Secrets of Grindea

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,191 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Secrets of Grindea Game Cover
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"Secrets of Grindea" is a 2D hack and slash action RPG that allows players to explore a vast world, battling monsters and collecting loot. The game features a unique combat system, cooperative multiplayer, and a flexible class system that lets players mix and match abilities. The story follows a young adventurer seeking to uncover the secrets of the magical land of Grindea.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,191 reviews
story466 positive mentions
grinding405 negative mentions
  • Charming pixel art and animations that evoke nostalgia for classic RPGs.
  • Engaging combat system with a variety of builds and skills to choose from.
  • Fun co-op gameplay that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game has been in early access for several years, leading to concerns about its completion.
  • Some boss fights and puzzles can feel overly difficult and frustrating.
  • Visual clutter during combat can make it hard to track character movements and attacks.
  • story1,367 mentions

    The story of "Secrets of Grindea" is generally described as engaging and humorous, with a lighthearted tone that often parodies classic RPG tropes. While the narrative starts off simple, many players find it becomes more interesting as they progress, featuring memorable characters and emotional moments. However, the game is still in early access, and many reviews express frustration over the incomplete story, with players eager for more content and updates to fully realize the potential of the plot.

    • “The storytelling is solid and interesting, characters are unique and have persistence in the world, art style is timeless and conveys so much, and the mechanics are incredible and refreshing.”
    • “The story is surprisingly engaging, progression is rewarding, and it has a great sense of humor and charm.”
    • “The story is well-written, it's genuinely funny, and it has everything to make you feel like you're playing a classic RPG on the SNES.”
    • “The story is pretty weak overall, though I did start to enjoy the writing much more by the third chapter.”
    • “The story, NPCs, and quests are all poorly written.”
    • “The game unfortunately does show its age and long development time, as there is a noticeable difference in developer skill, art quality, music complexity, and plot developments the further you delve into areas added years after the initial Steam release.”
  • gameplay509 mentions

    The gameplay of "Secrets of Grindea" is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, fluid combat, and nostalgic RPG elements reminiscent of classic titles like "Secret of Mana." Players appreciate the depth of character customization, the variety of skills and builds, and the challenging yet rewarding boss fights, although some express frustration with grindy mechanics and certain balancing issues. Overall, the game offers a rich and enjoyable experience, especially in co-op mode, making it a strong recommendation for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is smooth and addictive, and I really enjoyed the art style and direction of it all.”
    • “True to its genre, the game combines elements of combat and puzzle-solving, creating a balanced and engaging gameplay experience.”
    • “The combination of classic gameplay, innovative elements, and a vast world to explore makes every minute of the game an adventure.”
    • “The dash attack does not work due to the crooked mechanics of the shield and movement.”
    • “The difficulty is well beyond anything that came before it, which is not great from a balance perspective, but the real issue is that the specific mechanics of the fight seem designed to punish players who have crafted their own build and enjoyed progressing through harder and harder fights with it.”
    • “Forces players to use mechanics and builds for specific battles regardless of the player's play style and in fact inhibits the player from progressing in game for not using or doing specific things the way it 'needs' to be done.”
  • grinding408 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Secrets of Grindea" is a central feature, as suggested by its title, and it elicits mixed reactions from players. While many find the grinding enjoyable and rewarding, particularly for collecting cards and crafting, others feel it can become tedious, especially due to low drop rates for certain items. Overall, the game successfully integrates grinding into its mechanics, making it a fun and engaging experience for those who appreciate this gameplay style, though it may not be necessary for progressing through the main story.

    • “Contrary to what the title suggests, the game is not too grindy at all. Yet, if you really want to go for 100% completion, there's a challenge waiting for you, and your character will greatly profit from it.”
    • “I recommend this to anyone looking into the JRPG genre, as there is little to no grinding involved.”
    • “It makes farming for cards far more tedious, monotonous, and irritating than it should have been.”
    • “The majority of my playtime revolves around farming cards that are required for the final boss, which I really find frustrating.”
    • “Approximately half of my playtime has been farming cards, items, gold, etc. I understand that is part of the game, but it really feels terrible as a player to kill 500+ of multiple mobs to get an item you need for the true ending of the story.”
  • graphics273 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, colorful pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs, reminiscent of titles like Earthbound and Secret of Mana. Reviewers highlight the charming animations and detailed environments, noting that the visuals enhance the overall gameplay experience, despite some minor inconsistencies in character artwork. Overall, the art direction is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The art style is as vibrant as a prairie sunset, with colorful characters and lush environments that'll make you want to kick off your boots and stay a spell.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the combat is fun, and the puzzles are reasonable.”
    • “The graphics, while technically simple, are artistically beautiful, with lots of cool effects, animations, artwork, and entire biomes that feel alive.”
    • “The graphics and sound design are lacking, why did I put almost 50 hours into this?”
    • “While the pixel art animation is wonderful and very fluid, the background artwork lacks some texturing at the snow and grass areas which make them feel like MS Paint jobs.”
    • “Sometimes the graphics make it hard to distinguish what is background art and what is movable or collectible items, especially when first starting.”
  • humor208 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, charming characters, and lighthearted tone, often drawing comparisons to classic RPGs. Players appreciate the mix of campy jokes, witty dialogue, and humorous references to gaming tropes, which enhance the overall experience without overshadowing the story. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, many noted that it successfully adds a fun and engaging layer to the gameplay.

    • “The story starts off pretty basic but as the story progresses there's a lot of cute, funny moments, and interesting plot developments.”
    • “A game that is able to make humorous side quests while still being able to take itself seriously is a huge accomplishment.”
    • “The writing is campy but quite funny in some spots, characters are memorable if a bit generic, the music is pleasant and fitting.”
  • music203 mentions

    The music in "Secrets of Grindea" has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its nostalgic and fitting nature that complements the game's vibrant graphics and gameplay. While some tracks are described as catchy and memorable, others note that the music can become repetitive, particularly with short loops in certain areas. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's charm and atmosphere, though there are calls for more variety and uniqueness in some parts.

    • “The music is fantastic and the graphics are fun and colorful!”
    • “The soundtrack blends with every in-game event which makes it even more fun to play.”
    • “The music is wonderful.”
    • “The sprite art is fine, but the music and portrait art won't be to everyone's tastes, often switching between anime, western art, and some ugly in-between like something straight out of a fraud 'how to draw manga' book from the early 2000s.”
    • “Great game overall, you can see the devs really put love into it, the only downside is the music; I wish it was better and more unique. It's low effort in some parts of the game, where they do just one song on loop and it gets annoying.”
    • “The music is also serene and arcade-y, but most of the music is a 15-30 second loop for most areas.”
  • replayability79 mentions

    The game boasts significant replayability, primarily due to its engaging arcade mode and diverse character builds, which encourage experimentation and strategic gameplay. Players appreciate the variety of combat options, weapons, and the roguelike elements that enhance replay value, despite some concerns about the linearity of the story mode. Overall, the combination of polished mechanics and multiple game modes contributes to a highly replayable experience.

    • “This game is very fun, the story is good, the gameplay is great, everything is polished to a shine, and the arcade is the cherry on top that adds a lot of replayability while not feeling dragged out in any way.”
    • “On top of the main storyline, which easily justifies buying the game on its own, there is the infinitely replayable roguelike mode, which is very fun and presents a great case of taking the same builds, items, and mechanics, but through different environmental rules, requiring the player to come up with completely different tactics to stay alive and progress.”
    • “The arcade mode adds great replayability to the game by introducing a roguelike element in randomly generated areas and starting from the beginning if you die, great for those looking for a challenge and wanting more of the game.”
    • “They've added a roguelike mode though, likely in some desperate attempt to add replay value since what's here can be completed in a few sittings.”
    • “The story alone isn't that long sadly and doesn't offer that much replayability in my eyes.”
    • “There is not a lot of replayability on the story since it's the same quests over and over again.”
  • stability17 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a polished experience with minimal game-breaking glitches, others encounter bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode and during specific scenarios like boss fights. The developers are actively addressing issues, and players appreciate the option to choose between a stable or a more experimental version of the game. Despite some minor glitches, the majority of users find the game enjoyable and commend the developers for their commitment to improving stability over time.

    • “The blog updates weekly, and honestly I'd rather this slow launch for an almost bug-free game than some of the other early access games that rush to get out a game so riddled with holes that they put Swiss cheese to shame.”
    • “This game is extremely responsive, 99% bug-free, and runs like a champ.”
    • “While the whole game isn't available yet bug-free, thankfully they have given us the option to play stable or frontline.”
    • “It takes a lot to take the time needed to polish everything and not release some buggy mess of a game.”
    • “Running the game at 50 fps feels clunky, and occasionally the game freezes up.”
    • “We attempted to play again after waiting around for an extended release and the game is very buggy.”
  • emotional17 mentions

    Players have praised the game for its surprisingly deep and emotional storytelling, which evokes a range of feelings, from joy to sadness, often leading to tears. While some emotional moments may feel underdeveloped due to limited character engagement, the overall narrative and character design create a strong emotional connection that enhances the gameplay experience. The game's ability to make players feel accomplished and invested in the story suggests that it has the potential to deliver a powerful emotional journey upon its full release.

    • “The story made me cry.”
    • “The settings and story honestly made me feel so many emotions I hadn't felt while playing a game in a long time.”
    • “Of course the game isn't complete, but I am sure that upon completion the game will take players on an emotional rollercoaster, which will leave you saying 'damn, that was a great game.'”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charm, humor, and immersive qualities, with players enjoying the lighthearted dialogue and diverse zones that evoke different moods. The soundtrack complements the overall experience, enhancing nostalgia and engagement, while the vibrant visuals and clever references keep the atmosphere fresh and enjoyable. Overall, the game creates a fun and memorable environment that enhances both solo and multiplayer experiences.

    • “A really lovely and immersive atmosphere with different zones that have an entirely different mood and feel to every single one!”
    • “The atmosphere and music of the game fits perfectly to the story and provides an amazing element of nostalgia.”
    • “A decade later I finally got to play it, and while I enjoyed the story, the overall gameplay and atmosphere, I didn't like the grind so much.”
    • “Admittedly I haven't really taken the time to read much of the chat boxes, but that's the impression I get from some of the bosses and atmosphere.”
    • “Very colorful, and the atmosphere is top-notch.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and charm, with players appreciating the engaging side quests, witty humor, and appealing character designs. The game offers a robust RPG experience with leveling systems and a variety of character customization options, although some users noted minor issues with graphics and music. Overall, the character development is considered a standout feature that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

    • “Item text, item sprites, character development; it's all just charming and witty.”
    • “This game has everything you'd ever want in an RPG: side quests, leveling and character development, witty/fun humor in the story, and it can be very challenging at times.”
    • “Overall the game is good from the music, gameplay mechanics, story, character design, and variety of items and weapons that you can get, but with the abysmal drop rate of monster cards. I've been grinding for a single card for 2 hours and with a total of 500 kills, together with potion-enhancing card drops that increase the card drop rate by 36%, and I still didn't get the card.”
    • “I had no problems so far, but the music could be better and some of the character designs could also be improved.”
    • “Character development is top-notch.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, with players appreciating the one-time purchase structure and the optional "buy us a coffee" DLC that is transparent in its intent. While some express concerns about the game's long early access period and label it as a potential cash grab, the overall sentiment is that it avoids the pitfalls of microtransactions commonly found in other titles.

    • “Sure, it's been in early access a long time, but there's no cash grab here—just a one-time purchase and a 'Buy Us a Coffee' DLC that is exactly what it says it is.”
    • “It feels like an MMORPG without microtransactions and toxic people.”
    • “Sure it's been in early access a long time, but there's no cash grab here, just a one-time purchase and a 'buy us a coffee' DLC that is exactly what it says it is.”
    • “Almost feels like a cash grab for a $15 early access.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, featuring polished gameplay that has been refined over many years. Players report smooth controls and performance, with well-designed levels, engaging combat mechanics, and a user-friendly system for fighting and item management. Overall, the game delivers a fun and challenging experience without technical issues.

    • “Every chapter has new art, hand-crafted levels, enemies, gameplay mechanics, puzzles, etc. The gameplay is polished and fun; it has been tweaked and optimized over many years.”
    • “The controls respond as expected, and the game runs smoothly.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and has a bunch of cute monsters that roam freely outside of towns, as well as an easy system for fighting, equipping weapons, and using different combos with quick slots.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
5-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs

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