Thea: The Awakening

About

Thea: The Awakening is a single player survival role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by MuHa Games and was released on November 20, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,192 reviews

story521 positive mentions

grinding188 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of genres, combining elements of RPG, strategy, and card-based combat, which keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.
Thea: The Awakening is rich in Slavic mythology, providing a captivating narrative and a variety of quests that enhance the overall experience.
The crafting system is extensive, allowing players to create a wide range of items and equipment, which adds depth to resource management and character development.

The user interface can be clunky and cumbersome, making inventory management and character outfitting tedious, especially in the late game.
The game relies heavily on RNG, which can lead to frustrating experiences where players lose characters or encounters unexpectedly.
Replayability is limited as the main storyline and many events can become repetitive after multiple playthroughs, reducing the incentive to start new games.

story
1,595 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The story in "Thea: The Awakening" is praised for its rich narrative rooted in Slavic mythology, featuring engaging quests and a variety of outcomes based on player choices. While many players find the storytelling immersive and well-written, some note that the main quest can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs, with limited variation across different gods. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of strategy and storytelling, though some mechanics may detract from the experience for certain players.
- “Thea is beautifully written, the narration and story line is intriguing and simple to follow, with enough allure to keep it interesting without being overwhelming.”
- “With its stunning visuals, challenging gameplay, and rich storytelling, this game is an absolute triumph.”
- “The events are all so unique and interesting, with the main quest and the divine quest feeling so awesome.”
- “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 tutorial offers 0 help, the story is almost completely hidden, the majority of the game is left utterly unexplained, what support is supposed to be present online doesn’t exist, there is no inventory management, no real support with stats or effect, no identification for the meaning of numbers, no introduction to procedural nature of the map, the win screen is produced every time you beat a main quest, and there is (you guessed it) no explanation that hitting continue will let you complete other quests to have the win screen popup again.”
gameplay
1,099 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
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 with significant replayability. While the game features a steep learning curve and a complex user interface, players often find the depth of mechanics rewarding once mastered. However, some critiques highlight issues with repetitiveness in encounters and a reliance on RNG, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and strategic depth of the gameplay.
- “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.”
- “With its stunning visuals, challenging gameplay, and rich storytelling, this game is an absolute triumph.”
- “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.”
- “There is a fairly steep learning curve, and the tutorial could do a better job of explaining the gameplay basics.”
- “Aside from the difficulty, the overall gameplay just kind of sucks.”
- “The card gameplay aspect feels weird and dull.”
graphics
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players praising the unique art style and beautiful artwork that enhances the immersive experience, particularly in relation to its Slavic mythology theme. While some reviews note that the visuals are not cutting-edge and can feel dated or basic, they are often described as good enough to support the gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the aesthetic presentation is considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “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.”
replayability
373 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
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 report spending dozens to hundreds of hours enjoying the diverse gameplay options and random events, although some note that replay value may diminish after multiple completions due to limited differences between gods. Overall, it is regarded as a highly engaging experience with significant replay potential.
- “And just like in the aforementioned titles, replayability here is incredible, with the potential to offer dozens or even hundreds of hours of gameplay.”
- “This game is amazing, it is a roguelike strategy board game with infinite replayability and hundreds of different viable strategies.”
- “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 dev for that, but not having any sorting or item organization with that level of commitment to exact movement points, I can only scratch my head (unfinished?). 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 1 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.”
- “While I strongly recommend this game, its only downside (and it is not that much of a downside) is replayability.”
music
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
29%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players describing it as calming and immersive. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over extended play sessions, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, the combination of music, art, and narrative contributes significantly to the game's engaging experience.
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and added a lot to my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “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 of the game is really nice, I love the music and the sounds.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable.”
- “Unfortunately, there's far too little diversification in the soundtrack - but a few melodies, and it can wear down on you.”
- “Graphics aren't too fancy, sound effects are limited and the music gets so repetitive that I muted it, but these don't really matter in a game like this.”
grinding
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and overly complicated, particularly in resource management and inventory control. While some enjoy the depth and replayability, others feel that the repetitive tasks and micromanagement detract from the overall experience, especially in the late game. The option to auto-complete battles offers some relief, but many still find the game can become excessively grindy, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “It is not grindy!”
- “The crafting system is interesting, but lacks quality indicators, leading to a lot of trial and error to find the best combination. However, it does not require you to actually make the product to see what the outcome would be, so it can be just annoying at times, but not tedious.”
- “Managing the inventories and equipment of your guys can get pretty tedious and annoying, especially in the late game when you get flooded with worthless trash after every quest or encounter.”
- “Everything seems extremely tedious to me, especially with an inefficient UI which makes you click things one by one to craft things, to equip things, to create new expedition groups, etc. There needs to be better hotkeys, UI options, or something, but the wearisome and endless clicking and dragging of things individually just drains the fun out of the game for me.”
- “The card-based combat system is very tedious and doesn't make sense, and the in-game dialog and text is painful to read.”
atmosphere
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
31%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, drawing heavily from Slavic mythology and folklore, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful art, calming music, and engaging narratives that create a compelling and often gloomy setting, making it a captivating environment for exploration and strategy. The game's thoughtful design and replayability further contribute to its rich atmospheric experience, keeping players invested in its world.
- “The narrator is charming, the music is calming, and the atmosphere kept me playing.”
- “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.”
- “Absolutely fantastic in its eastern European folklore atmosphere and marvellous deep yet accessible gameplay (a 3x strategy with RPG choices).”
- “I recommend the game because it has a magical atmosphere and many elements taken from Slavic mythology; however, it will be repetitive after you finish the main quests in the first playthrough.”
- “Apart from the fact that going through the motions of the tutorial creates some atmosphere and gives you a few experience points, you would probably be better off just pottering around learning for yourself - which is pretty much what you will end up doing anyway.”
- “All in all, it's a really fascinating game with a thrilling story and a dark, mystic atmosphere.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and entertaining humor, with well-executed voice acting and writing that often draws from Slavic folklore. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue, unexpected funny quests, and a lighthearted approach that balances the darker themes of the game. However, some reviewers feel that the humor can occasionally detract from the overall experience, leaning too heavily on modern references or becoming overly silly.
- “Great game with surprising in-depth tactics, very funny as well, and if you are into Slavic mythology - must-have title.”
- “The unexpected funny quests make the gameplay hilarious.”
- “The dialogue is hilarious.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
56%
31%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on some systems without crashes or lag, users report significant performance issues, particularly during battles with multiple characters and when managing resources. The user interface is criticized for being poorly optimized, leading to excessive micromanagement and stuttering during certain actions. Overall, while the game shows potential, it requires further optimization to enhance user experience and performance.
- “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.”
stability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
26%
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, running smoothly and bug-free right from installation. Most users report no significant issues, with only a few minor glitches noted, making it a reliable choice for players seeking a seamless experience. Many reviewers highlight its performance even on older hardware, emphasizing its completeness compared to other major releases.
- “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, such as receiving a quest at the end of every turn that fills up the map.”
- “I consider myself an average gamer who occasionally buys games on Steam. I don't spend a lot, but when I do, I expect value for my money and a playable experience without glitches or crashes. This game does not meet those expectations.”
- “[Minor bugs and glitches, fairly high learning curve, may be too time-consuming for some.]”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth, offering a wide array of skills and characteristics that evolve with experience, enhancing replayability and player engagement. 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 enjoyable character development experience.
- “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).”
- “It has great RPG elements 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 a resolve to all problems).”
- “The character development is very deep, with each character having a few dozen skills and characteristics that can go up as they gain experience.”
- “And it's nice to see something different; it has a ton of options for crafting, questing, character development, and replayability. It's a mix between RPG and turn-based strategy, and I like it and recommend it highly, it makes you feel good and takes you to a simpler world one I enjoy being in.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to their villagers, feeling genuine sympathy and heartache for their fates. The game's quests, particularly those referencing beloved cultural touchstones like Monty Python's Holy Grail, evoke strong emotional responses, making every loss feel impactful and resonant.
- “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.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the game's monetization model for offering a fresh experience without relying on excessive cash grab DLCs, contrasting it favorably with other titles like Civilization 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.”

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66%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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30h Median play time

73h Average play time

10-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 72 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Thea: The Awakening is a survival role playing game with fantasy theme.

Thea: The Awakening is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

On average players spend around 73 hours playing Thea: The Awakening.

Thea: The Awakening was released on November 20, 2015.

Thea: The Awakening was developed by MuHa Games.

Thea: The Awakening has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Thea: The Awakening is a single player game.

Similar games include Thea 2: The Shattering, Urtuk: The Desolation, Hand of Fate, Trials of Fire, Gordian Quest and others.

Thea: The Awakening

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