Ravensword: Shadowlands

About

Ravensword: Shadowlands is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Crescent Moon Games and was released on December 6, 2013. It received neutral reviews from players.

Ravensword brings unprecedented visuals to the role playing and adventure genre. Explore a vast and richly detailed world, gather powerful weapons, collect hundreds of items, increase your skills, and follow a deep storyline to solve the mysteries of the Kingdom of Tyreas. The game has received many comparison to open world role-playing games in the Elder Scrolls series of games, such as Skyrim. …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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49%

Audience ScoreBased on 342 reviews

story26 positive mentions

graphics23 negative mentions

Good large and diverse open world for exploration with varied environments and enemies, including dinosaurs and flying mounts.
Simple, accessible gameplay and combat mechanics that are fun for casual RPG fans and nostalgic players.
Smooth performance on low-end machines, decent music and sound design, and well-implemented skill and inventory systems.

Outdated graphics and visuals with many bugs, glitches, and technical issues such as awkward animations, poor hitboxes, and camera problems.
Weak story and characters, with generic quests, limited voice acting, repetitive dialog, and lack of narrative depth or immersion.
Poorly optimized PC port of a mobile game featuring clunky controls, limited UI customization, lack of controller support, and grind-heavy gameplay.

story
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
11%
The story in this RPG is generally regarded as generic, straightforward, and uninspiring, featuring typical fantasy tropes like collecting a magical sword to defeat an ancient evil. While some players appreciate the world-building and find the narrative serviceable for the game's scale, many criticize the quests as dull, repetitive fetch or kill missions with minimal depth or rewarding outcomes. Overall, the storytelling lacks originality and emotional engagement, though the gameplay and exploration aspects sometimes help offset the narrative shortcomings.
- “I love the world building in this game, there are so many side quests and b-plots I don't think I've even found and played all of them yet and I've completed the game at least twice.”
- “They spent a lot of time on the story and the world to really make you feel like you're in this realm, experiencing these experiences.”
- “I got this game for less than 1 US dollar and OMG this is a fun indie 3D RPG with a good level up system. The story of the game is pretty good for an RPG that is less than 1 US dollar. I gave this game a positive review score based on the price I got it for, how much content it has, how it runs/plays, and it looks all amazing.”
- “The main storyline is cliché and straightforward that creates no memorable experience whatsoever (as far along my playthrough).”
- “The story is flat, the NPCs are lifeless and the world is boring.”
- “The main storyline (to skip a few details) was horrendous - you spend 90% of the game looking for a sword that's less than a minute away from where you start the first bit after the tutorial, because it's the "only weapon that can kill the final boss" - and then when you do fight the final boss you don't actually need the sword (I killed it literally using just the fire spell).”
graphics
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
60%
21%
The graphics in this game are widely viewed as outdated and lacking detail, often compared unfavorably to titles like Skyrim or Oblivion, with many noting they resemble older generation or mobile game visuals. However, some players appreciate the retro style and unique environments, finding the visuals acceptable given the game's indie origins and price point. Overall, while the graphics may detract for those seeking modern fidelity, they do not entirely overshadow the gameplay experience for less visually focused players.
- “The graphics are amazing for such a low priced game.”
- “The graphics and OST were done pretty well for a mobile game and some of the environments were dazzling.”
- “This was a game I used to test my graphics cards on Linux but ended up playing further; I really enjoyed the gameplay, amazing graphics, really enjoyed the vast monsters, and updated weapons, lots of interesting quests and hidden chests, and then realised I could fly—that was awesome.”
- “The quality of the game is super bad visually and all graphics from 2005.”
- “The controls are clunky, the animations stiff, the graphics extremely poor for a game made in 2013.”
- “They try to make the trailer look good, but they couldn't even pull that off, since they show the terrible graphics in the trailer.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The gameplay is generally described as simple, somewhat rough, and inconsistent, with clunky mechanics, occasional glitches, and lack of depth compared to similar RPGs like Skyrim. While combat is straightforward and occasionally enjoyable, many find the mechanics unpolished and the overall experience barebones, leading to a short and occasionally frustrating playtime. However, some players appreciate its straightforward quests and mechanics for a budget, low-expectation playthrough.
- “Decent gameplay - unlike many mobile games, this doesn't actually feel like a mobile game while played on PC.”
- “It has a great scenario, excellent gameplay, and all.”
- “As for gameplay, the controls are easy to pick up and gameplay and quests are engaging as is the storyline.”
- “While the game offers several ways to fight, the mechanics can feel inconsistent, with hit detection, enemy AI, and animation timing occasionally creating awkward encounters.”
- “The gameplay is by far the area of the game with which I have the most qualms.”
- “It's just not a very well developed game at this point in time, and many of its core mechanics are very clunky.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
60%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality, pleasantness, and atmospheric contribution to exploration and combat, often drawing comparisons to classic RPG soundtracks like Oblivion and M&M. However, it is sometimes noted as repetitive due to a limited number of tracks, with some players finding the soundtrack solid but not exceptional. Overall, the music effectively complements the game's setting without overwhelming the experience.
- “The soundtrack contributes strongly to the game's sense of place, with ambient music that underscores exploration, danger, and discovery without overwhelming the experience.”
- “The soundtrack is surprisingly high quality and pleasant to listen to.”
- “Music, sound effects, and voice acting are all done well.”
- “The soundtrack has some bangers, but there are only about 4-6 tracks, making it a bit repetitive.”
- “The music score is repetitive (probably to keep file size down) but well-done.”
- “Some soundtracks are much too loud and dramatic for their areas, while others do a good job at conveying the large, open areas.”
stability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game suffers from frequent technical issues, including bugs, glitches, visual inconsistencies, and occasional performance drops that affect stability. While some players find it fun despite these flaws, many report frustrating bugs that hinder gameplay and reduce overall polish. Stability remains a notable weakness, though not always game-breaking.
- “Technical roughness appears throughout the experience — terrain pop-in, small glitches, and occasional performance dips are not uncommon.”
- “Lots of bugs including inability to talk to certain NPCs, one quest that was bugged and unable to be completed, buggy/spammy/repetitive/bland/brainless combat, pointless flying mounts (small maps and if you fly out too far, you could end up in the uncreated zones of the map).”
- “The biggest problem for Ravensword, however, is the amount of technical glitches and overall lack of polish.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is a prominent and divisive aspect, with some players finding it excessive and tedious, while others tolerate or even enjoy moderate grinding for progression and exploration. The grind for experience and money can feel repetitive and unbalanced to some, impacting replay value and overall enjoyment. However, a few note that grinding is manageable and the game remains balanced without feeling overly grindy.
- “Game requires massive grinding to get anywhere.”
- “Enjoy the grinding fest since there is not much else to enjoy.”
- “Ravensword is generic, contains mostly empty non-detailed areas, boring fights and a lot of grinding - feels like a MMO without other players.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor largely stems from its unpolished gameplay, glitchy animations, and quirky bugs, which many players find amusing rather than frustrating. It also features funny references to Elder Scrolls and unintentionally comedic elements like awkward enemy deaths and poor voice acting. Overall, the humor arises from a charming blend of silly bugs and playful in-game moments.
- “I was chuckling to myself the whole 20-something hours I was playing this game.”
- “It has the perfect mix of unpolished gameplay, length, and charm to be more funny bad than frustrating bad.”
- “The enemy soldiers die in such a weird, funny way during the prologue that it only misses a Wilhelm scream to make it so funny that I would laugh - this way I was just giggling.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Ravensword: Shadowlands delivers a broad open-world fantasy atmosphere enhanced by its visual design and exploration elements, though its indie-level technical polish and inconsistent graphics sometimes detract from immersion. The game’s blend of fantasy and savage horror, influenced by distinct art styles, creates a unique but occasionally uneven atmospheric experience.
- “Ravensword: Shadowlands aims to deliver the kind of sweeping open-world fantasy experience often associated with much larger RPGs, and while its indie roots are always visible, it offers a surprisingly expansive and atmospheric adventure.”
- “The game’s atmosphere benefits tremendously from its visual design.”
- “Some of the monsters have a sort of 1970's art style to them, giving an atmosphere of fantasy with some savage horror.”
- “Players who prioritize technical polish may find the cracks distracting, while those who value atmosphere and exploration may be more forgiving.”
- “Graphics are a mess in some places and it really takes away from the atmosphere.”
- “Some of the monsters have a sort of 1970's art style to them giving an atmosphere of fantasy with some savage horror.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game offers around 8 hours of content but generally lacks replay value, with users citing a boring story, weak dialogue, and limited character engagement as factors that diminish the incentive to play again. Some enjoy the initial gameplay and grinding, but feel it doesn't justify multiple playthroughs.
- “Only downside is I wish there was some replay value.”
- “There isn't much replay value, but it does have a fair story and fun gameplay.”
- “It's roughly 8 hours of content but not much replay value.”
- “On a first play-through, I kind of like a little bit of grinding, whether it's for experience or for gold, but in a shorter game like this, it would kill replay value.”
- “Boring story, boring dialogue, very little voice acting and even the voice acting itself was bad, no replayability, no care for any of the characters.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers a low-emotion, straightforward experience without intense or stressful storylines, making it suitable for casual play. However, the narrative is considered boring with weak dialogue and poor voice acting, and there is little emotional engagement or character development.
- “If you just want a game that you can sit down and play on a Saturday without having to ride an emotional, stressful roller coaster (like Heavy Rain or similar), then this is nice.”
- “I could have spent more time with Ravensword, but that would take time away from exploring Morrowind's amazingly realized world, or customizing my character in Skyrim.”
- “Boring story, boring dialogue, very little voice acting, and even the voice acting itself was bad. There is no replayability and no care for any of the characters.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with frequent technical issues such as terrain pop-in, glitches, and performance drops. While it may run adequately for casual players, overall it is poorly optimized on PC, delivering subpar performance and visuals compared to higher-quality games.
- “And the game is pretty optimized for a casual audience.”
- “Technical roughness appears throughout the experience — terrain pop-in, small glitches, and occasional performance dips are not uncommon.”
- “The game itself is poorly optimized for PC, running far worse in certain areas than games of much higher quality and detail ever would, and also looks rather poorly to boot.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Monetization in mobile games is often dominated by heavy microtransactions and ads, overshadowing the earlier ambition for premium experiences. While most ports include such microtransactions, exceptions like Ravensword: Shadowlands remain rare.
- “This game is saturated with heavy microtransactions, which are very common in the smartphone marketplace.”
- “Rarely do we see a port without microtransactions; Ravensword: Shadowlands is an exception to this.”
- “From when mobile games still had lofty dreams for premium experiences before freemium and ads took over.”