Tomes and Quests: a Word RPG
- September 30, 2021
- Trailblazer Games
Get on Steam"Tomes and Quests: A Word RPG" is a unique text-based adventure game that challenges players to build their own narrative. With a variety of customization options and a focus on wordplay, players can explore different paths and outcomes through their choices. The game features a variety of fictional settings, creatures, and characters to interact with, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.
Mac OS
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Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of Scrabble and RPG elements, providing a fresh twist on traditional word games.
- The character designs and artwork are visually appealing, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
- It's a fun and relaxing game that can be enjoyed in short sessions, making it suitable for casual play.
- The gameplay is hampered by a small 9x9 grid, limiting word creation and making it difficult to form longer words.
- The hint system is intrusive and cannot be disabled, disrupting the flow of gameplay and causing frustration.
- The RPG elements are poorly explained and often feel unnecessary, detracting from the core word game experience.
- story34 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as simple and straightforward, revolving around a group of kids who find themselves in a D&D-like adventure, which adds a fun twist to the gameplay. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and the potential for educational value, others criticize the lack of depth and repetitive elements in the narrative progression. Overall, the story serves as a light backdrop to the puzzles and gameplay, with mixed reviews on its execution and impact.
“The additional RPG elements and story add a fun twist to a classic, and I love the diversity of the characters.”
“There's a fun storyline to accompany the games, and the characters are engaging enough to get a smile in the interim scenes.”
“If you like relaxing games in a fantastic universe and a creative storyline, this is the game for you.”
“The plot has a party of three college students trapped inside a D&D book, for some reason, and beyond a very brief moment of 'how did this happen?' the trio ceases to worry or even care about their predicament.”
“It's decent if you have nothing else to play, but the further I get in the story, the more seems to be missing.”
“I was expecting a lot more depth from the 'combat'/story elements.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of casual word placement mechanics reminiscent of Scrabble and RPG elements, offering a nostalgic yet engaging experience. While some players appreciate the variety and potential for fun, many express frustration with the lack of clarity in mechanics, small board sizes, and the presence of tedious wait times that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game shows promise but suffers from significant gameplay and interface issues that hinder a positive experience.
“The gameplay is, for me, in the perfect casual play space where you can kind of zone out but still engage brain power.”
“The RPG fight mechanics are reminiscent enough of early JRPG tactics (think early Final Fantasy) to appear cute and nostalgic at first, but they're surprisingly impactful.”
“The type of gameplay changes every level or so with different ways to play, which makes it fresh.”
“Removing the quest blocks that are just waiting 5 seconds to progress, as I don't feel like these add anything to the gameplay.”
“And all of this would be okay, or at least something I could look past, but the gameplay is awful.”
“The boards are too small for decent play, and the general gameplay is extremely basic.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely criticized for being repetitive and monotonous, lacking variety throughout gameplay. Many users noted that the soundtrack feels generic and uninspired, with a desire for more songs to enhance the experience. Overall, the music does not contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, often feeling like a stock selection rather than an original composition.
“In the settings, there’s not much on offer; you’ll find music and sound toggle options and language settings.”
“It could also use a few more songs in the soundtrack.”
“Separate toggles for music and sound, a variety of languages (English or French for the story, more for the dictionary), and a toggle for the automatic letter hints were patched in.”
“The music is monotonous and is literally the same thing when you battle enemies and you travel; there isn't really any variation from that.”
“The art is passable but generic, the story is uninspired, and the music is generic and repetitive.”
“Compared to an old game like Letter Quest, this is like playing a pre-made game where all they did was change the stock graphics and music with other stock graphics and music.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nice artwork and manga-inspired visuals, while others find the art style minimalistic and underwhelming. Overall, the graphics are deemed adequate for a visual novel or word game, but lack originality and depth compared to older titles.
“Fun game to pass the time, the artwork is pretty nice as well.”
“The learning curve is well adapted, the visuals and the dialogues are reminiscent of manga, and it even makes one think of Jumanji!”
“The graphics are good and the story isn’t bad.”
“Tomes and quests: a word RPG is a scrabble-RPG hybrid with a rather underwhelming art style.”
“Its graphics are minimalized, the music is repetitive, I did not find an explanation of what to do with the RPG elements or how to use them.”
“Compared to an old game like Letter Quest, this is like playing a pre-made game where all they did was change the stock graphics and music with other stock graphics and music.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it lacks a sense of progression, which diminishes the enjoyment. While some enjoyed the game up to a certain point, the prospect of extensive grinding for minimal rewards detracted from their overall experience.
“I didn't 5-star everything; that may or may not have made it doable. As I said, I enjoyed the game until that point and didn't want to ruin it with hours of potentially pointless grinding for a single encounter.”
“That would be fine, but grinding has no sense of progression, which is absolutely key if you have to grind.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express confusion over the monetization model, suggesting it may be a remnant from mobile gaming, featuring long wait times and in-app purchases designed to expedite progress.
“I have no idea why monetization is a thing in this game; it feels like a leftover from mobile games with long wait times and in-app purchases to speed things up.”
“The monetization model is frustrating and feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“It's disappointing to see that the game prioritizes monetization over player experience, with constant prompts to buy in-game currency.”
