Reign of Darkness

About

Reign of Darkness is a multiplayer casual role playing game. It was developed by Unorthodox Studio and was released on November 20, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Reign of Darkness still very much being developed but currently is a "Tab Target", "Theory-Crafting", "Dungeon Runner", and Online Role Playing Game. Being based on classic D&D principles & concepts, where every attack is a virtual roll of the dice, players can "Build" or...

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 476 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding32 negative mentions

The game has a lot of potential and offers a unique class and skill system that allows for deep customization.
The community is friendly and helpful, providing a supportive environment for new players.
The game captures the old-school MMORPG feel, reminiscent of titles like Everquest and Diablo.

The game has been abandoned by the developer, leading to a lack of updates and a dead player base.
There are significant bugs and performance issues, making the game unplayable for some users.
The content is sparse, with limited areas to explore and quests that do not provide clear guidance.

story
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
12%
The story in "Reign of Darkness" is widely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players finding the quests dull, unoriginal, and poorly executed. While some reviewers note the potential for future development and appreciate the developers' involvement, the current state of the narrative leaves much to be desired, with minimal lore and uninspiring dialogue. Overall, the absence of a compelling storyline significantly detracts from the game's appeal and lasting impact.
- “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
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the character models and overall aesthetic, particularly for a solo-developed project using Unity. While some find the visuals charming and reminiscent of old-school MMOs, others criticize them as outdated and prone to glitches, especially during combat. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate, with potential for improvement in settings and optimization.
- “The graphics are impressive for the fact one man did all of this.”
- “The visuals at this early state of development are very nice.”
- “The graphics are crystal clear and beautiful.”
- “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.”
- “But without those horrendous graphics!”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The gameplay of "Reign of Darkness" is marred by a heavy reliance on pay-to-win mechanics and a lack of originality, leading to a frustrating experience for players seeking a genuine RPG. While the ability to modify classes and the Diablo-style potion mechanics are praised, the overall design feels derivative and the server connectivity issues further detract from enjoyment. Despite some interesting mechanics and potential for improvement, many players find the game difficult to recommend due to its grind and monetization strategies.
- “The ability to modify your class and stats at any given point is a very good mechanic.”
- “Yes, the gameplay is that good.”
- “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 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.”
- “It was present in the game half a year ago and apparently it's still there, so I find it difficult to believe that it is not a deliberate setup made just to annoy players during the first couple of hours of gameplay and encourage them to purchase shop mounts.”
- “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
32 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, which offers a nostalgic experience, others find it overwhelming and less rewarding. Overall, the game provides a mix of fun and frustration, with a strong emphasis on solo and group grinding, alongside crafting elements that can be complex to navigate.
- “Note: 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 suck category.”
- “Only made it to level 7ish which was like 5 minutes of grinding before I had enough.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and control issues that hinder gameplay, including freezing and problems completing quests. While some players acknowledge that it is in early access and expect typical alpha-stage issues, many express frustration over the game's current state, describing it as a "buggy mess." Despite these challenges, there is a sense of potential for improvement if the developers address these stability concerns.
- “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
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its dark and immersive qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo, with charming graphics and a sense of community. However, some players note issues with stuttering and a lack of unique narrative, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many recommend exploring specific areas, like dungeon 4, to fully appreciate the impressive 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.”
- “Dark Diablo-like atmosphere (like old school Diablo, before they wrecked it with 3)”
- “Dark Diablo-like atmosphere (like old school Diablo, before they wrecked it with 3)”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The monetization model of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling that the $20 price tag is not justified. While the in-game microtransactions are not considered egregious or pay-to-win, concerns about the game's state and monetization practices can lead to bans for those who voice their opinions. Overall, the monetization approach appears to be a contentious issue among players.
- “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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The optimization of the game is mixed; while some users praise its performance as stable with no crashes or freezing, others report significant lag during battles that can negatively impact gameplay. Overall, it appears to be well-optimized for an early access title, but issues remain that could affect player experience.
- “Very optimized for an early access game.”
- “Performance-wise, no crashing, no freezing, generally pretty good.”
- “Overall optimization is solid, providing a smooth experience during gameplay.”
- “Graphics or overall optimization... during the battles, it produces lags that may result in losing.”
- “Terrible optimization.”
- “Performance wise, no crashing, no freezing, generally pretty good.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The music in the game is described as ominous and fitting for its dark, brooding atmosphere, particularly in the context of the black plague setting. It complements the gritty art design and enhances the overall immersive experience, creating a unique and haunting ambiance throughout the game.
- “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.”
- “It's huge, and has an ominous music track.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users suggest that emotional factors can significantly impact the sharing of information, as seen in instances where individuals may withhold details due to their emotional state. This highlights the interplay between emotions and communication in gaming contexts.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently highlight the game's exceptional replayability, emphasizing that it offers a wealth of content and experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “They weren't kidding when people claim this game has so much replayability.”
- “They weren't kidding when people claim this game has so much replayability.”