RivenWorld: The First Era

About

RivenWorld: The First Era is a challenging open-world multiplayer game set in the medieval era, available now in Early Access on Steam. In this sandbox environment, players must gather resources, build their own kingdom, and fight to rule over their subjects. The game is regularly updated with new content and bug fixes, and purchases support continued development.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+11

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

RivenWorld offers a promising medieval survival experience with engaging gameplay mechanics, including crafting and base building.
The developers are highly responsive to community feedback, actively working on bug fixes and game improvements.
The game has a strong foundation and potential for growth, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre, especially when played with friends.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, poor optimization, and a lack of a player base, making it difficult to enjoy.
Many players feel that the game is currently unplayable and resembles an alpha version rather than a finished product.
There are concerns about the game's balance and overall gameplay experience, with some describing it as a cash grab rather than a fully realized game.

graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of Rivenworld receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the detail and potential for improvement in an early access title, others criticize them as visually unappealing and lacking cohesion. Overall, the game's unique mechanics and community engagement seem to overshadow the graphical shortcomings for many players.
- “The game graphics are good for an early access game; I would love to see what it will shape up to be. New content releases and commitment to progress are nice to see.”
- “The graphics in Rivenworld are breathtaking, with attention paid to every detail in the game world.”
- “After playing Rivenworld for some time, I can say that I enjoyed my time there. The game has a big map, and even though the graphics need some tweaks, the unique system of building and loot tables overwhelm the experience.”
- “While I am not one to focus on graphics, this is just a bunch of assets clumped together and looks very visually unappealing.”
- “This is the type of game where I expect the gameplay to be fun, since you can clearly see from the screenshots and trailer that the graphics are objectively terrible.”
- “I can forgive bad graphics if the gameplay is good.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The gameplay is characterized by enjoyable building mechanics and a detailed medieval world that encourages exploration and social play, making it beginner-friendly. While it offers a captivating and challenging experience with a mix of strategy and action, some players find certain aspects unintuitive, and ongoing bug fixes and updates may disrupt the experience. Overall, it is seen as a promising title worth trying, especially with a free demo available.
- “Good game, nice building mechanics, the medieval theme is present and it's fun to explore the world. I can say that it's a promising title. I like playing with friends and chilling after a long day of work. You can learn the mechanics fast, so it's beginner-friendly. You should give it a try since they have a 24-hour demo for free to test it.”
- “With its vast and detailed world, challenging gameplay mechanics, and dynamic sandbox environment, this game offers a captivating experience for those seeking a true test of survival skills.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and challenging, with a balanced mix of strategy and action.”
- “The gameplay I did get to experience seems unintuitive.”
- “But they are on all the time helping players and adding new mechanics that change the game a lot... why are they still fixing bugs?”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game has been heavily criticized, with players labeling it a "cash grab" due to its unplayable state and lack of player engagement shortly after launch. Many users regret their purchases and suggest that the game should transition to a free-to-play model, expressing frustration over the developers' handling of feedback and community concerns.
- “Do not buy this game. I spent 18 hours of gameplay trying to help the devs bring the game to a playable state. I have come back to the game every few days for months, but there is no player base. There was one for 3 days, then nobody ever touched it again. Sadly, I didn't get a refund on this cash grab when I had the chance. I spent $40 getting a copy for me and a friend, just for the game to die within 3 days. Also, the devs ban you when you speak out about the state of the game in Discord. The game needs to become free-to-play. Do not spend your hard-earned cash on this game; it's unplayable.”
- “I hope this was just a misguided release and not a scam/cash grab.”
- “Don't get me wrong, I want a game like this to exist and work, but this is just a rushed cash grab.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for being very buggy and of poor quality, leading to a frustrating experience, especially due to a lack of active players on servers. Despite these issues, some users still find the game enjoyable.
- “Sadly, not only is it very buggy and of poor quality, but there is zero player base. I spent half an hour with a friend on a dead server (all of them dead).”
- “While still quite buggy (not even 24 hours after release), this game is fun.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally enjoy the grinding aspect of Rivenworld, particularly the hunting, base-building, and crafting elements, which align well with their love for survival games. However, there is a consensus that the balance of loot and resources needs improvement to reduce the grind and enhance the overall experience.
- “Grindy.”
- “The experience of Rivenworld was great for me. I enjoyed hunting the boars and building and securing my base. I had a lot of friendly encounters and non-friendly ones from time to time. Still, I enjoyed my time in the game since I'm a fan of survival games. I love farming and crafting; the only thing that needs to be balanced is the loot/resources to ease the grind.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is not fully polished or optimized, but it is acknowledged that it is still in its early stages of development. Users note that while there are optimization issues, there is potential for improvement.
- “I must be clear that it is not a fully polished and 100% optimized game, but I must commend that it is still in its early stages.”
- “Unoptimized.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic RPG elements, enhanced by immersive music and sound effects. Players appreciate the strong combat and crafting mechanics, which complement the overall experience.
- “I recommend it to fans of the genre, and I can say that it is a great recommendation, with its strong points being combat and crafting, while still maintaining a good and nostalgic RPG atmosphere.”
- “The music and sound effects immerse you in the game's atmosphere.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and sound effects in the game are highly praised for their immersive quality, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing players into the world. Users appreciate the attention to detail in the audio design, which contributes significantly to the gaming experience.
- “The music and sound effects immerse you in the game's atmosphere.”
- “I love this game; the developers are almost 24/7 helping fix bugs and taking ideas from the Discord community. I love the detail in the music and sound effects; the world pulls you in.”