Tales of Maj'Eyal

About

Tales of Maj'Eyal is a single player open world role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by DarkGod and was released on December 12, 2013. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Tales of Maj'Eyal" is a roguelike RPG with turn-based combat and advanced character building, featuring a rich world full of lore and unique races and classes. The game boasts randomly generated dungeons, deep combat mechanics, and a simple interface, with no grinding or consumables. It also offers easy modding support, online stats, and unlockable achievements, providing engaging gameplay with a modern twist. Buyers receive all extra features available to donors.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,800 reviews

gameplay202 positive mentions

grinding78 negative mentions

Tales of Maj'Eyal offers an impressive depth of character customization with a wide variety of classes and races, making each playthrough feel unique.
The game features a challenging yet rewarding gameplay loop, where each death serves as a learning experience, encouraging players to improve their strategies.
Despite its simplistic graphics, the game has a rich lore and engaging world, with a dedicated developer who continues to update and expand the game.

The game can be punishingly difficult, with random encounters that can lead to sudden and unfair deaths, which may frustrate players.
The user interface and graphics may feel outdated and unappealing to some players, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
There is a steep learning curve, and new players may find it overwhelming to navigate the complex mechanics and numerous options available.

gameplay
687 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The gameplay of "Tales of Maj'Eyal" is widely praised for its depth, variety, and replayability, featuring numerous classes and mechanics that offer unique playstyles and strategic options. While the game has a steep learning curve and can be punishing, players appreciate the rewarding nature of mastering its complex systems and the engaging combat mechanics. Despite its dated graphics and occasionally opaque user interface, the gameplay experience is considered rich and satisfying, making it a standout title in the roguelike genre.
- “With dozens of playable classes, each built around its own mechanics and synergies, no two runs ever feel alike.”
- “The gameplay loop of Tome is built around exploring randomly generated zones, gaining experience, leveling up, and carefully allocating skill points into a wide selection of abilities.”
- “The depth and breadth of classes is astounding, turning what could easily have been a simplistic/repetitive combat system into something bursting with meaningful, tactical decisions and interesting strategic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay can become very tedious very quickly, but since the focus is on character progression, I can forgive this, since the latter is quite good.”
- “The gameplay is extraordinarily dynamic, while (by some miracle) being decently balanced.”
- “The ui is opaque, the mechanics are dense, and enemies are punishing.”
graphics
597 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The graphics of "Tales of Maj'Eyal" are generally described as simplistic and dated, often reminiscent of early 2000s or even 90s games, which may deter some players. However, many reviewers emphasize that the visuals serve their purpose well, providing clarity and functionality that enhance gameplay rather than detract from it. While the graphics may not be impressive by modern standards, the depth, mechanics, and overall experience of the game are highly praised, making it a worthwhile play for those who prioritize gameplay over aesthetics.
- “While its graphical presentation won’t win any awards, it serves the purpose of clarity—every enemy, terrain type, and spell effect is visually distinct, which is critical in a game where understanding your surroundings is key to survival.”
- “The graphics, though dated, have a certain charm that lingers with you.”
- “Don't let the graphics deter you; this game is a labor of love, and if you look past the visuals, you'll find an addictive gem with massive replay value.”
- “The graphics are old, but I find them quite charming.”
- “The visuals are bland and level design nigh non-existent, making repeat runs boring.”
- “The graphics are weak as hell, but that's part of its undeniable charm and not the focus of this game, anyway.”
story
512 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The story in "Tales of Maj'Eyal" (ToME) is rich with lore and offers a variety of quests, though it is often described as minimal and somewhat linear, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay. Players appreciate the depth of the world-building and the optional lore that enhances immersion, but some find the main narrative uninspired and repetitive across playthroughs. While the game excels in character customization and combat, the reliance on escort missions and the randomness of encounters can detract from the overall experience.
- “The story is engaging and often humorous, but appears almost entirely in the background through gameplay elements rather than tedious cutscenes and copy-pasta TV tropes.”
- “Tome features a huge main campaign with a pre-determined world map and randomly placed quest dungeons, several dozens of class/race combos with unique skill trees and expansive battle mechanics to liven up the experience.”
- “Unlike most roguelikes, Tome has a huge story that requires multiple playthroughs as multiple classes making multiple choices to fully appreciate the scope of the story.”
- “The story is the least involved aspect of Tome, but then that makes this the one piece of roguelike convention Tome follows most closely--the plot is an excuse to get you to kill things.”
- “The story is minimal but the lore is everywhere if you are into that kind of thing.”
- “The quests and characters (when you're lucky enough to come across them) are interesting and varied, and it can be a hell of a lot of fun to craft a character who mows through enemy hordes like butter.”
replayability
365 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with a vast array of classes, races, and customization options that allow for nearly infinite playthroughs. Players appreciate the depth of gameplay, random elements, and unlockable content that keep each run fresh and engaging. However, some critiques mention that the linearity of the plot and limited locations can detract from the overall replay experience for certain players.
- “This game has so much depth and replayability - honestly, it's the top-tier roguelike that should be in everyone's game list at this point.”
- “With the amount of class and race combinations and the many different ways to customize your abilities, it gives the game a lot of replayability.”
- “The replay value is through the roof and the challenge is out of this world difficult, but like Dark Souls, it mostly feels very fair and does become more manageable as you get better at the game.”
- “The only thing that makes this game replayable is that after death I can choose to be moved to a safe place, but the game has a very narrow set of locations you can visit at any given level, so there really isn't much left to do unless I 'git gud' (which I would do if the game made it worthwhile... it doesn't).”
- “Get it on sale for sure but it doesn’t have the replayability of other roguelikes.”
- “I may have preferred to restart the same class but try a different build on the next run, but when that's not viable, it really lowers replayability.”
music
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it repetitive and bland over time. Many users appreciate the variety in tracks, noting that some are enjoyable and fitting for the game's themes, but suggest turning it off after extended play to avoid fatigue. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the ambiance, it may not be memorable enough for long sessions, leading players to prefer their own playlists.
- “Ambient music sets the tone for exploration and tension, while sound cues give critical feedback during combat.”
- “The music in this game is amazing; it ranges from very chill to sounding like an epic battle is going on, and it works perfectly with the general theme of the game.”
- “The music is surprisingly good; each track is rich in atmosphere and tone, making my dungeon crawls quite the enjoyable romp.”
- “One thing I will note is that the music is extremely bad, but you can turn it off (and non-Steam versions come with a download option that doesn't include it at all) so I don't consider this to be a problem.”
- “While the audio is nothing impressive, with its stock sound effects and bland music, this is one of the few games that I prefer to listen to music or podcasts to while playing.”
- “The music is also usually quite bland throughout the game so far.”
grinding
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
1%
87%
Reviews of the game's grinding aspect reveal a mixed reception. While some players appreciate the streamlined mechanics that minimize traditional grinding—such as non-respawning enemies and automatic disenchanting of unwanted loot—others find certain sections tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game where enemy scaling can lead to frustrating encounters. Overall, the game is praised for its focus on character progression and tactical combat, but some players still feel that it can become grindy and monotonous at times.
- “Very gameplay focused: level up and collect items, no grinding, just well-paced, challenging battles.”
- “The game mechanisms are so well developed that there's no grinding or taking advantage of AI boredom in late game.”
- “There is no grinding and each location has its own flavor and story.”
- “One thing I don't like is that the loot is a bit too much and can be overwhelming in terms of the quantity of items you find. For all the surplus junk you find on the map, you basically have to disenchant it before going to the next screen, which feels a bit tedious.”
- “The gameplay itself, though interesting at first, becomes tedious and repetitive quickly, with most of the excitement coming from the difficulty curve which often resembles a seismograph.”
- “Tales of Maj'Eyal is tedious, repetitive, clunky, and bloated as a game, feeling as if it is barely held together by sloppy stitches.”
humor
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Tales of Maj'Eyal" is characterized by its clever writing and engaging lore, often blending dark and whimsical elements that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to deliver funny surprises, humorous dialogue, and amusing in-game mechanics, such as the global chat showcasing player deaths in a lighthearted manner. While it may not feature overt meta-humor, the game successfully incorporates humor throughout its narrative and gameplay, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.
- “Tales of Maj'Eyal: where your dreams of becoming a mighty hero clash hilariously with the reality of getting squashed by a particularly angry squirrel.”
- “Whether you're battling fierce monsters or just trying to navigate the complexities of inventory management, it's an adventure that will leave you laughing, crying, and wondering why you ever thought fighting a tentacle monster with a spoon was a good idea.”
- “A little old school style, a lot of charm, and a healthy dose of humor among countless little secrets, bits of lore, and subtle surprises.”
character development
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The game features extensive and intricate character development, offering a wide variety of classes, races, and skill trees that enhance replayability and strategic gameplay. While the depth of character customization is praised, some players feel that the interface and mechanics detract from the overall experience, particularly for new players. Overall, the character development system is highlighted as a standout aspect, appealing to those who appreciate old-school RPG elements.
- “I don't remember a game coming close to this level of replayability and character development.”
- “The character development and massive range of races and classes are an absolute joy to use.”
- “There is deep, complex character development as well, including talent trees to invest in as you level up.”
- “The playdough-looking models weren't preferable, to say the least, but character development possibilities are nigh infinite, and that isn't an exaggeration.”
- “The depth of character development and its importance to your longevity in the game world is something I cannot stress enough to take your time with.”
- “Everything about this game screams 'old school'... the graphics, inventory, combat, and character design are all thoroughly infused with old schoolness... so don't expect a 'flashy and shiny' game, because this game isn't that.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
5%
76%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent freezes during loading and level transitions, as well as occasional lag during gameplay, particularly with numerous enemies on screen. While some players experience minor bugs and glitches, others face significant issues that hinder their overall enjoyment, such as unresponsive buttons and save file problems. Despite these challenges, a few users note that the game runs well on certain platforms, like the Steam Deck, indicating that performance may vary depending on the setup.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck even without the 'playable' badge.”
- “The game is mostly bug-free, and most of the bugs I have found are cosmetic (loading screens missing their art images, for example) or related to creating a new character without reloading the game (stats/effects from other characters sometimes seem to follow the new character, leading to things like enemies that were generated for the other character's level).”
- “I have found no glitches, lag, or crashes.”
- “Nice game but between the 20 minute loading times and endless freezes - whether with modded fixes or vanilla or otherwise, honestly this game is a blast from the past to the early 2000's type of games, bringing back both style and performance from that era...”
- “The game is pretty good when you can play it but I spend as much time loading into things and troubleshooting as I do playing.”
- “Unfortunately, it is really buggy.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting significant loading times, freezes, and performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios or on lower-end systems. While some users have found success with mods to improve performance, others describe the game as reminiscent of early 2000s titles in terms of optimization quality. Despite these challenges, the game offers deep strategic content and rewarding gameplay for those willing to navigate its optimization hurdles.
- “If you play on roguelike difficulty (i.e., no respawns whatsoever unless you find one of two very rare consumables), even normal difficulty is quite hard if you aren't using an optimized build.”
- “The gameplay is definitely focused on combat and ability (which are called talents) and loot optimization.”
- “With so many talent trees and tiny customizations, this replayable game rewards every tiny optimization.”
- “Nice game but between the 20 minute loading times and endless freezes - whether with modded fixes or vanilla or otherwise, honestly this game is a blast from the past to the early 2000's type of games, bringing back both style and performance from that era...”
- “The game is also old and you may encounter bugs or glitches if you play a long time, and you will notice that the game's performance is not incredible.”
- “Unbelievably bad; movement, utility, functions, performance; are all insanely bad...”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The monetization model of the game has sparked mixed reactions among users. While some appreciate the minimal microtransactions as a way to support the developers and enhance gameplay, others argue that these features are not true microtransactions, as they do not impact gameplay balance or introduce pay-to-win mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as fair in its approach, with optional cosmetic purchases and a focus on expansions rather than aggressive monetization tactics.
- “The DLC is well worth the price, and so are the minimal microtransactions the game features.”
- “In truth, it doesn't feel really fair to call them microtransactions; they are just a really good way to support the dev and spice your playthrough a little bit (or even other players' playthroughs).”
- “Believe me, I'd be the first to be screaming if there were actually real microtransactions - but this is just a way to say 'thanks for supporting the dev' from the dev himself.”
- “Hey darkgod, supported you from day one, remove the microtransactions and I'll keep supporting you, or else.”
- “So instead of improving the product to combat it, while also planning on releasing paid expansions, they decided to receive a monthly optional donating subscription to support them (Patreon) and also start adding 'not pay-to-win' (although some straight adds an effect) microtransactions.”
- “We recently got teased an upcoming expansion being in development, and even though microtransactions are coming, it's literally only cosmetics and paying for the gods to come kill your character along with paying to cause those events to happen at your will - supposedly for the whole server!”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
13%
20%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating graphics and immersive sound design, creating a deep and engaging experience. Players appreciate the well-crafted lore and moody music that enhance the overall ambiance, contributing to a pleasant and supportive community. While some find the world less engaging, the attention to atmospheric detail is consistently recognized as a strong point of the game.
- “Graphics and sound are atmospheric, and the game is endlessly deep without being too convoluted.”
- “Its just one of the most beautifully designed roguelike games I've ever seen; the atmosphere and the things you have to do in-game are captivating.”
- “While the graphics are nothing groundbreaking, they are definitely above par for a roguelike and they generally give you a good feel for what is going on and set an appropriate atmosphere.”
- “+ solid music that really helps with the atmosphere.”
- “While I'm not really a fan of lore, I can definitely appreciate how much effort the developers put into creating a real atmosphere and background for the game.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional experience of the game as deeply intertwined and impactful, evoking a wide range of feelings including frustration, happiness, and heartache. The rich lore and character backstories contribute to a sense of connection, while the game's mechanics and unpredictability create both exhilarating and heartbreaking moments. Overall, it offers a unique blend of wholesome and intense emotional experiences that resonate with players long after their sessions.
- “The game has made me feel many things: frustration, happiness, anger, fear, and excitement.”
- “Campaign mode is quite long; I can easily play a character for 6 hours and then have them die, which is heart-breaking.”
- “I personally have been looking for a game that brought that wholesome turn-based, warm, fuzzy feeling in my gut for the better part of two decades, and it would seem that I have found exactly that.”