Realm of the Mad God
- February 20, 2012
- Wild Shadow Studios
- 150h median play time
An anarchic lo-fi MMO with a refreshing disregard for your sanity. Unrepentantly simplistic and fun.
Get on SteamRealm of the Mad God is a historical 2-player, massively multiplayer role-playing game with a co-op twist. Battling through the realm of the Mad God, Oryx, players will discover a dozen classes and hundreds of items in a retro 8-bit style world. Though easy to play, Realm offers a challenging experience that is difficult to master.
Mac OS
PC
Web Browser
Windows
Reviews
- gameplay1,143 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Realm of the Mad God" is characterized by its fast-paced, bullet-hell mechanics combined with MMO elements, creating an addictive and challenging experience. Players engage in cooperative dungeon crawling, facing permadeath that adds a high-stakes thrill to the gameplay loop, though many find the grind for loot and levels repetitive. While the simple mechanics and pixel art style appeal to some, others criticize the lack of depth and the prevalence of pay-to-win elements that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The core gameplay revolves around slaying hordes of enemies, leveling up, and collecting loot in a shared world teeming with other players.”
“Its blend of bullet hell action, MMO mechanics, and permadeath creates a uniquely rewarding gameplay loop.”
“The game's vibrant pixel art style and fast-paced gameplay create an engaging and nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic arcade games.”
“Although combat is very simple, there are many mechanics that are not very well explained without consulting a guide or the wiki, such as the fame indicator that levels up every 2000 exp.”
“Despite its diverse classes and permadeath mechanic adding a layer of challenge, the repetitive nature of grinding for loot and leveling becomes tiresome quickly.”
“The gameplay loop is bare bones and gets boring real quick, enjoy this rocket ship.”
- grinding756 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Realm of the Mad God" is a central theme that players find both rewarding and frustrating. Many enjoy the thrill of grinding for rare items and maxing out character stats, often describing it as addictive and satisfying, especially when playing with friends. However, the game's permadeath mechanic and frequent disconnects can lead to significant setbacks, making the grinding feel tedious and sometimes unrewarding, particularly for those who prefer a more casual gaming experience. Overall, while the grind can be enjoyable, it often requires a substantial time investment and can be exacerbated by the game's pay-to-win elements.
“Much fun, surprisingly not very grindy :>”
“Progression was very skill based and not too grindy, with good players being able to gear up a new character properly in under 30 minutes and then able to start the more difficult dungeons.”
“Cool fast and fun game, no grinding for level ups.”
“The grind is not only tedious but also lacks any sense of reward.”
“The drop rates for valuable items are abysmal, forcing players into an endless loop of mindless farming with little payoff.”
“Despite its diverse classes and permadeath mechanic adding a layer of challenge, the repetitive nature of grinding for loot and leveling becomes tiresome quickly.”
- graphics634 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Realm of the Mad God Exalt" are characterized by a charming and nostalgic pixel art style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics. While some players appreciate the simplicity and vibrant colors, others criticize the graphics as outdated and lacking detail, often comparing them unfavorably to modern titles. Overall, the visuals are seen as a defining feature that complements the game's fast-paced, bullet-hell gameplay, though opinions vary widely on their quality and appeal.
“The pixel art style is simple yet vibrant, bringing the world to life with colorful characters, flashy attacks, and menacing bosses.”
“The game's vibrant pixel art style and fast-paced gameplay create an engaging and nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic arcade games.”
“The colorful and vibrant visuals pay homage to classic arcade games, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that is charming and visually appealing.”
“Everything about the music and visuals gave me an actual headache.”
“You'd think after ten years they'd try and make things look a little bit better, but it's like they're proud of how lazy they can get with the graphics.”
“The graphics are the worst I've ever seen since the days of Commodore 64.”
- monetization430 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 39 % negative mentions
The monetization in "Realm of the Mad God" has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as predatory and a blatant cash grab. While the game is free-to-play and allows for progression without spending money, the overwhelming presence of microtransactions—often for essential features like additional character slots and inventory space—creates a frustrating experience. Players report that the game feels more like a mobile title, with constant advertisements and bots spamming chat, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“Microtransactions are mostly cosmetic or convenience-based (like extra storage space).”
“While the game is usually putting forth good content and a lot of free stuff, the game has some absurd microtransactions, nothing gatekeeping you from content, it's more like: 'create a problem to sell the solution' (vault space for example).”
“Despite the abundance of microtransactions, you can enjoy the game without spending a single cent like I did and since there is no PvP aspect, you won't be at a disadvantage compared to other players.”
“The in-game purchases are horrific, but are mostly optional, and the game is free, at the very least.”
“Complete garbage cash grab, literally worse than a mobile game.”
“The game is a giant cash grab cleverly disguised as a permadeath roguelike adventure - as everything that is really good or needed is locked beyond a great paywall.”
- story329 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players noting that it primarily revolves around repetitive quests to kill monsters without a substantial narrative. While some mention minor lore elements and a basic premise involving defeating a deity, the overall consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over storytelling, resulting in a grind-heavy experience with little to no engaging plot. Players seeking a rich narrative or structured quests may find the game lacking in this regard.
“Joshua Graham starts out as a young ambitious missionary, but becomes a ruthless and brutal man as he is swept up in Caesar's rise to power.”
“From interactions with other players to fighting with others against powerful bosses and getting rare loot from them, Realm of the Mad God creates an enacted storytelling for the character you made and continues that story until that character dies and you have to start a new one again.”
“The immense world with tons of quests and outlandish boss battles will have gamers captivated for months.”
“There's no depth, no storyline worth mentioning—just a mind-numbing grind that makes watching paint dry seem like a thrilling activity.”
“There’s absolutely no plot, no story, just grinding and looting.”
“The game is nearly unplayable until you get some vault unlocks and an extra character slot, but this can be done for free by doing the beginner quests and made better by logging in every day in a month.”
- music263 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature, often leading them to mute it in favor of their own playlists. While some appreciate the catchy and nostalgic qualities of the soundtrack, others criticize the lack of variety and the overwhelming loop of a single track, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the music is still seen as a charming aspect by some, contributing to the game's retro vibe.
“The retro-inspired soundtrack perfectly complements the fast-paced gameplay.”
“The upbeat music and sound effects keep you energized during even the most intense battles, while the ominous tones during boss fights crank up the tension.”
“The soundtrack is awesome and really satisfying.”
“Everything about the music and visuals gave me an actual headache.”
“The music repeats over and over again to the point I'd rather there be none.”
“The same damn song loops over and over and over again and never stops.”
- humor176 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its quirky characters, pop culture references, and hilarious gameplay moments, particularly when playing with friends. Many reviews note that the game's comedic elements contribute to its addictive nature, making it a fun experience despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics and server issues. Overall, the community's sense of humor and the game's lighthearted tone create an entertaining atmosphere, though some players express concerns about the presence of toxic behavior within the player base.
“This game is hilarious and has a high skill ceiling; permadeath makes it great 9/10.”
“The game is filled with pop culture references, quirky characters, and humorous dialogue.”
“I've spent so much time laughing and having fun running dungeons and messing around.”
“Pew pew, ah death, not funny.”
“The lag is real and makes the game not funny anymore.”
“They hold no respect for other people, they troll, they spew unfunny and overused memes, and they are generally uptight pretentious assholes.”
- stability158 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and server issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users express frustration over frequent crashes, login problems, and unresponsive interfaces, often leading to lost progress and a frustrating experience. While some acknowledge that the game can be enjoyable despite these issues, the overall sentiment is that the game's stability needs substantial improvement to enhance playability.
“The game runs great and is leagues better than the old realm.”
“There are no glitches that I have found.”
“They fixed the launcher captcha system, so it isn't as buggy, and I'm now able to launch the game.”
“Game is so buggy it's unbelievable they have the nerve to ask for money, especially when said bugs forbid me from playing the damned game.”
“There are constant bugs and glitches that cause all kinds of losses on hard work.”
“The game is very fun and addicting, but it is very buggy and you'll often ragequit because some bugs are game-breaking or very annoying.”
- replayability103 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
"Realm of the Mad God" is widely praised for its immense replayability, driven by diverse character classes, permadeath mechanics, and a constantly evolving gameplay experience. Players appreciate the game's fast-paced action and the thrill of experimenting with different playstyles, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging. However, some users note that replay value can diminish after unlocking several classes or due to perceived pay-to-win elements, leading to mixed opinions on long-term engagement.
“If you’re looking for something intense, cooperative, and endlessly replayable, this game delivers in spades.”
“Each class has distinct abilities and stats, encouraging experimentation and offering endless replayability.”
“Realm of the Mad God offers an engaging and endlessly replayable experience that is unrivaled in the online multiplayer bullet hell genre.”
“Lack of replay value, pay to win elements, limited design space, unsatisfying progression.”
“I have been sucked into this game for so many hours due to the sheer replayability this game has, but recently it has become more of a blatant cash grab than an actual enjoyable game.”
“This game is decent for what it is, but holds little to no replay value after your first successful level 20+ run.”
- optimization82 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements in performance and stability since the transition to a new engine, while others continue to experience issues such as lag, stuttering, and server instability. Many users highlight that the game runs better on high-end systems, but still suffers from optimization problems, particularly during intense gameplay scenarios. Overall, while there are advancements, persistent performance issues remain a concern for a portion of the player base.
“Exalt brings much-needed improvements over the original game, including a more stable engine, better performance, and modernized visuals.”
“The game runs smoothly even on low-end devices, and if you have a high-end device, you can enjoy beautiful 8-bit retro-like effects.”
“They've ported the entire game to Unity, vastly improving the performance and quality of life of many aspects of the game.”
“Expect frequent disconnects and performance decrease moments on a game where one wrong move can cost you hundreds of hours of work.”
“Outside of this, the game has incredibly bad optimization.”
“The servers are apparently not optimized, and the client-server networking model is naive and arcane.”
- emotional57 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a profound sense of attachment and loss, with many players expressing feelings of heartbreak and despair when their characters die permanently after significant investment. This emotional rollercoaster creates a compelling yet painful addiction, drawing players back despite the anguish it causes. Overall, the game elicits strong emotional responses, ranging from joy in achievements to deep sorrow in losses, making it a uniquely impactful experience.
“While this is a good basis, the emotional pain you feel when playing this game is immeasurable, leading to some sort of addiction while trying to prove to yourself that you can in fact get better and better loot while staying in the same spot progression-wise, creating a massive addiction.”
“The game is fun and addicting, but the permadeath is heartbreaking.”
“Seeing your character die permanently after all that work you put into it can be heartbreaking, but seeing its successor surpass it feels extremely rewarding.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its vibrant pixel art and nostalgic homage to classic arcade games, creating an engaging and visually appealing experience. While some players appreciate the lively and jovial ambiance, others feel that the current atmosphere lacks the depth and complexity of earlier versions, particularly in terms of music and environmental transitions. Overall, the game offers a mix of retro charm and social gaming elements, though opinions vary on its ability to fully capture a compelling atmosphere.
“The game's vibrant pixel art style and fast-paced gameplay create an engaging and nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic arcade games.”
“The colorful and vibrant visuals pay homage to classic arcade games, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that is charming and visually appealing.”
“A fantasy, Lord of the Rings atmosphere really brings this game to life.”
“Rotmg has never been more complex than this, but the earlier years had an atmosphere that the game does not have today.”
“If you want to experience retro atmosphere, play the originals... I immediately uninstalled this crap!”
“It has the atmosphere of an old arcade game, even though it's an MMORPG.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is perceived as a slow and grindy process, which may frustrate some players. However, it is complemented by stunning graphics, a compelling story, and exceptional character designs that enhance the overall experience. Despite the challenges posed by advertising and micro-transactions, the unique gameplay and art style help maintain player engagement.
“The unique gameplay and art style, along with the character design, is what truly holds this game together.”
“It has amazing graphics, an incredible story, mind-blowing gameplay, and the best character designs with stunning sprites for every NPC and class.”
“Character development can feel grindy at times and is a slow process.”
“The unique gameplay and art style, along with character design, are what truly hold this game together; otherwise, the advertising spamming, insane microtransactions, and on-and-off lag would ruin it all.”
