Swords 'n Magic and Stuff
- September 7, 2020
- Kindred Games
- 19h median play time
Get on Steam"Swords 'n Magic and Stuff" is a sandbox RPG set in a vibrant, procedurally generated world. Customize your character, gather resources, and craft weapons to defeat enemies. With a focus on player freedom, explore the vast world and create your own unique adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is fun and engaging, with a charming art style and a lot of content to explore.
- The developers are very active and responsive to community feedback, regularly updating the game with new content and bug fixes.
- The questing system encourages exploration and interaction with NPCs, making it feel immersive and rewarding.
- The combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with no unique skills or abilities tied to weapon progression.
- Inventory management is cumbersome, with limited space and no sorting options, making it tedious to manage items.
- Some quests can be vague or confusing, leading to frustration when trying to figure out objectives without clear guidance.
- story303 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a mix of engaging quests and charming characters, though many players note that it heavily relies on fetch quests, which can feel repetitive. While the narrative lacks a strong overarching plot, the exploration and discovery of hidden quests and secrets provide a rewarding experience for those willing to pay attention to dialogue and details. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable but could benefit from more depth and variety in quest design.
“The game presents a variety of engaging quests that range from epic battles to heartwarming interactions with the lively NPCs inhabiting the world.”
“Each quest carries its own unique storyline, introducing memorable characters and intriguing plotlines that keep you invested in the game's rich lore.”
“Exploration is rewarded in secret locations and even more secret quests as you discover hidden pasts and learn more about the inhabitants of Azura.”
“Overall if you want a game where you can open-endedly explore and do as you please then it's a fun game, but don't expect a full narrative and awe-inspiring story experience.”
“The quests are weak, there's no real reason to do them aside from item and gold rewards; there's not any sort of XP system in the game.”
“The story is really dry, and it gets boring too fast.”
- graphics124 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, low-poly art style that many players find appealing and fitting for its gameplay and music. While some reviewers note that the graphics may seem basic or "cute" at first glance, they ultimately enhance the overall experience, providing a cozy and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are praised for their consistency and ability to complement the game's whimsical nature, making it enjoyable for a wide range of players.
“The art style is absolutely wonderful.”
“The graphics are fitting for the music, monsters, the story, and the gameplay.”
“The game world is stunning, the art style is so adorable, and everything fits together nicely.”
“Graphics - not great.”
“In terms of graphics, it's somewhat basic, but it makes the most of what it has available, with the voxel graphics suiting the gameplay style.”
“I know there's just a couple of devs working on this ambitious project and they've had to take personal time out on this - but I've seen single devs work with much cleaner graphics and more entertainment in their game.”
- gameplay97 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, accessibility, and engaging exploration, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans alike. Players appreciate the variety of activities, such as crafting and combat, although some express a desire for deeper mechanics and more complex quests. While the game has a charming art style and fun cooperative elements, concerns about repetitive gameplay and limited content in its early stages have been noted, with many looking forward to future updates to enhance the experience.
“All that combined with some unique game mechanics makes this a tremendously fun game!”
“Controls are pretty tight, gameplay is solid, and I love the feeling of discovering new things in the open world.”
“The gameplay mechanics are straightforward and accessible, making it easy for both newcomers to the genre and seasoned adventurers to dive right in.”
“The demo is more of a 'try the feel' first rather than being representative of the full content/gameplay.”
“Once the initial cuteness wears off, you're left with a shallow game where the gameplay loop consists almost entirely of running around looking for yet another NPC.”
“At the moment you'll get about 3-5 hours of gameplay out of it until you have pretty much completed all the completable quests.”
- grinding79 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the variety of activities such as farming, crafting, and questing, some find the repetitive nature of these tasks tedious. The balance between grinding and exploration is generally well-received, with players noting that the game offers a wealth of content to engage with, though certain systems, like crafting and leveling skills, can feel overly grindy at times. Overall, the game caters to both casual players and those who enjoy extensive grinding, providing ample opportunities for resource gathering and skill development.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always keeps me engaged.”
“Crafting never really delves beyond 'gather materials -> click what you want -> hold a button for a few seconds -> profit', farming never goes beyond the basic premise (plant and wait), fishing is just hold click, wait, and repeat until caught, etc. Even the combat skills are super simple as, from what I am aware of, you just raise a number so you can equip better gear with no other benefit.”
“The questing is not just talk to someone and complete the quest; you can read into things, reading books throughout the world leads to secrets being discovered. Actual problem solving is involved, but the grinding for crafting skills can feel tedious.”
“Most of your adventures will be spent either grinding or doing monotonous quests for the people of the island.”
- music28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and relaxing quality, with many players highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. However, some reviews note that the music can become repetitive and is often absent during gameplay, only appearing in specific areas like towns. While the soundtrack is considered beautiful and fitting for the game's aesthetic, there is a desire for more variety and continuous music throughout the game.
“The music is relaxing; the combat isn't 'amazing' but it's still fun and lets you dual wield simple weapons like daggers and axes. I've gotten lost just exploring and doing side quests.”
“Overall, the game is really charming, has an amazing soundtrack, very cute characters, and an art style that you can fall in love with.”
“Paired with amazing music, the areas truly come alive and allow you to become immersed inside a colorful world.”
“The music gets repetitive; hard difficulty just turns enemies into bullet sponges, and the crab sounds broke my brain.”
“Continuous music is a welcome addition, but it lacks variety in arrangements and sometimes it varies in volume, which is not the best.”
“For the most part, there isn't a lot of music in the game.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its lighthearted and quirky nature, with players enjoying the funny dialogue, amusing NPC interactions, and entertaining side quests. Many reviewers noted that the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, making exploration and questing feel engaging and enjoyable. Overall, the game's charm and wit have resonated well with players, contributing to a fun and relaxed gaming experience.
“The small dev team has poured a lot into this little game; the animations are great, and the humor, while very 'E' rated, has gotten more than just a chuckle out of me.”
“I find myself laughing out loud at some conversations with the NPC characters.”
“Many of the quests already available have a delightfully quirky humor to them.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant lag and performance issues even on high-end systems, while others report stable performance with minimal bugs. The settings menu also requires improvement, particularly the auto-detect feature. Despite these concerns, some users find the game visually appealing and playable on lower-end hardware, suggesting that further optimization could enhance the experience.
“It's a fair bit like Minecraft, with very little world modification, much nicer graphics, and far superior performance.”
“Still needs some improvements on performance (especially if you're the host), but I think this game is totally worth the money, keep up the good work!”
“The first island is already pretty big with a lot of areas to explore and I haven't had any performance issues.”
“The only issue I have is the performance FPS-wise as the game runs similarly on a high-end PC and a lower-end gaming laptop.”
“But there is one problem, why is this game so bad at performance? I had very big lag spikes on a very beefy PC, no matter the visual settings.”
“There are 'under construction' signs everywhere, combat feels unbalanced, especially when you're just starting off, and I'd call it unoptimized, but that would be far too generous.”
- stability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report only minor bugs and frame drops, others experience significant issues, including game-breaking glitches and persistent problems that hinder gameplay. Many acknowledge that the game is still in beta, which contributes to its instability, but commend the developers for their ongoing efforts to address these issues.
“The game really isn't as buggy as some are suggesting and mostly amounts to minor inconveniences.”
“I experienced very few crashes, which is impressive for a game of this scale.”
“The stability of the game allows for a smooth and enjoyable experience without constant interruptions.”
“There are some bugs, frame drops, and glitches.”
“Unfortunately, most of the same problems persist; it is so buggy. When you rent a room, it doesn't work and spawns you back at the start every time you log back on, wasting the gold you spent.”
“Not to mention the huge number of game-breaking glitches if you so much as move when talking to an NPC and glitching their dialogue.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a mix of epic quests and heartwarming interactions with lively NPCs, making it particularly suitable for kids. Its wholesome atmosphere, cute art style, and a supportive community contribute to a positive emotional experience, even in its early access phase.
“The game presents a variety of engaging quests that range from epic battles to heartwarming interactions with the lively NPCs inhabiting the world.”
“Wholesome game and even though it is still in early access, there is a lot of content and the developer is always updating it <3”
“The art style is wholesome and super cute.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
While the game features charming character designs and a vibrant world that enhances exploration, many users feel that there is a lack of substantial character development. The overall experience is enjoyable, particularly in an open-world RPG context, but the depth of character growth is seen as an area needing improvement as the game evolves.
“The handcrafted landscapes and adorable character designs bring the world to life in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh.”
“I absolutely love the character design.”
“Lovely open world RPG that lets you play your own way, feels like a great adventure and the art style and character design is wonderful. Once more features are added and the game gets deeper and deeper, this will definitely become one of my favorite RPGs ever, even more fun with friends.”
“- No real character development.”
“Regardless of the character design, all squares and hard angles, which I am not a fan of, the game is a real joy exploring and discovering stuff.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Swords 'n Magic and Stuff" is widely praised for its charming and engaging design, featuring a delightful blend of music and visuals that maintain freshness throughout gameplay. Reviewers appreciate how the atmosphere is well-paced, providing a balance of character and surprises that keeps players immersed and eager for more, even in its early access phase.
“The music and atmosphere never get stale, making gameplay fun and engaging.”
“Swords 'n Magic and Stuff has a wonderfully charming atmosphere, one which paces itself to not leave you overwhelmed, yet keeps enough character and surprises to keep you blissfully engaged.”
“'Swords 'n Magic and Stuff' has the astonishing atmospheric design of an amazing RPG; even in early access, it has a lot of promise to become one of the games I would put over a thousand hours into.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real charm.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
“I expected a captivating environment, but the atmosphere is flat and forgettable.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its choose-your-own-adventure style, which encourages multiple playthroughs. Anticipation for future updates, such as housing features, is expected to further enhance this aspect.
“Amazing gameplay with a sort of choose-your-own-adventure vibe, offering major replay value.”
“I'm really excited for future updates, such as housing, which I think will add great replay value.”
“The game has a great concept, but once you've played through it, there's little incentive to go back for a second run.”
“While the story is engaging, the lack of meaningful choices means replaying feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
“I enjoyed the first playthrough, but the limited variations in outcomes make it hard to justify playing again.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the monetization model, highlighting that players can obtain all in-game items without relying on microtransactions, with paid content limited to DLC that supports ongoing development.
“The monetization model is fair and allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“It's refreshing to see a game where you can earn everything through gameplay instead of being forced to make in-game purchases.”
“I absolutely love how you can get literally anything without microtransactions; the only items you pay for are included in the DLC made to support development.”
