Warsim: The Realm of Aslona
- December 20, 2022
- Huw2k8
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn 'Warsim: The Realm of Aslona' your only goal is to keep the Kingdom of Aslona from destruction, how you do it is entirely up to you, you may be a harsh dictator, a blood-hungry warlord, or perhaps a charismatic diplomat with trade routes with everyone from goblin tribes to orcish cheifdoms.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Warsim offers a unique blend of kingdom management and text-based adventure, providing endless replayability with procedurally generated races and events.
- The developer is highly engaged with the community, frequently updating the game and responding to player feedback, which enhances the overall experience.
- The humor and charm of the game, along with its ASCII art style, create a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere that keeps players entertained.
- The combat system is simplistic and lacks depth, often reducing battles to a numbers game where the side with more troops wins.
- Some gameplay elements can become repetitive over time, particularly throne room interactions and the reliance on gambling for income.
- The game may feel overwhelming for new players due to the sheer amount of options and mechanics, which can lead to confusion.
- graphics122 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are primarily ASCII-based, which some players find charming and nostalgic, while others see it as a limitation. Despite the simplistic visuals, many reviewers emphasize that the game compensates with deep gameplay and immersive storytelling, proving that engaging mechanics can outweigh the need for high-end graphics. Overall, the ASCII art style is appreciated for its unique aesthetic, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“Don't be fooled by its ASCII graphics; this game offers a rich and immersive experience that rivals many graphically intensive titles.”
“The ASCII graphics, while simple, add a certain charm to the game.”
“Warsim proves that you don't need fancy graphics to make a great game.”
“The biggest drawback is, of course, graphics, for someone who doesn't like them.”
“In closing, you should probably know from the get-go if you're going to enjoy this game; otherwise, you'd probably be horrified at the text-based graphics.”
“I believe the game takes the comparison of graphics vs gameplay to a whole new level: minimal graphics, maximum gameplay and replayability.”
- gameplay106 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this text-based game is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and a humorous narrative, offering a surprisingly addictive experience despite some repetitiveness. Players appreciate the depth and variety of interactions, though many note that the core gameplay loop can become monotonous over time. Overall, the game provides a solid amount of content and replayability, particularly for fans of strategy and simulation genres, but some mechanics may feel underdeveloped or simplistic.
“A really fun game if you're able to let your imagination run with the text-based gameplay provided.”
“With its complex mechanics and near-endless replayability, it's a must-play for any strategy lover.”
“Warsim proves that, ultimately, gameplay is more important than graphics.”
“The kingdom management and war mechanics are pretty bare bones.”
“I found a lot of the main areas of the game to be very repetitive with the gameplay mechanics, and thus it did not keep me invested for a long period of time.”
“However, the repetitiveness of the gameplay mechanics is hard to keep you invested long term.”
- humor78 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is widely praised for its cleverness and variety, with many players highlighting the amusing ASCII art, quirky characters, and hilarious random events that keep the gameplay engaging and entertaining. While some find the humor to be a bit juvenile or repetitive, the overall consensus is that it adds a delightful charm to the kingdom management experience, making it a standout title for fans of light-hearted, text-based games. The blend of strategy and humor, along with the game's unique aesthetic, ensures that players will encounter plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout their adventures.
“If you have time to kill, a sense of twisted humor with a penchant for slapstick, and enough imagination to appreciate art made with love, then this is a game well worth investing in.”
“The sheer amount of options, lines of funny text, and generated faces just oozes passion from this solo dev.”
“From goblins and drunkards urinating on my pristine throne room floors to a gnome insult arena to crazy things happening like rainbow clouds/rain and more, the humor never disappoints.”
“90% of options are just meaningless fluff and unfunny jokes.”
“The humor feels forced and falls flat more often than not.”
“I expected clever writing, but instead got a series of tired clichés.”
- story56 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its emergent storytelling and extensive world-building, appealing particularly to fans of simulation and role-playing games. While some players appreciate the depth and variety of narratives generated through gameplay, others find the overall plot lacking in uniqueness and depth, leading to repetitive experiences. Despite these criticisms, many highlight the immersive lore and customization options that allow for a personalized storytelling experience, making each playthrough feel distinct.
“I’ve come to discover that the most surprisingly noteworthy thing about Warsim has been the sheer impressive nature of emergent story created through an intuitive level of engaging and thematic gameplay that leads to a tremendous amount of inherent replayability.”
“While the ASCII graphics may look simple, the storytelling is deeply immersive and you get a vivid picture of what's going on in your head.”
“The story and the world are very immersive, and there's plenty to do in this game.”
“The only perceived flaw I originally had with the game was the comedic direction it took, as many simulation-based management games in older styles take a hardcore, serious approach to their storytelling and gameplay.”
“Maybe I missed this completely and there were hints/secrets to find that I just overlooked, but I couldn't find anything to do with the Lord of Ice storyline, other than finding his tower where there seems to be nothing to do.”
“Warsim isn't much for story aside from the lore of the land and the scenario of how you rose to power.”
- replayability42 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by procedural generation, diverse content, and a variety of starting scenarios. Players appreciate the endless combinations of races, events, and mechanics that create unique experiences in each playthrough, making it particularly appealing for strategy enthusiasts. While some users note that replay value may diminish after extended play, the frequent updates and modding options contribute to its lasting appeal.
“All of the randomness creates a lot of funny and memorable moments, and I can see this having a lot of replay value into the future.”
“Warsim boasts almost infinite replayability, with procedural generation creating unique challenges and experiences in each playthrough.”
“This game is addicting, endlessly replayable, and lovingly crafted by a developer who regularly updates and checks in on the community.”
“The game has a charming aesthetic and a great sense of humor, even if the progression and replayability is somewhat limited.”
“At this price it's recommended but the replayability is very low, the dev responds to bugs and suggestions with haste which is a rep+1 in my books.”
“Fun game for 20-30 hours of solid gameplay, replayability is not quite there yet.”
- music38 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a standout feature, with a procedural system that adds a unique and humorous touch, particularly through the antics of bards and musicians. Players appreciate the medieval soundtrack and the variety of musical styles, although some have noted issues with audio consistency and volume levels. Overall, the music enhances the chaotic fantasy atmosphere, contributing to the game's charm and engaging gameplay.
“The writing, music, pacing, art style, all wonderful.”
“The game's soundtrack is fittingly medieval, creating an atmosphere of ruling in a chaotic fantasy world.”
“Some of the bard songs are absolute bangers.”
“I found the songs of the visiting bards tedious and their songs didn't seem to add to the 'war sim' aspect of the game, but I may be missing something here.”
“The music has one level - loud, so for me it is turned off for now.”
“However, after constantly being pressured to listen to bad advice and music, I realized I had to stop lest I let my resentment explode out of me.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some tasks can feel tedious and repetitive, particularly in managing large numbers of visitors or hiring units, there are also enjoyable elements and stories that can mitigate the grind. The game offers customization in difficulty, allowing players to tailor their experience, but many still report that the grind becomes more pronounced in the late game, leading to frustration. Overall, while the grind can detract from the enjoyment, it is often balanced by engaging gameplay and quirky interactions.
“The grinding can feel a bit repetitive at times, but it also provides a satisfying sense of progression.”
“While the game has its grindy moments, the rewards make it worthwhile and keep me engaged.”
“I appreciate the grind; it allows me to fully immerse myself in the game and develop my character.”
“There are parts where it gets dull and tedious, like when you're hiring men for your army and you have to go through every single one and type the exact max number. But besides those slow times, it's a very fun game that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
“A quirk of Warsim is its tendency to reward tedious grind loops.”
“All in all, it's a good little game, but I keep losing. It's repetitive and unforgiving; as of now, I get to the point where demons invade, and then it's instant game over every time. Since starting a new game each and every time is tedious, I now give up.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its fitting medieval soundtrack and rich storytelling, particularly in the depiction of the vampire city, which evokes a creepy and oppressive vibe. Players appreciate the detailed sound design and immersive lore, contributing to an overall enjoyable and atmospheric experience.
“The vampire city is a great storytelling element; the descriptions of the city and its customs were really well done, in my humble opinion, and created an intriguing yet creepy and oppressive atmosphere.”
“If one can say something like this about a text game made in ASCII, I love the atmosphere and lore that just drips from every direction.”
“So far it's been nothing but fun, and the details and the sounds are really nice and give a nice atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich setting, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or engagement.”
“The game’s atmosphere is marred by repetitive environments and a lack of distinctive visual or auditory elements.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is mixed; while it offers humorous gameplay elements and strategic options, players seeking a focus on battle outcomes may find it lacking. For improved performance, it is recommended to adjust settings, such as turning off ray casting.
“You can be an evil king and throw him in the dungeons, or you can be a chill king and reward him half your treasury for such a magnificent performance.”
“Your options on how to punish or reward his performance are funny as well.”
“For players unconcerned with narrative and just the outcomes of battles, statistics, and intricate optimization and strategy, Warsim is not the best game for you.”
“I would personally recommend going into settings and turning off ray casting for better performance.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional depth of the game, noting how the richly crafted environments and character interactions evoke strong feelings. The use of text to create vivid imagery allows for a personal and immersive experience, enhancing the emotional connection to the game's world and its characters.
“Apart from the amazing people you met along the way, the handwritten landscapes, room descriptions, and player-crafted item descriptions spoke directly to the mind using text only. The mind enabled your character to flesh out all that was around you - vividly and sometimes emotionally.”
“Fantastic game by a wholesome dev.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization approach of this game is positively noted, as it avoids the common pitfalls of cash grabs seen in many studios, focusing instead on providing genuine value to players.
“Many game studios and developers these days are just out for the quick cash grab and little else.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see essential features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game maintains a solid level of stability, with no significant bugs detracting from the experience, making it a worthwhile purchase for early access.
