Retro Relics

About

Retro Relics is a single player open world role playing game with a historical theme. It was developed by HistoryXPlorer and was released on January 5, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Retro Relics is a relaxing 2D pixel art metal detecting adventure. Go on a treasure hunt and explore various landscapes while digging for ancient relics and interesting finds from all epochs. Come back to your home base to plan out your next hunt, sell your finds, accept missions and view your collection. Features: Alpha Demo 0.10 is my first upload and is still early WIP. It contains three leve…

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Cozy and relaxing gameplay with simple mechanics, suitable for casual gamers and those seeking a low-stress experience.
Charming pixel-art style and nostalgic retro visuals combined with a soothing soundtrack that enhances immersion.
Engaging treasure hunting with diverse maps, collectible relics, and museum-building features that provide satisfaction and motivation.

Several minor technical and UX issues, including glitches with the metal detector and inventory handling.
Some visibility problems, such as hidden relic sparkles being hard to see on certain maps like the beach.
Relatively short main story and overall game length, leaving some players wanting more content and deeper gameplay.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The story is a cozy, straightforward experience that typically takes 2 to 12 hours to complete, with additional gameplay available through side quests and collectibles. It balances lighthearted themes with some emotional depth, and its simplicity is enhanced by a charming retro art style and a focus on exploration and discovery. Players appreciate the blend of main story progression and optional content, making for an engaging yet relaxed narrative experience.
- “I like the combination of the story with its quests, the sustainable aspect of cleaning up to unlock new animals, and the simple but retro art style.”
- “It is a super cozy game, focused around using your grandpa's metal detector to find relics and has a main storyline to complete.”
- “Also, I like the soldier's story reveal.”
- “I beat the main story in about 2 hours, and you can get more gameplay out of it than that if you aim to get all the collectables.”
- “I finished the main story in 12 hours, so it's not complicated.”
- “The full story with all achievements took me around 3.5 hours but will run you longer or shorter depending on how much exploring you do in between the story and side quests.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The gameplay is simple, relaxing, and easy to pick up, centered around exploring areas with a metal detector to find hidden items. While the main story is short, collecting all items extends playtime and keeps the experience engaging with satisfying mechanics and a cute visual style.
- “Using a metal detector, you explore different areas to search for hidden items and dig them up, which makes the gameplay both relaxing and satisfying.”
- “I beat the main story in about 2 hours, and you can get more gameplay out of it than that if you aim to get all the collectables.”
- “No difficult controls or mechanics, a fine little story and a cute visual style.”
- “The simple mechanics are easy to pick up, but still keep you engaged as you hunt for new relics and discoveries.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics feature charming, nostalgic pixel-art with a retro 2D style that creates a cozy and enjoyable atmosphere. The simple visuals complement the gameplay and enhance the overall appeal of the game.
- “Graphics were very nostalgic pixel/2D play.”
- “Retro Relics is a super fun game in a charming pixel-art style.”
- “The pixel graphics give the game a nostalgic feel, and the overall atmosphere is cozy and enjoyable.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for being relaxing and upbeat, complementing the charming pixel art and evoking classic RPG vibes with an adventurous soundtrack.
- “I love this game; the music is very relaxing and the gameplay is as well.”
- “Charming pixel art and an upbeat, adventurous soundtrack with classic RPG vibes.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a wholesome and emotionally engaging experience centered on treasure hunting with a metal detector, evoking heartfelt connections through the story of following in the footsteps of a late grandfather.
- “A very wholesome game about treasure hunting with your metal detector and following in the footsteps of your late grandpa, a passionate metal detectorist who was also searching for some mysterious ruins.”
- “A wholesome, fun adventure where you hunt treasures with your metal detector.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game generally runs smoothly with occasional minor glitches, such as a metal detector activating without loot and items occasionally remaining stuck in the player's hand, though these issues are infrequent and do not significantly impact gameplay.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's pixel graphics create a nostalgic and cozy atmosphere, making the overall experience enjoyable and comforting.
- “The pixel graphics give the game a nostalgic feel, and the overall atmosphere is cozy and enjoyable.”