Vagrus: The Riven Realms

If you’re looking for a very different kind of management sim and a steep challenge, Vagrus: The Riven Realms is the game for you.

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In "Vagrus: The Riven Realms," you are a vagrus, leading a caravan across a dark fantasy world to survive and explore. With a focus on narrative and strategy, the game features a vast open world, unique locations, and various factions. Your goal is to punish the Empire for its wrongdoings while dealing with the perils of this strange realm. The Prologue is available for free on Steam, with about 3-5 hours of playtime.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 868 reviews

story173 positive mentions

grinding95 negative mentions

Incredible world-building and lore that draws players in and keeps them engaged.
Challenging gameplay that rewards strategic planning and decision-making.
Unique blend of trading, exploration, and RPG elements that creates a captivating experience.

Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unbalanced, leading to frustrating encounters.
The game can be tedious with a lot of back-and-forth travel and resource management.
Some players may find the heavy reliance on text and reading off-putting or overwhelming.

story
578 mentions
30 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story in "Vagrus: The Riven Realms" is widely praised for its rich world-building, compelling narratives, and well-developed characters, drawing players into a dark, post-apocalyptic setting filled with intricate lore and engaging quests. However, many reviewers express frustration with the gameplay mechanics, which often detract from the storytelling experience, leading to a grind-heavy feel that can overshadow the narrative depth. Overall, while the writing and atmosphere are highlighted as standout features, the balance between story and gameplay remains a point of contention among players.
- “The atmosphere, the world-building, and the story are top-notch.”
- “The story is rich, the writing is compelling, and the game definitely fits the 'hardcore' genre of games, but the combat leaves something to be desired.”
- “The writing is incredible in its detail and the story immersive.”
- “At its worst, you'll drudge doing mundane quests while navigating systems that are poorly explained.”
- “The story feels a little bit graphomanic with way too much text and overindulgent writing splattered all over the place regardless of whether a need for such escapades exists.”
- “The quests offer somewhat reasonable rewards for their completion up until a point -- then it all breaks down.”
gameplay
306 mentions
26 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is characterized by a complex blend of mechanics that include trading, survival, and role-playing elements, offering a deep and engaging experience for players who enjoy strategic decision-making and exploration. However, many reviews highlight issues such as a steep learning curve, tedious mechanics, and a reliance on save scumming, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the rich lore and immersive world-building are praised, the gameplay can feel repetitive and unbalanced, particularly in its combat and resource management systems.
- “The gameplay of growing your vagrus, trading and fighting both strategic and tactical battles while solving quests creates an engaging loop.”
- “The mechanics and worldbuilding are top notch, and it definitely scratches that 'one more turn' itch.”
- “Great writing, an imaginative world, and brutal gameplay will keep you going and planning your next route for hours!”
- “The gameplay loop is similar to Sunless Sea, though trading is more sustainable and much less penalized in Vagrus.”
- “The gameplay is enveloped in a unique atmosphere, good storytelling, and rich worldbuilding.”
- “The gameplay is a bit difficult though, which leads to a tendency to save scum, and combat can be a bit clunky, and not that aesthetically pleasing by modern standards.”
grinding
95 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the challenge and depth it adds to gameplay, others feel that the extensive grinding required for progression detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging activity. Overall, the game is best suited for those who enjoy grinding mechanics, as it is integral to advancing in the game.
- “One of the ambitions is horribly long and grindy, and if you're even half-heartedly doing new content, you'll run out of game before you reach the ending.”
- “Unfortunately around mid-game I realized it's not true, the annoying chore mechanics and the increasing amount of bugs I've caught slowly made the game an unpleasant, tedious experience.”
- “The result is a deeply unsatisfying experience mired in tedious detail and artificial difficulty.”
graphics
57 mentions
49 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful artwork and atmospheric visuals, while others criticize the outdated models and inconsistent quality. Many players appreciate the nostalgic art style reminiscent of older tabletop games, though some find the overall graphical presentation lacking and in need of improvement. Despite these criticisms, the game's strong world-building and immersive storytelling often overshadow the graphical shortcomings.
- “Great story, original idea, beautiful artwork, runs well on a potato PC.”
- “The artwork is somehow both minimalistic yet brilliant, and provides a great sense of immersion.”
- “Fantastic world-building and storytelling, accompanied by some lovely artwork.”
- “Graphics are a pathetic excuse (even a five year old could draw a better caricature of beasts, designers should seriously consider this).”
- “Absolutely zero innovation, straight-jacketed and ossified thinking with (Unity is capable of doing better) 9th rate graphics all around.”
- “This is easily the weakest part of the game as it also contains the hit or miss character artwork and animations.”
music
37 mentions
49 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and fitting qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a great soundtrack. However, many players note that the music can become repetitive and that there is a lack of variety, particularly during key moments and overland travel. While the sound design is appreciated, there are calls for more ambient tracks and improvements to avoid moments of silence that detract from immersion.
- “It has beautiful art, a great soundtrack, interesting stories, engaging trading mechanics, and most of all, an extremely creative and enthralling fantasy post-apocalyptic universe.”
- “The music is moody and perfect.”
- “I was also very impressed by the atmospheric gloomy music that matches the world perfectly.”
- “Music is a bit repetitive.”
- “The game desperately needs at least a few more music tracks during overland travel and for moments during the story since there are many times I was reading and was briefly taken out of the experience due to a lack of music.”
- “The looping ambient music is also rather weak.”
atmosphere
31 mentions
55 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich world-building, engaging storytelling, and beautiful artwork, creating a captivating post-apocalyptic setting that draws players in. Many reviewers highlight the depth of the writing and the immersive experience, likening it to a well-crafted narrative RPG that rewards exploration and engagement. However, some players note that the slow pace of certain gameplay elements can detract from the overall experience, despite the strong atmospheric elements.
- “The atmosphere, the world-building, and the story are top-notch.”
- “Great atmospheric game that lets you dive into a story and lore-rich post-apocalyptic world.”
- “The writing, atmosphere, and worldbuilding are absolutely stellar.”
- “If you don't like to absorb written atmosphere and if you don't like the idea of probably being ground out by a harsh environment then this is likely not for you.”
- “The atmosphere and story lines are well developed and go together very well, there are plenty of things to do, places to explore, and options to consider; it's just not always (or ever) easy to get to them.”
- “The atmosphere of dark sun, the gameplay loop of sunless seas / skies but with darkest dungeon-style fights and its own unique and excellent style of writing.”
optimization
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during battles and initial startup. While some appreciate the UI design and immersive experience, others criticize the clunky interface and poor responsiveness, especially on higher-end rigs. As the game is still in early access, players are hopeful for future improvements, but current performance remains a major concern.
- “They learned all the right lessons in terms of UI optimization, adding variety, and deepening the content.”
- “Whereas Sunless Skies felt like a lot of tedious waiting, Vagrus feels like a lot of optimization and planning, so if you prefer optimizing and planning over watching a very slow ship move across the map, you'll probably also like Vagrus more.”
- “Firstly, you must remember that this game is in early access, so bugs, optimization issues, etc. are a given, but I for one enjoy the direction the developers are going with the game.”
- “People with better rigs also complain about the performance, but for me the performance was horrible even though the graphics are quite simple.”
- “The performance of the game is oddly crap in fights and the initial startup time of the game is also very long.”
- “But it is very rough around the edges, unpolished, and poorly optimized, so keep that in mind.”
replayability
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among users. While some players find it offers significant replay value with over 100 hours of fun and various gameplay options, others criticize its static world and characters, leading to concerns about long-term replayability. Suggestions for improvement include expanding the map and introducing diverse beginnings to enhance replay potential.
- “I think if you've got the patience to have a real go at this, then it could be an obsession and give you tons of replay value.”
- “Overall, I'd say it has well over 100 hours of fun and quite a bit of replayability.”
- “With the latest update, this game is infinitely more playable.”
- “I'm beginning to worry, now 60 hours in, about the replay value.”
- “This makes the game pretty much un-replayable.”
- “The big difference between this game and Battle Brothers is there’s really not much replay value here because, unlike Battle Brothers, the world, the start, and characters (including the companions you can hire) are static.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the rich backstories and RPG elements for both the main character and companions, others find the development lacking in depth and impact, particularly after completing companion quests. Overall, the character arcs are seen as engaging but could benefit from more defined changes in dialogue and interactions.
- “I'm really enjoying the backstory and character development.”
- “It is a unique game filled with storylines, character development, and a variety of gameplay.”
- “RPG elements exist in character development, both of your main character and companions.”
- “Would also be a lot better if character development was more defined after completing companion quests (changes in dialogue, etc.).”
- “The fighting and the character development is tedious at best.”
- “The combat is extremely shallow, and all the options for RPG character development seem hollow.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues, particularly with buggy controls and an unresponsive combat UI, which can hinder gameplay and clarity during critical moments. While some glitches are present, they are generally not game-breaking and can often be resolved by reloading. Overall, players feel that these stability problems detract from an otherwise rich and engaging experience.
- “Great game, text heavy with a rich story - would be perfect if it could be less buggy.”
- “It's either buggy or failed to convey some pretty critical information during the fight; I didn't arm the passengers, and I did let the fleeing bandits leave. Maybe that was the problem.”
- “The actual combat UI is often buggy and unresponsive as well.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of professional wit and unintentional comedy, particularly during combat scenarios. Players find amusement in the absurdity of certain characters and situations, with some decisions leading to unexpectedly humorous "game over" moments. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “It's professional and even humorous at times.”
- “If we take this as analogous to Rome due to the way the game presents it, this is, of course, hilarious nonsense.”
- “Also, the devs are kind of funny; you can actually die like 'game over' succeeding some decisions, but not in a bad way lol.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional impact of the game to be significant, with intense gameplay that elicits genuine satisfaction from victories and a bittersweet sense of loss that remains enjoyable rather than frustrating. However, there is a sense of disappointment that the emotional depth of quests and characters is not fully integrated into the gameplay experience, leaving players yearning for a more immersive connection to the narrative.
- “One may only wonder what's the point of investing so much talent and effort creating quests matching the creativity and emotional impact level of 'bloody baron' in Witcher 3 and then just don't let the player enjoy the art.”
- “Playing is intense, winning is genuinely satisfying, losing is heartbreaking in a way that still makes you smile instead of just being frustrated.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is heavily criticized, with users feeling that the tutorial serves more as an advertisement than a helpful introduction, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm being constantly pressured to buy in-game items just to keep up with other players.”
- “The game is riddled with ads and paywalls, which completely ruins the experience.”