Silk Roads: Caravan Kings
- September 30, 2020
- Priory Games
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Get on itch.io Store"Silk Roads: Caravan Kings" is a solo-developed indie game where you embark on a journey from Europe to China, following in Marco Polo's footsteps. Choose your path, manage your supplies and crew, and engage in trading in over 30 cities along the way. With over 100 unique events and multiple endings, create your own adventure in this vast hand-drawn world.
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Reviews
- The game offers a unique and charming blend of trading and narrative elements, reminiscent of classic games like Oregon Trail.
- The soundtrack and visuals create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of traveling through historical settings.
- Players can enjoy a casual gaming experience with engaging random events that add a layer of unpredictability to the journey.
- The game suffers from repetitive events and a lack of meaningful choices, leading to a diminished replay value.
- There is a noticeable lack of content, with only a few tradable items and limited gameplay mechanics, making the experience feel shallow.
- The user interface is clunky and the game can feel slow-paced, which may frustrate players looking for a more dynamic experience.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as elegant and immersive, enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack and stunning visuals, though some players feel it lacks depth and replayability due to repetitive missions. While it offers a casual experience with emergent storytelling through randomized events, expectations for a more engaging narrative or trade management elements are not fully met. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a relaxed gaming experience.
“The story and art are elegant.”
“The soundtrack really helps you get even more involved with the story; the game map and the sceneries look gorgeous.”
“And the game seemingly has an incorrect ending story.”
“This is a casual game similar to Oregon Trail where randomized events develop an emergent story your character experiences on their long journey.”
“All in all, I would definitely recommend it; it's very easy to just sit back and relax for an hour and let the story unfold.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its pleasantness and ability to enhance immersion, fitting well with the historical setting and beautiful graphics. However, some players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, and there are occasional sound design issues, such as loud click noises when music is muted. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, its repetitiveness is a common critique.
“The journey to Cathay and back is laden with pleasant music and flavorful events.”
“I am a person who wouldn't normally play such games, but the beautiful graphics, the lovely music, and the simple merchant mechanics make the game simple and beautiful to play.”
“The soundtrack really helps you get even more involved with the story; the game map and the sceneries look gorgeous.”
“This game isn't hard; there are some cool historical details, but the music is nice and gets repetitive quickly.”
“City names being incorrect when traveling, and weirdly loud click noises when music is muted on some events.”
“The music/sound design is pretty solid and fits the mood, but it does get a bit old.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay features simple and enjoyable mechanics centered around trading a limited variety of items, with players traveling between locations like China and Venice. While the mechanics are basic, they are complemented by beautiful graphics and lovely music, making the experience appealing even to those who typically don't engage with such games. Overall, the skills, equipment, and relationship systems are straightforward but effective.
“I am a person who wouldn't normally play such games, but the beautiful graphics, the lovely music, and the simple merchant mechanics make the game simple and beautiful to play.”
“It has good and simple mechanics; though there isn't a lot to do, just trade 5-6 different things, go to China, then boat back to Venice.”
“The skills, equipment, and relationship mechanics are basic yet sensible.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as beautiful and engaging, enhancing the overall experience, though some users note that they can be fairly basic with static images. While the visuals contribute positively to the gameplay, there is a desire for more dynamic elements and events to elevate the visual experience further.
“I am a person who wouldn't normally play such games, but the beautiful graphics, the lovely music, and the simple merchant mechanics make the game simple and beautiful to play.”
“The game could be salvaged if more events, consequential choices, and visuals are added.”
“The visuals are fairly basic; a lot of static images moving across your screen to its detriment, but there's usually enough happening in the game to keep your eyes moving.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers an enjoyable experience for a limited duration, but it lacks significant replay value, serving primarily as a brief narrative-driven diversion.
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly impact the story, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back to explore all the possibilities.”
“The dynamic gameplay mechanics and random events keep each session exciting, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers generally agree that character development is effectively portrayed through the unique traits and items associated with characters, such as the cat, the lute, and the fishing rod, which contribute to their depth and individuality.
“The character development in this game is truly remarkable, with each character's backstory and growth feeling authentic and engaging.”
“I love how the game allows for meaningful choices that impact character relationships and development throughout the story.”
“The depth of the characters is impressive; their arcs are well-crafted and evolve in ways that keep you invested in their journeys.”
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the story.”
“I was hoping for more depth in the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional and forgettable.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character progression makes the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that while the initial excitement of the game is engaging, the subsequent gameplay feels repetitive and disconnected, leading to a grindy experience.
“However, once the initial surprise of receipt is over, the actions around them seem disconnected and grindy.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly became tedious and uninspiring.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming, highlighting moments that evoke feelings of warmth and positivity.
“It was a pretty wholesome moment.”
