Way of Gold and Steel

About

Way of Gold and Steel is a single player real-time strategy game. It was developed by Sergey Bobrov and was released on August 17, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

Way of Gold and Steel is a 2D, pixel art action RPG set in a medieval fantasy world. As a lone hero, players explore diverse landscapes, battle a variety of enemies, and level up to learn new skills and spells. With an engaging storyline, challenging gameplay, and retro aesthetic, Way of Gold and Steel offers a satisfying and immersive experience for fans of the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

48%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game offers a surprisingly content-rich experience for its low price, providing a simple yet engaging adventure.
Players who enjoy exploration and trial-and-error gameplay may find the game addicting and rewarding once they learn its mechanics.
The game has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic strategy games, appealing to fans of retro gaming.

The game suffers from a lack of polish, with clunky controls, confusing mechanics, and a frustrating building placement system that can hinder progress.
There is no tutorial or guidance, making it difficult for new players to understand the gameplay, leading to a steep learning curve.
Many players report game-breaking issues, such as spawning on islands with insufficient space for necessary buildings, and a lack of audio and visual feedback.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay offers a mix of engaging mechanics and frustrating design choices, with players appreciating the depth and evolution of game mechanics as they progress. However, issues such as poor graphics, confusing controls, and a lack of customization options detract from the experience, alongside combat mechanics that feel unbalanced and a building system that lacks depth. Overall, while there is potential for enjoyment, significant improvements are needed to enhance playability and clarity.
- “I am very impressed with the amount of gameplay you get for such a small file.”
- “I realized the game wants you to learn it yourself with very little hand-holding, and I learned the mechanics over time.”
- “Great, simple game mechanics that evolve as your base improves.”
- “Amongst the game-breaking issues: lazy pixel graphics, incoherent controls, lack of support for modern resolutions, fullscreen mode doesn't work, confusing and unclear gameplay (it's 2018, if you spend more time working out how to play the game than actually playing it, it's time to stop developing games).”
- “There is no customization on the gameplay setting other than an easy/hard mode.”
- “The fighting mechanic is bad, the building system requires much more than point and build.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the pixel art as lazy and outdated, particularly in terms of modern resolution support and fullscreen functionality. However, others appreciate the retro aesthetic and pastel color scheme, finding it charming and fitting for an indie title. Overall, while the graphics may not appeal to everyone, they are deemed adequate for the game's style and purpose.
- “The pastel color scheme is easy on the eyes.”
- “The graphics and interface are purposefully kept old school.”
- “The game is nice; it is really a change from those FPS shooters, and the 8-bit graphics are awesome.”
- “Amongst the game-breaking issues: lazy pixel graphics, incoherent controls, lack of support for modern resolutions, fullscreen mode doesn't work, confusing and unclear gameplay (it's 2018, if you spend more time working out how to play the game than actually playing it, it's time to stop developing games).”
- “You may think that it’s some sort of cool retro style, judging by screenshots, but no, it’s just poor graphics (the whole game is only 8MB, by the way).”
- “The graphics and interface are on purpose kept old school.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is criticized for its complete lack of music and ambient sounds, leaving it feeling eerily quiet and lacking atmosphere. Reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the addition of even minimal audio would significantly enhance the experience.
- “Some atmospheric music would be a nice addition to this gem.”
- “The scene is full of starving artists; it's sad that the developer hasn't been ready to take that little extra step to get some decent audio and music.”
- “- No music or audio at all... it's bizarrely quiet.”
- “The game lacks any ambient sounds or music.”
- “There is no music and little to no sound.”
- “No music or audio at all... it's bizarrely quiet.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized due to frequent bugs, particularly with AI units getting stuck and exhibiting erratic movement. Many players find the issues so severe that they consider abandoning the game altogether.
- “Buggy AI units get stuck all the time.”
- “Movement is incredibly buggy.”
- “This is impossible; the buggy movement and AI system can just go into my long library list of abandoned games.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently has very little replayability, with users noting significant missing features that hinder gameplay. Many reviewers express a willingness to change their ratings positively if the developers address these issues and enhance the overall experience.
- “Very little replayability.”
- “This game could be improved upon, as it has many missing features that need to be fixed to enhance gameplay.”
- “I will be changing my review to negative again until the developer addresses these issues and makes the game more playable.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the quirky nature of the colonists and the amusing gameplay mechanics, such as the irony of a non-functional inventory system. Players find joy in discovering the game's comedic elements, though some caution against getting too comfortable on the initial island, as it may hinder the overall experience.
- “Colonists... well, you will see for yourself, they are funny characters too.”
- “I don't want to spoil the pleasure of discovering all the game mechanics; for me, it was a very funny part of the game. However, I must warn about the most common mistake - trying to stay on the first island and build everything there.”
- “Some functions don't work, for example, closing the inventory, which is funny because there is no function for opening it.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The story aspect of the game has been criticized for its lack of engaging quests and hidden treasures, with players likening it to a dull version of "King's Bounty" that fails to deliver meaningful narrative experiences.
- “The story is rich and immersive, filled with quests and hidden treasures that keep you engaged.”
- “The narrative draws you in, making every quest feel meaningful and rewarding.”
- “The world is beautifully crafted, with a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “I got a quest for a fetch quest for 2 gold discs, but they are nowhere on the island.”
- “Imagine King's Bounty without quests and hidden treasures… that's exactly what we have here.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers feel that while the game's atmosphere is engaging, it could be enhanced with the addition of atmospheric music to further immerse players in the experience.
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with every detail.”
- “The haunting sound design and visuals create a captivating atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with a rich atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong sense of nostalgia, with the game evoking fond memories of their childhood experiences, particularly recalling the joy of playing Settlers in 1999. This emotional connection enhances the overall enjoyment and immersion in the game.
- “This game made me feel like I was back in 1999 when I was playing Settlers for the last time.”
- “Made me feel like a kid again.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find grinding for resources manageable, but it can be frustrating due to frequent attacks and the need to destroy existing structures to make way for new ones.
- “It isn't impossible, but while grinding for those resources, I was constantly attacked, and I had to destroy some structures to build the new one I wanted.”