Trials of Fire

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,101 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Trials of Fire Game Cover
Trials of Fire's list of features may read like a videogame word salad, but the resulting combination makes for a fine RPG feast.
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Trials of Fire is a tactical deck-building adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, where players must navigate hostile wastelands and engage in strategic combat with a combination of three hero decks. With a variety of game modes, heroes, items, and enemies, players must use movement, positioning, and card synergies to survive each encounter and upgrade their loadout. The game features challenging decisions, loot-linked deck-building, and a range of content added during Early Access.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,101 reviews
gameplay335 positive mentions
grinding36 negative mentions
  • Engaging tactical combat that combines card mechanics with hex-based movement.
  • Variety of characters and classes allows for diverse strategies and builds.
  • Rich world-building and lore, with interesting quests and events.
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially with bosses that feel unbalanced.
  • Repetitive encounters and limited enemy variety can lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
  • User interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and decision-making cumbersome.
  • gameplay976 mentions

    The gameplay of "Trials of Fire" is characterized by a complex blend of tactical turn-based combat, deck-building mechanics, and RPG elements, offering a unique experience that encourages strategic decision-making and exploration. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of mechanics, some find the learning curve steep and certain mechanics, like card discarding, frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging core loop and potential for replayability, despite some criticisms regarding balance and content.

    • “The main tactical gameplay is solid, with a satisfying amount of options that cater to a variety of approaches.”
    • “Tactical combat, deck building, and RPG elements blend perfectly and make for an amazing gameplay loop punctuated by epic boss battles.”
    • “The gameplay loop is pretty addicting because of the amount of options you can choose with the party.”
    • “It's a clunky mechanic that is distracting and uncomfortable to play around; it's akin to a knight forsaking his shield in the heat of battle.”
    • “Another frustrating mechanic is the ability of some opponents to make the player drop cards - the only resource you have in combat.”
    • “Unlike most deckbuilders, this game's cards are designed with far too many interlocking, inscrutable mechanics and side effects at play that ultimately take an unreasonable amount of time to unpack and evaluate.”
  • story770 mentions

    The story in "Trials of Fire" is generally considered basic and somewhat repetitive, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While there are various quests and lore elements that provide context, many players feel the narrative lacks depth and engagement, often opting to skip through text. However, the game compensates for its narrative shortcomings with diverse gameplay modes and tactical combat, making it more appealing for those who prioritize mechanics over story.

    • “The storybook presentation is engaging, the tactical combat is very satisfying, and the overall package is high quality (particularly the audio).”
    • “The mix of RPG character progression and story combined with card tactics make Trials a fun, unique experience.”
    • “The writers have gone above and beyond to infuse story into every corner of this dark world.”
    • “The story elements are okay, but nothing to write home about.”
    • “The big thing for me was the lack of a decent storyline.”
    • “The story is effectively non-existent but overall, I enjoyed my time with it.”
  • graphics321 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and polished card artwork, while others criticize the simplistic and sometimes bland visuals, particularly in the world map and UI design. Some players appreciate the game's aesthetic as charming and fitting for its genre, while others feel it lacks the depth and detail expected from modern titles. Overall, the visuals are generally considered functional and appealing, but there is a consensus that improvements could enhance the overall experience.

    • “Beautiful graphics for the map and transition into battles.”
    • “The overall aesthetics and art style are enjoyable and interesting.”
    • “This game has fantastic presentation and a visually appealing art style to really pull you in.”
    • “Bland and repetitive aesthetic.”
    • “Graphics are so terrible I cannot tell what is going on.”
    • “Don't let the opening cinematic fool you, the actual gameplay graphic is just a composition of static images and the map graphic is just terrible to look at - dazzling reflection, water that looks like mercury, caves that look like ponds, mountains that are like piles of dust.”
  • replayability235 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, with many players praising its variety of unlockable classes, missions, and difficulty levels that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth in certain aspects, the majority found the combination of strategic gameplay, random elements, and diverse character options to provide substantial replay value, often leading to hours of engaging gameplay. However, a few voices expressed concerns about limited replayability in the long term, suggesting that additional content could enhance the experience further.

    • “The gear, upgrade, and level-up mechanics all work well towards the battles and the story; the variety of missions and scenarios add a considerable amount of depth and replayability.”
    • “The amount of decisions and options is staggering between items, cards, and classes that just provides an insane amount of replay value.”
    • “With enough random elements to have excellent variety, the game has an absurd amount of replayability; there is a constant duality of wanting to start a new campaign and see what sweet strategies come together.”
    • “Zero replayability and the devs are long gone already.”
    • “A core element of rogue-like games is supposed to be replayability (at least, in my vision of it), and this world felt all-seen and all-played already after 10 hours.”
    • “This one just doesn't have the replayability or polish that these games have to have to be good.”
  • music74 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it lackluster or repetitive. Some players appreciate the polished soundtrack and its fitting integration with the game's art and setting, but a notable number express disappointment in its memorability compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it may not stand out as a highlight for all players.

    • “There's a nice soundtrack, and you can adjust volume levels independently in the options.”
    • “The whole package comes wrapped in beautiful art and a magnificent soundtrack!”
    • “The music, sound effects, and overall sound quality are very well-crafted to enhance your expedition and not become distracting or tiresome.”
    • “The audio wasn't bad as far as quality goes...however when it comes to the music and combat effects (thus far) it has been rather light and unimpressive.”
    • “My main complaint is that the music and sound effects don't really work for me.”
    • “The music is a bit lackluster/repetitive and I wish it had more quests with a bit more narrative.”
  • grinding40 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with players noting that it can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some find the resource management and exploration engaging, many feel that the repetitive mechanics, such as menu navigation and combat, lead to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grind may become overwhelming, especially for those not fully invested in the gameplay.

    • “The world exploring requires real resource management and succeeds in not being tedious.”
    • “Game feels tedious and not exciting to play.”
    • “Going into camp, going to upgrade, and hovering over to see what I'm missing, then breaking camp, seems to be a very roundabout and tedious way to do it, especially if I'm considering what a store has to offer.”
    • “I love this game, it borders the extremely tedious side of a generic RPG's leveling and looting, but keeps the end goal clear, concise, and very obtainable from any point if you know what you're doing.”
  • atmosphere32 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining evocative settings, a compelling soundtrack, and dynamic gameplay that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight its unique blend of tactical strategy and deck-building elements, reminiscent of classic RPGs, while some critique the lack of originality in its atmospheric design. Overall, it is considered a standout indie title that effectively captures a post-apocalyptic, mystical mood, making it a worthwhile addition for fans of the genre.

    • “Clever AI opponents and unique battle mechanics make this atmospheric indie gem a must-try.”
    • “Overall, Trials of Fire has a unique atmosphere that strongly reminds me of a D&D campaign, rather than being 'just another card-based roguelike.'”
    • “The game is atmospheric: it puts you into the mood of doing your best in the atmosphere of mysticism and tough times.”
    • “Easy to learn and has a morally grey, post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
    • “To put it simply, if you were to take aspects of Divinity: Original Sin 2 with movement, deck building/combat aspects of Slay the Spire, and the atmosphere of Darkest Dungeon, you get this game.”
    • “It gives enough setting and atmosphere to be evocative but not too much text to detract from the replayability.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while performance is generally smooth and combat feels impactful, the underlying code is unoptimized, leading to excessive RAM usage. Players often struggle with unoptimized controls and deck-building mechanics, making it challenging to achieve fully optimized setups, which can hinder gameplay and necessitate restarts in certain situations. Overall, the desire to experiment with builds is present, but the lack of optimization can detract from the experience.

    • “As you learn how to build optimized decks and parties, the desire to experiment to find the best combinations takes hold.”
    • “The game performance is very smooth and the sound effects are meaty; you really feel the weight of the combat even though it is turn-based.”
    • “- Deck building (each character has their own deck of skills, which can be improved, optimized, and added to via new gear).”
    • “Unoptimized code makes the computer use way more RAM than it should need to.”
    • “Controls aren't optimized.”
    • “You will encounter moments where you simply need to restart because, again, you drew only support cards, and, while your opponents' decks are optimized to do what they want to do, you are stuck with your cards while leveling up.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players criticize it as a cash grab with misleading advertisements, others appreciate the absence of microtransactions, allowing for a more genuine gaming experience. Overall, the game is seen as high quality and developed with passion, despite some players feeling the gameplay could be more engaging.

    • “No microtransactions, so you can get a decent amount of play for your pennies.”
    • “A great and brutal game, probably most similar to the criminally abandoned Loot & Legends, but with a more serious tone and no microtransactions.”
    • “Honestly had hoped for more, instead another bare bones cheaply made cash grab on the roguelike market.”
    • “Don't be fooled by some of the advertisement videos, there are no (or almost no) in-game cinematics.”
    • “A great and brutal game, probably most similar to the criminally abandoned loot & legends, but with a more serious tone and no microtransactions.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience, marked by intense and often heartbreaking moments, particularly during combat and game-overs. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's narrative cohesion, the emotional weight of the gameplay and the appealing art style contribute to a compelling atmosphere that keeps players engaged. The combination of strategic challenges and emotional stakes creates a unique and immersive experience, prompting players to return even after difficult setbacks.

    • “I've had heartbreaking game-overs, but still come back for more.”
    • “Combat is always interesting, emotionally intense, and brutal.”
    • “The game started out slow-paced with a tutorial and some reading; the whole art style just made me feel 'welcome'. It looks appealing, and the overall feel of the game is smooth and beautiful.”
  • character development10 mentions

    The game features complex and immersive character development, allowing players to feel in control and satisfied with their builds. While the character designs are praised for their uniqueness, the repetitiveness of item abilities can detract from the overall experience. Overall, it combines elements of tactical strategy and deck-building, reminiscent of D&D-style gameplay.

    • “It's a deep, lengthy game that allows you to feel in control of character development and is very satisfying when you build your characters correctly.”
    • “The clever deckbuilding balance and mechanics-based boss fights of STS, the puzzle-like movement and tactical character synergies of Gloomhaven, and a lot of its own flavor in worldbuilding and character design.”
    • “I thought they did a great job with character design and making them feel mostly unique, but the items you pick up have a lot of the same/similar abilities and it made different runs feel very repetitive.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the exaggerated aggro mechanics, which lead to amusing situations where players find themselves overwhelmed in a comical fashion. This aspect of the gameplay elicits laughter, as it feels like a playful commentary on the challenges players face.

    • “Some powers draw more aggro than others, it seems, to a hilarious degree.”
    • “Somebody, somewhere, is laughing, 'they are paying for this abuse'.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly with only minor bugs present, indicating a generally stable experience. However, some players have noted occasional issues, suggesting that stability may vary between different systems.

    • “Very little bugs; the game runs great for me, anyway.”
    • “Very little bugs; the game runs great for me, anyway.”
    • “It's a little buggy, though.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Trials of Fire

Play time

23hMedian play time
58hAverage play time
8-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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