Vanishing Realms

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,025 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Vanishing Realms Game Cover
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"Vanishing Realms: Rite of Steel" is a VR RPG that uses motion controls for one-to-one combat, allowing you to physically swing, duck, and block as if you were there. The game features hand-crafted environments, life-sized monsters, and magical combat as you explore ancient tombs, battle enemies, and collect lost artifacts. As you progress, you'll hone your physical skills and face more powerful foes. Directly interact with the world and discover its secrets.

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Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,025 reviews
gameplay136 positive mentions
stability21 negative mentions
  • Immersive gameplay that makes you feel like a true adventurer, with engaging sword and shield combat.
  • Variety of weapons and mechanics, including archery and magic, adds depth to the combat experience.
  • Well-designed environments encourage exploration and interaction, with hidden treasures and puzzles to solve.
  • The game is relatively short, taking only about 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Some combat mechanics can feel simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth in enemy AI and challenge.
  • The teleportation movement system may not appeal to all players, and there are limited locomotion options.
  • gameplay293 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally well-received, featuring smooth mechanics and engaging combat, particularly with sword and shield, bow, and magic. However, many players note that the game is relatively short, with around 2-4 hours of content, and some mechanics could use further refinement. While the visuals and immersive atmosphere are praised, concerns about the game's price relative to its length and depth persist.

    • “The gameplay is smooth and easy-paced, and I find it very entertaining.”
    • “The mechanics are polished and the gameplay is fantastic.”
    • “The atmosphere is beautiful, and the gameplay is fun!”
    • “A very boring, uninteresting game, with pretty bad enemies, and pretty bad mechanics.”
    • “The game is rather short (2-3 hours if you like taking your time), has many mechanics that still need polishing and depth.”
    • “The gameplay is hollow and does not have meaningful tactical choices.”
  • graphics267 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as cartoonish and simplistic, yet they effectively contribute to an immersive and enjoyable VR experience. Many players appreciate the charming art style, which evokes nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles like "Zelda" and "World of Warcraft," while others note that the visuals are polished and well-suited for the game's atmosphere. Despite some criticisms regarding the lack of realism and detail, the overall consensus is that the graphics enhance the gameplay rather than detract from it.

    • “The graphics are very nice; I usually say this, it's about how graphics make you feel when you are in VR, and I was immersed and happy with it.”
    • “The art style is reminiscent of old school high fantasy, and the feel is like the D&D comics and dice games.”
    • “The graphics are outstanding.”
    • “The graphics are so cartoonish that it basically strips away all sense of being in a real world.”
    • “The graphics seemed dated and cartoonish.”
    • “The interface is not very polished and the visuals look like the first generation of WoW.”
  • story157 mentions

    The game's story is generally perceived as weak or minimal, often described as a simple framework to support gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the immersive experience and engaging mechanics, many express a desire for a more developed storyline, with suggestions for additional content and character interactions in future updates. Overall, the story serves as a basic backdrop for combat and exploration, leaving players wanting more depth and complexity.

    • “The story is captivating and the combat is exciting.”
    • “The story is good and well thought out, and the devs have turned a dungeon crawl into something compelling to play for 2 hours.”
    • “This game has the perfect all-around mix of mechanics, story, artistic flair, and mystery to bring you fully into another world.”
    • “What there is of a story is pretty weak, so if that's your thing you'll be disappointed.”
    • “The game has no dialog/story.”
    • “There is no story to speak of; it's more of a lightweight dungeon walk-through.”
  • atmosphere55 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, with many players noting the captivating environments, engaging audio, and effective use of graphics that enhance the overall experience. While some users mention minor issues like inventory blurriness or cartoonish enemy designs, the general consensus is that the game successfully transports players into a richly detailed RPG world, making exploration and combat feel both exciting and authentic. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its enjoyment.

    • “The atmosphere and immersion is just incredible.”
    • “The low-poly environment still offers a great deal of immersion and atmosphere.”
    • “The game's audio is great and really helped define the game's atmosphere, whether it be the sound of wind blowing, the crackle of a torch, or the clang of sword on sword.”
    • “The game has little atmosphere and almost no personality.”
    • “The atmosphere and feeling in this game is quite ok.”
    • “The atmosphere makes you feel like you're in an RPG... the only things that I'm let down on is that every now and then the inventory and stats become a bit blurry because I have to look down, every now and then an enemy goes through a wall or two and that there needs to be more content.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting that while there are elements like multiple weapon types and achievements that encourage replay, many feel the short length and lack of substantial content limit its overall replay value. Some users appreciate the potential for replay through hard modes and multiplayer arenas, but others find the experience too brief and lacking in depth to warrant multiple playthroughs. In summary, while there are opportunities for replay, particularly for completionists, the consensus leans towards a generally low replayability factor.

    • “Definite replayability.”
    • “It has some replay value, especially in the last 'rite of steel' trial level.”
    • “They have also laid the groundwork for some really playable (and replayable) mechanics that I hope to see more of in future releases.”
    • “Highly polished and varied, but short and with little replay value.”
    • “The story is so short and has 0 replayable value.”
    • “This is a good game, but not really worth the $20 price tag for how short it is, and more so for how there is practically no replay value as it is right now.”
  • music31 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immersion, while others feel it is either lacking or repetitive. Many users express a desire for a more substantial soundtrack, suggesting that additional music could elevate the overall experience. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its quality and fitting tone, there is a consensus that it could benefit from more variety and presence.

    • “The music is fun and sets the right tone and mood.”
    • “Reminds me of playing Tomb Raider when all of a sudden you would walk into a big awe-inspiring room and the beautiful music would hit and just give you chills.”
    • “The music and level design is diverse and immersive.”
    • “The combat is terrible, the graphics are lackluster, the sound and music is nearly absent.”
    • “One word of advice for this game, it needs music or a soundtrack or something; on top of the dull combat mechanics, there's nothing happening other than the distinct sound of steel against steel.”
    • “Unfortunately, the plot and music are lacking, but hopefully that will improve in a later version.”
  • stability25 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting occasional glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, while others experienced smooth performance with minimal issues. Many users noted that despite some minor graphical glitches and inventory system problems, the overall experience is enjoyable and immersive, especially after recent updates. Overall, while not flawless, the game runs well for most players, making it a solid choice in the VR genre.

    • “The world looks great, and the last update made the game even more immersive and bug-free!”
    • “No freezes, no crashing.”
    • “Runs great, looks great, feels great.”
    • “Too buggy to enjoy.”
    • “My only gripes were with the occasional glitches (including some that let you skip portions of the levels, or didn't leave you at the checkpoints you saved at last time).”
    • “Just make sure you play through it in one sitting as there are some weird glitches with progress if you quit out of it.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting smooth performance and minimal strain on hardware, particularly in VR settings. However, some users reported occasional performance issues, especially in specific areas like arenas, and mentioned bugs that could lead to stuttering or crashes. While the graphics are simple and artistic, contributing to better performance, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in inventory management and certain gameplay scenarios.

    • “Personally, this is a good thing if it lightens the load on the GPU and allows smoother performance.”
    • “Graphically, it's pretty simple - but then that obviously helps with the performance, which I had no issues at all.”
    • “Not all games are optimized for the Vive/Oculus/etc., but this game is; the text is readable.”
    • “I think there is some bug with the game when it loses tracking which causes it to start stuttering and eventually crash.”
    • “The only downside I experienced was performance issues in the arena, as I'd get to see 'this is real' for a split second when walking in for the fight or when groups of enemies were spawning in (running on a 1080, this probably shouldn't be happening, but it is early access).”
    • “It was also very unoptimized and ran very slowly at times for unknown reasons.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews of the grinding aspect highlight a mix of experiences; while some find it tedious and reminiscent of less engaging RPG mechanics, others appreciate the enjoyable mining and treasure-hunting elements that break up the grind. The combat can be hindered by auto-pause mechanics, leading to frustration, but overall, many players express a desire for more grinding opportunities due to the satisfying nature of collecting and exploring.

    • “It's very tedious and doesn't feel like proper VR combat to me when I'm used to something like Blade and Sorcery.”
    • “If you want a different one you have to go all the way back and get another, which is long and tedious.”
    • “I managed to complete both chapters, but not without combat grinding to a halt because of auto-pauses, or constantly having to flail and reposition due to the auto-pause throwing my character out of position, and rendering me unable to hit anything.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its immersive qualities that provide an escape from reality and serve as a form of emotional support. The gameplay evokes a range of feelings, including fear, excitement, and pride, making users feel genuinely present in the game world. However, some frustrations, such as the loss of achievements across saves, contribute to a sense of emotional pain for achievement collectors.

    • “I play VR to be immersed, and to escape my life and my depression; I guess you could call it an emotional support tool, and I don't care if it seems antisocial, as it is keeping me alive.”
    • “This game made me feel emotions: fear, excitement, trepidation, pride.”
    • “Incredibly immersive, made me feel like I was actually there.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with the developer prioritizing paid DLC over meaningful content updates after exiting early access. Reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the developer appears to have abandoned the project in favor of quick financial gain, likening it unfavorably to other games known for aggressive monetization practices.

    • “Now the game comes out of early access, and instead of adding more content like others, they immediately went to a cash grab style DLC.”
    • “Development hell cash grab.”
    • “It's clear the developer wanted nothing more to do with the project and just wanted to get it over with, so he yanked it out of early access with a last ditch effort cash grab.”
  • humor5 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be a significant highlight, often laughing and enjoying funny moments throughout their experience. Despite some criticisms of the graphics, the comedic elements and engaging gameplay keep players entertained and invested. Overall, the humor contributes greatly to the game's fun factor.

    • “Getting the hang of aiming with the bow takes a moment but it's great fun; throwing weapons seem to auto-aim a bit, which makes me a little sad, but I still had a blast laughing and throwing things at enemies.”
    • “Very nice game and really funny.”
    • “I was giggling and laughing the whole time and didn't set it down until I finished it... the graphics suck but it didn't even matter.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is minimal, with a focus on weapon variety rather than character growth. However, players appreciate the high-quality animation and design, indicating that the developers have invested considerable effort into the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience.

    • “It's clear that the dev has put a lot of love and care into this title with significant updates and great level and character design.”
    • “Good animation and character design and addictive.”
    • “There is no character development; it's just different weapons to buy.”
    • “The characters feel flat and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character arcs; they don't evolve at all.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
3-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs

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