Reign of Darkness

About

In "Reign of Darkness" , the Black Plague of 1348 AD is revealed to be a manifestation of dark forces. Forced to seek power, commoners turn to the dark arts and summoned entities. The game follows the story of three Magi who have successfully harnessed the power of evocation, leading to a reckoning with the ruling powers. This narrative exploration game delves into a world of magic, power, and the consequences of challenging the status quo.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 238 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

The game has a unique class and skill system that allows for deep customization and theory crafting.
The community is friendly and helpful, providing a supportive environment for new players.
Despite being in early access, the game is relatively stable and offers a nostalgic old-school MMORPG experience.

The game has been criticized for being abandoned and lacking updates, leading to a dead player base.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, including issues with quests and character movement.
The game lacks content and feels incomplete, with many players expressing disappointment over the limited world and repetitive gameplay.

story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
12%
The story aspect of "Reign of Darkness" has been widely criticized for its lack of engaging and original storytelling, with many players finding the quests dull, uninteresting, and poorly executed. While some users appreciate the developers' involvement and potential for future content, the current state of the narrative leaves much to be desired, with minimal lore and a failure to create an immersive experience. Overall, the game struggles to deliver a compelling story that would elevate it beyond mediocrity.
- “Working and actually quite good, questline: there's a story here and it's going to be told.”
- “I was super excited upon seeing this game, it sounds interesting and the story behind it piques my interest.”
- “Putting aside the quirks and glitches due to the current state of the game, I find Reign of Darkness has the potential to be a fulfilling RPG should the story and content continue to be developed.”
- “The quests are dull, unoriginal, and lazy, with the dialogue for them being the most bland and uninteresting I've ever come across in an MMO.”
- “These quests tell no story and seem to be there just to be there so they can advertise 'many quests' when in reality there are no more than 35 lackluster/boring quests in general.”
- “Lore and story are nowhere in sight and tell no actual story as of right now.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the character models and visual aesthetics, especially considering it was developed by a single individual. While some praise the charming old-school style and customization options, others criticize the outdated visuals and performance issues during battles. Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the graphics are adequate and contribute positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The graphics are impressive for the fact one man did all of this.”
- “Nice graphics: even for Unity, the graphics are well done.”
- “The visuals in here are leagues above what I usually play, and that alone is pretty satisfying.”
- “Graphics or overall optimization... during the battles, it produces lags that may result in losing.”
- “The controls were wonky, auto attacks couldn't decide between ranged or melee, graphics are outdated, mobs were glitchy and buggy.”
- “Granted, the graphics here aren't anything special, but it's... adequate, if you want to be slightly generous.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The gameplay of "Reign of Darkness" is marred by its heavy reliance on pay-to-win mechanics and a lack of originality, leading to a frustrating experience for players seeking a true RPG adventure. While the ability to modify classes and attributes offers some depth, the overall design feels derivative and is compounded by server connectivity issues that hinder access to the game. Despite some interesting mechanics and a supportive community, the gameplay loop primarily revolves around repetitive dungeon runs, leaving many players disappointed.
- “The ability to modify your class and stats at any given point is a very good mechanic.”
- “You have a theory crafter's delight of open point allocation in skills and attributes, and a refreshingly simple Diablo-style health/mana potion mechanic.”
- “The real meat of the gameplay loop are the 3 dungeons which you do in order.”
- “One of the most disheartening aspects of Reign of Darkness is its reliance on pay-to-win mechanics.”
- “The lack of originality in both its gameplay mechanics and its overall design leaves players feeling like they're experiencing a watered-down version of a game they've played before.”
- “Still, with the amount of grind it requires, it feels like the whole mechanic was placed in the game just to have a poorly designed excuse.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is reminiscent of older MMOs, often described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in dungeon settings. While some players appreciate the challenge and the lack of hand-holding, others find it overwhelming, with leveling feeling slow despite some fast progression reports. Overall, the experience is mixed, with a nostalgic appeal for those who enjoy classic grinding but may deter players seeking a more streamlined approach.
- “This was a dungeon grind, which probably is why it felt super tedious and not so rewarding at the end of it.”
- “It's never going to be EverQuest or WoW, except in the grindy category.”
- “Only made it to level 7, which was like 5 minutes of grinding before I had enough.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is currently a significant issue, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and freezing that hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge that it is in early access and expect typical alpha issues, many express frustration over the extent of the problems, which can prevent them from completing quests. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," though there is hope for improvement as development continues.
- “I would really like to give this game a positive review, but at the moment it is way too buggy. I couldn't play for more than a couple of minutes at a time before it would freeze up, and I would have to close and relaunch the game.”
- “As it stands, this is an awfully buggy mess of a game.”
- “An absolute buggy mess.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
30%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its charm and dark, immersive qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo. However, some players feel it lacks uniqueness and suffers from technical issues that detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of impressive world design and a supportive community contributes positively to the game's ambiance.
- “I highly recommend running through dungeon 4 (if you can find it!) to check out the really impressive atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere, outstanding spell design, and a friendly community.”
- “The graphics are very charming with a nice darkish atmosphere.”
- “The dark, Diablo-like atmosphere reminds me of the old school Diablo, before they ruined it with the third installment.”
- “The game fails to create an immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
- “Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The monetization model of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with some players feeling that the $20 price tag is unjustified. Concerns about the monetization approach can lead to bans for voicing opinions, and while microtransactions exist, they are not considered overly aggressive or pay-to-win by all players. However, the overall sentiment suggests dissatisfaction with the game's monetization practices.
- “The in-game microtransactions aren't egregious in price and don't make a bit of difference as far as pay to win.”
- “Cash grab, not worth the 20 bucks in my opinion.”
- “Here's another warning to anyone thinking of buying this game - voicing your concerns about the game state, their monetization model, or multiple problems with it will get you banned no matter how polite you are or how justified your concerns are.”
- “It is still very rough with in-game microtransactions.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some users report good performance with no crashes or freezing, others experience significant lag during battles that can impact gameplay. This suggests that while the game shows promise in its early access state, further improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience.
- “1) Very optimized for an early access game.”
- “Performance-wise, no crashing, no freezing, generally pretty good.”
- “Graphics and overall optimization are crucial; during battles, lags can result in losing.”
- “Graphics and overall optimization during battles produce lags that may result in losing.”
- “Terrible optimization.”
- “Very optimized for an early access game.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The music in the game is characterized by a dark and ominous ambiance that complements the gritty art design and the bleak setting of the black plague. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, creating a brooding virtual world that immerses players in its unique and foreboding environment.
- “The music, grounded gritty art design, and the depressing setting of the Black Plague, makes for a dark and brooding virtual world.”
- “World design is a different flavor than most; it's a dark and ominous ambience with music to suit, at least as far as I've explored in the first zone, which is aptly named the Black Moor.”
- “The music, grounded in gritty art design, and the depressing setting of the Black Plague, makes for a dark and brooding virtual world.”
- “World design is a different flavor than most; it's a dark and ominous ambiance with music to suit, at least as far as I've explored in the first zone, which is aptly named the Black Moor.”
- “It's huge and has an ominous music track.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the impact it has on players, with some feeling deeply affected to the point of being unable to provide necessary information. This suggests that the game evokes strong feelings that can influence players' actions and responses.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players consistently highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting that it offers a wealth of content and varied experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many feel that the game's design and mechanics keep it fresh and engaging, making it a title worth revisiting.
- “They weren't kidding when people claim this game has so much replayability.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”