Roadwarden
- September 12, 2022
- Moral Anxiety Studio
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"Roadwarden" is a single-player fantasy RPG with a gripping plot, immersive gameplay, and stunning visuals. As a brave traveler, embark on a dangerous journey to explore a mysterious peninsula, connect isolated villages, and reveal secrets while fighting off supernatural enemies. With plenty of humor, a wonderful atmosphere, and high replayability, this game offers an unforgettable experience for any RPG fan.
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Reviews
- Engaging and immersive storytelling with rich world-building.
- Meaningful choices that impact the narrative and character relationships.
- Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the atmosphere.
- Overly verbose writing that can feel tedious at times.
- Some gameplay mechanics, like text input for certain actions, can be frustrating.
- Limited replayability as many storylines and quests can be completed in a single playthrough.
- story1,291 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Roadwarden" is widely praised for its rich world-building, engaging narrative, and meaningful choices that significantly impact the player's journey. Many reviewers highlight the immersive experience, likening it to a captivating novel where players shape their own stories through various quests and character interactions. While some players noted the complexity and depth of the narrative can be overwhelming, the overall consensus is that the storytelling is compelling and rewarding, making it a must-play for fans of text-based RPGs and narrative-driven games.
“The worldbuilding is fantastic, choices actually matter, there are a variety of roleplaying and strategy/management mechanics, you have to earn people's trust to advance (some) quests in a way that, in my opinion, actually works pretty well, and more.”
“A lovely text-based fantasy adventure game with an interesting & brooding setting, filled with characters and missions that made the world feel alive.”
“The writing is very compelling, you get tons of choices that matter in how the story unfolds, the characters and places are memorable, and the way you explore the peninsula (where the game takes place) is very well done.”
“Many people had to search the internet just to know what to input in order to finish quests and progress the story.”
“The story took me around 8 to 10 hours on my first playthrough and I had missed a decent amount of things throughout my journey and didn't quite get the ending I wanted.”
“The plot starts grand and mysterious, but ends plainly with a bit of disappointment.”
- music423 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and evocative qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a melancholic and immersive soundtrack that complements the pixel art and narrative. While some players noted a tendency for the music to become repetitive, many found it soothing and fitting for the game's tone, contributing significantly to the ambiance and emotional depth of the story. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game.
“The soundtrack is elegant in its simplicity, and is varied enough that you don't get tired listening to it as you read walls of text.”
“The music is fantastic and helps cement that this world is unforgiving and eerie.”
“The music, ambient sounds and descriptions paint a fantastic mental image of the areas the character goes through and it really feels like the next step up from the choose your own adventure books I grew up on!”
“The only things I can think of to complain about at this time are limited guidance on mechanics and the music being too repetitive.”
“The music is very repetitive and progress is very slow-paced.”
“I thought it would be too much reading but the soundtrack along with the story just kept me enchanted.”
- gameplay330 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Roadwarden" is primarily text-based, blending narrative-driven choices with RPG mechanics that emphasize exploration, resource management, and character development. Players engage in a rich world where decisions significantly impact the story, though some mechanics may feel vague or underexplained. While the game excels in storytelling and atmosphere, it may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay depth, as much of the experience revolves around reading and making choices rather than complex mechanics.
“The worldbuilding is fantastic, choices actually matter, there are a variety of roleplaying and strategy/management mechanics, you have to earn people's trust to advance (some) quests in a way that, in my opinion, actually works pretty well.”
“In a text-based game, the mechanics are intrinsically linked to the writing, and in 'Roadwarden' they have melded together and created something wonderful.”
“The gameplay revolves around large blocks of text and some contextual elements that will help you throughout your decision-making process.”
“Within a few hours, the gameplay resembles a poor sod driving in endless circles on the I-285 loop around Atlanta, going round and round desperately trying to eke a few new sentences from the same old locations and characters, reading the same descriptions and repeating the same interactions ad nauseam.”
“The survival mechanics are simplistic and feel tacked on, rather than integrated meaningfully into the gameplay.”
“The mechanics are all there for a reason, nothing is implemented simply because it's traditionally part of game design or genre staple/trope.”
- graphics215 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that complements its text-based gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere. While the visuals are minimal and primarily serve to illustrate locations rather than characters, they effectively enhance the storytelling and evoke a sense of place. Overall, the combination of understated graphics, atmospheric music, and strong writing contributes to a deeply engaging experience, appealing to players who appreciate narrative depth over graphical fidelity.
“Gorgeous visuals and audio and a deeply unique world design.”
“While using a lot of formatting from modern visual novels, this modern-day graphical adventure game utilizes gorgeous pixel art, moody music, and excellent writing to convey a very specific feeling of wilderness that is dangerous, mysterious, and majestic in equal measure.”
“The pixel graphics are a fun style and the artwork is overall solid.”
“Graphically it is underwhelming, maybe, but, fwiw, the content, the story, the characters, beasts, friends and foes you meet along the road more than makes up for that.”
“The graphics are barely discernible pixel art (better than I could do, but frustrating early in the game when I was hungry for any scraps of understanding of what the world was like), but in combination with the excellent acoustic guitar soundtrack, it creates an incredibly evocative sense of place.”
“The art style is cohesively bland and completely forgettable.”
- atmosphere188 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of *Roadwarden* is widely praised for its unique blend of calming yet tense elements, enhanced by evocative pixel art and a haunting soundtrack. Reviewers highlight how the game's immersive world-building, rich storytelling, and atmospheric sound design create a captivating experience that draws players into its narrative and setting. Overall, the game is described as deeply atmospheric, with a strong sense of mood that complements its engaging writing and character development.
“Immaculate story, lovely lore, and a game with an atmosphere equally calming and mysterious.”
“The atmosphere is so strong, so focused, so effective.”
“The storytelling, atmosphere, world-building, and just overall feel of this game will completely suck you in.”
“The atmosphere of this game is so thick you could cut it with a knife.”
“Unfortunately, all of these problems are inherently present in text-based gameplay and I’m at a loss as to how Roadwarden could have resolved them without sacrificing the atmosphere and story it crafts.”
“I just wish it was a tiny bit darker; the atmosphere was there but the game never pushed beyond PG-13.”
- replayability99 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed level of replayability, with many players appreciating the variety of choices, character classes, and multiple endings that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted that once the story and mechanics are fully explored, the incentive to replay diminishes due to repetitive elements and lengthy text. Despite these criticisms, the immersive storytelling and rich world-building contribute to a generally favorable perception of its replay value, particularly for fans of narrative-driven experiences.
“Well worth the money and there's a fair amount of replayability to it as you attempt to tighten up your run, earn all achievements, and earn the perfect ending.”
“The combination of choices and challenge make the game very replayable.”
“There is a ton of replayability value as well - the different ways you can build your character, the many random encounters, and the way you can choose to handle quests can all make one playthrough completely different from another.”
“As to replay value, there are three character classes to choose from, but a bowling ball strike to the groin would be preferable to slogging through this yet one more time for a few minor differences.”
“What this game lacks is replayability, but it makes up for it with an outstanding experience the first time.”
“Limited replayability: once a player knows exactly what each scenario presents, it becomes somewhat trivial to read it through each time.”
- emotional33 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players expressing deep investment in the well-crafted, flawed characters and their impactful story arcs that evolve based on player choices. Many reviewers noted that the narrative evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to heartbreak, often leading to tears as players navigate the game's rich emotional landscape. The combination of touching storytelling, relatable characters, and a captivating atmosphere creates a profound emotional experience that resonates long after gameplay.
“Roadwarden genuinely creates emotional investment through fully fleshed-out, flawed characters whose arcs are influenced by your choices.”
“It challenged my sensibilities and emotions, made me feel at turns desperate, confident, outmatched, prepared, ashamed, proud, and loved.”
“One of the most emotional, atmospheric, and satisfying stories I've ever experienced, with an incredible soundtrack and evocative art style to boot.”
- grinding21 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics, finding the game more akin to a narrative experience than a typical RPG, others criticize the verbosity and repetitive nature of the text, leading to a sense of tedium. Many agree that the game avoids the pitfalls of grinding for resources or experience, but this can result in a feeling of stagnation, particularly for completionists. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing change from grind-heavy titles, though its pacing and structure may not appeal to everyone.
“It doesn't have any 'leveling up', and things that can squish you flat on your first day will still squish you flat on your last day - there's no grinding for XP or resources here, only small upgrades to your one or two pieces of gear to make yourself a little more comfortable, or able to block an extra blow or two in emergencies.”
“There is no grinding, and it avoids the issue of so many text-based games where you just click all dialogue options with no consequences.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game's text-based approach is overly verbose, making it feel more like a tedious novel than an engaging RPG.”
“I found that much of my time spent replaying NPC dialogue trees and areas that I knew well was simply tedious.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for being clever, poignant, and unexpectedly funny, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent writing and engaging dialogues that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the blend of dark fantasy elements with a lighthearted, optimistic tone, as well as the humorous interactions that arise from the game's prompt system. Overall, the writing is described as both hilarious and heartwrenchingly sad, contributing to a rich and immersive narrative.
“The writing is hilarious, poignant, and unexpected.”
“With excellent writing, good humor, and beautiful pixelated illustrations, Roadwarden offers an immersive fantasy world to explore filled with intriguing creatures and fleshed-out characters.”
“The writing is clever, funny, and believable.”
- stability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, stability in the game has received mixed reviews. While some players experienced significant bugs and freezes, particularly on the Steam Deck, others reported a smooth experience with minimal issues, especially after recent patches that improved performance. The consensus suggests that stability may vary depending on the platform and updates applied.
“I had little to no glitches while playing; it ran well.”
“Quite bug-free; using the console might cause some minor issues.”
“But it seems kind of buggy.”
“What I have to nitpick are some freezes in the journal section for a few seconds.”
“I'm playing it on Steam Deck and my first pass at the game was very buggy (it would freeze frequently, the mouse would disappear, and the popup Steam Deck keyboard would cause in-game hotkeys to trigger).”
- character development5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development and storytelling, offering rich lore and a strong roleplay experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking action or extensive inventory management. Players who appreciate deep world-building and narrative-driven gameplay will find the character development engaging and well-integrated throughout the experience.
“It did really well in terms of its storytelling, character development, and roleplay experience.”
“A little light on inventory management and character development, but this is not your typical action RPG.”
“The lore and character development trickle out as you play, with little infodumping.”
“It is all story, so don't be expecting any kind of fighting, but if you enjoy RPGs with strong world building and character development and don't mind reading, play this game!”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's writing is praised for its conciseness and effectiveness, but performance issues are a significant concern, with reports of severe framerate drops and problems on G-Sync monitors. While some users find the performance satisfactory, others note that joystick controls can be tricky, though the touchscreen functionality is well-received.
“The writing is very good, concise, and one of the most effective and optimized I've read.”
“Performance is great, and the joystick selection is a little fiddly, but the touch screen works really well and feels natural.”
“Performance is totally garbage; I experienced framerate drops far below 120 fps.”
“There are performance issues with G-Sync monitors (as of now, see date).”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is considered transparent and aligns well with its advertising, ensuring that players feel they are receiving value for their investment.
