Quest for the Golden Candelabra

About

Lead a group of childhood friends in a series of difficult encounters played under the rules of PF2E, the second edition of a powerful tabletop OGL ruleset.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Quest for the Golden Candelabra screenshot

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 260 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

Quest for the Golden Candelabra serves as a charming and effective introduction to the Pathfinder 2E ruleset, making it accessible for new players.
The game features a clean and intuitive UI, allowing players to easily understand the mechanics and engage in tactical combat.
Despite its short length, the game is a fun experience that showcases the potential of Pathfinder 2E in a video game format, leaving players eager for more content.

The game is very short, with only about 30-60 minutes of content, which may leave players wanting more depth and variety.
Voice acting quality is inconsistent, with some performances lacking energy, which can detract from the overall experience.
There is a lack of character customization and story depth, as players are limited to pre-made characters and a straightforward plot.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The gameplay is generally well-received, showcasing a solid implementation of Pathfinder 2e mechanics within a traditional retro CRPG framework. While it serves as a good introduction to the core combat mechanics, it lacks comprehensive tutorials for new players and could benefit from additional non-combat elements. Overall, it is a concise and engaging experience for those familiar with the system, though it may feel limiting for newcomers.
- “Cute, free game that is excellent for learning basic Pathfinder 2E mechanics!”
- “Mechanically, it's spot-on for Pathfinder and it knows the rules for its small cast (level 1 fighter, rogue, sorcerer, and cleric) very well; it plays like how a CRPG for Pathfinder 2E really should.”
- “Phenomenal execution of the Pathfinder 2E mechanics in a digital format; it's both good on its own and a good case study in video games using the Pathfinder 2E rule set.”
- “Decent showcase of how Pathfinder 2nd Edition fails to fix D&D's fundamental issues with combat and character mechanics.”
- “What it doesn't do is explain any of 2e's mechanics - if you wanted to go into this to learn Pathfinder 2e, it's not good at it due to this lack of explanation.”
- “In terms of improvements, there's very little I could suggest - it feels limiting that there is no interaction with the stealth mechanics of Pathfinder, especially with a rogue in the party who could have benefitted from the option of using stealth for initiative or hiding to set up ranged sneak attacks.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
66%
10%
The story in this game is simple and straightforward, serving primarily as a backdrop for tactical combat rather than a deep narrative experience. It features a short, charming quest that introduces players to the Pathfinder 2nd Edition ruleset, with a few comedic moments and engaging encounters, though the overall plot lacks depth. While the voice acting and graphics are described as campy and basic, they do not detract from the enjoyment of the gameplay, making it a solid introductory experience for new players.
- “Story-wise, it's simple and humble, with a few comedic moments of the PCs acting like players that managed to make me smile.”
- “The quest for the golden candelabra is an excellent way to learn tactics for playing the Pathfinder 2nd Edition tabletop roleplaying game, whether in person or on a VTT.”
- “The story and characters were quite charming, and I liked the included tips for new players in the characters' dialogue.”
- “The 5 missions are just a battle which get a little harder along the way and a little badly voiced text blurb at the beginning and the end.”
- “In terms of expectations, you can't make your protagonist, choose your party, or choose your spells; it takes about 45 to 60 minutes to finish; it doesn't tell much of a story because it doesn't need to; and the voice acting is pretty campy but it doesn't detract in any way from the experience.”
- “The plot is simple and straightforward, not trying to do more than is intended in a game of this type.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players finding them lacking in aesthetic appeal and consistency, while others appreciate their simplicity and charm. Although the visuals are not particularly polished or innovative, they are deemed adequate for the game's overall experience, with some sections showing improvement in quality. Overall, while the graphics may deter some gamers, they do not overshadow the fun and engaging gameplay.
- “Quest for the Golden Candelabra is the first section of Dawnsbury Days with widescreen support, cleaner graphics, and a more fleshed-out system.”
- “The graphics are cute and simple; the plot isn't that deep, but it is fun to play.”
- “So the good news is that it's a well-implemented Pathfinder D&D game, with cute graphics.”
- “The graphics aren't great... that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “Technically, the quest gets everything right, but its weakest area is aesthetic appeal.”
- “Not super polished, the voice acting isn't the best around (the recording quality in particular can vary wildly, I ended up turning it off after the first 'level'), and the sound effects, music, and graphics (aside from the hand-drawn portraits) are too 'generic stock fantasy picture/tileset' for my own taste.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is generally considered good, though not exceptionally polished, with some users noting that the voice acting quality varies significantly. Additionally, the sound effects and music are described as somewhat generic, lacking uniqueness in the overall presentation.
- “The music is good.”
- “Not super polished; the voice acting isn't the best around. The recording quality in particular can vary wildly. I ended up turning it off after the first level. The sound effects, music, and graphics (aside from the hand-drawn portraits) are too generic and feel like stock fantasy assets.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a cozy, campy vibe, enhanced by amateur voice acting that contributes to the feeling of a casual RPG session among friends. This approach creates a relatable and engaging environment, aligning well with the game's low-level adventuring theme.
- “The voice actors may not be professionals, but they contribute to the cozy, campy atmosphere of the adventure.”
- “It adds to the atmosphere of a playable RPG session; it feels like you're observing a group of friends roleplaying their characters, rather than being immersed in a high fantasy world, which suits this low-level adventuring.”
- “The voice actors are obviously not professionals, but they add to the cozy, campy atmosphere of the adventure.”
- “Instead, it contributes to the atmosphere of a playable RPG session; it feels like you're observing a group of friends roleplaying their characters, rather than immersing yourself in a high fantasy world, which suits this low-level adventuring.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming and charming, largely due to its wholesome dialogue and nostalgic presentation. The simplicity of the storytelling evokes a sense of warmth and connection, making the experience feel like a delightful journey reminiscent of classic adventures.
- “I was charmed by the presentation and voice acting; in particular, I felt like the dialogue was wholesome and drew me in despite being very simple and traditional, for lack of a better word.”
- “I think that's a strength, and the three hours or so I spent messing around in the game was a pleasant, heartwarming ride that speaks to a simpler time and the adventures of old.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game offers a brief experience but includes elements that encourage replayability, making it enjoyable to revisit.
- “Short but sweet, with significant replayability value.”
- “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
- “The game has minimal replayability, as once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel redundant.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that there wasn't much left to explore, which really diminished its replay value.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is largely driven by the voice acting, which many find to be amusing, though it sometimes misses the mark when it aims for comedic effect.
- “The voice acting is hilarious, even when it's not trying to be.”
- “The humor in the game is spot-on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create laugh-out-loud moments.”