Songs of Conquest

However, for a game that is in Early Access, it’s a good beginning. It doesn’t have much in the way of bugs and issues. And, as an Early Access game, it may end up having a longer campaign or more stuff overall when it’s finally done. Maybe. But as the game presently stands, it probably isn’t worth it until the player-base increases.

87%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

optimization, grinding

87% User Score Based on 5,339 reviews

Critic Score 62%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Songs of Conquest" is a turn-based strategy game inspired by 90s classics, where players lead powerful magicians known as Wielders and venture to lands unknown. The game offers diverse enemies, valuable loot, and unique factions across contrasting biomes. Players manage resources, research new advancements, and plan their towns to match their playstyle, while engaging in deep combat using troop abilities and powerful magic.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,339 reviews

gameplay372 positive mentions

optimization13 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that combines nostalgia with fresh mechanics, making it a worthy successor to Heroes of Might and Magic III.
Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack enhance the overall experience, creating a charming atmosphere.
The magic system is innovative, allowing for strategic depth by linking spells to troop composition and generating essence during battles.

Campaign missions can feel unbalanced and frustrating, often requiring players to replay them multiple times due to sudden enemy reinforcements or overwhelming difficulty.
Limited number of factions and units can lead to repetitive gameplay, with many abilities feeling similar across different factions.
The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage troops and resources effectively.

gameplay
1,000 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The gameplay of "Songs of Conquest" has been widely praised for its blend of nostalgia and innovation, drawing heavily from the "Heroes of Might and Magic" series while introducing new mechanics that enhance strategic depth, such as unit caps and a dynamic magic system. Players appreciate the engaging turn-based combat, beautiful pixel art, and the variety of factions, although some critiques highlight issues with balance, a steep learning curve, and a lack of unique mechanics across factions. Overall, the game is seen as a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre, with potential for further development and refinement.
- “The gameplay is both fun and addictive.”
- “Songs of Conquest masterfully blends classic turn-based gameplay with stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack.”
- “The gameplay is very engaging and satisfying, including the original approach to the magic system.”
- “With gameplay that is just okay and awful writing (one of the worst dialogues I have ever seen), I can't recommend this game.”
- “The gameplay feels opaque and non-intuitive; there's no sense of risk fighting if you stall turns in the campaign and wait for resources to build up.”
- “The gameplay is not fun at all.”
graphics
879 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The graphics of "Songs of Conquest" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful pixel art style and vibrant animations that evoke nostalgia for classic games like "Heroes of Might and Magic." However, some players find the pixelation too extreme, making it difficult to distinguish objects and interact with the environment, particularly on larger maps. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered charming and well-executed, they may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer modern graphics.
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is catchy, the devs are amazing and listen to the feedback.”
- “Songs of Conquest masterfully blends classic turn-based gameplay with stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack.”
- “The pixel art style is unique and generally pretty good.”
- “Don't really like the visual style (pixel graphics look unauthentic), the game looks quite shallow and mediocre for a non-early-access one.”
- “Terrible graphics, not acceptable for today.”
- “The pixel graphics leave a lot to be desired, but I can look past that.”
music
842 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The music in "Songs of Conquest" has received widespread acclaim for its enchanting and atmospheric qualities, with many players praising the soundtrack as a highlight of the game. The bard songs that summarize each campaign mission add a unique and charming touch, although some players find them less memorable compared to classic titles like "Heroes of Might and Magic." Overall, while the music is generally well-received, there are mixed opinions on its memorability and variety, with some wishing for a broader selection of tracks.
- “The music is wonderful, the animations, graphics & the pixel style is just gorgeous to look at!”
- “The soundtrack fits the game perfectly, both as background music while you concentrate on strategy, and when you hear the bard songs after completing a campaign mission.”
- “The music is fantastic, the aesthetic is on-point, and the missions are expansive and interesting challenges.”
- “Mainly the music... ironic for its name but the music in this game is not memorable at all. I can easily play the combat melody of HOMM 3 from memory since forever, yes it was one song looped over and over, but you would never get tired of it. It was catchy and very memorable, but with this game, as I'm writing this review, I can't remember a single tune.”
- “The only real critique I have is that I don't find the music to be anything special; it's just kind of there.”
- “The combat and story are engaging enough, but for a game that makes songs a central part of its concept, the songs themselves are pretty forgettable.”
story
842 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
5%
The story in "Songs of Conquest" is delivered through four campaigns, each focusing on different factions and their unique narratives, but opinions on its quality vary widely. While some players appreciate the engaging world-building and the bard's songs that summarize each mission, others find the writing lackluster and the plot simplistic, often feeling disconnected or uninspired. Overall, the campaigns provide a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic strategy games, but many players express a desire for deeper storytelling and more substantial content.
- “The story is surprisingly good (so far).”
- “The campaigns may not be voiced, but their storytelling is concise and while at the time of this, the game is an early access title, the first campaign was a blast to play through.”
- “The story is well written, you have interesting characters and challenging levels for the campaign setting and for multiplayer this can go up to 8 players total.”
- “The campaign storyline is dull.”
- “The campaign in Songs of Conquest sucks: the plot is too simple and boring, served by some childish song of a bard in a tavern.”
- “The story is forgettable, mostly about two strong women on a journey for 'modern audiences' the same as Hollywood.”
optimization
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
17%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during late-game turns and on larger maps, leading to lag and long wait times. While some users noted improvements and smooth performance on higher-end systems, others experienced stuttering, screen tearing, and a cumbersome user interface that requires excessive clicks. Overall, the game is seen as needing further optimization and bug fixes, especially given its early access status.
- “Homm type of games is a weird mishmash of genres - it simultaneously tries to be a strategy, where you optimize resource conversions, think of build-sequences and place wielders in strategic spots, ensuring the transportation of units, minimize unit expenses in battles, a tactics optimization game, where you minimize unit expenses during a battle, a puzzle (campaign missions), where you try to complete a pre-baked static challenge, and also it is kind of a political/historical simulation, that tries not to contradict the realities of medieval warfare too much, which allows it to heavily lean on the storytelling part.”
- “The game is gorgeous looking and you can tell the animation and art was carefully optimized for the overall theme, very past the peak of satisfaction.”
- “The game still needs better optimization and some critical bug fixing, but the devs are once again aware of those things and steadily working on making them better.”
- “The game suffers from a few optimization issues such as FPS drops and problems loading assets when a large part of the map is explored, especially while zoomed out or during the AI turns.”
- “Currently, the game seems poorly optimized and buggy.”
- “The performance seems to need some optimization, and the game itself would benefit from more content, but the base is very solid.”
replayability
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
5%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, random map generation, and community content that promise high replay value. However, some reviewers note that the lack of depth, variety in factions, and repetitive gameplay can limit long-term enjoyment. Overall, while there are strong elements that support replayability, significant improvements and additional content are needed to enhance the experience further.
- “The game’s charm, engaging mechanics, and replayability make it a strong entry in the genre.”
- “Randomly generated maps and community content will make sure you have endless replayability.”
- “With skill trees and the random maps, this game has high replay value.”
- “After 25 hours of playing, I have seen everything the game has to offer; there is zero replay value in the game for me, and I am done with it, saying this as someone who loved HOMM3 and replayed it multiple times.”
- “Very pretty but sorely lacks diversity and depth in all of its aspects, making replayability almost null.”
- “It totally lacks replayability because, as mentioned, every playthrough in skirmish is the same due to the inability to create different army compositions and the lack of unit variations and mixing options.”
atmosphere
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
29%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful pixel art, excellent animations, and a fantastic soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the blend of familiar and bizarre elements that create a magical and enchanting world, making it a relaxing yet engaging experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic and sound design contribute significantly to its rich and vibrant atmosphere, reminiscent of classic titles like Heroes of Might and Magic.
- “The atmosphere is both familiar and wonderfully bizarre, immersing you in a fantastical world filled with mystery and intrigue.”
- “The artwork, animation, and music are excellent and very atmospheric.”
- “The atmosphere is magical and enchanting.”
- “I'm a fan of Disciples 2 and this game doesn't have the epic atmosphere that Disciples had, but still it's very good.”
- “I think it could be more prominent and more intertwined with the gameplay, which will add to the atmosphere the game creates.”
- “The music and atmosphere of the game fit really well, but sound effects can be really loud, when finishing a battle for example or getting a reward.”
grinding
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many describing the campaign as boring and repetitive. While some appreciate the game's visuals and initial enjoyment, the need for constant resource collection and the linear nature of gameplay lead to a sense of monotony, particularly in later stages. The AI's behavior and the mechanics of unit management further contribute to a grinding experience that detracts from strategic depth and enjoyment.
- “The game is enjoyable from the start, with very cool artwork and easy navigation, making the grinding experience less tedious.”
- “The game looks good, but the campaigns are boring, tedious, and arbitrary.”
- “It just seems to get tedious as winning doesn't seem so much like a choice in tactics.”
- “It's not fun to spend 2 hours grinding through a mission to get overwhelmed so easily.”
stability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
79%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various bugs, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users note that it runs well on specific platforms like the Steam Deck and MacBook Air, others highlight significant performance issues and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is still in early access, and while some players find it relatively stable, many anticipate improvements as updates are released.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Although still in early access, what is present works and is relatively bug-free.”
- “The game is almost completely bug-free from launch.”
- “I'll play the game on the deck, put the deck to sleep, come back hours later, and the game freezes requiring the deck to be manually shut down.”
- “Extremely buggy game, campaign is riddled with soft locks and an unholy amount of 'uncaught exception' errors.”
- “Freezes too much and crashes.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it nostalgic and enjoy the quirky combinations and amusing scenarios, others feel it lacks depth and can become tedious. The game's charm often shines through in its unique units and funny moments, such as using humorous strategies or engaging with entertaining music, but it also suffers from performance issues and balance problems that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the humor can be hit or miss, but when it lands, it adds a delightful layer to gameplay.
- “Nostalgic gritty graphics mixed with a wicked sense of humor, great storytelling and unique units makes for hours of fun and they keep adding content...for free!”
- “All in all my favorite thing was being able to field an army of just hyenas, because watching my 9 stacks of laughing doggos maul everything was great.”
- “The literal songs of conquest after campaign missions were unexpected, funny, and delightful.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The game is described as a heartwarming experience that evokes nostalgia and emotional connections, particularly for fans of the Heroes of Might and Magic series. Players appreciate its unique charm and complexity, with many expressing gratitude for the developers' ability to create a game that resonates deeply, offering a sense of comfort and connection to simpler times. However, some criticisms arise regarding the game's community and moderation, which detracts from the overall emotional experience.
- “I followed your YouTube updates since the beginning, this is heartbreaking.”
- “I seriously want to give my heartfelt thanks to the developers for helping me somewhat connect to the simpler times in youth before going to war and before my dad passed.”
- “All considered, this game is a heartwarming surprise, and I would love to see more campaigns, more factions and I am anxious to try the multiplayer soon with my friends :-)”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as exploitative, with players feeling that the focus has shifted to releasing numerous small DLCs that lack substantial content, rather than delivering quality expansions. Many longtime fans express disappointment, perceiving the approach as a blatant cash grab following the game's initial success, and warn against supporting such practices. Overall, the sentiment is that the monetization model is greedy and detrimental to the game's integrity.
- “However, they decided not to make more quality DLC and focus on cash grabbing by pushing out many small DLCs with new factions without any of the supporting campaign content to make new songs for each new faction.”
- “I am extremely disappointed as I am a longtime HOMM and strategy game fan in general and was excited to play this game at the premise of an interesting game; however, instead of that, currently, this honestly feels like a blatant cash grab after an unexpected success was reached.”
- “But their monetization model is extremely hostile and greedy.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development is a standout feature of the game, with a well-executed leveling system and engaging character design that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the meaningful variety in characters and armies, although some critiques mention inconsistencies in visual quality. Overall, the campaign's character depth and plot development are praised, with hopes for continued excellence in future content.
- “Slick UI, excellent character design, art on point, and the armies feel meaningfully varied, so this means it hits every note you would want from a HOMM-like with pitch-perfect accuracy.”
- “The character development and leveling system is by far the highlight of the game.”
- “In the campaign, I really enjoyed the characters and I hope you keep up this level of character development and plot in later campaigns.”
- “Soc gets another 5% deduction for the unfortunately not that pretty character designs, which sometimes only show pixel mush instead of pixel art.”