness.”
- “It has different types of minigames and replay value in some of the storyline choices.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
42%
50%
The game's optimization has faced criticism due to stuttering issues, particularly on Windows 10, which can make it unplayable over time. However, recent discussions suggest that patches may resolve these performance problems, and some users report consistent performance on consoles. Players are encouraged to seek out these solutions if they encounter similar issues.
- “At least it had a consistent performance on that console.”
- “Originally, I had recommended against the game because of stuttering issues, making it unplayable after a period of time.”
- “There's a performance issue on Windows 10 right now that I've seen a few other people mention in the discussions.”
- “Even with a highly optimized wizard with ridiculous stats and a meticulous battle strategy, I still managed to only win about 70% of fights.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd scenarios, such as the ability to poison cities, which players find amusing. Additionally, the dialogue contains several funny moments, contributing to an overall compelling and entertaining narrative. Players appreciate the blend of humor with engaging gameplay elements, making for a lighthearted experience amidst the game's various quests and character interactions.
- “You can even poison cities, which I find utterly hilarious for some reason.”
- “And some dialogs are quite funny.”
- “I found the story to be extremely compelling and at times humorous.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with users reporting minimal issues such as minor graphical glitches and no significant bugs or crashes. It performs well on both Windows 10 and the Steam Deck, making it a solid choice for players despite a few minor visual distortions.
- “Its a real fun game that is absolutely perfect for the Steam Deck, albeit with a few graphical glitches regarding the skull tokens (very distortive, but not terrible!).”
- “I've noticed 1-2 small graphical glitches with some attack effects, like lightning looking a little blocky, but otherwise it works great on it.”
- “I smell more confusion than a buggy flashback.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a surprising emotional investment in a puzzle game, highlighting the satisfaction derived from achieving complex goals, such as auto-matching gems without direct interaction. This emotional engagement is tied to the sense of accomplishment and rewards that enhance the overall gaming experience.
- “mfw I'm emotionally invested in a puzzle game 😅🤷‍♂️”
- “Get the gems to cascade and auto-match five times without touching the board to fulfill a heroic effort and get an experience reward on top of all the mana, gold, experience, and combat damage you already get from the matches.”
- “You can get through the game without touching them.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The monetization of the original Puzzle Quest is praised for its lack of aggressive microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics, especially in contrast to newer mobile iterations that are criticized for their exploitative practices. Reviewers appreciate that the game does not rely on greed-driven tactics, making it a more authentic and enjoyable experience.
- “You will have to do a little tinkering to get this to run on modern hardware and there are no Steam achievements, but this is still the definitive Puzzle Quest title to get - the new ones (e.g., Puzzle Quest 3, Marvel Puzzle Quest) are horrible pay-to-win mobile ports littered with microtransactions.”
- “The new ones (e.g., Puzzle Quest 3, Marvel Puzzle Quest) are horrible pay-to-win mobile ports littered with microtransactions.”
- “I have been seeing many mobile games shamelessly rip off Puzzle Quest lately, and after seeing my grandmother spend nearly $60 on Candy Crush microtransactions, I feel that this game deserves its well-earned recognition more than ever.”
- “It isn't greedware spamming, intentionally trying to get you addicted or advertising anything.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Reviews indicate a significant dissatisfaction with character development, highlighting a decline in quality compared to past games. Players feel that the narrative and motivations behind character actions are poorly executed, leading to a lack of engagement and a desire to skip through content. This sentiment is exacerbated by the prevalence of free-to-play models that prioritize monetization over storytelling.
- “You will just end up wanting to click through as the character development and the reasons behind your actions are absolutely terrible.”

87%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

Buy PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords

PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords
$9.99
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25h Median play time

75h Average play time

9-170h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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PSP Review - 'Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords'