Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind

About

"Six Ages: Ride like the Wind" is a storybook strategy game, set in the ancient world of Glorantha. As the leader of a clan, players will navigate hundreds of small encounters and make decisions that drive the story forward, building a legacy for their clan over multiple generations. With deep simulation systems, multiple difficulty levels, and a limit on reloading for Iron Willed players, this game offers a challenging and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 397 reviews

story64 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Rich world-building and lore that immerses players in the setting.
Engaging storytelling with meaningful choices that impact the game.
Improved UI and mechanics compared to its predecessor, King of Dragon Pass.

Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating and unpredictable outcomes.
Limited replayability due to a linear storyline with only one victory condition.
Some players may find the interface confusing and lacking in clarity regarding mechanics.

story
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The game's story is rich and immersive, featuring a beautifully crafted world with engaging lore and character-driven narratives. However, many players feel that despite the illusion of choice, the gameplay is heavily railroaded, often leading to predetermined outcomes that limit player agency. While the storytelling and world-building are praised, the reliance on scripted events and a singular victory path detracts from the overall experience for some, making it feel more like a narrative-driven simulation than a truly interactive story.
- “With a beautiful blend of original music, hand-drawn artwork, great storytelling and world-building, and intense turn-based combat, I could not recommend this game more for anyone wanting to try their hand at a narrative-driven choices-matter experience managing a Bronze Age barbarian clan.”
- “This game has one of the richest story-driven and yet interactive and unpredictable pieces of gameplay you'll encounter in a long while.”
- “The art is excellent, the UI is solid, the story is engaging and there's a surprising amount of replayability as if you want to see all of the content you're probably going to want to play through it multiple times and even then there's enough variance that no two playthroughs are going to be the same.”
- “Despite being billed as a 'play your own way' kind of game, you find out quickly that you are railroaded to the plot because there are only a very few select choices that continue the game to the end, and many that will end the game without warning or context.”
- “The only flaw I could find is that the gameplay loop is too repetitive and ambiguous, and that the endgame quests were not clear to identify, so you don't know exactly how to win the game.”
- “The story is very meh and half the time you don't know what exactly is going on.”
gameplay
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a complex mix of mechanics that can feel both engaging and frustrating; while it offers depth and interesting world-building, many players find the mechanics overly ambiguous and punishing, often relying on randomness rather than strategy. The interface is criticized for being unintuitive, making it difficult to grasp the game's systems without external resources, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the narrative and artistic elements are praised, suggesting that the game may appeal to those willing to navigate its challenging gameplay.
- “What I can say for now with only an evening's worth of playtime is that this game has just the right amount of depth to keep a player engaged in the story, just the right amount of mechanics to make it easy to learn but hard to master, and the right amount of time to allow you to comfortably settle in and enjoy the view.”
- “The game combines fantasy, strategy, and role-playing mechanics to keep you playing all night long.”
- “Every aspect of the game has been improved since King of Dragon Pass: mechanics are more transparent and easier to learn, the interface has been refined, the tribal circle offers clearer advice, and the consequences of your actions are more predictable overall.”
- “Considering that these choices are 80% of the gameplay loop, it feels way too underdeveloped.”
- “The only cons I could find were the gameplay loop being too repetitive and ambiguous, and that the end game quests were not that clear to identify, so you don't know exactly how to win the game.”
- “Everything about the game entices you to immerse yourself in the narrative and explore the in-game world... and everything about the actual gameplay then commonly punishes you for doing so.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by beautiful, hand-drawn artwork that many players find stunning and thematically rich, enhancing the narrative experience. However, the static nature of the visuals and the lack of animation may not appeal to those seeking more dynamic or modern graphics. Overall, while the art style is praised for its aesthetic and consistency, it may be an acquired taste that doesn't cater to all players.
- “The game shines in its artwork and its lore.”
- “The art style and design, particularly of the different peoples and cultures you encounter in your valley, are beautiful.”
- “This game, its theme, its graphics, its design, its world is so beautifully crafted - it is a shame that most people do not know about it!”
- “First of all, this title is a no-go for any gamers who insist on eye-popping graphics or just decent 3D graphics for that matter.”
- “The graphics are static images and there is no speech or animation.”
- “There's some posts about it in the game's Steam forum and no real solution provided besides 'update Windows,' which really shouldn't be an issue in the first place since the entire aesthetic and technology behind this game is circa 2003.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the narrative experience, with many reviewers noting its beautiful and immersive nature. While some find the soundtrack repetitive or less impactful compared to previous titles, it is still considered fitting for the game's themes and scenes. Overall, the combination of music and stunning artwork contributes significantly to the game's appeal, though opinions vary on its memorability and effectiveness.
- “The music sets the mood perfectly.”
- “For me the musical ambiance is of prime importance, and they succeeded in creating a magical one.”
- “The soundtrack is nice and immersive, truly making you feel like you're experiencing the story of a Bronze Age tribe.”
- “Also the music was pretty annoying coming in short tracks, all the time changing, not underlining to gameplay, even in its core it fits good to the atmosphere.”
- “The background music is a clear downgrade from kodp.”
- “I'd like to give this more of a chance, but the music is really a big let down, and the choices of sitting through the awful background music or playing the game in silence like a psychopath are not appealing.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its engaging story, unique gameplay, and immersive experience, with many players noting the desire to replay to explore different outcomes and content. However, some critiques mention that certain aspects, like repetitive events and aimlessness in the late game, can diminish this factor. Despite these concerns, the complexity and variety in gameplay ensure that no two playthroughs feel the same, making it a compelling choice for players seeking replay value.
- “The replayability factor of this game alone is off the charts!”
- “Unique gameplay, gorgeous art, well-written story, and great replayability.”
- “The art is excellent, the UI is solid, the story is engaging, and there's a surprising amount of replayability; if you want to see all of the content, you're probably going to want to play through it multiple times, and even then there's enough variance that no two playthroughs are going to be the same.”
- “Six Ages, on the other hand, lasts a couple of decades and even then the repetition of events undermines replayability.”
- “Exploration and some of the story choices are fun but quickly fall off with little to no replay value or have extreme and unpredictable consequences on the resource management, usually to your detriment.”
- “The art is excellent, the UI is solid, the story is engaging, and there's a surprising amount of replayability. If you want to see all of the content, you're probably going to want to play through it multiple times, and even then there's enough variance that no two playthroughs are going to be the same.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
27%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its superbly crafted, warm, and rustic setting, enhanced by beautiful artwork and compelling writing. While some players find the music distracting, many agree that it contributes to the overall immersive experience. Overall, the game successfully captures a unique and engaging atmosphere that resonates with fans of narrative-driven gameplay.
- “The setting is superbly atmospheric and strange yet familiar.”
- “This game is a neat concept and does very well at creating a warm, rustic atmosphere.”
- “This game is a neat concept and does very well at creating a certain warm, rustic atmosphere.”
- “It turns out it's a pretty compelling menu-driven management sim, with a lot of good writing, gorgeous artwork, and a really effective sense of atmosphere and place.”
- “This is a spiritual prequel to the cult classic King of Dragon Pass, a narrative strategy game deep in lore, atmosphere, and role-playing, and light on micro-management.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious due to unpredictable outcomes, the streamlined gameplay and reduced tedium in farming mechanics are generally appreciated. Players enjoy the depth and variety of activities, such as hunting and foraging, which provide a more engaging experience compared to its predecessor, though some feel that the removal of certain features may limit strategic options. Overall, the game manages to balance grinding with enjoyable gameplay elements, though opinions on the changes to farming are mixed.
- “However, the unpredictability of outcomes is a little too random most of the time and becomes quite tedious.”
- “The game, however, rapidly becomes tedious.”
- “Cons: from what I've seen so far (could be mistaken), it seems they have removed some older features of kodp such as options regarding how the farming works and other minor options like speed of scouting parties.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of funny and morally complex dilemmas, complemented by engaging dialogue and quirky character behaviors. Players appreciate the balance of humor with the game's serious themes, noting that it adds depth and charm to the overall experience.
- “The decisions of the tribes make the game: the dilemmas can be funny or morally horrific but always interesting.”
- “Still stellar, with gorgeous pieces of art and writing that do exactly what they need to do, but still remember to throw in humor every once in a while.”
- “I found the dialogue and many of the events, as well as the strange behaviors your people recommend, to be funny and sometimes heartwarming.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for not aligning with its advertising, leading to disappointment among users.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which is frustrating.”
- “The in-game purchases are overpriced and offer little value for what you get.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the emotional depth of the game, highlighting its blend of humor and heartwarming moments in the dialogue and events, which contribute to a memorable and engaging experience.
- “I found the dialogue and many of the events (and the kinds of strange behaviors your people recommend) funny and sometimes heartwarming.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is generally regarded as stable and mostly free of bugs, with players reporting minimal issues and no significant crashes during gameplay.
- “The game is mostly bug-free and quite stable; I don't personally remember it crashing at all, and any bugs I encountered were minor enough to forget.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive, providing a smooth experience without significant interruptions.”
- “I've played for hours without any crashes or major issues, which speaks volumes about the game's stability.”