Vellum

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 235 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Vellum Game Cover
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"Vellum is a cooperative action roguelike, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes, with stunning graphics and strategic gameplay. As a Scribe, dive into magic tomes, casting spells and determining your enemies' evolution. Band together with other players to reshape battlefields and fight through echoes of familiar tales."

Play Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 235 reviews
gameplay20 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and creative theme centered around writing and ink, which adds a refreshing twist to the roguelike genre.
  • Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of build options and the ability to customize difficulty through enemy modifiers, making each run feel different.
  • The art style is beautiful and visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
  • The game currently suffers from performance issues, including frame rate drops and clunky movement, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
  • Some players find the combat lacks depth and feedback, making it feel less satisfying when hitting enemies or taking damage.
  • As an early access title, the game has limited content and can feel repetitive after a few hours of play, with some abilities and classes feeling underwhelming.
  • gameplay43 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its diverse mechanics, offering a wide range of build options and replayability, particularly through its unique power combinations and multiplayer versatility. While some players find the initial gameplay loop repetitive, unlocking new abilities and modifiers enhances the experience, making it engaging and addictive. However, there are criticisms regarding balance and certain mechanics that can feel confusing or frustrating, indicating room for improvement as the game continues in early access.

    • “There are an absurd amount of combinations of powers both for yourself and for enemies; it can lead to fun gameplay and/or a challenging experience.”
    • “Great build potential, endless replayability, decent gameplay variation with ink colors, fun (and plentiful) modifiers, and a brilliant art style on top of it all.”
    • “Genuinely one of the best games I've ever bought, the gameplay is very diverse and engaging, and at higher difficulties you really do have to think instead of just holding the W key.”
    • “The gameplay itself is kind of boring; movement feels sluggish and the game is somehow too easy yet frustrating at the same time. I played 5 runs, won all of them, and honestly had enough.”
    • “There are some questionable gameplay choices, like your dash not moving you in the last direction of your last input, but the second to last. Additionally, there's an elite that pulls you from any point on the map, and you can't do anything to stop it other than hope it won't have too many enemies around it.”
    • “While the early access shows some minor issues, like UI elements not being apparent or objectives spawning inside rocks, everything that the core gameplay depends on is solid.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and beautiful art style, which enhances the immersive experience and complements the gameplay. While some users note issues with frame rates and occasional graphical bugs, the overall aesthetic and thematic execution are well-received, contributing to the game's charm and replayability. However, opinions vary, with some feeling the art style may not be as impressive as others suggest, and a few mentioning that high contrast visuals can hinder gameplay clarity.

    • “Not the most high-end game out there graphically but definitely very pretty and nice to look at; nothing to scoff at.”
    • “The art style is clean, the general theme is amazing, the music and audio are great, and it's a neat little challenge.”
    • “Everything ties together so beautifully; the art style and music are amazing, and the gameplay is fluid.”
    • “My old computer is no excuse; I can play far more graphically intensive games with at least 60 fps, so I shouldn’t be getting an average of 20-40.”
    • “Actual frame rate aside, though, the game also just looks like it’s got a bad frame rate, because the graphics, while aesthetically pleasing, do not complement the gameplay.”
    • “Graphic bugs and huge frame drops.”
  • story15 mentions

    The story is described as whimsical and immersive, featuring a variety of missions with unique modifiers and customization options that enhance gameplay. Players appreciate the depth of the narrative and the engaging art style, particularly the anthropomorphic elements. Overall, the story concept is well-received, with a good balance of player choice and meta progression, making it both interesting and approachable.

    • “The art style, enemies, classes, and story are all so immersive and have such depth to them.”
    • “Story concept is good.”
    • “I found the story to be whimsical, and I am digging the artwork - the anthropomorphic fountain pens do it for me.”
    • “Next would be for the quest tome and pages, I wish you could see your progress towards completing them.”
    • “After every mission, you can invest a limited number of points (split amongst teammates if you have them) into boons for you and your team.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game, while currently limited to a single track due to its early access status, is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quality and how it complements the art style and gameplay. However, some users find the repetition of the track and environments to be a drawback, leading to a desire for more variety and impact in the sound design. Overall, the music is considered good but not exceptional, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The art style is clean, the general theme is amazing, the music and audio are great, and it's a neat little challenge.”
    • “Everything ties together so beautifully; the art style and music are amazing, and the gameplay is fluid.”
    • “Overall, the sound and music are pretty nice. Nothing super outstanding, but it's good overall, and I dig that.”
    • “As it's early access, there is currently only one song track during the levels (though it is not a bad track, to be fair).”
    • “I can only slightly fault the sound design and music; it doesn't quite feel impactful enough for my personal taste, but this is not enough to affect how well designed the game is.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability due to its unique mechanics, diverse build options, and engaging gameplay variety, particularly after unlocking new elements. While many players find the experience fresh and exciting, some express concerns about potential repetitiveness after extended play.

    • “A very unique, creative, and intensely fun game with loads of replayability.”
    • “Great build potential, endless replayability, decent gameplay variation with ink colors, fun (and plentiful) modifiers, and a brilliant art style on top of it all.”
    • “Certainly provides interesting replayability, instead of forcing you to grind specific tomes over and over.”
    • “I wanted to like this game, but after an hour of play (4 games), there were numerous points that made me unable to see the game offering much replayability.”
    • “At first, the gameplay loop may seem repetitive, but after you unlock more tomes, signature inks, spenders, etc., the different ways they complement each other allow for a lot of gameplay variety and replayability.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization shows promise, particularly for end-game content, but users report performance issues, especially in later stages and with multiple objects on screen. While some players note a solid performance rating of 9.5/10, there is a consensus that improvements are needed, and there is optimism that developers will address these concerns in future updates.

    • “Optimized in the future for endgame runs, the game definitely has more potential than it already has.”
    • “The game seems well optimized.”
    • “Performance: 9.5/10”
    • “Poor optimization when runs reach past appendix 6/7.”
    • “Poor optimization for multiple objects; maybe a system to delete prior objects instantly to reduce lag, like a world object limit?”
    • “Some performance issues, but I'm confident the devs will fix them in the future.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find it manageable, completing the main levels and upgrades in a relatively short time, others express frustration with the tediousness of certain challenges and the risk of losing progress due to crashes. The opportunity to unlock cosmetics through grinding is appreciated, but the overall experience can feel repetitive and unsatisfying, especially in high-pressure scenarios.

    • “After 20 hours of grinding out the meta progression and just playing the game, it crashed and then erased my save file out of existence after the latest update.”
    • “I was able to complete all of the main levels in the first 12 hours of playing, and to fully upgrade everything after that only took 3 more hours of grinding through the levels.”
    • “An example is a mini-challenge where you have to climb a vertical rock that has little footholds for you to jump on; it doesn't feel satisfying to get to the top normally, and if there's a horde of enemies jumping around trying to knock you off, it just feels like a tedious delay of the inevitable.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game features a complete experience without any microtransactions, and players appreciate the regular updates, highlighting it as a well-designed gem.

    • “The game is all there already with no microtransactions and regular updates, and I'm happy to say this is a gem.”
    • “The character designs are inspired, and I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to enhance the experience.”
    • “It's refreshing to see a game that offers everything upfront without pushing for additional purchases.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Users find the humor in the game to be enjoyable and light-hearted, often appreciating the developers' playful interactions and witty responses. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience.

    • “Thank you for responding, dev! That's kind of funny actually. :D”
    • “The humor in this game is spot on and had me laughing out loud!”
    • “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious situations.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game is profound, with players expressing deep attachment and heartbreak over its limited recognition, highlighting its significance and the strong feelings it evokes.

    • “I'll shill for it until the day I die; it's genuinely heartbreaking to see only 192 reviews at the time of writing.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is often praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by striking graphics that create a vivid and engaging environment. Players appreciate how the atmospheric elements complement the gameplay, contributing to an overall sense of immersion and emotional impact.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
    • “Every corner of the environment feels alive, creating a rich and captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack combined with the detailed surroundings creates an unforgettable atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
    • “The world feels lifeless, with minimal environmental interaction that detracts from the overall experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game exhibits excellent stability, with no significant bugs or issues encountered.

    • “Here is where I'd put my big report so everyone knows how buggy it is right now; however, I have yet to find a single one.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is praised for its creative abilities and intriguing character designs, which contribute to immersive worlds that enhance the overall gaming experience.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their personalities and relationships.”
    • “The diverse range of abilities and the intricate character design make each character feel distinct and memorable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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