REKA

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 764 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
REKA Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 764 reviews
story118 positive mentions
optimization13 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful art style and enchanting atmosphere, immersing players in a cozy, witchy world.
  • The building mechanics allow for extensive customization of the chicken hut, making it fun to decorate and personalize.
  • The incorporation of Slavic folklore and mythology adds depth to the story and quests, making the gameplay engaging.
  • The game currently has limited content, with only a few hours of story gameplay before transitioning to sandbox mode.
  • There are several bugs and performance issues, including crashes and graphical glitches, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
  • The user interface and building mechanics can feel clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and construction frustrating at times.
  • story474 mentions

    The story in this early access game is described as charming and engaging, drawing on Slavic folklore and featuring a cozy atmosphere. However, many players note that the current content is quite limited, with only a couple of chapters available that can be completed in a few hours, leading to a transition into sandbox mode where quests become repetitive. Despite the short storyline, players express excitement for future updates and expansions, appreciating the potential for deeper narrative and exploration.

    • “The story is great and I can't wait for more!”
    • “The lore and story are wonderful.”
    • “The story feels very moody and calming, and very charming.”
    • “The story of the game is really short, even for an early access game. The game is focused almost exclusively on building the house and secondary quests that are often repetitive. I find that there is little magic in the game, limited to some purification rituals or controlling crows to take objects. I hope that this will be improved in the future.”
    • “The game has potential, but the amount of story content is so incredibly limited at this point that it feels more like a demo than a game close to being ready for release.”
    • “I was pretty shocked to reach the end of the game so quickly (less than 6 hours), and that was with hunting down every side quest and food delivery mission plus taking the time to build my chicken hut as big and extravagantly as I could.”
  • graphics150 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful, charming art style and atmospheric visuals that enhance the cozy, witchy aesthetic. However, some players have noted issues with optimization, graphical glitches, and a lack of detail in certain areas, which can lead to performance problems on higher settings. Overall, while the visuals are appealing and immersive, there is room for improvement in terms of optimization and variety.

    • “The art style is charming and very atmospheric, and there’s a ton of attention to detail that makes every area feel alive.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, interesting storyline, very chill game...love it.”
    • “The graphics are visually stunning, and there are many charming decorative options for your home.”
    • “My graphics are 4060 and it just overheats the heck out of my system, causing my PC to black out and restart.”
    • “The only downside is the graphics are cartoony, but other than that I loved it.”
    • “There are several graphical and clipping bugs.”
  • gameplay126 mentions

    The gameplay is generally well-received, praised for its charming aesthetics, intuitive building mechanics, and engaging exploration elements, though many users note that it currently lacks content and can become repetitive after a few hours. While the mechanics are often described as fluid and enjoyable, some players find certain aspects, like roof building and character movement, to be clunky or frustrating. Overall, the game shows promise, but players recommend waiting for further updates and content before diving in fully.

    • “Beautiful game dripping with style, fulfilling build system with oodles of decorative pieces to place, and fun gameplay loop of exploration and questing.”
    • “The balance between crafting, exploration, and the occasional task for Baba Yaga keeps the gameplay engaging without becoming overwhelming.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, do whatever anyone tells you to do.”
    • “I would recommend it, regardless of the overheating problem, because of its beautiful graphics, storyline, and overall gameplay style.”
    • “There's a lot of promise in this, but I must also warn that there's very little content right now: only two maps' worth, which for me clocked in at under 6 hours of gameplay (a significant chunk of that was me messing around with the building system, too).”
    • “Gameplay is relatively slow-paced and easy with the usual controls for such types of games.”
  • music86 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall cozy and enchanting experience. Many players find the soundtrack to be relaxing and fitting for the game's aesthetic, although some express a desire for more musical moments and smoother transitions between tracks. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the visuals and gameplay, contributing significantly to the game's charm.

    • “It's a beautiful game, incredible music, and very cozy and spooky at the same time.”
    • “The music is beautiful, the art design is gorgeous and the atmosphere is perfect.”
    • “The music is soothing, and the gameplay is very relaxed, with no combat, making it an enjoyable choice for those who wish to explore an open world casually.”
    • “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.”
    • “Also, the soundtrack is very vibey when it kicks in - I just want it to play more seamlessly as I seemed to get a lot of silence for building, etc.”
    • “Which really sucks because the environment, the music, and the building so far have a lot of potential and make me really excited for the ongoing development of this game.”
  • atmosphere83 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming art style, immersive soundtracks, and attention to detail, creating a cozy yet mysterious environment that resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the game's witchy themes and the balance between light and darkness, contributing to a magical and relaxing experience. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, engaging lore, and a tranquil vibe makes it a standout choice for fans of atmospheric games.

    • “The witchy elements of the game, combined with a narrative that draws on the contrast between light and darkness, create a magical atmosphere that is both relaxing and thought-provoking.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is perfect for a cozy fall day.”
    • “The atmosphere, writing, and music are all perfect (I should have gotten the deluxe edition with the soundtrack!).”
    • “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.”
    • “At times, reka creates an atmosphere that feels bleak, cold, and sometimes a little spooky.”
  • optimization39 mentions

    The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, even on high-end systems and the lowest settings. While some users acknowledge the game's potential and express hope for future improvements, the current state is described as "horrid" and reminiscent of an early access title. Developers have recognized these concerns and are reportedly working on optimization updates, but many players recommend waiting for fixes before fully engaging with the game.

    • “Definitely some optimization to be done, but they've acknowledged that and are working on it.”
    • “Moreover, the developers have already announced that they are working on improving the performance, which is very much needed.”
    • “It's a little choppy on the Steam Deck, but the devs are working on the optimization.”
    • “I could tolerate lack of content, but I will never tolerate such poor optimization.”
    • “It runs extremely poorly even on lowest settings, stuttering, flickering, unstable FPS.”
    • “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.”
  • stability39 mentions

    The game is currently in early access and is reported to be quite buggy, with numerous glitches affecting gameplay, such as issues with quest interactions, floating objects, and graphical anomalies. While many players acknowledge these bugs as expected for an early access title, they express frustration over certain glitches that can hinder progress or disrupt immersion. Despite the instability, some users find the game's potential promising and are hopeful for improvements in future updates.

    • “It is early access right now, I found it to be quite buggy after the most recent update in particular (some things which made it so I cannot advance such as inability to interact with quest characters and items/characters floating in the air, confusing landscapes and items being generated in obviously wrong places but I am sure they will fix that).”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is very buggy with me getting into broken menus or glitches that require the game to be closed and reopened to fix.”
    • “The saving system is buggy, and does not let you know when the save is complete and does not save your progress where you truly are and some of the quests glitched out on me, but I can power through for an early access game that is sure to have hours of playability.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the cozy atmosphere and engaging side quests that avoid tediousness, others feel that the building mechanics can be clunky and the need for repetitive gathering can be overwhelming. However, many agree that the game offers a unique twist on the farming genre, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a witchy theme and character customization.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The building options are endless, but the actual building functions are frustrating and tedious.”
    • “Overall, if you have extra money and have no problem just mostly farming the same quests, villages, and supplies, then I would say go for it.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The game evokes a strong emotional response by blending wholesome, cozy elements with eerie undertones, creating a unique atmosphere reminiscent of autumn and Halloween. Players appreciate the heartfelt story and crafting mechanics, expressing a desire for more choices in gameplay that align with either the cute or darker themes. Overall, the game's ability to balance these contrasting emotions leaves a lasting impression on players.

    • “The game beautifully weaves together crafting, exploration, and a heartfelt story.”
    • “I don't know how they managed to make the game so eerie, cozy, wholesome, and yet off-putting all in one go, yet they have somehow achieved this. I've only been playing this game for like an hour or two at most, and I can already say I would die and kill for this game's success <3.”
    • “Amazing experience for the haunting and beautiful season of autumn, very Halloween stylish and wholesome.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of amusing glitches and quirky interactions, such as befriending a deer that unexpectedly appears in odd places and humorous dialogue that draws on Slavic folklore. Players appreciate the comedic elements in both the game's mechanics and narrative, often finding themselves in laughable situations that enhance the overall experience.

    • “A funny detail, but I love how lady-of-the-lake and creepy I feel when I avoid the bridges and just walk straight through the river to my next destination, slowly rising from the depths.”
    • “She is a funny companion and a nice roommate.”
    • “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 (their?) combined appendages making her look as if she may have had a harrowing encounter with Baba Yaga on the way to the rendezvous.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game features appealing design elements, though some players feel it lacks depth and variety, particularly in customization options like tattoos. While the overall aesthetic is praised for its fairy tale quality and atmospheric elements, there are noted imperfections and bugs that detract from the experience.

    • “The character design is nice.”
    • “Reka is incredibly atmospheric, with beautiful graphics, music, character design, world design, writing, lighting, and physics.”
    • “It would be nice to be able to attach more than one tattoo to the character design.”
    • “I understand that the graphics are meant to resemble a fairy tale, but certain aspects, like the character design, just feel off.”
    • “At the character design, it would be nice to be able to attach more than one tattoo.”
    • “The character design, though limited for now, would benefit from more options for diverse body types.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
3-17hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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