The Age of Decadence

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.

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The Age of Decadence is a turn-based, hardcore role-playing game set in a low magic, post-apocalyptic fantasy world. The game features a detailed skill-based character system, multiple skill-based ways to handle quests, choices & consequences, and extensive dialogue trees.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,169 reviews

story392 positive mentions

graphics72 negative mentions

The game features a rich and immersive world with deep lore and interesting characters.
There are multiple paths and choices that significantly affect the story, encouraging replayability.
The writing is excellent, with engaging dialogue and a unique setting inspired by a post-apocalyptic Roman Empire.

The combat is punishingly difficult, often requiring save scumming and specific character builds to succeed.
The game can feel overly restrictive, with many skill checks that lock players out of content if they don't allocate points correctly.
The graphics and UI are outdated, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.

story
1,622 mentions
24 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Age of Decadence" is rich and intricately woven, offering a post-apocalyptic setting inspired by ancient Rome, where player choices significantly impact the narrative and outcomes. Each character class provides a unique perspective on the overarching plot, encouraging multiple playthroughs to fully experience the diverse storylines and consequences of decisions made throughout the game. While the writing is praised for its depth and complexity, some players find the reliance on skill checks and the potential for dead-end quests to be frustrating, leading to a challenging but rewarding experience for those who appreciate a story-driven RPG.
- “Amazing dialogue, interesting setting, remarkable story, and the freedom to actually play the way that you want to play.”
- “An incredibly well-crafted world, unique characters and plot lines, and a shocking amount of storylines to go through for each class.”
- “The story is rich and the character development is the best part about the game because it really requires you not to be a dumbass if you want to advance in the game.”
- “The plot is incoherent and delivered in massive multi-paragraph info-dumps.”
- “The worst example is in the intro, where if you talk to an NPC called Cado you're forced to join his guild and give him 250 gold without any option to refuse, which is impressively bad quest design.”
- “The main story seems quite intricate but beyond that there are very few meaningful choices to make (other than deciding whether you want to make a random skill check or just start the combat immediately) and while the setting is interesting the writing itself is generally pretty mediocre and could have used more proofreading.”
gameplay
390 mentions
23 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Age of Decadence" is characterized by its deep RPG mechanics and a strong emphasis on player choice, allowing for multiple paths and endings. However, it is often criticized for being punishingly difficult, with many players experiencing frustration due to clunky combat mechanics, frequent save-reloading, and a lack of intuitive design. While the game offers a rich narrative and replayability, the overall execution of its gameplay leaves much to be desired, making it a polarizing experience for players.
- “The gameplay is engaging and variative, the prose is both imaginative and done with impressive technique, the atmosphere is immaculate.”
- “A masterfully crafted setting with tangible choice and consequences; every decision matters, from every skill point allocated to every dialogue choice. You shape the lives of everyone around you and what remains of the broken land you live in.”
- “This game has great mechanics, replayability, and a fantastic storyline.”
- “The gameplay falls completely flat despite the game having a lot to offer if you're interested in the story and world.”
- “The combat is so brutally difficult that it is not at all enjoyable.”
- “The execution and gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.”
graphics
346 mentions
16 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Age of Decadence" are widely regarded as outdated and rough, often reminiscent of late 90s and early 2000s titles, which may deter some players. Despite their low quality, many reviewers appreciate the game's unique aesthetic and atmospheric design, arguing that the visuals serve the narrative and gameplay rather than detract from them. Overall, while the graphics are a significant drawback, they are often overlooked in favor of the game's rich storytelling and immersive world.
- “The graphics are rough, but there's a certain beauty to the design and aesthetic of the world.”
- “The environment art is well polished and beautiful, and the art style is self-consistent and immersive.”
- “The graphics may not look like much at first glance with obvious engine limitations, but the art direction is top notch and the atmosphere it creates is a feast for everyone with a little imagination.”
- “The graphics are the worst part about it, but even those are alright when compared to other isometric games.”
- “The graphics are ugly.”
- “The graphics are dated, even by 2010 standards.”
replayability
272 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts an exceptionally high degree of replayability, with players praising its diverse character builds, branching storylines, and multiple faction interactions that create unique experiences in each playthrough. While some critiques mention limitations in content and pacing, the overall consensus highlights that the game's design encourages multiple runs to fully explore its rich narrative and gameplay options. Despite its relatively short length, the replay value is considered one of its strongest attributes, making it a must-play for RPG enthusiasts.
- “The game is hardcore, but very rewarding when you master the systems, and the amount of replayability is out of this world.”
- “The many different routes and ways to approach quests and different playstyles makes this game very replayable.”
- “The replayability factor for the game is off the charts.”
- “I'm not sure where the claims of extensive replayability come from, but I couldn't even finish my second playthrough because it was so boring due to how few other quests there were without being forced to join a guild. Maybe there is a bit more replayability if you replay with all the different classes, but that can pretty much be said of any RPG.”
- “The story is quite good but the content is limited for a single playthrough - it is impossible to do all of the content in a single playthrough and this is likely meant to give it replayability, but I don't think the game really warrants replaying.”
- “The other problem with spreading thinly is, and what I've read elsewhere, you've designed this game for replayability at the forefront.”
music
86 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some tracks are described as beautiful and fitting, others find the soundtrack repetitive or generic, leading to a lack of memorability. Overall, the music is considered a solid component of the game, contributing positively to its ambiance despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and limited variety.
- “The soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The music is beautiful and immersive, and the character portraits really bring their avatars to life.”
- “The music and visuals perfectly sell the world and make you feel like you're living in the remnants of a fallen empire.”
- “The music, although fitting, isn't noteworthy or memorable.”
- “The soundtrack is painfully generic and the graphics look like something from 2003 (and not in a charming way).”
- “The main town has a track about 20 seconds long that loops endlessly; nearly drove me mad.”
atmosphere
61 mentions
56 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Fallout. Reviewers highlight the rich lore, evocative writing, and a sense of dread that permeates the environment, despite criticisms of outdated graphics and engine limitations. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively enhancing the storytelling and player experience.
- “This game oozes atmosphere; the oppressive and worn-down feeling can be felt in all corners of the world.”
- “The world-building is original, the atmosphere grim and intriguing, and the lore incredibly deep and interesting.”
- “Excellent 'grimdark' post-apocalyptic feel, great writing, immersive atmosphere and setting.”
- “The atmosphere was in the text, but it was not on the maps.”
- “There is no atmosphere, wits or humor.”
- “Unfortunately, as the game progresses, it appears the developers had less and less time to add the little details that help build the game's atmosphere.”
humor
35 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Age of Decadence" is characterized by its dark, sardonic wit and clever writing, which often leads to hilarious scenarios and unexpected outcomes. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with a grim atmosphere, featuring comically evil NPCs, amusing skill descriptions, and laugh-out-loud dialogue that enhances the overall experience. The game's unique approach to combat and questing also contributes to its humor, as players frequently find themselves in absurd situations that evoke both frustration and laughter.
- “It is very easy to die in combat, so a lot of times it is better to try to talk your way out, which can lead to so many funny and interesting scenarios.”
- “The dialog is perfectly written, with hints of straight-faced humor mixed in with vivid evocations of a harsh world.”
- “What's more, all the messages that narrate the game in second person have this cruelly sardonic humor to them that makes you laugh even when they're insulting you.”
grinding
32 mentions
19 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating, particularly in combat scenarios that require repeated attempts and character re-specing. While some appreciate the lack of traditional grinding and respawning enemies, they still encounter significant challenges that lead to a sense of monotony and irritation. Overall, the game is described as having a compelling story but often feels bogged down by its clunky mechanics and the need for trial and error in combat.
- “There are no tedious slogs through boring dungeons or endless waves of repetitive combat encounters.”
- “No grinding, trash, or junk.”
- “Here is the catch though there is no grinding.”
- “The game has an interesting setting and it's fun enough if you avoid combat completely, but the combat is frustrating and tedious and you will die and reload the same fight for hours before giving up.”
- “I get that the game is designed this way, but it tends to be tedious to get to an ending only to discover you can't advance further and you need to create another character with the correct stats and skills which you know now.”
- “Unfortunately the devs confuse terms like 'challenging and hard' with 'arbitrary and tedious'.”
character development
21 mentions
33 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and rewarding progression, allowing players to evolve from weak characters to powerful assassins through a variety of skills and choices. While many reviewers appreciate the rich story and multiple pathways that enhance replayability, some criticize the lack of meaningful relationships with NPCs and the occasional reliance on exposition over engaging interactions. Overall, the game offers a flexible character development system that encourages strategic thinking and meaningful choices, though it may not appeal to those seeking more traditional RPG elements.
- “I've never come across character development as rewarding as what this game has to offer: you start off as a character so weak that even taking down a single thug seems like a miracle, but before you know it, you're an unstoppable assassin. Even if your target surrounds himself with the most elite imperial bodyguards, it'll only mean more blood will be spilled from their side.”
- “If you want an engaging story, detailed character development, great writing, all set in a unique and wonderfully mysterious setting, then you'd be doing yourself a grave disservice by passing up on this truly excellent RPG.”
- “With a huge variety of choices and a very flexible character development system, no two games will be the same.”
- “And please don't get me started about character development!”
- “The characters aren't especially interesting -- you don't develop any real relationships, and in place of NPC character development, when you first meet someone, it gives you a blurb about who they are that includes all sorts of details about their lives that you really have no reason to know at this point.”
- “All mighty random rules battles, lame character development system, list goes on and on and on.”
stability
19 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, graphical glitches, and occasional crashes, particularly during character creation and exploration. While some players have experienced smooth performance, many others have encountered significant issues that detract from the overall experience, leading to a perception of the game as unfinished and in need of further testing. Despite these problems, a few players still find the game enjoyable and worth playing, albeit with caution.
- “Runs great on Linux via Wine/Proton.”
- “I've also run into graphical glitches at multiple resolutions and settings, with the background constantly flickering, and the shadowing effects glitching out all throughout the opening sections.”
- “Every time I try and start a new story (or hell, begin my very first character) the game suddenly freezes when it comes time to go to the game world after character creation.”
- “Buggy, terrible intro, feels unfinished... I don't want to put more effort into this review than they put into testing this game.”
optimization
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it runs well even on older systems, while others report significant performance issues, including low frame rates and unoptimized character builds leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Many users express disappointment in the overall production quality, citing bland graphics and poor quest markers, suggesting that the game requires serious optimization improvements. Overall, while some players find it playable, others struggle with performance inconsistencies that detract from the experience.
- “If you've got an older, or perhaps simply not as high-performance computer, this game would be a great fit and all the more worth the price.”
- “As for performance, I didn't have any issues running the game.”
- “Performance is generally good; technically, this game can run even on old configurations. There are, though, some sections where performance drops badly without reason; luckily for us, they are very rare.”
- “Even with a build optimized for combat, you can fail the first fight 6 out of 10 times.”
- “Like most other people, I had to restart because my characters were unoptimized despite investing in what should be the correct skills.”
- “It's very easy to sink 10+ hours into this game, only to realize that you've built an extremely unoptimized character and you need to restart, all the while not really explaining anything of note.”
emotional
11 mentions
73 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of meaningful connections to characters and NPCs, resulting in a boring narrative experience. While some players appreciate the clever mechanics and options available, they feel that the repetitive nature of character interactions and a clunky interface detracts from any potential emotional engagement. Overall, the game fails to evoke strong feelings, leaving players feeling disconnected and unmotivated to continue.
- “I finished the whole game without touching combat.”
- “It was really enjoyable how clever this game made me feel.”
- “Hell, as someone who plays Dwarf Fortress, this game's graphics make me shed a tear of joy.”
- “It's still a ridiculously boring story.”
- “Boring story with a boring conclusion.”
- “Clunky interface, boring story progression; you don't even get to move your character. You select from a menu what your next action is (enter a door, search a body, etc.), and the scene transitions to a new screenshot.”