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The Guild Gold Edition

64%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
graphics, stability
64% User Score Based on 218 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows

About

"The Guild Gold Edition" is a medieval-themed life simulation game set in the year 1400. You play as a 13-year-old leaving home to learn a trade and build your own business in a town of your choice. Navigate the challenges and opportunities of the era, from epidemics and thieves to prosperous trade routes, as you strive to become a successful merchant. The game offers multiple paths to success, allowing you to choose between an honest craft or a dubious profession.

The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot
The Guild Gold Edition screenshot

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 218 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
graphics6 negative mentions

  • The Guild offers a unique blend of economic strategy and life simulation, allowing players to build a dynasty and engage in politics.
  • The game is highly addictive, with a variety of professions and gameplay mechanics that keep players engaged for hours.
  • Despite its age, the game retains a nostalgic charm and provides a deep, immersive experience in a medieval setting.
  • The game is plagued by frequent crashes and bugs, making it frustrating to play, especially on modern systems.
  • Graphics and user interface are outdated, which can detract from the overall experience for new players.
  • The tutorial is lacking and can leave players confused about key mechanics, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • graphics
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its age since its release in 2002. While some players appreciate the charm and timelessness of its visuals, many note significant issues such as bugs, crashes, and poor performance on modern hardware. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not hold up to contemporary standards, the game's core experience remains enjoyable for those willing to overlook its visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are so old, but unlike some games where the times have caught up to it and it doesn't hit well in the current modern times, this game, with all its age, is still timeless. There are only a handful of games that are literally timeless, where it's still so good even when everything else is already so modernized and has way better graphics, and this is one of those games.”
    • “It is a great game with great visuals (for the time and still nice nowadays), nice gameplay, realistic occupations, history, and more.”
    • “The graphics don't hold up anymore, but are still charming.”
    • “The graphics are really outdated, but underneath lies a brilliant experience.”
    • “Keep in mind this game was released in 2002, so don’t expect anything special in terms of visuals.”
    • “It is quite old, so the graphics - especially the character animations - are almost painful to look at, while the buildings are still more or less okay.”
  • gameplay
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally praised for its innovative and diverse mechanics, offering a refreshing experience even for an older title. However, players have noted issues with bugs and crashes that can detract from the overall enjoyment, particularly for those unfamiliar with the complex systems. While the game provides a unique and engaging experience, the tutorial's shortcomings and occasional clunkiness in mechanics may pose challenges for new players.

    • “For such an old game, the twists and turns, the history, the setting, overall gameplay, all a breath of fresh air even after all this time.”
    • “The innovative gameplay is a testament to the creators' dedication.”
    • “A standout aspect of this title is its diverse gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The tutorial is both slow, boring, and overexplains what it covers, while at the same time neglecting to cover a lot of key game mechanics.”
    • “The game is a diamond regarding gameplay and the idea behind it, but the bugs and crashes make it tedious and unfun to play often when you have to redo a lot or completely give up your game because of a corrupted save.”
    • “The mechanics are awful.”
  • stability
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. While some players find it addictive despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game's age contributes to its lack of polish and reliability, making it frustrating for many. Users recommend saving frequently and being prepared to navigate various technical problems.

    • “So full of glitches and multiplayer is a no-go.”
    • “The game does have some bugs and weird glitches which made me not want to continue playing the game, and no mods or patches that fix them.”
    • “Glitches lots, doesn't play smoothly and you'll spend more time googling ways to get around glitches than actually playing.”
  • story
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is characterized by its deep roleplaying elements rooted in historical accuracy, allowing players to shape their own narratives within a rich historical context. While it lacks a traditional linear storyline, it offers players the freedom to create their own character-driven tales and engage in dynamic interactions, blending strategy with personal storytelling. However, some players note that the lack of significant consequences for completed quests can diminish the overall narrative impact.

    • “Its roleplaying qualities are not only deep but are rooted in historical accuracy, giving a fresh layer of depth to the characters and storylines.”
    • “It’s a beautiful blend of storytelling, strategy, and the unpredictability of human interactions set against a rich historical backdrop.”
    • “There is more time to enjoy the story of your character and the lore.”
    • “While there is no story itself, the game allows you to either go by complete historical settings or with in-game characters being part of the historical timeline.”
    • “When you finish a quest, nothing happens as if you never finished it.”
    • “It is a game that I've played since I was 4, and it released in my birth year. It shaped me as a gamer and video game enthusiast. While this game isn't the greatest story-driven game, the character you build and the story you create yourself while expanding into one of the biggest 'dynasties' not just financially but also through diplomacy.”
  • optimization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting slow performance, frequent crashes, and poor frame rates, particularly on modern PCs. While the gameplay itself is praised, the technical issues hinder the overall experience, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game as intended.

    • “Everything runs smoothly asf.”
    • “Though the game is very good, unfortunately it does not run smoothly on a modern PC.”
    • “The game runs slowly.”
    • “Keeps crashing; poor optimization.”
    • “The frame rate is very slow, even for high game performance.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities, particularly the medieval themes. While some find it enjoyable and fitting, others feel it can detract from gameplay efficiency. Overall, it contributes positively to the game's experience, though opinions on its impact vary.

    • “I adore the soundtrack and the atmosphere.”
    • “But this game, from the amazing UI to the great music and game design, is just fun to play even after 20 years.”
    • “It is moody and immersive, with plenty of shadows, medieval music, and soft texturing.”
    • “The music is fine, not much but also not really annoying.”
    • “It is moody and immersive, with plenty of shadows, medieval music and soft texturing; however, it drags out the efficiency of management somewhat.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability, featuring over 30 assignments and 11 occupations that encourage varied playthroughs. The interdependent attributes within the guild system further enhance this aspect, ensuring that no two playthroughs are identical. Overall, players find the replay value to be high.

    • “This game has a high replayability value, with over 30 assignments and 11 occupations to choose from.”
    • “The guild system requires you to consider attributes that are all interconnected, adding significant replayability because no one playthrough can be the same.”
    • “There is a good amount of replayability value in this game.”
    • “This game has a high replayability value; there are over 30 assignments and 11 occupations you can choose from.”
    • “With the guild, you need to take into account attributes that are all reliant on one another. This also adds replayability to a game like The Guild because no one playthrough can be the same.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating soundtrack and relaxed vibe, making it ideal for casual play.

    • “I adore the soundtrack and the atmosphere.”
    • “A relaxed atmosphere that is great for casual play.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that grinding is an integral part of the game, essential for progression and overall enjoyment, suggesting that it adds a necessary challenge and depth to the experience. However, some feel that it can be demanding, requiring significant time investment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “"Grinding" only exists as a logical part of the game because there would be no point in playing it without.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is initially engaging and filled with charm, but it tends to lose its impact after extended playtime, becoming less effective over the course of 30 hours.

    • “Has a lot of character and charm to it, and the occasional understated humor keeps it lively.”

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