SanctuaryRPG

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SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game with an interesting plot, stunning game mechanics, and compelling visuals. It offers retro ASCII graphics, procedurally generated artwork, and a sleek combat system. The game is very grinding, yet humorously entertaining with over 160 class and race combinations, making it highly replayable.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 824 reviews

music134 positive mentions

grinding52 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay with a unique turn-based combat system that requires strategy and attention.
Humorous writing and quirky events that keep the experience entertaining and light-hearted.
Great ASCII art and a catchy soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.

Permadeath can be frustrating, as losing a character means starting over from scratch after investing significant time.
The game can become repetitive, especially with grinding for levels and loot.
Some players may find the humor juvenile and not to their taste, which can detract from the experience.

music
200 mentions
67 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in SanctuaryRPG has received widespread acclaim for its engaging and nostalgic chiptune soundtrack, which complements the game's ASCII art style and enhances the overall experience. Players frequently highlight the variety and quality of the tracks, noting that the music is memorable and often sticks with them long after playing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, making the game not only enjoyable to play but also worth purchasing for its music alone.
- “The music fits the game perfectly and goes really well with the art and flow of the game.”
- “The music is amazing, and tunes continually end up stuck in my head (though in a good way).”
- “The soundtrack is engaging, the graphics are well thought out, the speed and quick screen changes are amazing, and the options are absolutely fantastic for any D&D gamer who remembers the days of old in front of the computer.”
- “The music, while very good, felt repetitive due to the grind (noticeably so in act IV).”
- “Unless you want some real 'music', this one will not amuse you that much.”
- “The in-game home screen's music is a bit jarring.”
story
176 mentions
24 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its quirky humor and engaging world-building, while others criticize it for being thin, repetitive, and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements and the randomness of character backstories, but note that the main plot often feels like an afterthought, with limited impact from side quests. Overall, while the narrative has its entertaining moments, it may not satisfy those seeking a more serious or complex storyline.
- “The story is actually well thought out, and the ASCII art is amazing.”
- “The story, and the whole game really, is full of quirky, paradoxical humor that I found pretty funny.”
- “The sheer number of story quests, side missions, and loot, combined with a vast variety of character possibilities, there is a lot of complexity hidden beneath the simple design.”
- “There is barely a story there, and most of it doesn't make sense.”
- “The plot certainly creates intrigue and curiosity in multiple ways but fails to provide anything on any of those avenues.”
- “With the story being lightly drizzled on between major bosses and locations, all of which you have to grind for or risk another restart, there is just simply not enough meat on the bone to keep rotating through characters to complete the story.”
graphics
171 mentions
41 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are primarily ASCII art, which many players find charming and nostalgic, evoking memories of classic text-based RPGs. While some reviewers note that the graphics are simplistic and may not appeal to everyone, they are praised for their creativity and detail, enhancing the overall experience alongside the engaging soundtrack. Overall, the game's unique art style and retro aesthetic contribute positively to its gameplay, proving that compelling design can outweigh the need for high-end visuals.
- “The ASCII graphics are perfect; everything feels so responsive, and there's an immense amount of depth in the game.”
- “The graphics are excellent; the ASCII art is just fantastic.”
- “The ASCII artwork was great!”
- “The graphics were a turnoff, but everything else was fun.”
- “Despite the game having artwork for the locations, characters, items, etc., the combat is purely text-based.”
- “The graphics of this game, while simple, are in my opinion quite good; they are just visually appealing and a fresh experience if you play games with 3D graphics and lots of colors.”
humor
166 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly polarizing, with some players finding it quirky and entertaining, particularly enjoying the frequent references to potatoes and absurd situations. Others criticize it as juvenile and unfunny, feeling that the reliance on randomness and repetitive jokes detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while many appreciate the light-hearted and nostalgic tone, the humor may not resonate with everyone, making it a subjective aspect of the game.
- “The humor is great as well as interesting.”
- “The game is really funny, and has a ton of depth and content.”
- “The writing is funny, the music is very nice, the ASCII art is great, and the gameplay is in-depth enough to keep you interested while remaining easy enough to play.”
- “Juvenile, unfunny humor.”
- “Unfunny situations.”
- “The writing has its moments, but a lot of the time it's painfully unfunny, with wacky, random humor reminiscent of 'Katy the Penguin of Doom' and an odd fixation on potatoes.”
gameplay
153 mentions
29 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of SanctuaryRPG: Black Edition is characterized by its complex mechanics and retro aesthetic, offering a mix of engaging turn-based combat and deep RPG elements. While many players appreciate the humor and depth, some find the gameplay loop repetitive and grindy, with a steep learning curve that can lead to frustration. Overall, the game provides a nostalgic experience with a unique blend of mechanics, though it may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or modern graphics.
- “A fun, humorous, charming, rogue-like RPG that has plenty of personality to keep you playing and even more variety in gameplay for the game's scope to keep you coming back for subsequent playthroughs.”
- “The gameplay is what really sets this game apart; it's daftly simple, but if you aren't paying attention, you'll miss a lot of subtle elements that will make the game play in your favor, so it takes a while to master.”
- “The mechanics are so simple and easy to pick up - I think that's why this game is so enjoyable.”
- “Gameplay manages to be at the same time complicated and boring.”
- “However, the gameplay loop gets repetitive too quickly for the length of the game, with fairly little to discover beyond that.”
- “The game is the worst; don't be tricked by its art. Its gameplay is a screen of endless text and pressing buttons. It's not fun or engaging, and I tried to have fun, but it's a farming simulator. The story is good, but the game is terrible.”
grinding
52 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively repetitive and monotonous, often overshadowing the initial enjoyment and humor. While some players find the grinding somewhat entertaining due to randomized encounters and a quick-paced leveling system, many feel it becomes tedious and unfun, especially with the added challenge of permadeath. Overall, the game is seen as heavily reliant on grinding, which can detract from the overall experience for those seeking a more engaging gameplay loop.
- “Moving on from there was somewhat more enjoyable, but the grinding at each stage to make sure I didn't get difficulty spiked again added to the monotony.”
- “About 80% of the game time is just spent grinding levels/equipment in one way or another (there are quite a few ways to do so).”
- “Basically, you spend hours upon hours bashing your face against the keyboard to craft better gear and farming enemies that offer no challenge in order to maximize your odds of beating the few actually relevant battles.”
replayability
31 mentions
48 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is highly variable among players; some find it minimal due to repetitive combat and lack of unique weapon identities, while others praise its extensive replay value stemming from high randomization, multiple classes, and distinct playstyles. The presence of permanent death in classic mode adds a layer of challenge that encourages repeated playthroughs, making it appealing for those who enjoy mastering different character builds. Overall, while some players note a decline in engagement over time, many agree that the game offers significant replayability for its price.
- “Ridiculously high randomization rates and multiple classes and races to play around with give this game an insane amount of replayability.”
- “Tons of replay value (which is good, because you'll need it if you play in classic mode, but there is also a non-commitment mode if that's not for you) and the classes feel genuinely different and distinct to play.”
- “Great replayability, accommodating a variety of playstyles and character builds.”
- “There's basically minimal replayability once you understand the combat since it's so simple and all the same.”
- “Tldr - the game is good for the price and even better on sale just don't expect to get much replayability out of it.”
- “Not a lot of replay value unless you want to master multiple classes.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by detailed writing, humor, and music, despite the sub-par graphics. Reviewers appreciate how these elements combine to create a fun and engaging experience, particularly for fans of dungeon crawlers and text-based adventures. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a key strength of the game, making it enjoyable and memorable.
- “The ASCII art, the attention to detail, the humor, the atmosphere, and oh god the music - it's a great, cheap immersive game and I'd highly recommend it to any fan of dungeon crawlers and text-based adventures alike.”
- “The graphics of this game, while being sub-par by today's standards, work perfectly with the music and give the game a kind of atmosphere that is not meant to be taken seriously, but is still fun to play.”
- “As this kind of technology cannot possibly win you over on a visual level, the writing could have been the means to create some kind of atmosphere.”
- “The graphics of this game, while sub-par by today's standards, work perfectly with the music and give the game a kind of atmosphere that is not meant to be taken seriously, but is still fun to play.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a desire for a stronger focus on story and character development, suggesting that while the initial character development appears well thought out, it could benefit from less humor and more depth.
- “A little less humor and more story and character development would help a great deal.”
- “Early into it, but I can tell the character development is well thought out.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including frequent glitches and problems with the game not launching properly despite appearing in the taskbar.
- “It just glitches; it shows it's running on my taskbar but won't come up when I click on it.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experience constant lag and freezing, which ruins the overall experience.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is positively viewed, as the use of ASCII characters enhances the overall artistic experience rather than detracting from it.