The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker

About

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Olipa Games and was released on March 10, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker is a single-player medieval fantasy RPG with a deep story and old-school atmosphere. Traverse a vast open world, engage in strategic combat with various weapons and spells, and make permanent choices that impact gameplay. Customize your character's skills, crafting, and housing, and interact with a social multiplayer community."

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Play Modes

Single-Player

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker screenshot

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 749 reviews

story89 positive mentions

grinding118 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic Runescape while providing a fresh single-player experience.
The world is vast and filled with quests, crafting opportunities, and engaging storylines that keep players hooked.
The developers are responsive to feedback and actively work on updates and improvements, enhancing the overall experience.

The inventory system is limited, with many items not stackable, leading to tedious inventory management.
Combat can feel unbalanced, with some enemies being disproportionately difficult compared to others, causing frustration.
The game lacks a clear quest tracking system, making it easy to get lost or miss important objectives.

story
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging narrative and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic RPGs like RuneScape, while others criticize it for being bogged down by generic fetch quests and a lack of depth. Many players find the main storyline intriguing but feel that it becomes tedious due to skill requirements that hinder progression, leading to frustration with the quest system. Overall, while the world is rich with quests and lore, the execution often leaves players wanting more in terms of storytelling and quest variety.
- “The story is interesting enough, and it just feels so good to watch your character get stronger.”
- “The quests feel more personal and you actually feel like a hero of sorts, there are unique skill traits, there is fast traveling, etc.”
- “The depth and breadth of this game is astounding - I actually find the story engaging and drawing one in.”
- “The quests I've gone through up to this point have all been rather generic and uninspired, being simple fetch quests and basic MMO-type tasks rather than true adventures or memorable in any way, and the writing has been equally uninteresting with generic characters and dialogue.”
- “So far nothing about this fantasy world has managed to hook me or given me a strong reason to continue chasing the setup of the main story as it just isn't interesting enough, and maybe that changes much later in the game but if it hasn't hooked me by now I'm not willing to put in potentially dozens more hours to eventually find the interesting part of the game.”
- “As other reviewers have stated, the main story in this game is unfinished, so that's a real bummer.”
grinding
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the nostalgic, chill nature of grinding for skills and resources, others find it frustrating due to poor inventory management and the lack of quality-of-life features. Overall, the game caters to those who appreciate grinding, but it may deter players seeking a more balanced or streamlined experience.
- “I kind of like a grindy game that isn't grindy in having to constantly kill mobs to get along.”
- “I kind of like a grindy game that isn't grindy in having to constantly kill mobs to get along.”
- “Because I'm not grinding in the most efficient way, or found some clever loophole or whatever.”
- “That’s a problem for me, I don’t progress much at all by doing quests and fighting difficult enemies; I only progress a skill by grinding that specific skill.”
- “The game lacks many quality of life features (don't even start about storage and item management...), making it a tedious effort to make any progress.”
- “The grind can be a bit too much for some, given a single-player game where you can obtain everything without any in-app purchase; you either deal with the grind or find some workaround if you're busy or just want to progress with the story.”
gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay of "Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker" draws heavily from classic MMORPGs like RuneScape, offering a nostalgic experience with RPG mechanics, quests, and skill progression. However, it struggles with poor inventory management, clunky combat, and a lack of quality-of-life features, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the depth and engaging world, others find the gameplay loop repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to slow leveling and outdated mechanics.
- “The gameplay is deeply engaging, blending classic RPG mechanics with innovative systems that keep combat fresh and exciting.”
- “If you like unique old school gameplay like OSRS or maybe recent Brighter Shores with grindy gameplay but in singleplayer mode, this is the game for you.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and gameplay is exactly what I have been looking for for years.”
- “In short, Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker is a game that takes heavy inspiration from the gameplay loop of RuneScape and turns it into a purely single-player experience, but missed the mark on why those systems worked for RuneScape and why that game was so enjoyable.”
- “The game copies RuneScape’s mechanics without understanding why those limitations existed or worked.”
- “Leveling is slow and I don't even know how combat mechanics work or where to obtain useful gear.”
graphics
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The game's graphics evoke a nostalgic, minimalist aesthetic reminiscent of late '90s and early 2000s RPGs, which some players find charming while others criticize as outdated and lacking polish. While the dark, atmospheric visuals complement the game's tone, issues such as inconsistent performance and limited graphical settings detract from the experience for many. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some appreciating the retro style and others finding it unappealing or clunky.
- “The game embraces a dark, minimalist aesthetic that perfectly complements its tone.”
- “Visually, the game leans into a pixel-art style that evokes late '90s and early 2000s PC RPGs, with just enough modern touches to keep it from feeling dated.”
- “The dark, gothic aesthetic perfectly complements the story’s tone, making each area you explore feel both magical and foreboding.”
- “The graphics overall lacked something; it doesn't have that old-school feeling, and the constant rain effects from the tutorial area almost stopped me from playing the game.”
- “There's games where bad graphics and presentation can be meaningless because the gameplay is great, like 9th Dawn games. This game fails across the board; the graphics are ugly, combat is clunky and feels terrible, and crafting and quality of life features are very basic.”
- “The game's visuals have dull and muted colors, thus it needs a setting for the game world's color saturation; the UI color is fine, but everything else is not.”
music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance exploration and combat, while others find it dull and repetitive. Many suggest that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, with some opting to mute the game music in favor of personal playlists. Overall, the music evokes nostalgia for old-school RPGs, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in enhancing the gaming experience.
- “While it doesn’t rely on flashy graphics, its atmosphere is strong and immersive, supported by effective sound design and music that enhance both exploration and combat without ever becoming intrusive.”
- “The soundtrack is subdued, reinforcing the tone without becoming intrusive, and ambient sounds—rustling trees, flowing water, the hum of magic—help to ground the world and draw you in.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and gameplay is exactly what I have been looking for for years.”
- “The music overall was horrible.”
- “I also advise turning the music down to zero and playing a RuneScape or lo-fi playlist for game music because it just further enhances the experience.”
- “- music quickly gets repetitive and does not live up to old school RuneScape standard.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
55%
28%
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting inconsistent frame rates ranging from 15 to 90 fps, often averaging around 45 fps on high settings. Issues such as memory leaks and stuttering have been noted, leading to a frustrating experience, although some players acknowledge that the developers are making progress in addressing these concerns. Despite its potential and nostalgic appeal, the game's current state requires further optimization before it can be widely recommended.
- “This game is so good that even in its unoptimized state, it still delivers RuneScape players that nostalgic dream they've been craving; can't wait for the dragon slayer quest!”
- “Played the demo when it released, the developers have clearly been making a ton of progress, particularly with respect to optimization.”
- “There are some performance issues, but if you play a few hours at a time, you should be pretty okay.”
- “Game needs more optimization before I can even begin recommending it.”
- “Great game, terrible optimization.”
- “The game likely has a memory leak that needs to be fixed, leading to a gradual reduction in performance as you play. The developers implemented a messy 'solution' by having the game reset itself after being idle for too long or after transferring locations.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by effective sound design and music that complement exploration and combat. While some players note the graphics as blocky and the interface clunky, many appreciate the detailed art direction and the sense of adventure it evokes, reminiscent of classic RPGs. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment and engagement.
- “While it doesn’t rely on flashy graphics, its atmosphere is strong and immersive, supported by effective sound design and music that enhance both exploration and combat without ever becoming intrusive.”
- “The art direction and atmosphere are stunning, with every location—whether it’s a haunting forest or a crumbling castle—feeling alive with detail and history.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and gameplay is exactly what I have been looking for for years.”
- “The side quests all seem to be fetch quests, the interface is quite clunky, and the graphics are very blocky, which detracts from the atmosphere.”
- “Game runs okay; I wish it was possible to turn off the rain though, but I guess it's part of the atmosphere.”
- “There is a lot to like about this game when it comes to the atmosphere.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its quirky charm and find the writing and character interactions genuinely funny, others feel it lacks the engaging irreverence of its inspirations. Notably, the game includes amusing sound effects and moments that evoke nostalgia for classic titles, but some players note that the humor takes time to surface, potentially leading to frustration before it becomes apparent. Overall, those who enjoy humor in quests and skilling find it to be a delightful experience.
- “The funny thing is, you don't experience any of this within the first 2 hours of gameplay, which just happens to be conveniently past the refund time limit.”
- “I've genuinely laughed from some of the humor, which surprised me.”
- “For 15 dollars, this game is an absolute steal with the amount of content packed into its humorous, dark fantasy world!”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The game exhibits a mix of stability issues, including minor bugs and glitches that can affect gameplay, such as character movement and interaction with the environment. However, it runs smoothly on platforms like Steam Deck and Linux, indicating that performance can vary by system. Overall, while players find the game enjoyable and engaging, the presence of bugs can detract from the experience.
- “Also runs great on Steam Deck for me.”
- “Runs great on Linux with no modifications from the user.”
- “The game is fairly fun, but buggy.”
- “There are minor glitches: (1) seldom my character gets stuck somewhere, but you can teleport out; (2) buildings you can't go into because you clip through the stairs or are unable to climb something, or the character doesn't recognize the door.”
- “But because my character is in the bottom 30% of my screen, when something attacks me, I have to either click on my minimap to run away, which is extremely buggy and inconsistent, or rotate my camera around and then click to run away, which is a slow process leading to getting hit multiple times.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game is praised for its lack of monetization, allowing players to obtain everything without in-app purchases, which balances the grind and enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, highlighting that the game still offers engaging mechanics and quests without the pressure to spend money.
- “The best part, no monetization.”
- “The fact that there's no microtransactions in the game, but still manages to have relevant mechanics and captivating quests is just perfect.”
- “The grind can be a bit too much for some, given that it's a single-player game where you can obtain everything without any in-app purchases. You either deal with the grind or find some workaround if you're busy or just want to progress with the story (like me) without semi-AFK grinding all the time.”
- “I could never get into RuneScape due to it being online and the grind and monetization that comes with that, but this game brings it all into balance.”
- “The fact that there are no microtransactions in the game, but it still manages to have relevant mechanics and captivating quests is just perfect.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, as the introductory story effectively engages them by depicting a tragic narrative of a fallen kingdom, personal betrayal, and a dark resurrection under a necromancer's control. This setup fosters a strong connection to the character and their plight.
- “The intro story made me feel engaged with this character by setting up a falling kingdom in which I get murdered, followed by resurrection and subjugation to a necromancer.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in, making their struggles feel personal and relatable.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it tackled themes of loss and redemption in a way that resonated with me.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Cursebreaker features a classless character development system that allows players to level up various individual skills, reminiscent of RS3, and is complemented by a user interface and cartoony graphics that enhance the overall experience.
- “Cursebreaker has a very similar look and feel to RS3, featuring a similar UI and primarily mouse movement by default. The somewhat cartoony graphics complement a classless character development system that focuses on leveling many individual skills.”
- “Cursebreaker has a very similar look and feel to RS3, having a similar UI, using primarily mouse movement by default, somewhat cartoony graphics, and a classless character development system based on leveling many individual skills.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's extensive open world and diverse exploration opportunities, along with unique skill progression paths, contributing to its high replayability. The engaging point-and-click adventure format further enhances the experience, making it enjoyable to revisit.
- “The wide open world offers tons to explore, with individual skills laid out on their own progression paths. It's a point-and-click adventure wrapped up in a cozy and interesting world, providing limitless replayability.”

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18h Median play time

33h Average play time

3-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker is a role playing game.

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 33 hours playing The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker.

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker was released on March 10, 2023.

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker was developed by Olipa Games.

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker is a single player game.

Similar games include Realms of Magic, Brighter Shores, DYSMANTLE, Project: Gorgon, Gatewalkers and others.

The Black Grimoire: Cursebreaker

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