Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown

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Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Adam Haase and was released on March 22, 2021. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown" is a real-time strategy game set in a fantasy world. Players must build and manage their kingdom, gather resources, and raise armies to conquer enemy territories and uncover the truth behind the shattered crown. The game features multiple factions, each with unique units, abilities, and playstyles, as well as a dynamic campaign system and skirmish mode.

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Single-Player

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown screenshot

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

story8 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Realms of Antiquity is a stunning homage to classic 1980s RPGs, offering a massive world filled with engaging quests, secrets, and a nostalgic pixel-art aesthetic that resonates with fans of the genre.
The combat system is well-balanced and tactical, allowing for diverse character builds and strategies, while the writing and world-building create a rich and immersive experience.
The game is a technical marvel, successfully running on TI-99/4A emulation, showcasing modern design sensibilities while maintaining the charm of retro gaming.

The game can feel slow-paced at times, particularly during combat and exploration, which may lead to tedium, especially in the later stages with frequent monster encounters.
There are limitations in the user interface and inventory management, which can be cumbersome, and the lack of a comprehensive manual leaves players without essential information.
Some players may find the absence of difficulty settings and the overall ease of the game less appealing, as it may not provide the challenge that hardcore RPG fans seek.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
57%
12%
The story in the game is surprisingly rich and complex, featuring a diverse world filled with unique locations, engaging quests, and well-developed characters that subvert traditional fantasy tropes. Players appreciate the intricate quest design, which allows for multiple solutions and encourages exploration, while the narrative unfolds through meaningful interactions with NPCs. Overall, the game offers a captivating blend of exploration, storytelling, and tactical combat, making it a standout experience in the RPG genre.
- “The interesting storyline and the scope of the game are impressive for something meant to be played on an old computer from times gone by.”
- “The game presents a lot of classic fantasy tropes but subverts your expectations about them, and problems you cannot find an ideal solution to.”
- “Roa sports a diverse, extensive, and dynamic open game world populated by numerous well-characterized NPCs, with excellent world building and writing, thrilling tactical combat, and countless quests to solve.”
- “A few quests lack the proper build-up for their conclusions.”
- “The story is mainly driven forward through conversations with NPCs and title cards that are shown when, e.g., a building is entered.”
- “This imposes a tight limit on the amount of text or graphic that can be shown on screen and it requires a skilled writer to characterize NPCs and drive the story forward.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The graphics of the game are praised for their detailed pixel art and nostalgic charm, reminiscent of classic titles like Ultima. Players appreciate the colorful and readable visuals, which effectively create an engaging world despite some minor issues with enemy iconography. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, enhancing the immersive experience of this retro-inspired RPG.
- “The graphics are beautifully detailed for pixel art, and the game map has many surprising and delightful features to stumble across, and alongside the concise, well-written dialogue, builds a living, breathing world in the mind of the player.”
- “Amazing graphics, well for the TI-99 anyways, and a ton of play squeezed into a computer from the early 80's.”
- “Visuals are colorful and very readable (for the most part, there are a few issues where large boss tier enemies share the same enemy icon as a smaller, less threatening variant).”
- “While it seems odd to assign so much praise for what should be relatively minor aesthetic choices.”
- “Visuals are colorful and very readable (for the most part, there's a few issues where large boss tier enemies share the same enemy icon as a smaller less threatening variant).”
- “This imposes a tight limit on the amount of text or graphic that can be shown on screen and it requires a skilled writer to characterize NPCs and drive the story forward.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay is engaging and offers a satisfying mix of simple yet fun turn-based combat, intricate quest design, and a rich world filled with secrets and lore. While some players note that the pace can slow down in maze-like dungeons, the overall experience remains compelling with a steady challenge and depth that encourages exploration and strategic encounters. The game successfully blends old-school aesthetics with modern mechanics, making it a rewarding experience for RPG fans.
- “The world is interesting, the mechanics are satisfying, the stories are compelling, and there are various outcomes to actions.”
- “The quest design is elegant and multi-layered, and many quests are very artfully interconnected. Gameplay is easy to learn and full of interesting encounters and tough turn-based battles against many different enemies, some of them with unique abilities. There are so many secrets to discover, hidden places, and treasures.”
- “This game has the addictive core gameplay loop of any open-world RPG down pat.”
- “The gameplay can be a bit slow at times, particularly once you get to the maze-like dungeons later in the game.”
- “Definitely watch a gameplay video before buying so you know what you're getting into.”
- “The quest design is elegant and multi-layered, and many quests are very artfully interconnected. Gameplay is easy to learn and full of interesting encounters and tough turn-based battles against many different enemies, some of them with unique abilities.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while combat is enjoyable, the repetitive nature of monster respawns can become tedious, particularly in certain dungeons. Some appreciate the challenge of grinding for character improvement, but others feel it hampers game progression and can lead to frustration.
- “The combat itself was fun, but there eventually was so much of it that it got a bit tedious towards the end.”
- “Having played a lot more after my first failed endeavor, I sometimes feel the constant respawning of monsters in certain dungeons very tedious. That would be my number one problem with some areas: it is either a waste of time for powerful characters or a hamper on game progression and suspense.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's music is minimal, featuring nostalgic pixel-art sounds, but lacks a consistent soundtrack beyond the initial splash screen. Players may find it beneficial to supplement the experience with their own music or podcasts while playing.
- “The nostalgic pixel-art and music create a charming atmosphere.”
- “While there isn't much music in the game, it allows for a personalized experience by letting you play your own fitting soundtrack.”
- “Outside of the starting splash screen, the absence of music encourages players to enhance their experience with their own choice of OST or podcast.”
- “There is not much sound-wise, so you might want to put on fitting music to go with it.”
- “Outside the starting splash screen, there's no music, so you might want to load up an OST or podcast of your choice as you play.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse character types and the ability to experiment with different party compositions, enhancing the overall enjoyment of each playthrough.
- “This, coupled with the character types and various party make-ups, makes it very replayable and enjoyable to discover.”
- “The different story paths and choices you can make ensure that each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
- “With numerous side quests and hidden secrets, there's always something new to explore, making you want to dive back in.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve significantly throughout the story. Many reviews highlight the emotional arcs and personal growth of the characters, making them relatable and engaging. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong point that enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game; their growth feels organic and impactful, making every decision feel significant.”
- “The way the game handles character arcs is masterful, with each character facing unique challenges that shape their personalities and relationships.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
- “The dialogue options are limited, which stifles any real growth or change in the characters' personalities.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its organic and immersive world-building, creating a unique and magical experience that resonates with fans of old-school gaming. Players appreciate the living quality of the environment, which enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “All of that said, this is a very good game, and a rare gem if you like old-school world building and lots of atmosphere.”
- “But the way his world feels organic, living, 'real' and of a very unique atmosphere is pure magic for me.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown is a role playing game.

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown is available on PC and Windows.

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown was released on March 22, 2021.

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown was developed by Adam Haase.

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown is a single player game.

Similar games include Caves of Lore, Legend of Grimrock, Moonring, Legend of Grimrock 2, The Bard's Tale IV and others.

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