Trials of Fire

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,546 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
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,546 reviews
gameplay167 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Engaging tactical combat that combines card mechanics with hex-based movement.
  • Unique deck-building system where equipment adds cards to character decks, allowing for diverse strategies.
  • High replayability with multiple characters, quests, and difficulty levels.
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially with bosses that feel unbalanced compared to earlier encounters.
  • Limited variety in enemy types and quests can lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • User interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it hard to manage cards and equipment.
  • gameplay487 mentions

    The gameplay of "Trials of Fire" is characterized by a unique blend of tactical turn-based combat, deck-building mechanics, and RPG elements, offering a satisfying and complex experience that encourages strategic thinking and exploration. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics, including card sacrifices for movement and defense, though some find certain mechanics, like discarding cards, clunky or frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its depth, engaging combat, and the rewarding nature of mastering its intricate systems, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and complexity.

    • “The main tactical gameplay is solid, with a satisfying amount of options that cater to a variety of approaches.”
    • “This is a great fusion of three genres I love, with mechanics and synergies that are satisfying to explore.”
    • “Tactical combat, deck building, and RPG elements blend perfectly and make for an amazing gameplay loop punctuated by epic boss battles.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is quite complex in an overwhelming way, very frontloaded.”
  • story384 mentions

    The story in "Trials of Fire" is generally considered serviceable but lacks depth, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While there are various quests and lore elements that provide some context, the repetitive nature of missions and predictable plotlines detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the tactical gameplay and deck-building mechanics more than the story itself, often expressing a desire for more engaging and varied narrative content in future updates.

    • “The story is good enough; the tactical card game and exploring the battle maps is fantastic though.”
    • “The storybook presentation is engaging, the tactical combat is very satisfying, and the overall package is high quality (particularly the audio).”
    • “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.”
  • graphics160 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and polished visuals, particularly in the card artwork and combat animations. However, some players criticize the overall aesthetic as bland or simplistic, noting that certain elements, like the world map and UI, could be improved. Overall, while the graphics may not be on par with AAA titles, they are generally considered functional and appealing within the context of the game's design.

    • “Beautiful graphics for the map and transition into battles.”
    • “The overall aesthetics and art style are enjoyable and interesting.”
    • “The game is graphically pleasing.”
    • “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 graphics are 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.”
  • replayability117 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, with many players praising its variety of unlockable characters, missions, and difficulty levels that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth in certain aspects, the majority highlighted the engaging mechanics and strategic options that contribute to a rewarding experience, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated players. The combination of procedural generation and diverse gameplay modes ensures that players can find new challenges and strategies, leading to significant replay value.

    • “The gear, upgrade, and level-up mechanics all work well towards the battles and the story; the variety of missions and scenarios adds a considerable amount of depth and replayability.”
    • “The amount of decisions and options is staggering between items, cards, and classes, providing 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.”
    • “Replayability is lacking even though there is essentially a daily challenge mode to keep people who really enjoy the game.”
    • “There was something missing in terms of replayability.”
    • “This one just doesn't have the replayability or polish that these games have to have to be good.”
  • music37 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive or lacking depth. Some players appreciate the option to adjust volume levels independently and enjoy the soundtrack's fit with the game's setting, but a few criticize it for not being memorable or compelling compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the music is generally seen as solid and well-integrated, contributing positively to the game's presentation.

    • “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, it has been rather light and unimpressive.”
    • “My main complaint is that the music and sound effects don't really work for me.”
    • “The main drawback of the game, in my opinion, is that the music is not a standout, which I think is one of the main aspects of the roguelite genre that make them go from great to excellent.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, with players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some find the resource management and exploration engaging, many express frustration with the back-and-forth menu navigation and the grind required to progress, particularly in combat and upgrading systems. Overall, the game balances enjoyable mechanics with a significant amount of grind that may become tiresome over time.

    • “The world exploration requires real resource management and succeeds in not being tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Game feels tedious and not exciting to play.”
    • “It becomes tedious.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its evocative world-building, engaging soundtrack, and immersive settings that enhance gameplay. Many reviewers highlight its unique blend of tactical strategy and deck-building mechanics, likening it to popular titles while emphasizing its distinct charm. However, some criticism exists regarding the lack of originality in certain aspects of the atmosphere, suggesting that while it is well-crafted, it may not stand out as uniquely as others in the genre.

    • “Clever AI opponents and unique battle mechanics make this atmospheric indie gem a must-try.”
    • “Great atmosphere, combat, characters, emergent story...”
    • “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.'”
    • “It gives enough setting and atmosphere to be evocative, but not too much text to detract from the replayability.”
    • “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 the movement and deck-building/combat aspects of Slay the Spire, and the atmosphere of Darkest Dungeon, you get this game.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while performance is generally smooth and combat feels impactful, players face challenges with unoptimized code that leads to excessive RAM usage. Deck building allows for character customization, but achieving a fully optimized deck is rare, and control issues can hinder gameplay, often requiring restarts due to poor card draws. Overall, the desire for optimization in builds and strategies is present, but the execution leaves room for improvement.

    • “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.”
    • “You can level up your characters to replace cards from their core deck with new ones or upgrade existing ones, but it's incredibly rare to end up with a fully optimized deck.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is mixed; while some users 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 offers good value for money, despite some gameplay complexities.

    • “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.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players report a mix of emotional experiences, from heartbreaking game-overs to intense combat that evokes strong feelings. While some feel the game's narrative and setting could be more cohesive, the overall emotional engagement remains compelling, with a welcoming art style enhancing the experience. The blend of challenge and beauty creates a unique emotional landscape that keeps players returning despite 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 development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, allowing players to feel in control and satisfied with their character builds. While the unique character designs enhance immersion, some players noted that the similarity in item abilities can lead to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game combines tactical strategy with engaging character progression, reminiscent of popular titles like Slay the Spire and Gloomhaven.

    • “It's a really fun D&D-type fantasy, tactical, complex character development, deck-building based, 'rogue-like' strategy game which is very immersive.”
    • “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 deck-building 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.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters are; they don't evolve or change in any significant way.”
    • “The lack of depth in character arcs makes it hard to connect with the story or care about the outcomes.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the exaggerated reactions to certain powers, leading to amusing situations where players find themselves in over-the-top predicaments. This comedic element adds a layer of enjoyment, as players recognize the absurdity of their circumstances.

    • “Some powers draw more aggro than others, it seems, to a hilarious degree.”
    • “Somebody, somewhere, is laughing, 'they are paying for this abuse'.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly with only minor bugs, indicating a generally stable experience.

    • “Very few bugs; the game runs great for me.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, providing a smooth experience.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues; the game is very stable.”
    • “It's a little buggy, though.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and stability issues during gameplay.”
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 12 analyzed playthroughs

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