Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,158 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation Game Cover
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"Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation" is a single-player, fantasy turn-based strategy game with amazing graphics and music, but can be very grinding. Based on the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure System, the game takes place in the deadly peninsula of Chult where players, as one of four adventurers, must fight through dangerous jungles, labyrinths, and dungeons to reverse the cause of the death curse.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,158 reviews
story43 positive mentions
grinding58 negative mentions
  • Faithful adaptation of the D&D Adventure System board games, capturing the essence of the tabletop experience.
  • Engaging turn-based combat with a variety of characters and abilities, providing strategic depth.
  • Visually appealing graphics and sound design, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
  • Repetitive gameplay with limited character customization and a lack of meaningful progression.
  • Frustrating encounter mechanics that penalize players for not exploring new tiles each turn, leading to random damage.
  • Short campaign length and minimal story elements, resulting in low replay value.
  • story331 mentions

    The game's story is widely criticized for being thin and lacking depth, with minimal lore and repetitive mission objectives that fail to engage players. Most quests are linear and disconnected, offering little character development or meaningful interactions, leading to a sense of monotony. While some players appreciate the nostalgic D&D setting, many agree that the narrative is underwhelming and does not provide the immersive experience expected from a D&D adaptation.

    • “The story line feels like a dungeon master is at the helm, steering you through your adventure, and the quests are just the kind that a D&D hero would do!”
    • “I enjoyed my time with the game and the story was interesting; classic, but interesting and well done.”
    • “It's light on story compared to others in the genre like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter, or even Tales of the Sword Coast, but the gameplay is rock solid and the adventures are fast-paced and enjoyable.”
    • “The story is thin and crafting is an afterthought.”
    • “The story and lore leave much to be desired.”
    • “The whole game is played in separated missions, which are barely connected by the main story dialogs provided by a side NPC that is actually never even found in the game, besides the few dialogs.”
  • gameplay244 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation" is a mixed bag, with many players noting its straightforward mechanics and turn-based system that closely mirrors the board game it is based on. While some appreciate the simplicity and accessibility for newcomers to D&D, others criticize the repetitive nature, lack of character customization, and frustrating random encounter mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a casual, board game-like experience but may not satisfy those seeking depth or variety in gameplay.

    • “I find the mechanics approachable, fun, and easy to understand.”
    • “The gameplay is simple enough to get you playing quickly while still being challenging.”
    • “The exploration with random tiles and the mechanic of the encounters are well thought out and it is working well for this type of game.”
    • “The gameplay itself is lacking.”
    • “The mechanics of the game seem slapped together at best.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is simply boring and uninspired.”
  • graphics130 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their beauty and polish, particularly in terms of character models and animations. However, some critics note that the visuals can feel dated or repetitive, lacking variety in environments and enemy designs. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered appealing and well-executed, they are often seen as the game's strongest aspect, overshadowing gameplay depth and variety.

    • “Graphics are quite lovely, especially the way the tiles drop from the sky and slot into place.”
    • “The graphics are great and the interface is really intuitive.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and rich sound, very polished, I was amazed considering the price of the full game is so low.”
    • “The graphics are like early 2000's games, and the gameplay is just like any generic tactical turn-based game out there.”
    • “The graphics of the game look not only dated, but the sheer amount of re-skins shows that not much time was invested in creating great diversified and immersive surroundings and interesting monsters.”
    • “The immersion of the game is saved by the awesome music and sound design since the graphics not only looked dated, but also use the same models of the enemies and maps over and over again.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment to gather resources and upgrade equipment. Many players feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, with some suggesting that the inclusion of DLC for in-game currency exacerbates the issue, making it feel like a "pay-to-win" scenario. While some players appreciate the challenge and find enjoyment in the grind, the consensus is that it can become frustrating and monotonous, especially for those seeking a more casual gaming experience.

    • “The grind for gear is long and tedious, and for those who are impatient, there is DLC for in-game currency and resources.”
    • “I pretty much enjoyed playing the game till the end, but it is way too grindy, and having encounters on every single turn makes it really frustrating.”
    • “The bad: very repetitive and requires a lot of grinding to get resources for the higher-level items.”
  • music39 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and generic. Many agree that the soundtrack, although pleasant, lacks variety and can become monotonous over time. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it could benefit from a broader selection of tracks.

    • “The music, which changes depending on the map style, combat, and encounters, provided not a simple background, but actively improved the feeling of the whole game and made the fights feel more epic and engaging.”
    • “The immersion of the game is saved by the awesome music and sound design since the graphics not only looked dated, but also use the same models of the enemies and maps over and over again.”
    • “The music is great and really adds to the ambient feel of the game.”
    • “There are only a few soundtracks that repeat often.”
    • “Well, the music is... generic.”
    • “Music is monotonous, gameplay is painfully slow, environment is kinda meh and no character development.”
  • replayability21 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many players noting a lack of significant replay value due to a single storyline and limited character customization. While some mention the option to replay missions on higher difficulties and the presence of side quests, others find the game short and repetitive, leading to a disappointing experience. A few reviewers highlight strong replayability due to additional features and challenges, but the consensus leans towards limited replay options.

    • “The game gets more challenging as you go, and the side quests and difficulty modes make it very replayable.”
    • “Great party isometric RPG with maximum replayability.”
    • “Great replayability, and enough extra features to keep you playing over and over.”
    • “One storyline, which is okay considering it is a named campaign game, but little replay value taking into account that you only get the previously stated 5 characters.”
    • “Single story path with no branching limits replayability - not worth the cash.”
    • “However, as a digital game, this concept falls short and it is not a game to sit around and play through in a few hours with friends 'digitally'. It's one campaign, and from what I can see, offers little replay value, so looking at a 20-40 hour game that would be frustrating to me personally in a 2-hour session is just disappointing.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting it as mostly bug-free and smooth, while others have experienced significant issues such as crashes, freezes, and minor visual bugs. Overall, while there are positive notes on stability, the presence of recurring bugs and performance problems suggests that improvements are needed.

    • “It's smooth, clean, and fairly bug-free from what I have seen so far.”
    • “Well done, seems to be bug-free, with strong attention to detail, very slightly marred by minor visual bugs (chest animations).”
    • “Graphics are nice, the mechanics are well thought out, and so far it's bug-free. The price is just right, especially if you manage to get a discount during holidays or such.”
    • “The game is a little buggy too (crashed twice so far on loading screens, bleed status does not go away by simply not moving as the description states, haste causes a periodic bug in which the next acid splash will completely fizzle and do nothing)”
    • “I reached level 6 and the game freezes.”
    • “And fix the damn freezes.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of personality, minimal dialogue, and a one-dimensional plot that fails to provide meaningful interactions or growth. While there is a variety in character design and combat styles, the absence of a character development tree and engaging narrative elements leaves players wanting more depth and connection to the characters. Overall, the game is seen as focusing more on tactics than on enriching character experiences.

    • “Great variety and versatility in the progression and development of your characters.”
    • “Positively to point out are the character design and animations, which not only looked unique but also felt cool to play with on the map tiles and had diversified combat styles.”
    • “If you're looking for D&D core rules with an in-depth storyline and character development, this is definitely not for you.”
    • “Very basic story elements, no character development or interaction.”
    • “Only drawback maybe is that the character development tree is nonexistent.”
    • “Like I said before, if you're looking for D&D core rules with in-depth storyline and character development, this is definitely not for you.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as exploitative, resembling that of free-to-play mobile games despite requiring an upfront purchase. Reviewers highlight excessive in-game purchases, microtransactions, and a lack of value, suggesting that the game feels like a cash grab rather than a genuine RPG experience. Many recommend alternative titles that offer a more fulfilling experience without the heavy monetization.

    • “And sadly, it almost feels like it started as a mobile game, with chests to open of different rarities, possible experience boost microtransactions, a simple story progression, etc.”
    • “The monetization of this game is disgusting - it's the kind of thing you would expect to see in a free-to-play game, but instead you buy the game at a decent cost and then get it both crippled (you can't even achieve full party size without paying extra) as well as strangled with a shortage of currency that you're then expected to buy for more money.”
    • “They really demonstrate all that is wrong with modern DLCs and are a blatant cash grab.”
    • “This is pretty much a simple mobile game, based on microtransactions, with a random dungeon generator and some extraordinarily poor combat mechanics.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users report improved load times and better touch support on certain devices, many others experience sluggish performance and clunky gameplay. Despite its potential, the game feels poorly optimized on various platforms, leading to a less smooth experience.

    • “I especially appreciate the performance on my MBA 11".”
    • “Optimized code, faster load times, and better touch support for play on Surface Pro's & tablets.”
    • “It's not bad; it feels clunky and unoptimized, but has lots of potential.”
    • “However, as a gamer for two decades, I feel that if I can't beat a game on the easiest difficulty without prior knowledge and optimization, the designers have just made it too hard.”
    • “Poorly optimized.”
    • “It's also a bit rough in the optimization department.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its integration of music and graphics, creating a comfortable and immersive experience. Players appreciate the relaxed yet challenging environment, enhanced by random events that deepen the sense of realism and achievement. Fans of tabletop gaming particularly enjoy how the atmosphere captures the essence of Dungeons & Dragons, emphasizing the thrill of chance and adventure.

    • “Good fun, relaxed atmospheric game, which has a nice feel.”
    • “So as you can see, for a D&D fan like me, the game captured the atmosphere of the tabletop perfectly, knowing one bad roll can mean success or failure for me and all heroes.”
    • “The survival atmosphere gives a sense of achievement.”
    • “Those random/unknown events mixed with the environment create a deep atmosphere and make missions feel like a real challenge.”
    • “Really enjoyed some of the 'boss' music and general atmosphere.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely absent, as it fails to capture the darkly comedic elements of its D&D source material. Instead, players often encounter frustrating and damaging situations that detract from the fun, leading to a mix of irony in the description of the experience as "very funny and addictive."

    • “Every turn (and I mean every single unit's turn) an 'encounter' triggers, and 80% of the time it's damage or conditions to one or more party members (just like that, out of nowhere, funny, huh?).”
    • “Very funny and addictive!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Play time

11hMedian play time
26hAverage play time
3-58hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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