Solasta: Crown of the Magister

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 23,986 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Solasta: Crown of the Magister Game Cover
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is an authentic D&D experience, with great tactical combat and plenty of deep systems to chow down on.
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Roll for initiative, take attacks of opportunity, manage player location and the verticality of the battle field in this upcoming Tactical RPG by Tactical Adventures. In Solasta, you make the choices, dice decide your destiny.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 23,986 reviews
story2,937 positive mentions
stability578 negative mentions
  • story9,819 mentions

    The story in "Solasta: Crown of the Magister" is generally described as straightforward and linear, often following typical fantasy tropes such as a quest to collect magical artifacts to save the world. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel of a classic D&D campaign, many criticize the writing, voice acting, and character development as lacking depth and originality. The game features character-specific backstory quests that add some flavor, but overall, the narrative is seen as a vehicle for combat rather than a compelling story in its own right. Players looking for a rich, immersive narrative may find the story underwhelming compared to other RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 or Pathfinder.

    • “A rich immersive world and captivating story; pay attention to your character's origin and watch how uniquely they interact with the world.”
    • “I give it high marks on storytelling, tactical combat system, and a certain intangible charm built into the party dialogues.”
    • “The story is engaging, the food aspect is kind of fun to manage as is scrollmaking and other consumables (especially poison).”
    • “It's almost insulting, the appalling quality of dialog and plot here, and the sheer stupidity of every single character, exacerbated by the amateurish voice acting and ridiculous facial animations.”
    • “In terms of story, character depth and player freedom, it does not hold a candle to Baldur's Gate 3, the old titles or the Owlcat games.”
    • “The story is stiff, the characters lack emotion, a disappointing story overall.”
  • gameplay4,568 mentions

    The gameplay of "Solasta: Crown of the Magister" is widely praised for its faithful adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons 5e mechanics, offering a tactical and engaging combat experience that resonates with tabletop RPG fans. Players appreciate the intuitive controls, clear user interface, and the incorporation of unique mechanics such as light and verticality, which enhance strategic gameplay. However, some critiques highlight issues with the narrative depth, character models, and occasional bugs, suggesting that while the gameplay excels, other aspects of the game could benefit from further refinement.

    • “This is a very solid rendition of the D&D 5e ruleset, with great combat mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, so addicting and fun.”
    • “The mechanics of this game are very well done, would recommend if you enjoy tabletop games.”
    • “Dragged out final 4 hours of campaign with uninspired puzzle platforming, to be met by a broken hoard mechanic.”
    • “After spending hours customizing my fantasy team using all the options provided by the game's in-depth character creation system, I am quite disappointed in how diminished they actually affect the gameplay itself.”
    • “The gameplay is linear, much like any d&d campaign book for tabletop, and the story is good enough to keep you going, but is not going to win any awards for narrative.”
  • graphics3,042 mentions

    The graphics in "Solasta: Crown of the Magister" receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the environmental graphics can be quite beautiful, character models often appear dated and lack detail, reminiscent of older games. The overall aesthetic is described as charmingly retro, but the character animations and facial graphics are frequently criticized for being subpar, leading to a disconnect during cutscenes. Despite these graphical shortcomings, many players appreciate the game's mechanics and faithful adaptation of D&D 5e rules, suggesting that the gameplay experience compensates for the visual limitations.

    • “The graphical presentation is neat.”
    • “As the first game of tactical adventures, Solasta provides beautiful graphics and a promising customization system.”
    • “The graphics are great, and the interface is super clean, it doesn't feel like an RPG when you play with the menu, sound effects and music is great but battle audio is just so repetitive.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre to bad, the voice acting ranges from pretty good to terrible, the character animations are poorly done, and the plot is completely nonsensical at times.”
    • “The graphics are rather ugly for 2021: the characters don't look very...realistic.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated, but this i forgive, graphics have always been secondary at best for me.”
  • stability618 mentions

    The stability of "Solasta" has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users noted minor issues that did not significantly hinder gameplay, others experienced game-breaking problems, frequent crashes, and desynchronization during online play. Overall, the game is described as unpolished and frustratingly buggy, leading many to recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing.

    • “But now that it's fully released and updated, it runs great!”
    • “Also, the game runs great on Linux/Proton; I had no bugs during the entire playthrough, which is always nice to see!”
    • “However, as an indie game, this is all forgivable, especially as they had a very small budget and delivered a largely bug-free and smooth product.”
    • “I would not recommend purchase until Tactical Adventures sort out the final glitches, update the product and let us all progress to level 12.”
    • “Despite all of that, it's very buggy; the game has been out for over 2 years now and it's still a buggy mess.”
    • “The game is buggy, barely works as a co-op experience, the writing is uninteresting at the best of times, and much of the game's design is very tedious.”
  • humor512 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of intentionally silly and unintentionally funny dialogue, reminiscent of classic tabletop RPG sessions. Players often find themselves laughing at the absurdity of character interactions and voice acting, which ranges from charmingly awkward to hilariously bad. While some may critique the overall quality of the writing, many appreciate the lighthearted banter and comedic moments that enhance the cooperative gameplay experience.

    • “My dwarf yells, 'I thought you can fight!' every time I roll a 1 in combat, which is both hilarious and oddly motivating.”
    • “We're howling in laughter late into the night because of how utterly wonky it can get - this game is right up there with Oblivion among the unintentionally funny category of games, but it leaves memorable, beloved experiences.”
    • “If you’re after that tabletop nostalgia with a side of humor, this game’s a solid pick!”
    • “That's not funny... but you have to keep in mind the context of the situation.”
    • “Basic things like intelligence, or even the formality of their language, have absolutely no effect on who says unfunny and cringe-worthy jokes.”
    • “Basic things like intelligence, or even the formality of their language, have absolutely no effect on who says unfunny and cringe-worthy jokes.”
  • music462 mentions

    The music in Solasta has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its whimsical and atmospheric qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. While some describe the soundtrack as beautiful and fitting for the game's fantasy setting, others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to moments of boredom during extended play. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the ambiance, though it may not stand out as memorable outside of the gameplay context.

    • “Solasta's soundtrack is phenomenal, same as Baldur's Gate 3.”
    • “The music is beautifully composed, which adds a lot to the fights.”
    • “The music is fantastic, really evocative.”
    • “The sound in this game can be summed up as 'meh.' The music is decent and serves its purpose.”
    • “When it comes to sound and music, the game does the bare minimum.”
    • “The music gets very redundant after just a little while of playing.”
  • replayability406 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising the extensive character customization options, user-generated content, and the dungeon maker feature that significantly enhance replay value. However, some critiques highlight a linear storyline and limited class options, which can restrict replayability for those seeking varied experiences. Overall, while the potential for replayability is high due to community contributions and diverse character builds, the main campaign's structure may deter repeated playthroughs for some players.

    • “Great game with amazing replay value; been running co-op campaigns and it's intense fun.”
    • “The game is a blast, basically infinite replayability with the dungeon maker.”
    • “Tons of replayability with multiple different campaigns to choose from and the workshop has anything from quick one-shots to fully fleshed out 90-hour user-created campaigns.”
    • “Basically the player follows a linear progression with very little freedom, which results in low replayability even with its scalable character customization capability.”
    • “No replayability at all, with so many backgrounds, races, classes, subclasses, and spells missing.”
    • “The main campaign is a bit linear and lacks replay value.”
  • grinding274 mentions

    The aspect of grinding in the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat, inventory management, and exploration. While some enjoy the leveling and character development aspects, others feel that the mechanics and pacing lead to a frustrating experience, especially when playing solo. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but is hampered by its tedious elements, which detract from the enjoyment of the gameplay.

    • “The implementation of the 5th edition is great; the display of the rolls is not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “The game is buggy, barely works as a co-op experience, the writing is uninteresting at the best of times, and much of the game's design is very tedious.”
    • “You will fight a lot of the same enemy over and over again to the point of it being tedious.”
    • “Put all of these things together and you end up with a game that starts out fun and gets increasingly tedious as it progresses.”
  • optimization249 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on lower-end hardware, others expressed frustration with the lack of polish and optimization, particularly in multiplayer scenarios. Despite these concerns, a few players found the game to be relatively stable and enjoyable, suggesting that performance may vary widely depending on individual setups.

    • “The game runs smoothly even on low-end hardware, and I have not experienced any bugs.”
    • “With all the different classes, subclasses, feats, spells, weapons, armor, and other equipment, there is an endless amount of optimization you can do.”
    • “As for optimization, the game is running exceptionally well for early access, and in fact, I can't recall any stuttering at all, only a few dropped frames here and there with mostly at a solid 60 fps.”
    • “This game is stuttering on RTX 3080 Ti, can't recommend.”
    • “The optimization was so poor and the map so weird that I quickly realized that whatever team made this game weren't professionals.”
    • “Performance crashes, frame rates stutter and then hard crash.”
  • character development212 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and integration of D&D mechanics, while others criticize the lack of complexity and refinement in character design and narrative. Many players feel that the character designs are subpar and detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of detachment from the characters. Despite these criticisms, some users appreciate the character customization options and the potential for engaging role-playing, though they express a desire for more meaningful interactions and story development.

    • “Bg3 is a masterfully crafted story, with a heavy focus on character development and immersion, and is definitely my new favorite video game ever.”
    • “The depth of character development is where this game shines.”
    • “Just really enjoyable - well paced, great combat and fun character development.”
    • “The lack of complexity and refinement in both character design and narratives makes it even harder for roleplaying.”
    • “There is basically no character development, no interesting story developments... it just kind of drags on.”
    • “The game is shallow and boring; you have very little character development and it turns out to be just a fighting game with shallow, one-track-only missions.”
  • atmosphere110 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its immersive environments, atmospheric music, and the nostalgic feel of a tabletop RPG. However, many criticize the outdated graphics, awkward dialogue, and lack of depth in storytelling, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the atmosphere engaging and reminiscent of classic D&D campaigns, others feel it falls short, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to fully captivate.

    • “Explore ancient ruins, traverse treacherous forests, and navigate sprawling cities, each brimming with atmospheric details and hidden secrets.”
    • “The atmosphere of an adventure grasps you from the tutorial and you really want to find out what is around that corner and in that chest :)”
    • “Punched way above its level for setting the atmosphere and tone of the game.”
    • “That game really doesn't create any form of atmosphere.”
    • “Lack of atmosphere is how I would describe it.”
    • “The lore and atmosphere in this game are horrible.”
  • emotional72 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players feeling a strong connection to their characters and the adventure, reminiscent of a D&D tabletop experience, while others criticize the weak story and lack of emotional depth in character interactions. Many reviews highlight a sense of nostalgia and enjoyment in gameplay mechanics, but express disappointment in the narrative's ability to deliver impactful emotional moments. Overall, while the game can evoke feelings of camaraderie and adventure, it often falls short in creating a compelling and immersive emotional experience.

    • “This game made me feel like I was on an adventure and I wanted to keep playing to find out what was happening in the story.”
    • “Very true to the tabletop, both mechanically and emotionally, as everyone misses each other for 5 minutes when you only need to hit one more time to win.”
    • “That creates a deeper emotional attachment to your party and makes the story highly immersive.”
    • “Poorly built world with a lot of empty areas, boring story, a handful of NPCs with absolutely horrible voice acting, where you move from one place to another to have a fight.”
    • “Really want to test another playthrough but the weak and boring story kinda weighed me down.”
    • “Tl;dr: this game takes the worst aspects of 5e, adds in bad homebrew and a boring story.”
  • monetization28 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users labeling it a "shameless cash grab" due to the presence of in-game purchases for essential content, while others appreciate the absence of microtransactions and the community-driven content. Critics express frustration over unfinished features and bugs, suggesting that the game prioritizes profit over quality, whereas some players find it a refreshing alternative to mainstream titles focused on continuous monetization. Overall, the sentiment reflects a concern for exploitative practices alongside a recognition of the game's potential.

    • “No microtransactions, endless content options through the community, and rough around the edges in the way only a video game can get away with.”
    • “While the AAA industry cannibalizes itself with all their live service models, small companies are making incredible pieces of software that capture what AAA can't do anymore because they are more worried about continual monetization to appease stockholders.”
    • “It's very nice to see games like this come out in between all the free-to-play monetization, MMO fads, and e-sports focus.”
    • “First of all, this is not an RPG; this is a shameless cash grab.”
    • “Asking paying customers for cash for 'new classes' or other such minor things seems like a cash grab.”
    • “I'll wrap this up because I've wasted way too much of my time with this sorry excuse of a game already; this game is unfinished, unoptimized, full of game-breaking bugs, and has been designed as an attempt to be a BG3 wannabe clone cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Solasta: Crown of the Magister

Play time

21hMedian play time
40hAverage play time
8-56hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 266 analyzed playthroughs

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