The Curse Of Yendor
- February 17, 2017
- IBOLOGY LLC
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"The Curse of Yendor" is a classical rogue-like sword and sorcery adventure, where your magic shapes the world. Explore vast procedural biomes, engage in deep tactical combat, solve puzzles, and defeat hordes of powerful monsters to prevent your nemesis from ascending to godhood. With support for keyboard and mouse control, and an infinite play mode, the challenge is available right now.
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The Curse of Yendor is a fun and engaging traditional roguelike with a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- The game features a variety of classes and abilities, along with interesting procedural generation that keeps each run fresh and exciting.
- The soundtrack and retro graphics create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.
- The game suffers from bugs, including crashes and issues with procedural generation that can end runs unexpectedly, which can be frustrating for players.
- Some players feel that the classes and spells lack depth and variety, making the gameplay feel repetitive over time.
- The limited inventory space and simplistic mechanics may not satisfy those looking for a more complex roguelike experience.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the reviewed titles varies significantly, with some players finding the core mechanics unsatisfying and lacking strategic depth, while others appreciate the streamlined processes and fast-paced action typical of roguelikes. "The Curse of Yendor" is noted for its autonomous character development and clear mechanics, offering a blend of risk vs. reward gameplay with a variety of fantasy monsters, making it accessible yet deep. Overall, the games provide a mix of simplicity and complexity, appealing to different player preferences, particularly those who enjoy retro aesthetics and intricate gameplay systems.
“Makes me feel like I'm playing a tabletop game with plenty of modifiers and great game mechanics in a world of magic and supernatural horrors.”
“The Curse of Yendor is a compact classic roguelike game which manages to streamline the typical processes and user input of the genre, allowing for faster gameplay than most titles on the market.”
“Very smooth, easy to get into roguelike - and as other reviewers here pointed out, it's a true roguelike in the sense that you've got a grid-based movement, a player-centric turn-based system & true permadeath without metaprogression but quite a lot of depth regarding gameplay.”
“I played as a warrior of light and I felt the core gameplay loop was not very satisfying; nothing I fought ever really made me think strategically.”
“However, The Curse of Yendor (referred to as Coy henceforth) approaches the genre a bit differently as character development is autonomous through gameplay, requiring no user input to adjust attributes or skills upon leveling up.”
“Coy also requires heavy use of the keyboard for fast gameplay, so mouse-only players will need to adapt to get up to speed.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its eerie 1970s roleplaying vibe and dark ambient qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. However, others feel that the soundtrack does not align well with the vibrant graphics and is ultimately forgettable. Despite this, many players find the music enjoyable enough to forgo their usual practice of muting it in favor of their own playlists.
“I want to take a moment and give praise to whoever did the soundtrack.”
“Even the music captures an eerie 1970's roleplaying vibe.”
“Oh and the music is peaceful, but eerie, and there is so much stuff, worth hours and hours of fun.”
“The soundtrack doesn’t fit the graphics and it’s totally forgettable.”
“There’s also a soundtrack with some weird ambient noises and sounds, but they don’t fit the colorful tilesets.”
“But at the same time, 90% of the songs I love now I hated the first few times I heard them.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their vibrant retro tabletop aesthetic, featuring rich environments filled with intricate details and a unique charm reminiscent of late 80s gaming. While some players find the visuals colorful and engaging, others note that the fast-paced action can be disorienting. Overall, the graphics effectively enhance the game's atmosphere and are a standout feature compared to other rogue-likes.
“The graphics are alive with retro tabletop richness pulsing with unearthly vitality, featuring varied environments where blood-soaked walls sing a song of death and agonizing flesh-wounding traps of metal and magic abound, wrapped in occult sigils and arcane symbols.”
“To me, the graphics serve the game well and are colorful and easily identifiable at a glance.”
“That being said, the graphics here are colorful and meaningful, and they're growing on me!”
“Every other rogue-like is limited in this aspect with the same old graphics, textures, and levels that might change occasionally.”
“My only complaint is that the graphics make me a little dizzy if I go too fast.”
“The soundtrack doesn’t fit the graphics and it’s totally forgettable.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding; some find it tedious due to repetitive tasks, while others appreciate that the grind feels engaging and enjoyable, allowing for many hours of gameplay without feeling overly burdensome.
“Because of this, I was skipping half of them by the third level. The fact that they're always the same made it even more tedious.”
“The grind feels repetitive and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The constant need to grind for resources becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
In "The Curse of Yendor," character development is largely autonomous, allowing players to progress without manual adjustments to attributes or skills upon leveling up. This approach fosters engagement through gameplay rather than extensive stat management or lore reading, offering a unique experience in character progression.
“The Curse of Yendor approaches character development differently, allowing for autonomous growth through gameplay, which means players don't need to manually adjust attributes or skills upon leveling up.”
“Character development in this game feels organic and immersive, as the choices you make during gameplay naturally shape your character's abilities and personality.”
“I love how character development is tied to the story; every decision impacts not just the gameplay but also the evolution of the characters, making each playthrough unique.”
“However, the Curse of Yendor (referred to as Coy henceforth) approaches the genre a bit differently, as character development is autonomous through gameplay, requiring no user input to adjust attributes or skills upon leveling up.”
“With the lack of fiddling with character development, stat-tweaking, and reading massive chapters of lore and legend, you'll find yourself engaged simply playing the game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability due to its unpredictable nature, ensuring that each session feels fresh and engaging. The balance of the game further enhances this aspect, making it stand out among similar titles.
“You honestly don't know what you'll get from one game to the next, which adds greatly to the replay value.”
“Its balance and replayability are pretty much unmatched in games of its type.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story is characterized as a solid, persistent narrative featuring a relatable villain, though it lacks extensive lore and depth. The focus is primarily on tactical combat, aligning with the dungeon crawl genre rather than a rich storytelling experience.
“A solid, persistent story with a villain that you begin to feel a relationship with.”
“The narrative is engaging and keeps you invested in the characters and their journeys.”
“The story unfolds in a way that makes each playthrough feel unique and meaningful.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving the player with little emotional investment in the narrative.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or excitement.”
