Torchlight

Runic's Diablo-like debut drills straight down to the core of what makes a great dungeon-crawling loot grind.

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Torchlight is a single-player historical hack and slash game with great graphics, ingenious music, and unique atmosphere. The game boasts perfect mechanics, a good plot, and plenty of humor. With its randomization feature, randomized dungeons, monsters, treasures, and items, the game offers fantastic replayability, and its mod support allows for a customizable gameplay experience. The game also features pets and fishing for added entertainment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,206 reviews

story108 positive mentions

grinding84 negative mentions

Fun and addictive gameplay with a satisfying loot system.
Charming art style and engaging soundtrack that enhances the experience.
Unique pet system that allows for inventory management and adds a fun dynamic to combat.

Repetitive dungeon design and enemy variety, leading to a lack of engagement over time.
Difficulty spikes, especially with the final boss, can be frustrating and unbalanced.
Limited character customization and no respec option, making it hard to adapt builds.

story
531 mentions
20 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in Torchlight is generally considered simplistic and uninspired, often described as a basic "town under threat" narrative that lacks depth and engagement. Many players find the quests repetitive, with minimal character development and a focus on hack-and-slash gameplay rather than storytelling. While some appreciate the game's charm and fun mechanics, those seeking a rich narrative experience are likely to be disappointed.
- “The design of the dungeons in the story mode is incredible, with each monster adding a layer of beauty and information about the Torchlight universe.”
- “I really liked the way the game's entire story takes place in a single dungeon, with the player's gradual descent into the earth beneath the titular town slowly revealing different fortresses and ancient ruins all lying beneath the ground.”
- “The story is there, but really just to point you towards the slashing...the hordes of never-ending minions and resulting gear are what keep you coming back.”
- “The story is laughable even by this genre's lax standards.”
- “The world and story feels very small scale because it's all about going down a single dungeon that has several different looks stitched together with very brief dialogue.”
- “The story is non-existent, and locations are all the same but in different colors.”
gameplay
414 mentions
37 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Torchlight is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, drawing heavily from the Diablo series with a familiar hack-and-slash mechanic that allows for enjoyable dungeon crawling and loot collection. While the game offers a polished experience with engaging mechanics and vibrant art, many players find it repetitive and lacking in depth, with some mechanics feeling dated or poorly explained. Overall, it provides a fun, if somewhat grindy, experience that appeals to both newcomers and seasoned players, though it may not satisfy those seeking complex gameplay or a deep narrative.
- “The game's simple yet deep mechanics provide hours of dungeon-crawling fun.”
- “Its vibrant art style, engaging gameplay, and endless loot keep players coming back for more.”
- “The gameplay is fun and responsive, and the loot system feels rewarding.”
- “Due to this game's age, some aspects and mechanics are a bit dated and archaic, which require some patience to get used to if you decide to pick this game up.”
- “It's an 'ok' game with moments of fun, but you're likely to get a bit bored because every battle is the same exact mechanic ... point at enemy and button mashing ... then you realize it's a perpetual rinse and repeat on each and every level.”
- “The gameplay is primarily mouse clicking and neither the enemies nor environments were varied enough to keep my interest.”
graphics
393 mentions
40 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its vibrant, cartoonish art style reminiscent of titles like Warcraft III, which helps it age better than other games from its release period. However, some critics note that the graphics feel dated and lack the sharpness of more modern titles, leading to difficulties in distinguishing enemy types. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they contribute to a charming aesthetic that complements the gameplay.
- “The graphics have a nice steampunk aesthetic and are pretty cute.”
- “In spite of its age, Torchlight has stayed relatively fresh and visually pleasing; it's far from a graphical phenomenon, but due to its cartoon style, graphical quality, and design, it has aged extremely well.”
- “The graphics are vibrant and the gameplay is fantastic.”
- “That game was widely criticized for its 'cartoonish' graphics.”
- “The graphics do show their age to an extent though they aren't entirely awful.”
- “The graphics are a bit dusty but instantly give you the feeling of playing an old Warcraft game.”
music
130 mentions
41 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Matt Uelmen—known for his work on the Diablo series—receives widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and nostalgic qualities, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke the charm of classic dungeon crawlers, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and appeal, despite some criticisms regarding its similarity to Diablo's compositions.
- “The music and sound design, recorded and composed by Diablo's Matt Uelmen, seamlessly blends the atmospheric charm of Diablo 1 & 2 with a refreshing touch of newer instrumentation and production techniques.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing (same artist as Diablo 1 & 2: Matt Uelmen).”
- “Everything from the music to the gameplay lives and breathes the world of Diablo, as former developers of the game worked on this software release.”
- “Sadly, in spite of all its charm (and soundtrack), there's just no getting into the game even after multiple, varied attempts.”
- “Everything about this game is repetitive: the music, the sounds, and the combat.”
- “Even when you encounter bosses, the music doesn’t change or anything.”
grinding
85 mentions
4 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages and during boss encounters. While some appreciate the mindless nature of grinding for loot and levels, others criticize the lack of meaningful rewards and the punishing difficulty that necessitates prolonged grinding. Overall, the game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding, which can detract from the enjoyment for those seeking a more balanced experience.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
- “The final boss is weirdly balanced to the point of requiring a lot of grinding to defeat on higher difficulties, and higher difficulties reduce loot drops rather than improve them, giving no real incentive to play them outside of achievement hunting.”
- “I usually like games that involve a lot of grinding, but it feels like it's all you do in this game and there is no challenge to it.”
- “It was extremely tedious, as you can imagine.”
replayability
71 mentions
48 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game offers considerable replayability through various features such as multiple character classes, endless dungeons, and mod support, allowing players to explore different playstyles and experiences. While some players find the main campaign lacks replay value, the random dungeon generation and hero retirement system provide ample opportunities for extended gameplay. Overall, it is regarded as a fun and addictive dungeon crawler with high replay value, especially for fans of the genre.
- “There's decent replay value in the endgame with the endless dungeon and the maps.”
- “The replayability is quite good; there are 3 classes, each with their unique skills, a lot of different enemies each with their power and weakness, and a variety of dungeons.”
- “Randomly generated levels so each playthrough is different, giving unlimited replayability.”
- “This limits the replayability pretty much.”
- “The worst offender by far is that the game just doesn't respect your time and it knows it has no replay value but will do anything to force you to play it longer.”
- “In my personal opinion, the campaign has little to no replay value when playing the same champion twice as the generated dungeons, although different, are relatively the same.”
atmosphere
41 mentions
68 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming art style, immersive sound design, and engaging music, often drawing comparisons to the classic Diablo series. While some reviews note a lack of depth in gameplay or story, the overall aesthetic and atmospheric level design create a captivating experience that resonates with players. The combination of colorful visuals and a well-crafted soundtrack contributes to a vibrant and enjoyable dungeon-crawling adventure.
- “The music and sound design, recorded and composed by Diablo's Matt Uelmen, seamlessly blends the atmospheric charm of Diablo 1 & 2 with a refreshing touch of newer instrumentation and production techniques.”
- “Torchlight is a brilliant dungeon crawler that sucks you in with beautifully crafted and atmospheric levels.”
- “A great game with awesome atmosphere and fulfills on the Diablo itch 100% with plenty more above and beyond to distinguish itself.”
- “Torchlight is much more colorful than the Diablo world, which is characterized by a very dark atmosphere.”
- “That I personally liked about Torchlight is the atmosphere, which is both quite reminiscent of the original Diablo, with nearly the same background and music... but much more mild and joyful altogether.”
- “The makers of this game are the same creators who brought you Diablo 1 and 2, and right from the title screen, that old classic atmosphere is present.”
humor
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as light-hearted, whimsical, and often silly, providing a refreshing contrast to the darker themes typical of the ARPG genre. Players appreciate the cartoonish design and funny interactions with villagers, which enhance the overall experience, although some find the humor less effective during frustrating gameplay moments. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging combat and creative elements, making it a standout in its category.
- “It's light, funny, silly, simple, and yet dramatic enough to enjoy the fighting too.”
- “This is the funny-looking yet genuinely sweet, light-hearted, and easy-going cousin in the otherwise broodingly dark ARPG genre.”
- “An amazing dungeon crawler that has a sense of humor, and builds on the genre to a point of mastery.”
stability
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
57 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report that it runs smoothly on various hardware, including older systems, there are frequent mentions of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with achievements and characters getting stuck. Overall, while some users enjoy the experience despite these problems, others find the bugs significantly detract from their enjoyment.
- “Very easy to play and runs great too!”
- “This also runs great on laptops, so it's a great travel game.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, just good times.”
- “This game would be okay at best if it wasn't so buggy; it also controls super clunky as though it were a lot older than it actually is.”
- “Oh and buggy, had completed my very hard run and didn't get any difficulty completion achievements.”
- “It does have buggy moments and 'pets' and 'minions' can get caught or stuck in or behind obstacles.”
optimization
13 mentions
38 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly even on low-performance computers and looking good in 4K. While some users noted minor issues, such as the antialiasing toggle affecting performance, the general consensus is that the game is very performance-friendly and free from significant optimization problems. However, there are mixed feelings regarding character build optimization, with some players finding it challenging without clear rewards.
- “It's a fun RPG/hack and slash/dungeon crawler game, the game looks good and is well optimized though it lacks fullscreen borderless (you can use a 3rd party program though).”
- “The game is so well optimized.”
- “Cute graphics, works on a low performance computer really well.”
- “The antialiasing toggle in options makes absolutely no difference in quality; it just cuts performance by half (tested with AMD).”
- “Perhaps Torchlight was intended for purists (not me), but it had all of the challenging stat-optimization routines of a typical ARPG with no reward to speak of!”
- “I found that it was pretty forgiving with build optimization, but by the end, you are going to want to have a pretty good idea of where you wanted your character to be.”
character development
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Character development in Torchlight is largely minimal, with reviewers noting a lack of engaging characters and a thin plot that prioritizes gameplay over narrative depth. While the game employs standard mechanisms like skill trees for character progression, the overall experience is described as bland and lacking in meaningful development, which may frustrate players seeking more direction.
- “Torchlight uses standard mechanisms for character development, but combines them in a unique experience that provides a fun and dynamic game.”
- “Great graphics, a well-crafted world, and wonderful, quirky character design.”
- “Skill trees offer greater flexibility at the cost of logic and simplicity -- if you're the sort of player who likes a little direction with their character development, you may find it frustrating.”
- “No character development, no interesting characters to speak of at all, very thin plot, mindless battling through hordes of enemies.”
- “Again, Torchlight is a game that knows that the primary focus here isn't on dialogue, world building, character development, or story in general; the main focus is on the gameplay.”
- “The item system, level design, character design, etc. is all very bland and I was hoping for more.”
emotional
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game; while some players find the struggle of a beloved companion during battles to be both heartbreaking and frustrating, others criticize the overall story as boring and lacking emotional depth. The desire for greater emotional connectivity is noted, despite the enjoyment of the gameplay and available mods.
- “Hearing man's best friend struggle in pain as you fight off waves of baddies together is both heartbreaking and a little exasperating.”
- “I want something more... some emotional connectivity perhaps.”
- “Wholesome hack-n-slash fun!”
- “The lack of controller support and samey level design, coupled with what is really a super boring story, I really can't recommend Torchlight 1 to anybody.”
- “Boring story.”
monetization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Overall, the monetization model is viewed positively, with users noting that it offers good value compared to more expensive games that often rely heavily on online requirements, season passes, and numerous microtransactions.
- “You could do a lot worse for far more expensive games with online-only requirements, season passes, and tons of microtransactions.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to support developers without forcing players to spend money to progress.”
- “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend more than they should just to enjoy the game fully.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without shelling out extra cash.”
- “The constant barrage of in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a well-designed game.”