Tales of Maj'Eyal
- December 12, 2013
- Netcore Games
- 125h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
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Reviews
- Incredible depth and replayability with a vast array of classes and races to unlock.
- Engaging turn-based combat that rewards strategic thinking and careful planning.
- Active developer support with regular updates and a friendly community.
- Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players.
- Random enemy encounters can lead to frustrating and unfair deaths.
- Graphics may be off-putting for some, resembling older games rather than modern titles.
- gameplay523 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Tales of Maj'Eyal" is characterized by its deep mechanics, extensive character customization, and a steep learning curve that rewards players for mastering its systems. Players appreciate the variety of classes and races, each offering unique abilities and playstyles, which contribute to high replayability. While the graphics may be simplistic, the engaging and strategic turn-based gameplay, combined with a wealth of lore and unlockable content, makes it a standout title in the roguelike genre.
“The gameplay hooked me pretty quickly, but the small details (quests, escorts, artifact crafting, lore, unique mobs, plethora of optional achievement challenges, difficulty settings, DLC additions) have kept me playing for hundreds of hours.”
“The gameplay is extraordinarily dynamic, while (by some miracle) being decently balanced.”
“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, while never getting bogged down by its own systems.”
“Having to go look up whatever just beat me to death every time so I can go purchase/swap out all the gear I learned because god forbid you don't have the damage/resistance type to match that boss just feels like a crap mechanic to me when the in-game explanations on how things work are the vaguest form of straight garbage I've ever seen.”
“The ui and core mechanics can take a little getting used to (this isn't exactly the most accessible roguelike out there) but once you do, you'll find yourself in one of the finest roguelikes to date.”
“The gameplay is hard as nails, unforgiving, confusing at times, and all around frustratingly hard, as any good roguelike should be.”
- graphics465 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and reminiscent of older titles, often likened to late 90s or early 2000s aesthetics. While some players find the visuals off-putting initially, many agree that they grow on you and do not detract from the overall gameplay experience, which is rich in depth and complexity. Customization options and mod support are available for those who wish to enhance the visual experience, but the consensus is that the game's engaging mechanics and replayability far outweigh any graphical shortcomings.
“Don't let the graphics deter you. This game is pure gold.”
“The graphics may not be fantastic, but the gameplay is more than enjoyable.”
“Don't be fooled by the simple, tile-based graphics. This game has a lot of depth and complexity.”
“The graphics were unsettling, the class I was playing seemed confusing, and in general I felt like the controls wanted me to right-click on everything which felt very old school.”
“I honestly think that it looks a lot better without the graphics; I recommend playing this in ASCII mode.”
“The graphics are weak as hell, but that's part of its undeniable charm and not the focus of this game, anyway.”
- story394 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "Tales of Maj'Eyal" (ToME) is characterized by a rich lore and a variety of quests, though it often feels minimal and somewhat generic, drawing on familiar high fantasy tropes. Players appreciate the depth of the world-building and the optional lore that enhances immersion, but many find the main plot uninspired and repetitive across playthroughs. While the game offers engaging character customization and gameplay mechanics, the narrative is not the primary focus, leading to mixed feelings about its overall storytelling quality.
“The main storyline is decent, but the game's best writing is in the optional lore books that can be bought or found throughout the game's dungeons and shops.”
“The story and worldbuilding are also great - and optional lore scrolls enhance immersion and often contain clues for what's awaiting you at the end of those corridors.”
“It's a truly fantastic game that offers hours upon hours of engaging gameplay, deep character customization, and a rich and satisfying story.”
“The lore/story is 'deep' but not very interesting; it's mostly a rehashed LOTR with a little original D&D stuff.”
“There's no story, no characters, and quests are just objective markers.”
“The story is the usual fantasy rubbish that thinks it's really clever but just comes out feeling really unnatural.”
- replayability286 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its vast array of customizable classes, unique builds, and rich lore that encourage multiple playthroughs. The combination of randomized elements, diverse character options, and challenging gameplay ensures that each run feels fresh and engaging, leading to claims of near-infinite replay value. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable titles in the roguelike genre, appealing to both newcomers and veterans alike.
“It's endlessly replayable, highly customizable, and the lore is compelling, rich, and well-written.”
“The game is incredibly fun, has many different possible playstyles, builds, classes, races, modes, and an incredibly high replay value.”
“There is an insane amount of replay value here between the different races, classes, random loot and skills found in each playthrough, and most of all the different builds possible with each class.”
“The game is so lore rich, has so much diversity in builds and playthroughs, and has so many fun mechanics that take some time to get used to that really adds to its replayability.”
“The randomized dungeon layouts, Diablo-esque loot system, diverse skill trees, and unique enemies all add to an awesome amount of replayability that never gets boring.”
“There are a wide variety of classes and builds to choose from, and unlike most games, the different classes actually play and feel very different from one another, increasing the already overwhelming replayability of this game.”
- music90 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and bland over time. Many users appreciate the variety in tracks that fit different zones, but some prefer to mute the game and listen to their own playlists instead. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it can become tedious after extended play.
“Also, the music in this game is amazing. Sure, it's pretty typical fantasy game music, but it ranges from very chill to sounding like an epic battle is going on. I personally like it a lot since it works with the general theme of the game, and most importantly, this game is mostly made by one guy, which is even more impressive.”
“The music in Tome is just amazing. Whether traveling the vast overworld map, digging through an eerie dungeon, or wandering through old woods, each track is rich in atmosphere and tone, and I could listen to most of them even when not actually playing the game.”
“The worldbuilding and music fit well with the visuals and add a lot to the immersion.”
“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.”
“Unfortunately, the audio is bland and you'll get sick of the same looping music and five combat sounds fast.”
“The music is also usually quite bland throughout the game so far.”
- grinding76 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
Reviews of the "grinding" aspect in the game reveal a mixed sentiment. While some players appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics, noting that dungeons do not respawn and that progression feels clear and rewarding, others find certain sections of the game repetitive and tedious, particularly in the later stages where enemy scaling can lead to frustrating encounters. Overall, the game attempts to minimize grind through various quality-of-life features, but some players still experience moments of monotony and frustration.
“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.”
“Some builds won't care because it's just bash-bash, but most, especially casters, will see this devolve into a tedious repetition of the same multiple-abilities combo over and over and over again.”
“Game progression always revolves around carefully grinding every single enemy in all maps with a somewhat very specific sequence, lest you die a horrendous instant death.”
“Tales of Maj'Eyal is tedious, repetitive, clunky, and bloated as a game, feeling as if it is barely held together by sloppy stitches.”
- humor36 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its clever and engaging humor, which is woven throughout the dialogue, lore, and gameplay elements. Players appreciate the mix of dark and whimsical jokes, as well as the humorous surprises that arise during play, contributing to a rich and immersive experience. Overall, the humor enhances the game's depth and charm, making it a standout feature among its many qualities.
“Genuinely well written, intriguing, epic, and sometimes funny lore.”
“A brilliant, complex, and humorous world to get lost in.”
“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.”
- character development20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
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 character design is praised for its uniqueness and depth, some players criticize the interface and early-game experience, which may detract from overall enjoyment. Overall, the character development system is highlighted as a standout aspect, appealing to fans of deep RPG mechanics.
“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.”
“Hidden behind the smoke of a 2D tileset is a shockingly rich, deep, & complex RPG which will constantly test your skills in character development and strategic combat.”
“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.”
- monetization15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, with players appreciating the value of DLC and minimal microtransactions that are primarily cosmetic and serve as a way to support the developers. While there was initial concern about microtransactions, players clarify that these are not intrusive or pay-to-win, and the game avoids in-game ads, focusing instead on optional donations and expansions. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as fair and supportive of the game's community.
“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.”
“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!”
“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.”
“And yet it isn't supported by in-game ads (unless you count the very minimal starting-screen ads strictly for tome DLC) or pay-to-win mechanics.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, especially in late-game scenarios and on lower-end systems, leading to struggles in maintaining stable frame rates. While the technical requirements are low and some mods can alleviate performance problems, the overall optimization is considered lacking, particularly in terms of graphics and engine efficiency. Despite these challenges, the game offers deep strategic content and rewarding gameplay for those willing to invest time in character optimization.
“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.”
“However, it makes up for this by presenting an enormous amount of long-term strategic content and options to players, allowing for serious sessions of pondering and theorizing about optimization, values, and synergies.”
“Unbelievably bad; movement, utility, functions, performance; are all insanely bad...”
“It struggles to maintain 60 fps on a 4.0 GHz quad-core CPU + GTX 980 Ti... so worst optimization on Steam.”
“Performance issues late game or on certain classes.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep lore and character backstories, which evoke a range of feelings from heartwarming to heartbreaking. Players appreciate the intertwining of wholesome moments with the game's challenging mechanics, leading to a profound attachment despite the frustration of unavoidable failures. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses, making it memorable and impactful for players.
“The game just keeps pulling me back into it through its depth of mechanics, turn-based playstyle, and RNG elements that allow for some wonderful runs (or some heart-breaking ones).”
“Campaign mode is quite long; you 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.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its atmospheric graphics and music, which enhance the overall experience and provide a deep, immersive environment. While some players find the world lacking in engagement, many appreciate the effort put into the lore and the ability to tailor the pace of gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as moody, pleasant, and satisfying, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Graphics and sound are atmospheric, and the game is endlessly deep without being too convoluted.”
“This game is fascinating, difficult, satisfying, atmospheric, and plays as fast or slow as you want it to.”
“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.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report it as mostly bug-free with minor cosmetic issues, others have encountered significant glitches that affect gameplay, such as character stats carrying over incorrectly and save file problems. Some users also noted control configuration challenges and resolution issues, particularly on high-DPI displays. Despite these concerns, a few players have experienced smooth performance without any bugs.
“The game is mostly bug-free, and most of the bugs I have found are cosmetic, such as loading screens missing their art images. There are some issues related to creating a new character without reloading the game, where stats and effects from other characters sometimes seem to follow the new character, leading to inconsistencies.”
“It took me a while to configure the controls in a way I liked, but it runs great.”
“Runs great and cool on MBA M1. There are some resolution issues, and I have to play in windowed mode. The cursor can get misaligned, which requires a Steam restart.”
“It feels a bit clunky, like it's stuck, and there are some minor glitches.”
“Technical glitches: the only con I feel which deserves to be considered non-trivial.”
“If you're looking for a game that uses random very high-level mobs in chests to kill you, has buggy issues that cause your saves to no longer function, doesn't work with the Steam Cloud (despite supposedly doing so), and has little in the way of actual interesting content once you've won, you're in luck.”
