The RPG Engine

About

The RPG Engine is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by The Architect and was released on September 8, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"The RPG Engine" is a sandbox role-playing game that offers players the freedom to create their own adventures. With a focus on user-generated content, players can design characters, quests, and worlds using the game's robust engine. The game features a variety of tools and customization options, making it an ideal choice for players who enjoy creative control and storytelling. Please note that the game is still in early access and may have some bugs and unfinished features.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+21

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 215 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The RPG Engine offers incredible customization and flexibility for map creation, allowing users to build unique environments for their tabletop RPG sessions.
The community is highly supportive and engaged, with active developers who listen to feedback and regularly update the software with new features and assets.
The ability to import custom assets and use HeroForge models enhances the creative possibilities, making it a versatile tool for various RPG settings.

The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new users to navigate and utilize all the features effectively.
Many essential features, such as built-in character sheets and advanced terrain manipulation tools, are still missing or underdeveloped, which can hinder gameplay.
The monetization model requires players to purchase additional DLCs to fully enjoy the game, which can be frustrating for those looking to play with friends without incurring extra costs.

graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
The graphics of the game are praised for their stylized, low-poly art style, which enhances immersion and creative expression while being well-optimized for lower-end machines. Although some users find the character customization menu laggy and the low-poly aesthetic a matter of personal preference, the overall visuals are considered charming and effective for gameplay. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance visual appeal with functionality, making it a standout choice among virtual tabletop options.
- “This might not be the best VTT in terms of user interface and character sheet management, but it absolutely stands miles above the rest in terms of visuals, immersion, and creative expression.”
- “The graphics are stylized, making it a solid choice for players without decent PCs as well.”
- “Of course the graphics are not 4K stunning with insane graphical detail, but the art style and work done so far has so much charm.”
- “Character customisation menu is really laggy for some reason even though my graphics settings are set to potato mode.”
- “The only real complaint I have is the low poly graphic style that became popular around the time of the game's release... and that's just a preference.”
- “To start with the cons, the weakest point could be the low-poly graphics, but don't let that fool you.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay of the RPG engine is primarily a toolset designed to facilitate tabletop gaming rather than offering traditional gameplay loops or interactions, making it more of a virtual whiteboard than a standalone game. While it excels in graphics and mechanics, providing an immersive experience for RPG enthusiasts, users note issues with the user interface and bugs that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, it is seen as a mixed bag, appealing to those interested in RPG mechanics but lacking in complete gameplay functionality.
- “Innovative and enthralling, the RPG engine surpasses others in its genre with its immersive story and intuitive gameplay mechanics.”
- “Engaging and immersive, the RPG engine stands tall amongst its peers, boasting refined mechanics and a captivating storyline.”
- “It's a mixed bag, but worth a play for RPG mechanics enthusiasts.”
- “Instead of being a game, the RPG engine is a software application that is a bit like Roll20. The idea is that you can use this software to support tabletop gaming, like a virtual whiteboard for playing Dungeons and Dragons, but make no mistake, there's no gameplay included in this; it's just a toolset to facilitate RPGs.”
- “There are no gameplay loops in this software, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
- “Poor user interface for actual gameplay...”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music aspect of the game features a built-in player with a library of tracks, including a praised cyberpunk soundtrack, but lacks options for importing custom music or sound effects, which some users find limiting. While the provided music enhances gameplay, the absence of audio integration for personal tracks is a notable drawback for those who prefer custom soundscapes. Overall, the music is well-received, but the lack of flexibility is a common concern.
- “Love the concept and ideas behind this software; the music and assets are great.”
- “Also, the cyberpunk music is way too good.”
- “It comes with music to use during your sessions, also.”
- “There's a built-in music player, but it has no option to import music.”
- “If I had to pick any negative at all, it's the lack of audio integration - I simply can't live without custom music, and as far as I could see, there's no way to add my own sound effects either.”
- “It has the music of 20 Minutes to Midnight, caw caw.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the optimization of the game receives mixed feedback. While some users report that it runs well even on older machines and balances visual quality with performance, others experience significant issues such as crashes when managing multiple character sheets, FPS drops with numerous props, and general performance hiccups. There is a consensus that further optimization improvements are needed to enhance the experience, particularly for users with lower-end hardware.
- “It is well optimized, even for the oldest of machines.”
- “The art style is very subjective, but it's incredibly well optimized for this use case and works surprisingly well on lower-end machines.”
- “It strikes a balance between visual quality and performance optimization, which is huge for users that might not have a powerful machine.”
- “The document system is so poorly optimized you can't keep two character sheets for players open at once or it crashes.”
- “At 1000+ props you start to see FPS drops; maybe if every prop not in use could be marked as 'static' somehow (I know there's a lock button, but I don't know if it does anything for performance).”
- “I would love to try it, it has everything I like (medieval era and character creator), but the only bad thing is the optimization; my toaster doesn't support it.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
28%
29%
The reviews highlight a stark contrast in storytelling experiences, with some users criticizing the lack of narrative content in certain applications, while others praise the RPG engine for its immersive and captivating storyline, alongside its versatile functionality for various creative purposes. The engine is noted for its refined mechanics and ability to facilitate seamless transitions in storytelling, although users also mention challenges in asset integration. Overall, the story aspect is seen as a strong point in the RPG engine, while other applications may fall short in narrative depth.
- “Innovative and enthralling, the RPG engine surpasses others in its genre with its immersive story and intuitive gameplay mechanics.”
- “Engaging and immersive, the RPG engine stands tall amongst its peers, boasting refined mechanics and a captivating storyline.”
- “It also allows imports from Hero's Forge to use in your campaigns; multi-map setups allow you to seamlessly move to a new scene and continue the story with your party.”
- “It's not an RPG itself; there's no content, no game to play, no story being told, it's just an app.”
- “Actually getting the assets to fit and function the way you want them to is another story.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The monetization model has seen recent improvements following community feedback, alleviating some initial concerns. While there are no microtransactions, users express mixed feelings about the pricing structure, which allows for flexible group participation but may still deter some potential buyers. Overall, the changes have made the engine more appealing for personal use, especially for those interested in creative customization options.
- “It's hard, but hey, at least there's no microtransactions!”
- “The reviews about monetization make me hesitant to give this company money as well.”
- “Recently improved monetization after some community complaints about how it was presented and a price shift out of early access.”
- “Those who have complained about the monetization model of this VTT... only half of your group needs to get it (depending on the number of people, 20 bucks per, and they can host as well if they so choose), or just shell out the extra 60 for an ultimate hosting license.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The atmosphere of the game has received mixed feedback; while new skyboxes have enhanced the visual experience, many players feel that the overall narrative and immersion are lacking compared to similar titles.
- “The new skyboxes added a greater range of atmosphere than before, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The atmosphere in the game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich and captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- “However, the narrative and atmosphere fall short, lacking the depth and immersion found in similar titles.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally enjoyable, but players have reported experiencing several glitches that affect its stability.
- “This game is cool, but it does have a few glitches.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I experienced several bugs that disrupted my gameplay.”