The Hand of Merlin

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 252 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Hand of Merlin Game Cover
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"The Hand of Merlin" is a turn-based rogue-lite RPG that blends Arthurian legend with cosmic horror. Recruit a team of heroes and guide them on a journey across a richly-imagined medieval world, making choices that affect every playthrough. Engage in tactical combat against human and demonic foes, using cover, ambushes, and coordinated attacks to gain the upper hand. The game features stunning visuals, a compelling story, and interactive encounters written by the talented Kyratzes duo.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 252 reviews
story32 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique blend of Arthurian lore and cosmic horror, creating an engaging narrative.
  • Turn-based combat is strategic and challenging, requiring careful planning and character management.
  • The randomized events and character unlocks provide significant replayability, making each run feel fresh.
  • The game can be excessively difficult, with punishing mechanics that may frustrate players.
  • Lack of variety in enemy types and abilities can lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • The user interface and camera controls are clunky, making navigation and combat less intuitive.
  • story135 mentions

    The game's story is a blend of Arthurian lore and sci-fi elements, featuring well-written narratives and engaging character interactions that evolve with each playthrough. While some players appreciate the depth and replayability offered by randomized events and choices, others find the overarching plot lacking and repetitive after multiple runs. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its charm and creativity, though opinions vary on its ability to maintain player interest throughout the gameplay.

    • “The storytelling and the progression are a plus.”
    • “The story is interesting with a very unique take on King Arthur, Camelot, Merlin, and the Holy Grail.”
    • “I really liked the way storytelling develops through the game; there is a significant amount of replayability thanks to the random starting items which can define your strategies through the game, and a bunch of randomized encounters and events including card-based leveling up skills through your gameplay which always give some new room for different tactics and approaches.”
    • “The story elements are serviceable enough if uninspiring, and the same can be said of the combat.”
    • “There's essentially no overarching story progression across playthroughs.”
    • “The story doesn't have anything to offer that would be original or interesting, but still rapes the lore.”
  • gameplay65 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Hand of Merlin" is characterized by its turn-based strategy mechanics, which are engaging yet can feel repetitive over time due to a lack of innovation and variety in combat encounters. While the game offers a solid tactical experience with familiar mechanics and a strong narrative, players have noted issues with the user interface, outdated visuals, and some frustrating mechanics, such as infinitely respawning enemies. Overall, the game provides a decent level of replayability through randomized elements, but many feel it could benefit from more diverse gameplay options and improvements to its core systems.

    • “The Hand of Merlin executes well on its turn-based strategy gameplay and I think it succeeds in being engaging, but not cumbersome, despite its longer runs compared to most roguelike games.”
    • “I really liked the way storytelling develops through the game; there is a significant amount of replayability thanks to the random starting items which can define your strategies through the game, and a bunch of randomized encounters and events including card-based leveling up skills through your gameplay which always give some new room for different tactics and approaches.”
    • “Love the short story-node chance encounters, love the idea of this game, love the procedural nature of the gameplay allowing for a high replayability factor.”
    • “Hand of Merlin is a game that would have been better with different perspective gameplay, camera movements, and not forcing a node-to-node path.”
    • “The gameplay is generic, the leveling system is bare-bones, and the story is forgettable.”
    • “The gameplay is trivial and tedious.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and overall presentation as good or even top-notch, while others criticize them as bland or janky. Many players appreciate the visual effects and character customization, but note that the user interface and animations could use improvement. Overall, the graphics are generally considered acceptable for the genre, though they may not meet the highest standards.

    • “The story and setting are fun and compelling, the art style is great, and the music is really fun to listen to.”
    • “Better yet, despite lovely graphics and a satisfyingly mystical-alien soundtrack, there are virtually no hangs or crashes; there are zero load screens.”
    • “All visuals and visual interface are top notch, both on the map and during the tactical battles.”
    • “Pretty fun little game if you can get past the fairly janky graphics.”
    • “Bland graphics, janky animations, soulless characters and, worst of all, the tactical gameplay is rudimentary.”
    • “I like what they're going for here, but the presentation and production values are rather amateurish - UI/fonts, graphics, sound, and music are of a 10+ year old game.”
  • replayability31 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its random starting items, varied encounters, and strategic depth that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize its lack of character and combat diversity, leading to diminished replay value. Many appreciate the procedural elements and story-driven choices that enhance replayability, but some feel the game is too short and lacks clear incentives for repeated runs. Overall, it offers decent replay potential, particularly for fans of the genre, but improvements in variety and guidance for unlocking content could enhance the experience further.

    • “I really liked the way storytelling develops through the game; there is a significant amount of replayability thanks to the random starting items which can define your strategies, along with a bunch of randomized encounters and events, including card-based leveling up skills through your gameplay, which always gives new room for different tactics and approaches.”
    • “The replay value after the amount of time I've put in has to do with discovering the story and making different choices at each node, unlocking new hero skills and relics each time you complete a run on normal or higher difficulty level, pulling different heroes through normal mode or higher, which gives them a little character upgrade of health and armor for the harder modes of gameplay, and trying to beat hard mode and then moving on to hard+.”
    • “Great game! I have deeply enjoyed the few runs I've played; the combat is deep enough to keep you thinking, and the events are varied enough to be replayable long after your first victory.”
    • “I think it lacks replayability, and having beaten it once I don’t really feel the need to try again with different characters.”
    • “The game lacks diversity in combat and characters, has very serious balance issues and really suffers from a lack of replayability.”
    • “I quite enjoyed the game, but it doesn't have much in the way of a roguelike or (to my mind) any replayability.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its depth and quality, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. It combines elements of dungeon synth and black metal, creating a unique and engaging auditory backdrop that complements the game's fantasy and sci-fi themes. Players appreciate that the music is enjoyable enough to keep on during gameplay, contributing positively to the atmosphere without becoming repetitive.

    • “The soundtrack from Old Sorcery is a masterpiece.”
    • “The music is really fun to listen to.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, created by the artist who represents Old Sorcery and the newer Finnish black metal band Warmoon Lord.”
    • “There is a suggested Lovecraftian feel mixed with Arthurian lore, but the world map seems bright and fluffy... a very different tone from the explained storyline and music tone.”
    • “I like what they're going for here, but the presentation and production values are rather amateurish - UI/fonts, graphics, sound, and music are of a 10+ year old game.”
    • “The music kinda grows on you, but it's a game you don't mute, as you end up listening to your own music.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with some describing the gameplay as trivial and requiring frequent breaks. While initial impressions may suggest boredom, deeper engagement reveals a more complex, albeit still grind-heavy, experience. Planning optimal routes can also add to the tedium, as it often involves hovering over nodes to understand connections.

    • “Grinding is fun to read, not tedious.”
    • “The grind feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
    • “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced, making progress satisfying.”
    • “At first, it looks like a very boring game, but it's only a tedious game if you dig a bit.”
    • “The gameplay is trivial and tedious.”
    • “The combats can get tedious; I take a lot of breaks.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a key feature that enhances tactical options and playstyles, allowing for diverse strategies such as aggression, defense, and control. However, some players express frustration when character design limits their party's effectiveness in combat, leading to situations where they feel powerless. Overall, the integration of RPG elements and character progression is praised, particularly in the context of a rogue-lite format.

    • “RPG elements, including character development, introduce new tactical options and open up different playstyles (aggressive, defense, control, area of effect, single target focus, etc.), as well as allowing you to choose how to interact with 'choose your own adventure' style encounters.”
    • “Great roguelite with cards mixed in with XCOM-style fights, along with character development featuring skills, abilities, armor, and weapons.”
    • “My whole party literally can't move; only one character is capable of dealing ranged damage due to character design, not my choice. The enemy just stays away from me, dealing area-of-effect damage, rooting me, and healing every turn until, about 15 turns later, my party dies because I literally have no option except to throw one potion and hit end turn.”
    • “RPG elements, including character development, introduce new tactical options and open up different playstyles (aggressive, defense, control, area of effect, single target focus, etc.), as well as your choice of how to interact with 'choose your own adventure' style encounters.”
    • “Great roguelite with cards mixed in XCOM-style fights, along with character development featuring skills, abilities, armor, and weapons.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its impressive performance, with only minor issues noted. Even when running on lower settings, players found the visuals appealing and the gameplay experience comparable to a fully polished release.

    • “Performance is amazing.”
    • “Maybe it's just some minor performance issues that need to be fixed, or there is even more content the developers would like to introduce, but either way, this game feels and plays like a full release.”
    • “Maybe it's just some minor performance issues that need to be fixed, or there is even more content the developers would like to introduce; either way, this game feels and plays like a full release.”
    • “I ran under performance settings, but the game was still very nice to look at and matched the tone.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with users reporting a bug-free experience, though some minor graphical glitches occur at maximum settings, particularly during combat. These issues, such as scenery flickering, do not significantly detract from gameplay.

    • “The game has been bug-free so far, except for some graphics glitching on max graphics settings during fights, where random parts of the scenery seem to flicker on player turns.”
    • “I've experienced very few issues; the game runs smoothly and is quite stable overall.”
    • “Stability is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes or major bugs during my playtime.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised, with users highlighting it as enjoyable and astonishing, significantly enhancing the overall experience of the puzzle gameplay.

    • “A great puzzle game with an enjoyable atmosphere.”
    • “All in all, the atmosphere is astonishing thanks to that.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The game's humor is highlighted by a diverse range of random events and encounters that are both believable and entertaining, with some moments delivering genuine hilarity while others evoke mystery or terror. Players find the comedic elements particularly effective, even when juxtaposed with darker themes, such as the unsettling presence of characters like Merlin and his friends.

    • “The variety of random events and encounters in this game is astounding for such a small development team. Every one is totally believable in the world they have created, with some being downright hilarious and others evoking a sense of mystery or even terror.”
    • “The humor in this game is cleverly woven into the narrative, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining and full of surprises.”
    • “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and absurd situations that the characters find themselves in. It's a refreshing take on the genre!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

18hMedian play time
27hAverage play time
3-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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