The Vale: Shadow of the Crown

About

"The Vale: Shadow of the Crown" is an interactive audio game that offers a story-driven action-adventure experience for both visually impaired and sighted gamers. With 3D spatial audio and haptic controller feedback, players engage in audio-based combat and exploration, uncovering an exceptional sound design and voice performances within a 5+ hour gameplay. Embark on an emotional journey as a newly appointed warden, battling an invading army and uncovering a mystery surrounding the throne. Headphones are recommended for the best experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Vale: Shadow of the Crown screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 274 reviews

story91 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and innovative audio-based experience that immerses players in a rich narrative without relying on visuals.
The voice acting and sound design are exceptional, enhancing the emotional depth of the story and making characters feel real and relatable.
Combat mechanics are engaging and intuitive, requiring players to rely on sound cues to navigate challenges, which adds a layer of complexity and excitement.

The game can feel repetitive at times, especially in combat, as players may find themselves using similar strategies against multiple enemies.
Some players may find the lack of visual elements disorienting, particularly in complex combat situations where multiple sounds can overlap.
The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 6-8 hours, leaving some players wanting more content and depth in the world.

story
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
56%
1%
The story of "The Vale: Shadow of the Crown" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and immersive audio experience, particularly appealing to both visually impaired and sighted players. Players appreciate the well-developed characters, engaging plot twists, and the active role of the protagonist, Alexandra Denholm, whose journey is marked by courage and resilience. While the narrative may follow familiar fantasy tropes, the unique audio storytelling and stellar voice acting elevate it, making it a standout experience in interactive storytelling.
- “The vale: Shadow of the Crown is a groundbreaking audio game that sets a new standard for interactive storytelling, especially for the blind community.”
- “Alexandra Denholm's journey is one of courage, resilience, and discovery, and it was a joy to experience her story.”
- “The story is gripping and has several branches that have me wanting to see how the story changes.”
- “The story is simple but effective, and the gameplay is very innovative, relying mostly on you hearing in which direction the enemies are coming.”
- “The story doesn't change.”
- “I would have loved to see the ability for your character to choose how she ends the story, but you just get a brief 'this is how it happened' at the end.”
gameplay
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its innovative audio-based mechanics, which rely heavily on sound cues for navigation and combat, making it accessible and engaging for both blind and sighted players. While the combat mechanics are simple and can become repetitive, they offer a satisfying challenge and are complemented by a compelling story and excellent voice acting. Overall, the game successfully combines unique gameplay elements with a rich narrative, providing a memorable experience that encourages players to adapt and immerse themselves in its audio-driven world.
- “The gameplay is varied and in depth; there is more than combat, and combat itself is nuanced and tactical.”
- “The mechanics, acting, and story are all excellent - highly recommended!”
- “I wholeheartedly recommend this game for anyone who likes good stories, unique mechanics, immersive games, and a challenge that's unlike any other game I can think of.”
- “The gameplay is not that sophisticated, but it's entertaining enough.”
- “Some game mechanics were not very clear even after the tutorial, and it took me some time to understand them.”
- “The magic mechanic seems largely pointless: you unlock the ability not long before the end, and so there are few opportunities to use it, explore it, and level it up.”
graphics
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The game's graphics are minimalistic, often described as non-existent or limited to basic particle effects, which some players find refreshing as it allows for a deeper immersion through sound and imagination. While traditional visuals are absent, the audio experience and narrative depth compensate, creating a unique gameplay style that challenges conventional expectations of graphics in gaming. Overall, the lack of complex visuals is seen as a strength, enhancing the storytelling and player engagement rather than detracting from it.
- “I think you will find that this game has some of the very best graphics that you will ever see in your lifetime.”
- “Well written, great voice acting, and the graphics are the best I can imagine!”
- “Its unique style of replacing visuals with a purely sound-based experience is extremely refreshing in an ocean of other titles which follow the same formula time and again.”
- “The only graphics are floating colored spheres that don't help you, so you might as well just close your eyes.”
- “Its only visuals are particle effects indicating motion, weather, and time of day.”
- “No graphics.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The music and voice acting in the game are consistently praised for their high quality and immersive qualities, enhancing the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric sound design and the emotional depth brought by the soundtrack, although some found certain musical elements, like the pop-piano filler, out of place. Overall, the audio aspects are highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and accessibility.
- “The sound design, music, and voice acting really shine and allow one to be immersed in this game.”
- “The story is very well written; I was immediately invested in the characters. This was greatly helped by the stellar voice acting and atmospheric music.”
- “So after playing this game for ~6 hours and 45 minutes straight, I cannot possibly recommend this game more. The voice acting is wonderful, the music beautiful, and the story heartfelt - this has to be my favorite game for nothing has inspired such joy and wonder in me.”
- “It's an audio-based game with no subtitles and only one sound bar setting with no separation for voice, SFX, and music.”
- “Last little thing; I didn't care for the pop-piano filler in the beginning - it felt really out of place compared to the rest of the soundtrack.”
- “Using sound for feedback means the game cannot have a soundtrack.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a beautifully crafted dynamic between characters and a gripping story filled with heartfelt moments and impactful dialogue. Players highlight the exceptional voice acting and sound design, which enhance the emotional experience, making it both touching and thought-provoking. Overall, the game resonates deeply with players, evoking strong feelings and a sense of joy, particularly through its unique audio-led gameplay.
- “The dynamic between Shepherd and Alexandra is beautifully crafted, with moments of tension, humor, and heartfelt connection.”
- “The story itself isn't long, even with all the side quests along the way, but it is packed with emotional moments, wonder, and good twists that only serve to deepen the story.”
- “So after playing this game for about 6 hours and 45 minutes straight, I cannot possibly recommend this game more. The voice acting is wonderful, the music beautiful, and the story heartfelt - this has to be my favorite game for nothing has inspired such joy and wonder in me.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the stellar performances of the voice actors that significantly enhance immersion and engagement. The combination of immersive mechanics, strong writing, and emotional audio design contributes to a captivating experience, despite the standard medieval fantasy setting.
- “Every voice actor delivered a stellar performance, enhancing the overall immersion and making the story even more engaging.”
- “Devoured this in one sitting, marveling at the totally immersive mechanics, writing, performances, and audio design.”
- “And while the story and world are standard medieval fantasy, the characters really shine through good writing and emotional performances.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective use of audio and sound cues, complemented by stellar voice acting and atmospheric music that deeply engage players. The well-written story and character development further enhance the immersive experience, making the overall atmosphere truly exceptional.
- “Even with the game being built on audio and sound cues, there is still a wonderful atmosphere created with the simplest effects.”
- “The story is very well written; I was immediately invested in the characters, which was greatly enhanced by the stellar voice acting and atmospheric music.”
- “Atmospheric doesn't even begin to cover it.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is effectively woven into the dynamic between the shepherd and Alexandra, showcasing a blend of tension and heartfelt moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the well-tuned comedic elements that contribute to the narrative.
- “The dynamic between Shepherd and Alexandra is beautifully crafted, with moments of tension, humor, and heartfelt connection.”
- “It was well-tuned and funny.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game offers some replayability through different choices, many players feel that replaying the entire experience to explore alternative paths can become tedious, despite the quality of the dialogue.
- “While technically there is some replayability, I would imagine sitting through every dialogue (as great as they are) just to try a different choice two-thirds into the game will get old pretty fast.”
- “The replayability is there as well.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to repetitive narration and instructions that can feel patronizing, especially for those who are familiar with the game's mechanics. This can detract from the overall experience, making the process feel unnecessarily cumbersome.
- “I find it tedious to listen to the narrator's comments every time I need to choose quests or am told how to accept things using my spacebar. Being blind does not mean I am incapable of remembering simple functions.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I feel like I'm just going through the motions, grinding for hours without any real sense of progress or reward.”