Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

About

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a dark fantasy, open-world RPG set on a bleak island where King Arthur is long dead and mythical creatures run amok. This Early Access game offers quests, loot, choices, and monsters, with more content to be added for free. Players should expect bugs and lack of polish, as the game is still in development and liquid savings may become corrupted.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,264 reviews

story570 positive mentions

optimization186 negative mentions

The game captures the essence of classic RPGs like Skyrim and Oblivion, providing a rich dark fantasy atmosphere.
Combat mechanics are engaging, with a satisfying parry system and a variety of playstyles available.
The voice acting and storytelling are surprisingly good, adding depth to the characters and quests.

The game suffers from performance issues, including long loading times and frame rate drops, especially in open areas.
Many quests are bugged or incomplete, leading to frustrating experiences and potential game-breaking situations.
The enemy AI can be inconsistent, with some enemies being overly easy to defeat while others can one-shot the player.

story
2,000 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The story of "Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon" is described as intriguing and rich, drawing heavily from Arthurian legends while incorporating unique twists and dark themes. Players appreciate the depth of the narrative, the quality of voice acting, and the engaging world-building, although many express frustration with quest bugs and unclear objectives that can disrupt the experience. Overall, while the game is still in early access and has its share of technical issues, the potential for a compelling story and immersive gameplay keeps players hopeful for future updates.
- “The intricate world design, compelling storytelling, and the significant impact of player choices are remarkably engaging, drawing me in with a sense of nostalgia.”
- “The story has a lot of potential and I'm excited to see where the developers take it.”
- “I love the story and gameplay.”
- “If I had to criticize anything, it would probably be the introduction to the story in the prologue and just in general how the story gets explained. As the game continued, I just got more and more confused, not sure if that's just because the game is incomplete or because I am dumb or if the game just doesn't explain it properly.”
- “The main quest ends abruptly without any disclaimers once 'completed' and does not connect to the new area of the game yet (you must forcefully explore it, off character).”
- “The quests and story: I wanted to write a lot about this but I decided it's just going to be too long - the quests are generic, mostly very limited, they are scripted badly, sometimes things trigger and sometimes they don't. I find myself running around the map and reading the very limited information you have for the quests, over and over just wasting time on not advancing because it's not clear how to proceed, some quests I think are broken as I did everything I can think of to complete them but still nothing.”
optimization
650 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
61%
29%
The game's optimization is a significant concern among players, with many reporting severe performance issues, including frame drops, stuttering, and crashes, particularly in open-world areas. While some users have noted improvements following recent patches, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, requiring further work to enhance stability and performance. Players are advised to approach the game with caution, especially those with lower-end hardware, as the current state can lead to an unplayable experience.
- “Despite the optimization issues, the game is very well done, controller support is great, the voice acting was interesting and the books were funny.”
- “This could be a fantastic game if the devs work out the optimization issues.”
- “With the new update, note that performance is very much improved.”
- “The performance is a big issue; I regularly experience frame drops with a 6800 XT.”
- “It's a poorly optimized experience that has a lot of promise, but just isn't there yet.”
- “The optimization in this game is just awfully bad; the characters feel so lifeless and the environment is just meh.”
gameplay
612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The gameplay of this early access RPG draws heavily from the Elder Scrolls series, particularly Skyrim, featuring familiar mechanics like crafting, combat, and exploration, while introducing new elements such as timed blocking and dodging. Players appreciate the engaging combat system and atmospheric world, though some mechanics feel unbalanced or underdeveloped, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Overall, while the game shows promise with its solid foundation and potential for growth, it still requires significant refinement and additional content to fully realize its ambitions.
- “The gameplay and quests got their hooks into me immediately, though, and I'm sad to realize that I can see an end to the available early access content looming.”
- “The combat is fantastic, while feeling very familiar to fans of Skyrim this game builds on to the combat adding a timed block mechanic that feels natural and enhances the flow of the combat.”
- “This game is a masterful blend of deep storytelling, RPG gameplay, and atmospheric world-building that immerses players in a dark and captivating Arthurian fantasy.”
- “Resulting as a gameplay = 90% loading / 10% dying...”
- “This game has so much potential, the artwork and map design are 10/10 and remind me of Morrowind/Oblivion but the gameplay and AI are just so bad.”
- “After over 24 hours of gameplay, it all feels like I wasted my time.”
graphics
560 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the unique art style and atmospheric design reminiscent of classic titles like Skyrim and Oblivion. However, several users noted that the graphics feel dated and are plagued by performance issues, including bugs and low frame rates, particularly on higher settings. Overall, while the visuals have potential and charm, they require significant optimization and polish to meet modern standards.
- “The graphics are great for an indie team, the UI is much better than any Bethesda game, it has a lot of cool-looking skills, and a ton of items to loot.”
- “The graphics are really good!!”
- “I didn't expect much and hadn't heard of the game before, but I loved the gritty and immersive graphics and thought I'd give it a go.”
- “The character models and overall graphics look like something from Oblivion, a game that’s nearly 20 years old.”
- “Indie game or not, by 2024, I’d expect graphics at least on par with Skyrim.”
- “The graphics feel dated, I must say, performance is not that great.”
atmosphere
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to titles like Dark Souls and Skyrim while offering a unique, grim twist on Arthurian legend. Players appreciate the detailed world-building, engaging sound design, and the overall eerie ambiance that invites exploration and enhances the storytelling experience. Despite some technical issues, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, captivating players with its rich lore and haunting environments.
- “The atmosphere is very immersive with many small noises such as water dripping in a cave, wind rustling leaves, potions bubbling, coins clinking, etc. Bows sound great.”
- “The grim dark atmosphere to the setting is incredible and is different from anything I've played before in a fantasy game, and has kept me coming back for more.”
- “This game is a masterful blend of deep storytelling, RPG gameplay, and atmospheric world-building that immerses players in a dark and captivating Arthurian fantasy.”
- “With this setting and atmosphere, I was expecting more, but maybe they are working to sort out this buggy hideous mess of a game before any gameplay/content updates.”
- “The atmosphere is oppressive and creepy and just disgusting, and it lends itself well to the lore of this decaying corpse of a world that you find yourself in.”
- “I really wanted to like this, from the visuals to the atmosphere, the combat and skill progression, it just catastrophically under-delivered on everything those qualities rest upon.”
stability
252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, glitches, and performance issues typical of early access titles. While many acknowledge the potential and enjoyment found within the game, the overwhelming consensus is that it is currently too buggy and unpolished for a satisfying experience. Players are advised to wait for further updates and improvements before investing fully.
- “Looks really good, sounds mostly good, runs great on my machine.”
- “Reinstalled with update and all runs great now.”
- “Hugs & kisses to the dev team for making this excellent game, also runs great on Linux.”
- “The game is a buggy mess.”
- “Too buggy and unpolished to be particularly fun, even in saying its early access, delivering something in this state disheartens me for this project, 75% of all saves are immediately bricked, enemies in dungeons aren't considered dead even you kill them, the music is boring, frame drops in the open world are terrible, combat is simple and dis-interesting, and worst of you literally cannot level magic after taking the talents for it.”
- “Unfortunately, I cannot play this game because it's too buggy.”
music
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly in combat and exploration. While some users describe the soundtrack as "fantastic" and "hauntingly beautiful," others note that it can be sparse or repetitive, and there are issues with music triggers and mixing. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's dark fantasy vibe, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, and the world and atmosphere really drew me in.”
- “The music and atmosphere build well off of each other, giving the world a wholly unique vibe.”
- “The music is so immersive, and the world is a joy to explore.”
- “The music is pretty sparse, but what's there is pretty good.”
- “The one type of combat music is pathetic; enemies are quite one-dimensional.”
- “The music is decent, but everything else needs lots of work.”
humor
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the witty dialogue and humorous interactions that provide levity amidst a darker narrative. While some found the humor to be engaging and genuinely funny, others criticized it as juvenile or lacking depth, suggesting that the writing could benefit from more creativity. Overall, the game successfully incorporates moments of humor that enhance the experience, despite some inconsistencies in execution.
- “In conclusion, if you're looking for an RPG that will transport you to a world of wonder, danger, and occasional hilarity (seriously, some of the dialogue in this game had me laughing out loud), then Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon is the game for you.”
- “I admit I was worried it was only going to be grotesque and edgy, but I was surprised to find funny, charming characters who don't forget to crack a smile or joke around despite all the terrible things happening in the setting.”
- “Despite the optimization issues, the game is very well done, controller support is great, the voice acting was interesting, and the books were funny.”
- “Everyone talks in this jokey-but-witless manner, constantly making unfunny quips.”
- “I'm hoping the original writers (it was a board game first) are more creative and more intelligent, but the video game writers are insightless, unfunny jokesters with a grudge against the player.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that progress can be easily lost due to crashes or patch updates. Many express frustration with repetitive tasks, such as combat and lockpicking, which detract from the overall experience. Suggestions for improvement include streamlining inventory management and making crafting and upgrading systems more efficient to reduce the grind.
- “Very tedious and will set you back hours.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Combat slow and clunky, tedious gameplay.”
character development
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
Character development in the game is praised for enhancing the overall experience through rich world-building and exploration, reminiscent of the Elder Scrolls series. While players appreciate the choices available for character progression, there are calls for a more extensive skill tree and dynamic abilities to create a more defined and engaging character journey. Overall, the game offers a fun RPG progression system, but there is potential for further depth and refinement.
- “The game’s focus on world-building and character development truly enhances the overall experience, creating a vibrant atmosphere that invites exploration.”
- “So rare these days to get a great character development journey, and a good bit of lore to go with it.”
- “They have borrowed some mechanics from the Elder Scrolls series (absolutely love it, always wondered why studios don't use amazing character development systems like ES's, glad to see it here).”
- “Character development, a larger skill tree and a more focused approach to things would help your character be more defined.”
- “Sure, technically you can block and dodge, but that doesn't change the core premise: it isn't dynamic, you are not using special or magical abilities as an expression of your skill and character design.”
- “- character development: I didn't play enough to get a sense of this, but the game does offer some choices in how you want to play/progress.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as promising, with potential stemming from different build options and quest endings, though some players note that the linear story and repetitive side missions may limit it. Many reviewers express hope for future updates to enhance the experience, such as more unique quest lines and playable races, which could significantly increase replay value. While currently in early access, the foundation for a highly replayable RPG is acknowledged, contingent on further development.
- “This game has so much potential; it just needs a lot more unique quest lines and a map six times as big, and it could be another highly replayable RPG.”
- “Fun playthrough (factions/choices matter, and replayability is there to explore different outcomes).”
- “This game has so much potential; it just needs a lot more unique quest lines and a map six times as big, and this could be another highly replayable RPG.”
- “Replay value is low; the story is linear and some of the side missions are repetitive, but this is to be expected in an RPG.”
- “Replayability would come in the way of choosing different quest ending options for a few quests and trying a different playstyle (I did a battlemage/paladin the first time through, focusing on sword/shield heavy armor and regeneration magic).”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players excited about future updates while expressing frustration over unclear advertising and a toxic community. Concerns about the game's quality of life and the effectiveness of its promotional strategies suggest that the monetization model may not be fully aligned with player expectations.
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by strong voice acting that resonates with players, evoking nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles like Oblivion. However, some users noted issues with sound quality, particularly with quiet dialogue, which detracted from the overall emotional experience.
- “I felt that most of the voice acting was very good and properly emotional, though the sound quality needs to be closely examined as some pieces of dialogue were impossibly quiet.”
- “This game, at the start, made me feel like I was playing Oblivion again.”
- “Not many games have made me feel like that since, not even Skyrim.”