The Hand of Merlin

The plot of The Hand of Merlin will enthrall fans of the Arthurian legend, while RPG and strategy gamers will get engrossed by its gameplay.

72%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, character development

73% User Score Based on 259 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Hand of Merlin is a single player tactical role playing game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Room-C Games and was released on May 11, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 259 reviews

story33 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a well-written story that combines Arthurian legend with cosmic horror, providing a unique narrative experience.
The turn-based combat system is engaging and allows for strategic planning, with a variety of skills and abilities to choose from.
The game offers a good amount of replayability due to its randomized events and character unlocks, making each run feel different.

The lack of camera rotation during battles can make it difficult to see the battlefield clearly, leading to potential misclicks.
Some players have reported issues with RNG affecting gameplay, leading to frustrating encounters where luck plays a significant role in success.
The overall progression and character customization options feel limited, which may detract from long-term engagement with the game.

story
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
74%
2%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a compelling narrative set in an Arthurian-inspired world with elements of sci-fi horror. Players appreciate the depth and variability of the storytelling, which includes meaningful choices and randomized encounters that enhance replayability. However, some critiques highlight a lack of overarching progression and originality, with certain elements feeling repetitive or uninspired after multiple playthroughs.
- “The story is interesting with a very unique take on King Arthur, Camelot, Merlin, and the Holy Grail.”
- “The storytelling and the progression are a plus.”
- “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.”
gameplay
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
71%
9%
The gameplay of "The Hand of Merlin" is a mix of turn-based strategy and roguelike elements, offering a blend of tactical combat and decision-driven mechanics that can be engaging but also repetitive. While some players appreciate the depth and replayability provided by randomized encounters and character unlocks, others criticize the lack of innovation, outdated visuals, and tedious mechanics, particularly in combat. Overall, the game presents a solid but flawed experience that may appeal to fans of the genre willing to navigate its quirks.
- “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.”
- “The unforgiving roguelite structure and decision-driven gameplay offer up a lot of engaging content, even if these elements are held back a bit by the boring graphics and an interface that’s not very controller friendly.”
- “The gameplay is generic, the leveling system is bare-boned, and the story is forgettable.”
- “The problem here is the gameplay; once you get a few hours in, you've seen most of what there is to see in the game.”
- “The gameplay is trivial and tedious.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and overall presentation as well-crafted and fitting for the game's theme, while others criticize them as bland or amateurish. Many users note that the visuals are generally decent but could benefit from further refinement, particularly in character design and user interface. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though they may not meet the expectations of all players.
- “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.”
- “It reminds me of a simpler XCOM but with magic, lower price, and lower quality graphics.”
- “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.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
58%
15%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its random elements and varied encounters that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize its limited diversity in characters and combat, leading to a lack of incentive to replay. Many appreciate the procedural nature and the potential for different strategies, but some feel that the game falls short in providing clear rewards for repeated runs. Overall, while there is potential for replayability, it is hampered by balance issues and a perceived lack of depth in content.
- “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 that always give room for different tactics and approaches.”
- “A fun turn-based game with an interesting story and great replayability.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Content is really short and the roguelike replayability isn't great.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
35%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its depth and variety, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the gameplay experience without becoming repetitive. The soundtrack, influenced by dungeon synth and black metal, is described as uplifting and fitting for the game's fantasy sci-fi setting, making it a notable aspect that players appreciate. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, with many players opting to keep it on rather than mute it.
- “The soundtrack from Old Sorcery is a masterpiece.”
- “The music is really fun to listen to.”
- “Music picks up in big battles and maintains a good amount of variation.”
- “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.”
- “Also, this is one of the very few strategy games where I don't find myself turning the music off after a while.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many noting that while it may initially seem boring, deeper engagement reveals a more complex experience. The need for careful planning and navigation adds to the tedium, making some gameplay sessions feel lengthy and monotonous. Overall, the grind can detract from the enjoyment, leading players to take frequent breaks.
- “Grinding is fun to read, not tedious.”
- “The grind feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced and enjoyable.”
- “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 development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted as a key feature that enhances tactical options and playstyles, allowing players to engage in various strategies such as aggression, defense, and control. However, some players express frustration when character design limits their party's effectiveness, leading to situations where they feel unable to progress or respond to enemy actions. Overall, the integration of RPG elements and character progression is praised, particularly in the context of a rogue-lite format that combines card mechanics with tactical combat.
- “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 for '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.”
- “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. After about 15 turns, 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 allowing for choices in 'choose your own adventure' style encounters.”
- “Great roguelite with cards mixed in XCOM-style fights, along with character development involving skills, abilities, armor, and weapons.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
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 consistent with the game's tone, suggesting a well-executed optimization for a full release experience.
- “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.”
- “I ran under performance settings, but the game was still very nice to look at and matched the tone.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Overall, the game is reported to be stable and bug-free, with only minor graphical glitches occurring at maximum settings, such as flickering scenery during battles. Users have not experienced significant stability issues, allowing for an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “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 with stability; the game runs smoothly most of the time, making for an enjoyable experience.”
- “Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, with minimal crashes and a consistent frame rate.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's humor is highlighted by a diverse array of random events and encounters, which are both believable and often hilarious, showcasing the creativity of the small development team. Some moments blend humor with elements of mystery and terror, adding depth to the comedic experience.
- “The variety of random events and encounters in this game is astounding for such a small development team. Each one is totally believable in the world they've 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 enjoyable.”
- “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!”

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

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18h Median play time

27h Average play time

3-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Hand of Merlin is a tactical role playing game with fantasy and historical themes.

The Hand of Merlin is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 27 hours playing The Hand of Merlin.

The Hand of Merlin was released on May 11, 2021.

The Hand of Merlin was developed by Room-C Games.

The Hand of Merlin has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Hand of Merlin is a single player game.

Similar games include King Arthur: Knight's Tale, Knock on the Coffin Lid, Trials of Fire, Legend of Keepers, Star Renegades and others.

The Hand of Merlin

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