Sword of Convallaria

About

In "Sword of Convallaria," become a mercenary leader in the mineral-rich country of Iria, facing tough decisions as tensions rise. Engage in strategic, grid-based combat, using battlefield elements to your advantage. Your choices and interactions will shape the narrative and future of your town. The game features "NeoPixel" graphics, combining pixel-style with modern 3D renderings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,110 reviews

story796 positive mentions

monetization40 negative mentions

Engaging and rich storyline with multiple branching paths and endings.
Beautiful pixel art and character designs, along with a fantastic soundtrack.
F2P friendly mechanics that allow players to progress without spending money.

Gacha mechanics can be predatory, with low pull rates and expensive currency.
Energy system limits gameplay, requiring players to wait for stamina to regenerate.
UI and controls can be clunky, especially on PC, making navigation frustrating.

story
2,528 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
67%
2%
The story of *Sword of Convallaria* is a significant highlight, featuring a rich narrative with branching paths and multiple endings that enhance replayability. Players can engage deeply with the lore through the "Spiral of Destinies" mode, which is entirely separate from the gacha mechanics and allows for a more immersive experience without the constraints of energy limits. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a somewhat generic setup, many find the character development and political intrigue compelling, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of tactical RPGs.
- “The story is another big selling point of the game, and what sets it apart is the presence of a branching narrative which lets you ally with different factions to completely change the course of the overarching story and reach totally different outcomes.”
- “The storytelling in spiral of destinies is excellent, so push through the prologue to get to the good stuff!”
- “The game has a very long 'story mode' (spiral of destinies) which doesn't have any gacha mechanics and is very enjoyable.”
- “The single player story mode was just grindy and you are essentially split into several different endings per faction.”
- “The maps need to be bigger and the story more streamlined.”
- “The story is a bit bland overall, and there's a clear disconnect between the campaign and the rest of the story.”
gameplay
1,166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The gameplay of *Sword of Convallaria* is a blend of tactical RPG mechanics reminiscent of classics like *Final Fantasy Tactics* and *Fire Emblem*, featuring engaging turn-based combat and strategic depth. However, many players criticize the game for its gacha mechanics and energy system, which can limit playtime and detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a substantial single-player mode free from gacha elements, providing a rich narrative and gameplay experience for those willing to navigate its monetization aspects.
- “Behind the cash shop is a decent strategy game with tons of free story content, good gameplay mechanics, great art and music that will hopefully keep you entertained enough to ignore the live-service monetization.”
- “Great gameplay mechanics, you can use the terrain to your advantage.”
- “Sword of Convallaria stands out as a well-crafted tactical RPG with deep strategic gameplay and a compelling, choice-driven story.”
- “However, the mechanics feel pretty barebones.”
- “But then they introduced the auto button and the whole gameplay part just goes out of the window.”
- “The gameplay is okay, but the sheer amount of stuff thrown at you feels overwhelming, and I don't care to learn it all.”
graphics
462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The graphics of "Sword of Convallaria" have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles like "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Octopath Traveler." Many reviewers highlight the beautiful character designs, engaging animations, and overall visual appeal, although some note minor graphical bugs and a lack of depth in certain areas. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the immersive experience of its tactical gameplay.
- “The art style is beautiful.”
- “Sword of Convallaria is a visually appealing tactical JRPG that blends nostalgic pixel-art aesthetics with modern gameplay mechanics.”
- “The graphics are a beautiful homage to the classic style but enhanced for a modern audience.”
- “None of the redeemable codes work, the game won't let you adjust any graphical settings unless you're actually in a battle and the overall presentation is just super phoned in.”
- “There were also some annoying graphical bugs for me on Steam, like menu pages and description texts disappearing, which means that I had to restart the game to be able to see them again.”
- “The character design, world/map design, the stage design, the plot, the visuals, the UI, the music, even the equipment and attacks are all boring and generic.”
music
344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly due to the contributions of renowned composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, known for his work on the Final Fantasy series. Players appreciate the beautiful orchestral soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth, although some note that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, complementing the game's stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.
- “The music is by Hitoshi Sakimoto, the same guy who did Final Fantasy Tactics, so that's a big reason to play this game!”
- “The game’s orchestral soundtrack adds emotional weight to both battles and story moments, enhancing the overall experience with a sense of grandeur.”
- “The music is fantastic, the gameplay is interesting (and that it's a turn-based TRPG is awesome).”
- “Dislike: music is okay, it's not Final Fantasy or Sword Art Online quality of music.”
- “The soundtrack is also extremely repetitive and uninspired at points.”
- “The character design, world/map design, the stage design, the plot, the visuals, the UI, the music, even the equipment and attacks are all boring and generic.”
monetization
208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
71%
19%
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism for being aggressive and heavily reliant on gacha mechanics, with many players feeling bombarded by microtransactions and in-game purchases. While some users appreciate the ability to enjoy the game as free-to-play, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment with the monetization practices, which are seen as predatory and reminiscent of older, less favorable models. Despite the game's potential and enjoyable gameplay, many reviewers believe it would benefit from a more straightforward pricing structure rather than the current cash grab approach.
- “It's free, and don't let the gacha monetization scare you away; it's still worth your time, even if you only get a few hours of enjoyment out of it.”
- “Despite its excessive monetization and pay-for-power in-game shop, the game provides plenty of power and resources to regular players for free.”
- “With no predatory monetization necessary, simply playing the story allows you to earn and unlock more rare craftable blueprints/materials.”
- “But with the current live service structure, I just can’t shake the feeling that the developers chose to lean heavily on monetization instead of letting the game speak for itself.”
- “The monetization of the game is abysmal and the 'end game' is grindy and tedious to do every week.”
- “This game is a well-made and beautiful cash grab; monetization is painful and aggressive on every single menu.”
grinding
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily emphasized, with many players noting that it can feel tedious and time-consuming, especially for free-to-play users. While the game offers various modes and opportunities for character progression, the need to farm materials and characters often leads to a repetitive experience, particularly in the late game. Despite this, some players find satisfaction in the grind, especially those who enjoy turn-based strategy and are willing to invest the time required to progress.
- “And as if the multiplayer part isn't grindy enough, there is also a big single player mode, but you have to earn keys in order to play it. Again, you are put under pressure to clear the chapters fast if you want to get the awards.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Game is not grindy at all.”
- “You will only advance in ability/power/story so far as a free-to-play player before you encounter the ever-long farming process over weeks just to earn enough materials to do a 10x summon, only to discover more low-quality characters and little hope to progress...”
- “This problem is compounded by the endless free-to-play mechanics, which just makes it feel like I'm always grinding and never making any real progress.”
- “Every daily task feels like a boring chore, and after over seven-hundred hours of this inane grinding, I feel ill.”
character development
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
33%
3%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive character designs and engaging storylines, particularly in the context of pixel art aesthetics. However, some players criticize the lack of depth in character development, feeling that it is overshadowed by monetization strategies and generic tropes. Overall, while the character designs are often highlighted as a strong point, the actual development and narrative integration may leave some players wanting more.
- “Character development is excellent.”
- “Lots of things to do, with a paced out but very achievable character development. I would have to say even though you can pay to play this game for sure, but you do not have to!”
- “I would wholeheartedly recommend playing the non-gacha mode of this game to everyone who likes games with these elements: tile-based tactical, rogue, resource management, rich story, and character development.”
- “Gameplay is alright but the character designs all look really uninspired compared to other Japanese anime style gacha games.”
- “Get through poorly translated intro and finally get to the instant deal breaker: within 20 minutes of installing, I find out all activity in the game is gated behind a BS time gate and that they've integrated a stupid gacha system into the game, because they are aggressively pushing the cash shop and slot machine on me before they've even established proper character development or a world.”
- “They didn't even give the intro an hour/any character development before trying to milk me for money.”
replayability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
8%
The game offers high replayability through its branching storylines, multiple endings, and roguelite mechanics, allowing players to explore various paths and character relationships. Features like the "Spirals of Destiny" mode and a multiverse mechanic enhance replay value, providing a rich narrative experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. Overall, players can expect hundreds of hours of engaging content, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.
- “The game's narrative is its backbone, with player choices impacting alliances, character relationships, and the kingdom's fate, providing significant replay value through multiple endings.”
- “Its beautiful visuals, immersive world-building, and branching paths ensure plenty of replayability, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.”
- “And while the game does feature gacha mechanics that offer replayability, they might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially since unlocking certain story paths and characters depends on them.”
- “The multiverse mechanic, where you can change past events and replay timelines, adds depth, replay value, and personal playthroughs.”
- “It's also replayable in that it has roguelike elements in which units/abilities/loot you get in a run and what missions you choose to do.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including lag and high resource usage, even on high-end systems. While certain aspects, like graphics and character customization, are praised, many users express frustration over the lack of UI optimization for PC and the need for better resource management options. Despite a strong launch performance, the game's optimization remains a concern, particularly for those playing on PC.
- “If you love FF Tactics with gacha instead of unlocking jobs but still get to mix and match skills to optimize team performance in tackling game content, Sword of Convallaria is for you.”
- “Also very nice optimization 1440p 60 on my Ryzen 5 7600 IGPU.”
- “Good graphics and arts, good optimization, very interesting (I can even say it's unique for a mobile game) character customization.”
- “The performance and lag is sometimes undesirable since the server seems to be aiming for US player timezones.”
- “I'm having a ton of performance issues.”
- “You can play this for fun or kill time, but this game's performance is so bad it uses a lot of my memory if I open this game for a long time, even if I just AFK open it in the background.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotional responses through its captivating storytelling and character depth, with players reporting moments that brought them to tears, particularly in specific story routes. The orchestral soundtrack enhances the emotional weight of both battles and narrative moments, creating a grand experience. While some players desire more fleshed-out characterizations, the overall emotional impact is praised, especially in the single-player mode that remains separate from the gacha elements.
- “The game’s orchestral soundtrack adds emotional weight to both battles and story moments, enhancing the overall experience with a sense of grandeur.”
- “I have only reached one ending from Iria's path so far, but I was captivated by the story to the point that I cried.”
- “The story made me cry for the Iria route and the Papal State route.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its self-aware gacha mechanics, which some players find amusing, particularly the timing of pop-up messages after successful pulls. Additionally, the absurdity of the lack of directional control in a combat-focused game is noted as "hilariously stupid." Overall, the reactions to the gacha system and the players' realizations about it add a layer of comedic irony to the experience.
- “One thing of note I find really funny and really well played on their part in terms of 'cheap tactics' is that I have on two different occasions done a 10-pull and gotten 2 legendary champions out of the mix, and both times they immediately put up a box saying 'enjoying this game?'”
- “Both times it literally made me laugh out loud to see it pop up and I had to tip my hat to them for doing it.”
- “Not to mention while in battle no directional control, so a game that is so focused on where you're attacking (and what position you're facing), the fact you can't change which way you face is hilariously stupid.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting issues such as random disconnections of wireless controllers, frequent bugs, and game freezes, particularly when alt-tabbing. Additionally, players in certain regions face significant access problems, requiring VPNs to play. While some acknowledge that these issues may improve over time, the current state is deemed too unstable for an enjoyable experience.
- “Too buggy for my taste.”
- “I like to alt-tab while gaming, but it always freezes the game.”
- “Impossible to play in Colombia or another country; the launcher freezes and it is necessary to use a VPN to access the game.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by its charming pixel art, impressive lighting effects, and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the lovable characters and the immersive world design, drawing strong comparisons to classic titles like "Breath of Fire IV." Overall, the combination of smooth gameplay and visually appealing graphics contributes to a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The graphics style leverages the charm of pixel art with the enhanced atmosphere provided by its gorgeous use of lighting and effects within pseudo-3D pixel environments.”
- “Great atmosphere, great UI (barring an interface bug or two), incredible visuals and music.”
- “I'm having fun sinking a few hours a day after work enjoying the atmosphere, world/character design, and tactical combat mechanics.”