Thea: The Awakening

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,096 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Thea: The Awakening Game Cover
Thea: The Awakening feels a lot like a cross between The Settlers of Catan board game and The Witcher 3, which is an impressive feat.
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"Thea: The Awakening" is a strategic survival game set in a world of Slavic folklore and monsters, where you lead a group of survivors after an apocalyptic event. The game features turn-based combat, rogue-like elements, and various ways to explore and interact with the world. Your choices in building defenses, resolving conflicts, and uncovering the story will determine the survival of your group.

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Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,096 reviews
story259 positive mentions
grinding94 negative mentions
  • Engaging storytelling and voice acting, deeply rooted in Slavic mythology.
  • Unique card-based combat system that adds depth and strategy to encounters.
  • High replayability with different gods to unlock and various paths to explore.
  • Cumbersome inventory management and user interface can be tedious.
  • Randomness in events and encounters can lead to frustrating losses.
  • Limited to one village, which may feel restrictive for players who enjoy expanding their settlements.
  • story796 mentions

    The game's story is deeply rooted in Slavic mythology, offering a rich narrative experience that combines exploration, crafting, and strategic gameplay. Players appreciate the engaging storytelling and voice acting, although some note that the main quest can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs, with limited variation in outcomes despite the numerous side quests and random events. Overall, the narrative is praised for its creativity and depth, making it a compelling aspect of the game, even if some mechanics can detract from the experience.

    • “Thea is beautifully written, the narration and storyline are intriguing and simple to follow, with enough allure to keep it interesting without being overwhelming.”
    • “The story is fun and unique, creating a world that feels magical and mysterious.”
    • “The lore and story are interesting and humorous at times, with a rich tapestry of complexity that makes the game engaging.”
    • “The story and events are written boringly, the resource management is tedious and overly complicated for how interchangeable the tiers of resources are, the card game is boring and too simple, inventory management sucks, the soundtrack is forgettable.”
    • “The story/lore isn't captivating at all.”
    • “The main story is rather short.”
  • gameplay549 mentions

    The gameplay of "Thea: The Awakening" is a unique blend of 4x strategy, survival, RPG, and card-based mechanics, offering a rich and engaging experience that encourages exploration and resource management. While the game features a steep learning curve and a complex user interface, many players find the depth of mechanics rewarding once mastered, leading to significant replayability. However, some critiques highlight issues with repetitiveness in encounters and a reliance on RNG, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Thea is a fusion of different styles — 4x-strategy, survival, RPG, a unique card battler, and text-based mythical adventure — all of them blending perfectly to form a rock-solid gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay is right down my alley: lots of progression, harvesting, gearing up, crafting, staffing your village, all in a calm turn-based 'pick your own adventure' style.”
    • “The mechanics are interesting, sort of a cross between RPG character management - only you have a lot of them - survival and civilization game and card game instead of regular battles.”
    • “There is a fairly steep learning curve, and the tutorial could do a better job of explaining the gameplay basics.”
    • “The card battler mechanic is neat, but there aren’t really many differences between the units/cards, so each encounter started feeling really repetitive.”
    • “The story is good, but you have to dig your way through the gameplay to find it, and honestly, there's not much incentive to keep playing after you win once because getting new gods is random in which god it unlocks once you win, and it's a huge grind to level them all up.”
  • graphics193 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players appreciating the unique art style and beautiful artwork that enhances the game's atmosphere, particularly its ties to Slavic mythology. While some critiques mention that the graphics are not cutting-edge and can feel dated or simplistic, the overall aesthetic is often described as charming and immersive, contributing positively to the gameplay experience. Players note that while the visuals may not be the main draw, they effectively complement the engaging mechanics and storytelling.

    • “With its stunning visuals, challenging gameplay, and rich storytelling, this game is an absolute triumph.”
    • “The graphics for such a mid-priced game are good with some very cool artwork on display with the many different characters.”
    • “The artwork and storytelling are immersive, with tons of replayability and a unique combat system.”
    • “The graphics are not good and I find the interface unintuitive.”
    • “It isn't just that the graphics look a bit dated, but also that the color palette is so drearily brown-grey and lacking in contrast.”
    • “Some of the graphics are a little underwhelming at first, and it takes a while to learn the mechanics as the tutorial only covers about half of what you need.”
  • replayability186 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the variety of gods, customizable difficulty settings, and procedurally generated maps that ensure each playthrough feels unique. Many reviewers noted that the potential for dozens to hundreds of hours of gameplay is enhanced by the diverse strategies and events available, although some mentioned that replay value may diminish after multiple completions. Overall, the game's design encourages exploration and experimentation, making it a highly engaging experience for players seeking long-term enjoyment.

    • “And just like in the aforementioned titles, replayability here is incredible, with the potential to offer dozens or even hundreds of hours of gameplay.”
    • “There are many different ways to win the game and a huge plethora of highly customizable difficulty options too, offering a lot of replayability.”
    • “All this being said, the replayability of this game is huge, and no two playthroughs will be the same.”
    • “The tediousness that goes into making sure you have 1 space left to camp and counting each hex, I can only imagine the effort that went into development, but not having any sorting or item organization with that level of commitment to exact movement points, I can only scratch my head. Also, sadly, any replay value went out the window for me when I found out at the end I can max out any god I wish if I just want to sit through one game under that god.”
    • “I wish it was a little more replayable - ultimately you only have a handful of different choices in the main story experience before you're retreading ground - but you can still easily sink in 50 hours before things get to that point.”
    • “It's a very interesting idea, well worth checking out, though replay value is limited due to lack of depth.”
  • music109 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. While many players find the soundtrack engaging and well-composed, some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is excellent.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful and added a lot to my overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, as well as the gameplay.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable.”
    • “Sound and audio are good too but you might find if you're playing for long periods of time the music does get very repetitive.”
    • “Unfortunately, there's far too little diversification in the soundtrack - but a few melodies, and it can wear down on you.”
  • grinding96 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in late-game scenarios involving resource management, inventory control, and combat. While some appreciate the depth and mechanics, they often feel overwhelmed by the micromanagement required, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game offers a blend of enjoyable elements but is hampered by a cumbersome interface and excessive busywork that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It is not grindy!”
    • “The crafting system is interesting, but it lacks quality indicators, leading to a lot of trial and error to find the best combinations. However, it does not require you to actually make the product to see what the outcome would be, which can be annoying at times but not tedious.”
    • “The tediousness that goes into making sure you have 1 space left to camp and counting each hex, I can only imagine the effort that went into development, but not having any sorting or item organization with that level of commitment to exact movement points is frustrating.”
    • “Everything seems extremely tedious to me, especially with an inefficient UI which makes you click things one by one to craft, equip, and create new expedition groups. There needs to be better hotkeys or UI options, but the wearisome and endless clicking drains the fun out of the game.”
    • “The combat system is fun initially, but starts to feel grindy after a few times, and the management portion can be tedious, leaving much to be desired in the UI.”
  • atmosphere59 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, drawing heavily from Slavic mythology and folklore, complemented by charming narration, calming music, and engaging art style. Players appreciate the blend of strategic gameplay with a richly detailed world that encourages exploration and replayability, creating a compelling and often gloomy yet beautiful environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a significant strength, enhancing the storytelling and gameplay experience.

    • “The atmosphere, music, as well as the gameplay.”
    • “The creators of the game managed to piece together a unique and engaging world through well-written texts, very atmospheric music, and an integrated crafting system.”
    • “The atmosphere is lovely (well, gloomy but very well done) and the art just suits it nicely.”
    • “The post-apocalyptic fantasy world, the cards depicting the characters and enemies, and the atmosphere are something that speaks to me deeply.”
    • “All in all, it's a really fascinating game with a thrilling story and a dark, mystic atmosphere.”
    • “But then the story and atmosphere suck you into a rare and immersive experience.”
  • humor37 mentions

    The game is praised for its clever and well-executed humor, with many reviewers highlighting the quality of the writing and voice acting. The humor often draws from Slavic folklore and includes a mix of entertaining dialogue, quirky quests, and absurd situations, making it both funny and engaging. While some players appreciate the lighthearted tone, others feel it occasionally detracts from the game's more serious elements.

    • “Awfully funny and well-done voice acting, and actually good writing.”
    • “The unexpected funny quests make the gameplay hilarious.”
    • “The game doesn't take itself too seriously and there is plenty of humor.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on some systems without crashes or lag, users report significant issues with micromanagement interfaces and stuttering during gameplay. The UI is criticized for being poorly optimized, leading to excessive clicking and navigation, and performance can degrade with larger character groups in battles. Despite these issues, the game shows potential for strategic depth and stable performance in its current beta state.

    • “The system performance was great, no crashes, no lag, but I did have +999 on some things for a bit and an odd move number indicator randomly getting stuck on the screen floating around; reloading takes it away.”
    • “It has heavy RPG elements reminiscent of Endless Legend, only without the horrid optimization issues.”
    • “It also has non-trivial gameplay on higher levels of difficulty, so there is some room for strategies, builds, and optimization.”
    • “The game has severe issues with performance.”
    • “Too much poorly optimized micromanagement screens, way too much clicking and going back and forth between separate interface screens.”
    • “Finally, the game, while not exactly great looking, is poorly optimized.”
  • stability9 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its stability, running smoothly and bug-free right from installation. Users report minimal glitches, with many stating it performs well even on older hardware, making it a reliable choice for players seeking a seamless experience.

    • “The game runs bug free and straight from install with no messing around.”
    • “Works 'straight out of the box' with no messing around and appears to be completely bug free!”
    • “I consider it to be much more complete and bug free than many major games on full release.”
    • “There are a few glitches; I had a quest I received at the end of every turn that filled up the map.”
    • “I'm an average Joe who likes to buy the odd game on Steam. I don't spend a lot, but when I buy something, I want it to be value for money and be playable without glitches or crashes. This game ticks all my boxes.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, offering a wide range of skills and characteristics that evolve with experience, enhancing replayability. Players appreciate the unique character designs and the emotional connection fostered with the villagers, although some note limitations in control over character progression. Overall, the blend of RPG elements and strategic gameplay contributes to a rich and engaging experience.

    • “It has a great RPG aspect with plot, character development, and quests.”
    • “It is not RPG (almost no character development - random level ups), not strategy (no real resource management of any kind), not tactical either (card game as resolve to all problems).”
    • “I sympathized with the villagers a lot more than with the ones in other games, also because of the character design through which each of my people becomes unique (different cards with different names, designed fitting to the different classes).”
    • “The character development is very deep, with each character having a few dozen skills and characteristics that can go up as they gain experience.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to their villagers, feeling genuine sympathy and heartache during quests and character deaths. The game's ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly through poignant references and impactful narratives, leaves a lasting impression on players.

    • “That game makes me emotionally sympathetic to every one of my villagers.”
    • “When I came across the quest in reference to Monty Python’s Holy Grail, it simply killed me; they shall have my heartfelt praise forever.”
    • “Every single death that happens to your citizens will hurt, both emotionally and rationally.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the game's monetization model for offering a fresh experience without relying on excessive cash grab DLCs, contrasting it positively with other titles like Civ VI.

    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases takes away from the enjoyment of the game and feels like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

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Play time

30hMedian play time
73hAverage play time
10-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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