The Emperor's Own

About

The Emperor's Own is a single player role playing game with fantasy, romance and historical themes. It was developed by Volga Studios and was released on November 4, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The Emperor's Own is a story-driven adventure game with RPG elements, set in an alternate universe, inspired by the Russian Empire at the dawn of the 19th century. It features multi-dimensional characters, difficult moral dilemmas, and a mature, branching narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews

story19 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story set in an intriguing historical context, with well-written dialogues and character development.
The graphics are visually appealing, showcasing detailed character models and environments that effectively convey the atmosphere of early 19th century Russia.
Despite its alpha status, the game shows significant potential with deep tactical RPG gameplay and engaging mechanics that encourage thoughtful decision-making.

The combat system is currently clunky and unpolished, requiring a complete overhaul to enhance gameplay experience.
Players have reported frequent crashes and bugs, particularly during saving and loading, which significantly hinder the overall experience.
The game suffers from pacing issues, with excessive walking and navigation that can feel monotonous and detracts from immersion.

story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The story of the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its compelling narrative, engaging characters, and immersive atmosphere set in a unique historical context. While some critiques mention the story's occasional cheesiness and shallow moments, the overall sentiment highlights its potential for depth and emotional development, especially as players anticipate further choices and consequences in the full release. Voice acting and dialogue quality are also noted as strong points, contributing to the game's appeal despite its current alpha state.
- “The story is compelling, the mechanics are decent, very polished for an alpha.”
- “I am stunned by the storyline, the plot, the clothing, the men and women (and the children too), all of it.”
- “The voice acting and dialogue is all top notch, and I'd honestly buy the game in its current state just to see the story progress.”
- “The story, characters, dialogues, fighting, and pretty much everything is super cheesy and cheap.”
- “Look, I appreciate that you release a pre-alpha version for us to see what you have to offer, but it's really lame. The story doesn't sell, the animation would be considered outdated even if this game was released 10 years ago, the sandbox is full of bugs and very boring, the game kept crashing, lots of glitches, etc.”
- “There isn't a proper introduction to the game story, and although you have choices (like kill or spare someone, do this instead of that), the way the world reacts to it is not satisfactory.”
gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
72%
12%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many users noting significant issues such as limited camera options, clunky combat mechanics, and various bugs that hinder the overall experience. While the game shows potential with its compelling story and unique approach to RPG tropes, the current state of gameplay feels underdeveloped and lacks fluidity, leading to frustration among players. Despite these drawbacks, some reviewers appreciate the game's ambition and suggest it may improve in future updates.
- “The story is compelling, the mechanics are decent, very polished for an alpha.”
- “The game is very good at messing with you, that is making you question conventional game mechanics and testing how smart or logical you really are.”
- “The gameplay in its current state is understandably almost nonexistent, but overlooking its alpha status, it really is a captivating story in an underused setting.”
- “The gameplay needs serious work; this game has real potential, but you can't even zoom out from your character and are stuck in one of three camera locations: left, right, or center.”
- “The game has solid potential, so I'm giving it a good review, but the gameplay is lacking, from movement to combat to even the camera.”
- “Leaving technical issues aside, the plot in this game is pretty interesting, despite being limited by the lack of gameplay fluidity.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
53%
14%
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as "amazing" and "nearly there" for an alpha version, while others criticize them as "horrible" and "not amazing by today's standards." Many users acknowledge the potential for improvement, noting that the visuals are decent but overshadowed by gameplay issues. Despite the criticisms, the aesthetic appeal and texture quality are generally appreciated, indicating a solid foundation for future development.
- “The graphics are actually pretty amazing, even on medium, though - as was stated in game after the intro sequence - combat is very bare bones and desperately needs work.”
- “This game has big potential, great story, nice graphics, can't wait to play the full game.”
- “Despite the warnings, I actually liked the graphics and texture quality quite a lot - sure, some of the facial animations look a tiny bit off during the dialogues, but for an alpha-stage product, this is more than acceptable.”
- “The graphics are horrible.”
- “Graphics are okay but really not amazing by today's standards.”
- “Graphics, animations, performance, and combat are all terrible.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty and well-written dialogues, which effectively blend serious moments with hilarious exchanges, particularly among characters like the merchant. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the narrative and character interactions, making the experience both engaging and entertaining. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the game's fantasy setting, enhancing the player's enjoyment.
- “The dialogues felt natural and funny, and they allowed the player to quickly understand who is who in the squad.”
- “The dialogue was really well written in my opinion, serious when it had to be and absolutely hilarious in a few cases where the writers seemed to be having some fun (the merchant and the chest with a rusty old sword come to mind).”
- “Very humorous lines, this is a very good game, set in a fantasy version of Regency Russia, the uniforms on the men looked good, they looked like Napoleonic Russian officers.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, fatal errors, and various glitches that hinder gameplay. Many users experienced issues such as freezing during save loads and being unable to progress due to bugs, leading to frustration and the need to watch gameplay online instead. Overall, the game is described as very buggy, particularly in its current pre-alpha state.
- “I couldn't finish it because I constantly had fatal errors, got stuck a couple of times, and trying to load a previous save freezes the game, so I had to watch the second half of the game on YouTube.”
- “This game is very buggy in its current state, and players are only allowed to play the first chapter.”
- “The game is a bit buggy, but that's really just with a.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the optimization of the game is currently lacking, with reports of poor performance, subpar graphics, and animations. While some users note that the performance is acceptable for an alpha version, they anticipate improvements in the final release. Bugs are also expected at this stage, indicating that further polishing is needed.
- “I guess they'll definitely be polished and optimized for the final version.”
- “It's a bit puzzling for me that the real historical context in terms of state names is replaced with fictional ones in the game, but it's not crucial, as long as the game is good in terms of mechanics, graphics, and optimization.”
- “Graphics, animations, performance, and combat are all terrible.”
- “Performance is okay (maybe 40-50 fps with a 1070), but it's an alpha teaser only, so I didn't expect much. What I was expecting, on the other hand, was bugs.”
- “Poor performance.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging settings, lively characters, and strong plot hooks, particularly in environments like spooky woods. Reviewers express optimism about the game's potential to deliver an authentic experience rooted in the Russian Empire, especially if the developers maintain their passionate approach. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
- “As a Slavic myself and a fan of the era, I adore the settings, characters, atmosphere, and plot hook.”
- “Great atmosphere chosen for some of the environments (spooky woods!).”
- “This game, with its emphasis on having a good plot, lively characters, and an authentic atmosphere, has some awesome potential.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players generally find the replayability of the game to be high, with many citing multiple paths, varied character choices, and dynamic outcomes that encourage repeated playthroughs. The inclusion of unlockable content and challenges further enhances the game's longevity, making it appealing for those who enjoy exploring different strategies and experiences. Overall, the game offers a compelling reason to return for additional sessions.
- “The replay value of this game is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
- “I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay it multiple times.”
- “The variety of characters and storylines keeps me coming back for more, ensuring I never get bored.”
- “The replay value is almost nonexistent; once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “After finishing the main storyline, I found no compelling reasons to replay the game, as the choices felt superficial.”
- “The lack of meaningful variations in gameplay makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second playthrough or additional effort to fully progress or achieve desired outcomes.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music and sound design in the game are generally well-received, though some players feel there isn't much to highlight or discuss in detail.