The Kobolds Left Behind

About

The Kobolds Left Behind is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Archive Entertainment and was released on July 7, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Kobolds Left Behind" is a bittersweet adventure game where players follow the story of three abandoned kobolds on their final day. This 'walking simulator' features light puzzles, full voice acting, and a duration of around 60 minutes. Despite a few jokes, the game primarily focuses on delivering a heart-wrenching experience with a single, linear narrative and a profound emotional payoff.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features cute characters and excellent voice acting that enhances the emotional experience.
Despite its short length, the story is impactful and leaves a lasting impression on players.
The art style and character designs are appealing, contributing to an overall enjoyable aesthetic.

The game is very short, clocking in at around an hour, which leaves little time for character development.
The story's ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, with significant character deaths that may not resonate with players.
Some gameplay elements, like puzzles, are poorly designed and can detract from the overall experience.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The game's story is a simple yet emotionally impactful narrative centered around themes of grief and abandonment, featuring lovable characters and well-executed voice acting that enhances the experience. While it offers a mix of humor and serious topics, players should be prepared for a more somber tone rather than a happy ending. Overall, it is a short, engaging story that resonates with players, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate character-driven narratives.
- “I'm really enjoying playing this; the story has a great mix of all elements (trying not to spoil). I think the characters are fantastic and they remind me so much of cartoons and shows I watch, as well as sci-fi and fantasy books I read.”
- “The story was impactful and stuck with me throughout the day after I finished. In fact, I still find my thoughts drifting back to the story, so to say it has won a special place in my heart is putting it lightly.”
- “To sum up all of my experiences while playing this game: it's a short emotional story with very appealing visuals, lovable characters that are given more depth thanks to a very well-written story and brilliant voice acting, all topped off with well-designed levels, a light garnish of jokes, and well-placed sound effects and music.”
- “The story is simple; the dragons took a bunch of their kobolds and left all the others so they could go to space for reasons that are never explained.”
- “I will say straight off the bat, if you're looking for a happy story, you won't find that here. It does have its fair share of humor, but this game covers more serious topics like abandonment, so have a supply of tissues on hand before you start!”
- “Could have been a better story if there were a way to get a happier ending.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's graphics are generally well-received, featuring appealing artwork and character designs that effectively reflect their personalities. The environments, including floating islands, are visually pleasing and contribute to a well-designed, navigable experience. Overall, the graphics enhance the emotional storytelling and immersive gameplay.
- “Now the artwork for the game is good, the floating islands looked fine and the character designs were good too.”
- “The art style is part of what sold me on this game, the characters are well made and the art matches the personalities really well, the levels are well thought out and easy to navigate, I found it pretty simple to figure out where I was supposed to go next.”
- “To sum up all of my experiences while playing this game: it's a short emotional story with very appealing visuals, lovable characters that are given more depth thanks to a very well written story and brilliant voice acting, all topped off with well designed levels, a light garnish of jokes, and well placed sound effects and music.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay is generally considered straightforward and enjoyable, featuring exploration, item collection, and simple puzzles. While some puzzles, like the pipe puzzle, can be confusing, the overall mechanics are deemed solid, though not particularly intricate. Players appreciate the art and voice acting, but feel that gameplay is one of the weaker aspects of the overall experience.
- “The gameplay itself was fine too; I thought the puzzles were cool (although I was pretty lost in that pipe puzzle and felt very stupid for not figuring it out and just relied on pressing stuff until something happened).”
- “Art is great, gameplay is good, voice acting is quite nice, and the music gets the job done - but I found it to be one of the weaker parts of the overall presentation.”
- “Gameplay consists of walking around, searching for and picking up items to help you advance forward, and solving simple puzzles.”
- “The gameplay itself was fine too, I thought the puzzles were cool (although I was pretty lost in that pipe puzzle, and felt very stupid in not figuring it out and just relied on pressing stuff till something happened).”
- “Gameplay: it's nothing too intricate.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative and well-developed characters that players can connect with, enhanced by exceptional voice acting. Its touching story, combined with appealing visuals and thoughtful design elements, creates a memorable emotional experience. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt gaming journey.
- “If you are looking for an emotional story with characters you can fall in love with, you should consider giving this game a chance.”
- “The actors brought so much emotion that it added another level to an already very emotional story.”
- “To sum up all of my experiences while playing this game: it's a short emotional story with very appealing visuals, lovable characters that are given more depth thanks to a very well-written story and brilliant voice acting, all topped off with well-designed levels, a light garnish of jokes, and well-placed sound effects and music.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The music in the game is generally seen as functional, enhancing the ambiance of scenes and levels, but is considered one of the weaker elements of the overall presentation. While some players appreciate the soundtrack enough to enjoy it in the background, it does not stand out as a highlight compared to the game's visuals, gameplay, and voice acting. Overall, it effectively supports the emotional narrative but lacks a distinctive impact.
- “While writing this, I'm listening to the soundtrack, and I realize I could just have this playing in the background for ages, taking it all in.”
- “The sound worked well and the music added to the ambiance of each scene and level as you explored!”
- “To sum up all of my experiences while playing this game: it's a short emotional story with very appealing visuals, lovable characters that are given more depth thanks to a very well-written story and brilliant voice acting, and all of this topped off with well-designed levels, a light garnish of jokes, and well-placed sound effects and music.”
- “The sound worked well and the music added to the ambiance of each scene and level as you explored.”
- “To sum up all of my experiences while playing this game: it's a short emotional story with very appealing visuals, lovable characters that are given more depth thanks to a very well written story and brilliant voice acting, all topped off with well designed levels, a light garnish of jokes, and well placed sound effects and music.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the recurring line "kobold magic," which adds a layer of hubris and personality to the character Niels, making him both funny and relatable. While the game incorporates humor, it primarily addresses serious themes such as abandonment, suggesting a balance between lighthearted moments and heavier emotional content. Players should be prepared for a mix of humor and poignant storytelling.
- “He feels more fleshed out than the other characters, and I like the humor in the recurring line: 'kobold magic!' by him.”
- “I know I said that I liked the 'kobold magic' line from Niels and that was used a lot, but it makes Niels hubristic and funny, like there was an ego he had and was proud in showing off his magic towards Sophie.”
- “I will say straight off the bat, if you're looking for a happy story, you won't find that here. It does have its fair share of humor, but this game covers more serious topics like abandonment, so have a supply of tissues to hand before you start!”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Reviews indicate that while the game's artwork and character designs are visually appealing, there is a notable lack of depth in character development, with many players feeling that the narrative misses opportunities to create more tension and complexity in the characters' arcs.
- “I just felt there should be more added to it, more tension, more character development, a lot of missed opportunities here and there.”
- “I just felt there should be more added to it, more tension, more character development; there are a lot of missed opportunities here and there.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for having minimal replay value and a short duration, leading to a lack of incentive for players to revisit it.
- “But it's got practically no replay value and it's far too short.”