The Land of Crows

About

The Land of Crows is a single player action game. It was developed by Gemlore and was released on December 23, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Land of Crows" is a side-scroller gothic story adventure game, inspired by the literary works of the Masters of romantic and horror literature (E.A. Poe, J.W. Goethe, A. Mickiewicz, J. Slowacki) and lovecraftian mythos.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

story9 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a rich exploration of Polish history and folklore, providing an educational experience that many players found fascinating.
The atmosphere is beautifully crafted with a unique art style and immersive soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
The storytelling is engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps players intrigued throughout the game.

The game suffers from a slow pace and excessive dialogue, which may deter players looking for a more action-oriented experience.
Graphics and controls are considered subpar, with sluggish movement and a lack of visual appeal that could turn off potential players.
The heavy reliance on text and reading may not appeal to everyone, making it feel more like an e-book than a traditional game.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The story of "The Land of Crows" is a slow-paced, gothic adventure that draws heavily from Lovecraftian themes and classic horror literature, featuring a well-written cast of characters and a compelling mystery. While some reviewers found the narrative to be somewhat bland or muddled in pacing, many appreciated its depth, sharp writing, and the warmth that shines through the darker elements. Overall, the game is recognized for its intriguing plot and rich storytelling, making it a notable aspect despite its unconventional execution.
- “I also found the ending very satisfactory for concluding every character's story.”
- “Now that's done, The Land of Crows is an okay and interesting gothic Lovecraftian game; it has a pretty good story, interesting graphic art style, and very good characters.”
- “Its deeply occult story combines literature from medieval to classicism, northern and Slavic folklore with Lovecraftian elements - wonderfully written, which makes the 7000+ lines of text easy and interesting to read.”
- “It's a ploddingly slow side-scrolling 2D adventure game where you discover that, underneath the bland monochrome appearance of the artwork, is a bland monochrome equivalent of a story.”
- “Almost all 'lovecraftian' games take the same road story-wise.”
- “The story itself is not stellar, and neither is the gameplay, but it's quite an unconventional and interesting game nevertheless.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, featuring a unique monochrome art style that evokes a vintage charm reminiscent of old photographs and classic adventure games. While some players appreciate the atmospheric visuals and their contribution to the gothic narrative, others find the overall aesthetic bland and unappealing, which may deter potential gamers. Overall, the graphics are interesting and well-executed, but their appeal largely depends on individual taste.
- “The graphic art style is interesting; it feels like you're looking at old-time pictures, but one that can move. I guess the best comparison I can make is it's like the cutscenes from the Rock of Ages games. With the black and white look, it has a good charm to it. The levels are quite good and a bit diverse, with plenty of nice locations done in old black and white photos, and also it's taken from real-life places, which was nice.”
- “I enjoyed the artwork in this game, and the storyline was exactly as it should be.”
- “It's interesting in its style of graphics and the options you have to change the appearance of the video.”
- “It's a ploddingly slow side-scrolling 2D adventure game where you discover that, underneath the bland monochrome appearance of the artwork, is a bland monochrome equivalent of a story.”
- “The graphics aren't great... that will understandably be a turn-off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “When I first discovered the game, it immediately reminded me of games like Downfall or The Cat Lady due to its art style, but this is a very different entity in its own right.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a hauntingly beautiful and immersive experience, enhanced by a grey palette, dim lighting, and an evocative soundtrack, including the sound of rain. While some players found it spooky but not particularly frightening, the rich lore and storytelling contribute significantly to its unique ambiance, making it a standout in the point-and-click genre. Overall, the visuals effectively support the atmospheric depth, creating a compelling environment for exploration.
- “I loved the atmosphere created by the grey palette and dim lighting, immersive soundtrack, and the constant pouring of rain that made me feel like I was traversing through Kuyavia myself under it.”
- “Dreadful and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
- “Great storytelling and Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
- “The amount of text to read in this game would almost certainly be a fun-breaker in other games, but I found it fascinating - a trove of Eastern European history, lore, and culture that I was largely ignorant of and really helped to enhance the atmosphere.”
- “For the most part, the visuals were well done and carried the atmosphere.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay is described as simplistic and conventional, involving basic mechanics like item collection and interaction with characters. While it may not offer anything particularly unique or stellar, it still provides an interesting experience reminiscent of similar titles. Overall, the gameplay is considered adequate but not exceptional.
- “The gameplay was okay; it's a simple sort of picking up items, talking to people, and using certain items. It's very simplistic, which was nice.”
- “Resembles The Cat Lady at first glance, both in visual style and gameplay.”
- “It's gameplay, however, is only alright.”
- “The story itself is not stellar, and neither is the gameplay, but it's quite an unconventional and interesting game nevertheless.”
- “Gameplay-wise, you won’t find anything unique or out of the ordinary here.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, effectively complementing the atmospheric grey palette and dim lighting. Reviewers appreciate the well-crafted soundtrack and ambient tracks that enhance the overall experience, making players feel deeply engaged in the game's world.
- “I loved the atmosphere created by the grey palette and dim lighting, immersive soundtrack, and the constant pouring of rain that made me feel like I was traversing through Kuyavia myself under it.”
- “The music was very good with plenty of great tracks that fit the game well.”
- “The music has a nice ambience to it.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a profound emotional experience, highlighting the game's ability to evoke feelings of ignorance and immersion through its atmospheric elements, such as a grey palette, dim lighting, and a haunting soundtrack, all of which contribute to a sense of being enveloped in the game's world.
- “I loved the atmosphere created by the grey palette and dim lighting, immersive soundtrack, and the constant pouring of rain that made me feel like I was traversing through Kuyavia myself under it.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report minor glitches that range from clever to frustrating, but none are significant enough to leave a lasting impression on the game's stability.
- “There are some minor glitches here, some clever or frustrating, but nothing truly memorable.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted gameplay and made it feel unstable.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players found the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious at times, but it did not significantly detract from their overall experience, allowing them to complete the game without major issues.
- “Neither impeded my experience greatly, and I completed the game just fine; however, it did make some sections a little tedious.”
- “The grinding felt excessive and often detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which became frustrating and monotonous.”