The Kobolds Left Behind

54%
Game Brain Score Based on 17 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Kobolds Left Behind Game Cover
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"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.

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Reviews

54%
Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews
story positive mentions
replayability 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 graphics and art style are appealing, with well-designed character sprites and environments.
  • The game is very short, clocking in at around an hour, which limits character development and emotional investment.
  • The story's ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, with major character deaths that feel unearned due to the lack of time spent with them.
  • Some gameplay elements, like puzzles, are poorly designed and can lead to frustration.
  • story20 mentions

    The game's story is a blend of humor and emotional depth, focusing on themes of grief and abandonment, with a simple premise involving dragons and kobolds. Players appreciate the well-written characters and impactful voice acting, which enhance the narrative experience, though the story leans towards serious topics rather than a happy ending. Overall, it offers a short yet memorable journey that resonates with players, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking an emotional tale.

    • “I didn't regret buying this game and it had a good story to it.”
    • “The story was impactful and stuck with me throughout the day after I finished.”
    • “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.”
    • “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!”
    • “If you happen to like kobolds, then the story was somewhat okay for five bucks, I guess.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The game's graphics are generally well-received, featuring appealing artwork and character designs that enhance the overall experience. The floating islands and thoughtfully designed levels contribute to a visually engaging environment, while the art style effectively complements the characters' personalities. Overall, the visuals are a highlight, adding depth to the emotional narrative and 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 their 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, 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.”
  • gameplay4 mentions

    The gameplay is generally straightforward, involving exploration, item collection, and solving simple puzzles, though some players may find certain challenges, like the pipe puzzle, confusing. While the gameplay is deemed good, it is considered one of the weaker aspects of the overall experience, which is otherwise enhanced by strong art, voice acting, and music.

    • “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).”
    • “Gameplay consists of walking around, searching for and picking up items to help you advance forward, and solving simple puzzles.”
    • “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, 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 for not figuring it out, just relying on pressing things until something happened.”
    • “Gameplay: it's nothing too intricate.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, featuring lovable characters and a well-crafted story enhanced by excellent voice acting. Players find it touching and visually appealing, with a perfect blend of humor and sound design that elevates the overall experience.

    • “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.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is generally seen as functional, contributing to the ambiance and enhancing the emotional experience, though some reviewers consider it one of the weaker elements of the overall presentation. While it may not stand out, it effectively complements the visuals and storytelling, making it suitable for background listening. Overall, it supports the game's emotional narrative and atmosphere without being particularly memorable.

    • “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.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by clever recurring lines, such as "kobold magic," which adds depth to characters like Niels, showcasing his hubris in a lighthearted way. While the game incorporates humor, it balances it with serious themes like abandonment, suggesting that players should be prepared for an emotional experience alongside the comedic elements.

    • “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 on hand before you start!”
  • character development2 mentions

    While the game's artwork and character designs received praise, many users felt that the character development was lacking, citing missed opportunities for deeper storytelling and emotional tension.

    • “The character designs were impressive, showcasing a unique style that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “I felt there should be more emphasis on character development, as there were many missed opportunities to deepen the story.”
    • “I just felt there should be more added to it, more tension, more character development; there were a lot of missed opportunities here and there.”
    • “The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked the depth needed to make their journeys engaging.”
    • “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; it made the story feel flat.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game is criticized for having minimal replay value and a short duration, which limits the incentive for players to revisit it.

    • “But it's got practically no replay value and it's far too short.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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