REKA

About

REKA is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Emberstorm Entertainment and was released on September 12, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Reka" is a single-player exploration game with building and crafting elements, where you play as an apprentice to Baba Jaga, learning witchcraft and customizing your own chicken-legged cottage. The game features a compelling story, atmospheric graphics, and an engaging soundtrack, but suffers from optimization issues, grinding, and bugs. In this enchanting journey, you'll discover a diverse world, solve quests, forage for ingredients, and uncover secrets to harness the power of nature and spirits.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,839 reviews

story244 positive mentions

stability178 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and atmosphere that captures the essence of Slavic folklore.
Engaging building mechanics that allow for extensive customization of the chicken-legged hut.
Charming quests and characters that add depth to the gameplay experience.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, including game-breaking issues.
Performance optimization is poor, leading to lag and crashes even on high-end systems.
Limited content currently available, with repetitive quests and a short main storyline.

story
1,023 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The game's story is currently limited, with only a few hours of content available, primarily consisting of two main chapters before transitioning into sandbox mode. Players appreciate the intriguing narrative and the incorporation of Slavic folklore, but many express a desire for more depth and variety in quests, as well as improvements to quest tracking and bug fixes. Overall, while the story shows promise and is engaging, it feels incomplete at this stage of early access, leaving players eager for future updates and expansions.
- “The story and quests are interesting, and the character dialogue is entertaining.”
- “I cried at some points as the music and art style bring the storytelling to life in a way that feels magical all on its own.”
- “The atmosphere and ambiance are unique, the music is beautiful, and the story is spooky—I immediately fell in love with the game.”
- “The story... still barely exists, and it seems like the developers have fallen into the trap of just throwing more decorative items into the game rather than actually building the storyline. I fear that is how it will stay until people get fed up and they haphazardly throw a storyline together to call it a finished game.”
- “The main story is not currently finished, and it feels like it ends abruptly after just a couple of quests, leaving players wanting more.”
- “The story portion of the current game is fairly short, but more content is planned in future updates, which the game makes clear once you complete the story.”
graphics
372 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the charming art style and cozy atmosphere that evoke a whimsical, folklore-inspired aesthetic. However, numerous reports highlight performance issues, including graphical glitches, inconsistent frame rates, and optimization problems, which detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are often described as beautiful and fitting for the game's theme, there is a consensus that further refinement and bug fixes are needed to enhance the graphical quality.
- “The graphics are stunning, the story is great, and the cozy/spooky vibes are immaculate.”
- “Beautiful art style, fun gameplay, based in real folklore.”
- “The art style is beautiful and the little bits of myth and legends of Baba Yaga are interesting and well presented.”
- “There are still basic bugs, things like floating objects that shouldn't be floating, graphical glitches, etc. that are still prevalent when they should have been a priority to fix.”
- “The graphics are very barebones even at the highest settings, and this should not struggle to run on a 3080+i5 13600k.”
- “The graphics are awkwardly blocky and out of focus in areas.”
gameplay
273 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The gameplay of Reka is characterized by a cozy atmosphere and a focus on building and decorating mechanics, which many players find enjoyable despite some clunky and unintuitive aspects. While the game offers a unique aesthetic and engaging mechanics, it is still in early access, leading to various bugs and optimization issues that can detract from the experience. Overall, players appreciate the potential for creativity and exploration, but many recommend waiting for further updates to address gameplay stability and content depth.
- “Really relaxing game with a unique gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive and cozy, with simple mechanics for gathering, questing, and decorating, but it’s the atmosphere that really makes Reka special.”
- “Beautiful game dripping with style, fulfilling build system with oodles of decorative pieces to place, and fun gameplay loop of exploration and questing.”
- “The building mechanics are the least intuitive I've ever seen and a complete pain to deal with.”
- “Unfortunately, the mechanics are off whether you're using a mouse/keyboard or controller.”
- “I really like the premise of this game but unfortunately I'm convinced it will never leave 'early access.' Building your home is clunky and awkward, quests bug out constantly, it never saves my gameplay properly, and there are times when I enter a new area and the entire game just crashes.”
atmosphere
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The atmosphere of Reka is widely praised for its enchanting blend of cozy and slightly spooky elements, drawing heavily from Slavic folklore and witchcraft themes. Players appreciate the game's stunning visuals, immersive soundtracks, and the overall aesthetic that evokes a sense of mystery and magic, making it a perfect fit for those who enjoy atmospheric exploration and storytelling. Despite some minor technical issues, the game's rich ambiance and engaging environment create a captivating experience that resonates with many players.
- “The atmosphere is so aesthetic and mythical, really evokes curiosity for developing the world!”
- “Reka is a cozy atmospheric game that focuses on discovery, story, gathering, decorating, and flavor-filled side quests.”
- “The atmosphere is a perfect blend of slightly spooky but immensely cozy.”
- “At times, Reka creates an atmosphere that feels bleak, cold, and sometimes a little spooky.”
- “Even if it does contribute to the vibe of the game, sadly the way it's done, with the foggy atmosphere, makes things blurry or completely obscured if not in the light.”
- “The atmosphere is there, but the actual substance of the game is not.”
stability
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including rendering issues, quest-related problems, and visual anomalies, which significantly impact gameplay. While many players acknowledge these issues as typical for an early access title, they express hope for future updates and improvements. Despite the instability, some users still find enjoyment in the game, citing its potential and charm, though they recommend waiting for a more polished version before diving in.
- “While it's not bug-free and has quite limited content due to early access, it does many things just right.”
- “However, the game has a lot of potential, and I'm hoping that when I come back to it again, we will have a more bug-free game to enjoy.”
- “The game is buggy, of course, it's early access, but where it really lacks polish is in the maps.”
- “I have found there to be many visual glitches, and even more quest-related issues (such as missing or inaccessible dialogue, people or animals not even appearing, floating items, etc.) that make sections of the game impossible to complete.”
- “Right now, this game is far too buggy (quests not triggering, not updating, getting stuck...) and the visual bugs also break the game (items appearing below the terrain, inaccessible).”
music
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in Reka is widely praised for its enchanting and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the game's unique ambiance and storytelling. Players describe the soundtrack as beautiful, haunting, and relaxing, perfectly complementing the visuals and gameplay. While some note occasional silence during gameplay, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “I cried at some points as the music and art style bring the storytelling to life in a way that feels magical all on its own.”
- “The atmosphere and ambiance are unique, the music is beautiful, and the story is spooky—I immediately fell in love with the game.”
- “The music is beautiful, the art design is gorgeous, and the atmosphere is perfect.”
- “Game is definitely too silent; background music gets boring really fast.”
- “I didn't expect it to have voices yet or variations in the characters outside of baba, so that's fine, but barely any music occurred, barely any sound effects occurred, wild glitches happened numerous times, and the game stops after you have been to two places.”
- “It felt like there was a lot of 'dead air' in that there's a lot of the game that just doesn't have music and is really very quiet, for a game that takes place outside in nature.”
optimization
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
58%
31%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some updates have improved stability for a few users, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization work to enhance playability and address the numerous bugs. Overall, players express hope that future patches will rectify these issues, but currently, the game's performance is a major drawback.
- “So many new additions as well as decent optimization since launch (prev. 30-40fps @ 720/1080p low on both a RTX 2060 & Arc B580) and I am so excited to finally have a stable 60fps on high!”
- “The game itself is great but it was the bugs and performance that ruined it, now that it is being addressed, there's not really anything to complain about.”
- “Optimization is a concern but the developers are aware and working on improving it.”
- “The premise is interesting, the setting and gameplay loop work well, but the whole game is terribly unoptimized and even on the lowest settings it is constantly very noticeably stuttering when performing any action.”
- “Unfortunately, optimization is not the strong point of this game and on my TUF Gaming F15 Intel i9 laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, the temperature rises to 86 degrees, although in other games the temperature does not exceed 75.”
- “I'm not gonna lie, the game is really interesting and the bit that I played was fun, but the game is so poorly optimized at the moment that on the lowest settings my PC only manages to get 20 to 30 fps, which is 20 lower than I get on Cyberpunk with no performance-enhancing mods.”
grinding
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
8%
85%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players appreciating the cozy exploration and questing elements that feel less tedious, while others find certain mechanics, particularly in building and resource gathering, to be clunky and grindy. Many enjoy the unique atmosphere and art style, but express frustration with limitations on resource management and repetitive tasks that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a refreshing alternative to traditional farming sims, though it may not satisfy those seeking extensive grinding and leveling options.
- “Not tedious, and it doesn't corner you into a path as far as I've seen.”
- “No grinding.”
- “I'm usually not a huge fan of games where you get to build your base and whatnot because I'm not very creative, but this was a lot of fun building a house and it's not grindy at all, which is nice.”
- “If you prefer games with options for leveling, grinding, and lots of quests and NPCs to keep you company, this might not be for you.”
- “Limited ingredients, recipes, and building mechanics are largely superficial without depth, and gameplay complexity is limited and grindy without much benefit except maybe for wood.”
- “The building options are endless, but the actual building functions are frustrating and tedious.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply resonant, often describing it as a magical experience that evokes nostalgia and warmth through its music, art style, and storytelling. The game successfully combines cozy, witchy themes with heartfelt quests, allowing players to connect with their personal histories and cultural backgrounds, creating a unique blend of comfort and emotional depth. Overall, it offers a heartwarming adventure that invites players to embrace nature and the simple joys of life, making it a standout choice for those seeking a wholesome gaming experience.
- “I cried at some points as the music and art style bring the storytelling to life in a way that feels magical all on its own.”
- “Unlike action-heavy games, reka invites players to slow down, embrace nature, and enjoy the magic of simple living, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a cozy, heartwarming adventure.”
- “On a more personal level, it felt heartwarming to find some decorations very reminiscent of what I saw in my great grandparents' house while growing up.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lightheartedness and quirky charm, often drawing from Slavic and Baltic cultural elements. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and amusing glitches, which add to the overall cozy and entertaining experience. The game's mix of seriousness and playful moments, along with its unique characters, contributes to a delightful atmosphere that enhances exploration and interaction.
- “So much fun and such a cool world to explore, I love the dialogue and humor; the perfect cozy game that's not another farming sim.”
- “Reka is a witch in a blend of seriousness and lighthearted humor with a touch of the occult and horror thrown in.”
- “I had an admittedly humorous experience as well where I went to meet a woman in the woods at the close of a quest and there were two of her, her combined appendages making her look as if she may have had a harrowing encounter with Baba Yaga on the way to the rendezvous.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
Overall, character development in the game is praised for its strong design and artistic direction, particularly with unique characters like Baba Yaga. However, players express a desire for more customization options, such as additional costumes and tattoos, and note some inconsistencies in the character design that detract from the experience. While the atmosphere and graphics are generally well-received, there are some bugs and awkward elements that impact the overall impression.
- “The art direction and character design is great, and I'll be really happy when you can change costumes in-game.”
- “Baba Yaga's character design and dialogue is great - love an old sassy witch.”
- “It is not perfect, there are bugs, and building can be a little awkward... however, Reka is incredibly atmospheric; with beautiful graphics, music, character design, world design, writing, lighting, and physics.”
- “I understand that the graphics are meant to resemble a fairy tale, but certain aspects, like the character design, just feel off.”
- “The character design (though limited for now) would benefit from more options, such as weight variations for different body types.”
- “At the character design, it would be nice to be able to attach more than one tattoo.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Reviewers express a desire for improved replayability, contingent on future updates that enhance the game's playability. Many are optimistic that as the game evolves, their experience and willingness to replay it will also improve.
- “Would add some replayability to the game too.”
- “Excited to see how my opinion changes when the game is in a bit more playable state.”
- “Hopefully, there continue to be updates to make it more playable!”
- “Might change the review later once the game is in a more playable state.”
- “Would add some replayability to the game as well.”
- “Hopefully, there will continue to be updates to make it more playable!”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, requiring significant patience to unlock advertised designs, which can be frustrating for players aiming for more complex creations.
- “Avoid the cash grab.”
- “Needless to say, this game is a cash grab.”
- “If you plan on making simple designs, it's not that frustrating, but to get to the designs advertised in the ads, you must be armed with a lot of patience.”