Risen

About

Risen is an open-world fantasy RPG set on the island of Faranga, filled with earthquakes, monsters, and treasures. Players can choose their own path, becoming a swordsman, staff fighter, or mage, and every action has a consequence, affecting the island's destiny. With over 60 hours of gameplay and countless side quests, Risen offers a gritty, immersive experience with meaningful choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+19

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,126 reviews

story584 positive mentions

stability168 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive world with a rich atmosphere and interesting quests.
Challenging gameplay that rewards exploration and character progression.
Strong voice acting and well-written dialogue that enhances the storytelling.

Clunky combat mechanics that can feel frustrating and unresponsive.
Numerous bugs and glitches, particularly with climbing and quest progression.
The final chapters of the game can feel tedious and repetitive, lacking the depth of earlier content.

story
2,018 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The story in "Risen" is generally described as engaging but somewhat simplistic, with a classic "from zero to hero" narrative structure. Players appreciate the immersive world and the variety of quests, which often allow for multiple approaches and choices that can influence character development and faction alignment. However, many reviews note that the main plot can feel linear and repetitive, particularly in the later chapters, and some players express frustration with bugs that can hinder quest progression. Overall, while the story has its strengths, it is often overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of depth in character development.
- “The story is incredible, the voice actors might be recycled a few times but you have an all-star lead, Andy Serkis, John Rhys-Davies, Lena Headey, etc.”
- “It's a fun fantasy tale, with multiple options to choose through your playthrough so you can come back from another style or story angle.”
- “The story is gripping and fresh all the way until finish, and all the while you're surrounded by realistic, very human characters in an unusual, very original world.”
- “The story is very weak, and there are very few interesting quests in the game.”
- “Considering that the player receives most of the content in the first two acts, and main quests in acts 3-4 are pure grinding and backtracking, this all creates a very repetitive, frankly boring and not rewarding experience from a story point of view.”
- “The main story, and side quests are very boring and never go anywhere interesting.”
gameplay
621 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
10%
The gameplay of Risen is characterized by its challenging mechanics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs, particularly the Gothic series. While the combat system is often described as clunky and unforgiving, players appreciate the depth of exploration, character progression, and the freedom to choose factions and quests, which contribute to a rewarding experience despite some outdated elements and bugs. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging storytelling and immersive gameplay, appealing to fans of traditional RPGs, though it may frustrate those accustomed to modern gaming standards.
- “In terms of gameplay, Risen captures the essence of the Gothic series, with a focus on open-world exploration and character progression.”
- “The gameplay is challenging and not easy, so save often.”
- “Overall, this game is an awesome choice for anyone who loves immersive, engaging storytelling and dynamic gameplay that keeps you on your toes.”
- “It's the gameplay itself that is totally broken.”
- “Clunky combat mechanics, extremely tedious combat, enemy movement is erratic and the patterns are just too messed up, leveling up is a chore (you gotta find trainers and spend gold just to get anything up), healing the damage you took from the annoying combat is an absolute nightmare, everything takes up forever to happen and the split questline is just a bunch of fetch-this-talk-to-that-guy bs.”
- “Risen could be a nice game with its setting and storyline, but many gameplay-breaking issues and bad art direction flaw this game beyond salvation.”
graphics
611 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The graphics of Risen, while considered dated by modern standards, still manage to impress many players with their artistic style and environmental design. The game runs well on older hardware, making it accessible, and despite some technical glitches, the visuals contribute to an immersive atmosphere. Overall, while not cutting-edge, the graphics are deemed adequate and enjoyable for a game released in 2009.
- “Risen is a beautiful RPG from the authors of the Gothic series, it takes back all the fashion of the previous games but eliminates all the crashes that afflicted those games and adds a beautiful new graphic style, the plot is very immersive and entertaining.”
- “The graphics hold up quite well though and I have to point out that the skybox in the game is amazing.”
- “For a game that is from 2009, it has beautiful graphics with a stunning world.”
- “The graphics are ridiculous, even though they are remastered.”
- “This game has one of the worst graphics I've ever seen in my entire life.”
- “The graphics are badly dated.”
atmosphere
244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The atmosphere in Risen is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, drawing players into a richly designed world filled with diverse environments, from lush forests to eerie dungeons. The game's music and sound design significantly enhance this atmosphere, creating a nostalgic and cozy experience reminiscent of the Gothic series. Despite some technical issues and dated graphics, many players find the overall ambiance and world-building to be a standout feature that keeps them engaged and eager to explore.
- “From lush forests to eerie dungeons, the game world offers a diverse range of environments that immerse players in a unique and atmospheric setting.”
- “The atmosphere this game manages to create elevates it to another level and draws me in like rarely any other game has managed to.”
- “Risen offers an amazing atmosphere rarely seen in the genre.”
- “It's not the worst, it's still gothic-like, but somehow even more clunky, bugged and without the same atmosphere.”
- “Looks like a nice return to the roots of the first 2 gothic games with some improvements here and there, just wish it had the same dark atmosphere and replayability.”
- “That just destroys the atmosphere for me.”
music
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience, with many players highlighting the evocative soundtrack by Kai Rosenkranz. However, some reviews note that the limited variety of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over extended playtime, and there are occasional issues with sound effects and combat music being bugged or annoying. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, opinions vary on its memorability and impact compared to other titles in the genre.
- “The atmosphere is quite dark, the music is beautiful and there is plenty of diversity regarding equipment, skills, quests and more.”
- “Risen's setting on an island full of mysteries and riddles combined with a superb soundtrack generated this unique atmosphere and immersion that I was deeply craving for.”
- “The music goes well with complimenting the environment, and is nice to the ear.”
- “The music is forgettable.”
- “Totally forgettable sound effects and music, compounded by a bug (fixable by fan patches) that breaks music in-game due to some sloppy sound file editing by the devs.”
- “Risen lacks the sort of musical score which can make a memorable impact on its players but they are still nice to listen to.”
stability
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, including game-breaking issues and crashes. While some users have managed to enjoy the game with minimal problems, the overall consensus is that it remains quite buggy, particularly in combat and navigation, requiring players to reload often and troubleshoot various issues. Despite these challenges, many still find the game enjoyable if they can tolerate its imperfections.
- “Still runs great.”
- “Pretty much bug free.”
- “A good all around RPG that was bug free and smooth in every way.”
- “This game is still buggy to this day, some game breaking.”
- “The combat and constant glitches make it barely playable.”
- “The story is cool and it's fun to explore the island and watch a neat story unfold, but there are so many random crashes, noclip through the map, and soft lock glitches that make it very hard to want to play.”
humor
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of funny dialogue, sarcastic main character interactions, and amusing NPCs, often enhanced by entertaining voice acting. While some players appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor and comedic moments, others find the humor inconsistent, with occasional dry or bland lines. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted atmosphere filled with humorous situations, though it may not reach the comedic heights of previous titles in the series.
- “The dialogue is hilarious at times and the main character often insults others in very amusing ways.”
- “The unnamed main character is hilarious and the possible interactions are plain bonkers sometimes.”
- “This game is great fun with some hilarious voice-over work and no spiders.”
replayability
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The game offers moderate to high replayability primarily through its multiple factions and character paths, allowing players to experience different storylines and gameplay styles. While some players appreciate the variety and depth provided by faction choices, others note that the lack of multiple endings and static item placements can diminish replay value after the initial playthrough. Overall, the replayability is considered solid, especially for those who enjoy exploring different character builds and faction dynamics.
- “This adds a lot to the replay value, as you can explore different factions and experience the game from different angles.”
- “Character development in Risen is decent; however, the various factions and their associated storylines provide opportunities for meaningful decisions and alliances, adding some replay value to the game.”
- “It has all the essential aspects of an RPG - factions, skills and their leveling, choice of combat (staff, sword, axe, crossbow, bow, seals of magic and plenty of thieving perks as well as side perks like acrobatics), good replayability, old school story progression via chapters.”
- “In terms of replayability, we have not much.”
- “Great game, though lacking much replayability; going the 'don' path really isn't a fun or worthwhile option.”
- “My first half of the game was spent thinking about how I was looking forward to replaying the game as a mage on my second playthrough, but having finally finished the main story, the game offers absolutely zero replay value for me.”
grinding
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later acts where backtracking and combat become monotonous. The leveling system is criticized for being slow and requiring players to seek out trainers, while combat mechanics are described as clunky and frustrating. Although some players appreciate the variety in quests and the potential for exploration, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Not too grindy with a little help online and too good to ruin with too much help.”
- “Considering that the player receives most of the content in the first two acts, and main quests in acts 3-4 are pure grinding and backtracking, this all creates a very repetitive, frankly boring and not rewarding experience from a story point of view.”
- “The leveling system is slow, tedious and you need to find and pay people to teach you... garbage.”
- “Lots of enemies in between the quest location you need to go to, and you, easily 15 - 30 minutes of just pure fighting, and it never lets up (not fun challenging fighting, just tedious dragged-out ones for the sake of dragging out the clock).”
character development
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
9%
Character development in the game is characterized by a rapid initial progression that can feel abrupt, with limited impact from faction choices. While it offers decent options and meaningful decisions through various storylines, it lacks the depth found in earlier titles, resulting in a slower but more flexible development system that encourages careful planning of skill points. Overall, the attention to detail in character design and world-building enhances the experience, making it engaging despite some limitations.
- “Character development in Risen is decent; however, the various factions and their associated storylines provide opportunities for meaningful decisions and alliances, adding some replay value to the game.”
- “Good character development options in a classless system.”
- “Since most of the content is available to the player in the first two chapters, character development at the beginning is quite rapid and ends quite abruptly.”
- “- As far as I know, faction choice doesn't matter much when it comes to character development.”
- “Character development is slower than some games but seems quite free - but you do need to think very carefully about how you use those precious 'learning points'.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
25%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and good graphics, others experience significant stuttering and technical issues, particularly on older hardware. Overall, the game is noted for its decent graphics-to-performance ratio, but optimization flaws, especially in combat mechanics, hinder the experience for some users. Despite these issues, many appreciate the game's visuals and gameplay mechanics.
- “The game itself runs very smoothly with good performance and very good gameplay mechanics.”
- “I have an older laptop and this game ran well - it seems to have the best graphics/performance ratio of any I've played on here.”
- “Risen has all the elements we loved from Gothic 1 (lockpicking minigame, combat evolution as you level up your sword-fighting skill, etc.) with upgraded graphics and excellent optimization.”
- “Lots of stuttering in the game.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good, but it's pretty hard to play with the stuttering.”
- “Fun challenging game with decent story and gameplay, but it's horribly optimized, so I can't play much.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed feelings among players; while some experience a subtle emotional boost from character interactions, others find the story lacking in depth and emotional engagement. The game's atmosphere and humor are appreciated, but it doesn't reach the emotional highs of titles like The Witcher or Mass Effect, leaving some players feeling disconnected and less inclined to continue. Overall, emotional responses seem to vary significantly based on personal connections to the game's narrative and characters.
- “This is one of the few video games where I actually felt a little emotional boost from her getting friendly at the end.”
- “Just as atmospheric and touching with rough language and good humor.”
- “Maybe it's all personal, and maybe I'm overestimating some stuff, because I'm going unusually emotional about writing this review, but at the moment I don't feel like I want to continue this game.”