The Yellow King
- February 5, 2020
- Spellbook
- 31h median play time
Get on Steam"The Yellow King" is a massively-multiplayer online game inspired by the horror writings of H.P. Lovecraft and R.W. Chambers. Explore infinite dungeons with others, fight monstrosities, solve puzzles, and engage in Player vs Player combat. Join the game's development with continuous updates and feature additions based on community feedback.
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Reviews
- The game has a lot of potential with fun dungeon crawling mechanics and interesting AI.
- The graphics are solid and the art style is unique, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere.
- Co-op play is fun, and the game offers a variety of weapons and loot to keep gameplay engaging.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, leading to a lack of updates and support.
- Controls are clunky and unintuitive, making combat and navigation frustrating.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with many features still missing or incomplete.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by addictive dungeon crawling mechanics and a unique stat system tied to trinkets, but it suffers from repetitiveness due to a limited variety of enemies and a grind-heavy experience. While the controls are awkward and the game is still in early access with many features yet to be implemented, the core gameplay loop remains enjoyable, and regular updates keep it feeling fresh. Overall, players find potential in the game, despite its current limitations.
“However, what this game does have is very addictive dungeon crawler gameplay, a very interesting stat system where stats are tied to items called trinkets, fun weapons to collect, fun boss fights (though they are not balanced well yet), a very nice art style, and the promise of a great game in the future.”
“It's early, there are bugs and issues, and there's not much to it yet, but the core gameplay is already addictive.”
“Overall, they have been updating the game at a regular clip and in doing so have kept the relatively short gameplay loop we have for the moment fresh as there's been something new or changed to check out every few days.”
“Repetitive gameplay; the game should have a wider variety of mobs, but there are only skeletons, cultist zombies, snakes, spiders, and mimics. You'll see everything in the first two hours of gameplay, and then it's just grind, I guess.”
“Extremely basic gameplay and horribly awkward controls.”
“They claim currently only 20% of mechanics and content are in the game.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their solid and charming art style, which is described as unique and fun, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic. While the visuals are appealing, some players note that the game is still in early development, with room for improvement in areas like character uniqueness and animations. Overall, the graphics enhance the addictive dungeon-crawling gameplay and align well with the game's thematic elements.
“The developers are very active (on Discord) and I really love the aesthetic/direction they've taken with the art.”
“The art style is fun and feels unique compared to other games I've played.”
“The graphics are pretty charming and respect the Lovecraftian ambiance as a whole.”
“The graphics are pretty charming and respect the Lovecraftian ambiance as a whole, but my only gripes are the current control scheme, which is mostly tied to the keyboard.”
“The animations are pretty decent considering they are placeholders, but the overall graphics still need improvement.”
“While the art style is promising, the graphics currently feel dated and lack polish.”
- story10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The current state of the game's story is minimal, with no world-building, lore, or quests available at this time, leading to a lack of narrative depth. Players appreciate the straightforward gameplay that allows for easy entry without needing to remember complex backstories, but many express hope for future updates that will introduce quests and a more developed storyline. Overall, the story aspect is rated poorly, with many reviewers noting it as a significant area for improvement.
“I really like how I was able to drop in and not have to remember some complex backstory to be able to play.”
“There is no world building, no story, and very limited systems.”
“The game does not exactly have lore or a story right now, but these can be implemented into it later.”
“This is currently just random dungeons with some social play, but there will also be an overworld, quests, story, lore, and plentiful PvP later on in development.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that while grinding is a significant aspect of the game, the rewards can feel minimal compared to the effort required, particularly with weapon stats showing only slight improvements. However, the potential for rare items and unique customization options adds value to the grind, making it enjoyable despite the repetitive nature of dungeon runs. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging grind, especially in group settings, though some players express concerns about the balance between effort and reward.
“The endless dungeons are fun but a little grindy.”
“After an hour of straight farming both solo and group dungeons, I'd collected maybe 40-60 gold while shop items cost a minimum of 5000 up to 20000 gold.”
“Weapon stat differences between bigger rarities are just a few percentage points of attack speed, so sometimes you feel like it's not worth the runes you spent grinding in dungeons.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for being perceived as a cash grab, with players expressing frustration over unfinished content and a lack of clear monetization plans from developers. Many users feel disillusioned by past experiences and are hesitant to invest in games that do not demonstrate a commitment to completion and quality.
“Abandoned cash grab.”
“This game was pretty cool... but got abandoned. These cash grabs are getting old, and I will never buy a game again that is not finished (or at least almost done and totally playable). I love the idea of supporting a game that has potential, but I have been burned way too many times now, and I think everyone else has too. I don't think many people are going to fall for this in the future... I'm done!”
“Developers have not yet solidified their plans for monetization of this game, but you know it has to come if the 'MMO' part of this holds any water.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with users praising its quality and thematic elements, indicating that it enhances the overall experience.
“The music sounds pretty good.”
“I really dig the music so far.”
“I love the theme and music.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has improved since its initial release, with users noting a reduction in bugs, though some still persist. While many players find the remaining glitches to be manageable and even enjoyable, they acknowledge that the game is still in an early stage and requires further refinement. Overall, the consensus is that while stability has improved, it is not yet perfect.
“I've had this game since February. Back when the game was very buggy, it was playable, but there was still quite a lot to be done.”
“In its current state, I can only really say good things due to it being a game I'm really enjoying. There are, of course, still bugs; no game is without errors and glitches, so it's something everyone has to deal with. But in my very personal opinion, these bugs right now have made the game a lot more enjoyable, and I believe if done right, they could turn some of these bugs into actual features of the game, though it's unlikely.”
“I'm only going to give this a yes because it's an early product; however, the game is really buggy.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability, primarily due to its random dungeons that provide varied experiences for both solo and group play, despite currently having limited content in early access. Players note that the potential for grinding further enhances the game's longevity.
“I can see that this game still has immense grinding and replayability.”
“This early access has a small amount of content to play, but the replayability is high due to random dungeons for solo or group play.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that mobs occasionally deliver amusing and quirky lines that add a lighthearted touch to the experience.
“The mobs sometimes say funny, weird stuff that really adds to the game's charm.”
“I love how the characters have quirky lines that always make me laugh.”
“The humor in the game is spot-on, with hilarious dialogue that keeps me entertained.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently highlight that the game's environment exudes a captivating and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
“The environment oozes a captivating atmosphere.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive and engaging.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich and enchanting atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users noting that it runs smoothly and efficiently.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, making every action feel smooth and responsive.”
“I love how the game runs seamlessly on my device, thanks to the excellent optimization.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the gameplay, ensuring a fluid experience even in intense moments.”
