Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 30,508 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem Game Cover
The ARPG genre is a crowded one, but when something as fun and entertaining as Wolcen wants in, I'd say we can afford to make room
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"Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem" is an open-world horror game with single-player and multiplayer/co-op options. As a survivor of a brutal massacre, you've been trained as a soldier against the supernatural and are now tasked with eliminating a camp of the Brotherhood of Dawn. The game features splendid gameplay, visuals, and soundtrack, with a dense atmosphere and high emotionality, but beware of bugs, grinding, and excessive advertisement.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 30,508 reviews
story2,334 positive mentions
stability3,026 negative mentions
  • story7,055 mentions

    The story of "Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet flawed. While the voice acting and graphics are praised, the narrative is often described as clichéd and predictable, culminating in an abrupt cliffhanger that leaves the story feeling unfinished. Players appreciate the immersive elements and character development, but numerous bugs and issues with quest progression detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration during gameplay.

    • “The story is engaging enough to pay attention to, and the voice acting is superb!”
    • “The story is surprisingly good for this genre, you have family issues, betrayals, sacrifice, and of course a big evil to kill.”
    • “The story is well written and is interesting enough not to be drowned out by all the hack and slash.”
    • “The story takes a deep nosedive into the pits of hell where it drowns not only in lava and flames but goes through the devil's rectum and then fed to a demon that pisses it out again... you get the point.”
    • “The continuity in the story between each chapter (there are only 4 chapters) can be weird.”
    • “The story just didn't cut it; it doesn't help that they change the voice lines but not the game dialogue to match what they are saying. Also, the game is full of grammatical errors which is driving me insane; just hire professional writers, it's not that difficult!”
  • gameplay4,751 mentions

    The gameplay of "Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem" has received mixed reviews, highlighting both its potential and significant flaws. Players appreciate the engaging combat mechanics, character customization, and the unique skill tree that allows for diverse builds, often comparing it favorably to titles like Diablo and Path of Exile. However, many also report numerous bugs, clunky controls, and unbalanced gameplay, particularly in boss fights, which can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, while the core gameplay loop is enjoyable, the game's technical issues and lack of polish detract from its overall appeal.

    • “The gameplay is engaging, with a variety of classes, a dynamic skill tree, and the satisfying loop of clearing arenas, completing tasks, and collecting loot.”
    • “The gameplay feels a bit cumbersome in the first hour, but once you get the hang of it (and are willing to learn what works and what doesn't) you will be rewarded with a very decent single-player ARPG experience.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, the story is lacking for me but the large amount of bugs and glitches has severely undermined the desire to continue playing.”
    • “Many mechanics like multiple projectiles don't work properly, pets are an afterthought, a loot filter is sorely needed, and leveling past 70 is a snooze without using cheats.”
    • “This game really belongs on a phone rather than a PC as it lacks the depth of a fully fleshed out title with linear gameplay and no way for the player to have any effect on what happens next.”
    • “Unfortunately, in practice, it feels more like an over-complicated gimmick than a meaningful gameplay mechanic.”
  • graphics4,286 mentions

    The graphics of "Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and high-quality design, often compared favorably to larger titles in the genre like "Diablo III" and "Path of Exile." Players appreciate the detailed environments, impressive spell effects, and overall aesthetic, which contribute to an immersive experience. However, some users report performance issues and graphical glitches, indicating that while the visuals are a strong point, the game's optimization and polish still require attention.

    • “For a game from an AA studio, the graphics are genuinely superb, standing toe-to-toe with bigger-budget titles.”
    • “The graphics, animations, and the design of enemies and environments are so immersive, it feels like you're stepping into another world.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, creating a dark and atmospheric world that drew me in.”
    • “I only played for 20 minutes because of the boring and bland art style, forgettable intro/story, and horrible non-existent fluidity of the combat system, which is the worst I've ever experienced so far.”
    • “The game itself has a generic art style with nothing really standing out from the crowd; I can't recall a single monster design or character I encountered.”
    • “The graphics are incredibly poorly optimized, and for some reason, this made my GPU fan spin up more than any other game to date, including far more visually taxing games.”
  • stability3,091 mentions

    The stability of "Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many reviews describe the game as a "buggy mess," with issues ranging from unresponsive controls and disappearing items to game-breaking bugs during boss fights. While some players find enjoyment in the core mechanics, the overall consensus is that the game remains unpolished and unstable, making it difficult to recommend until substantial fixes are implemented.

    • “I was also lucky to have a completely bug-free experience so far.”
    • “So finished with the campaign... still no bugs... runs great and is extremely fun.”
    • “The game seemed to have been better optimized with the latest update & hot fixes, as I have encountered little to no glitches or performance issues.”
    • “It's buggy, sometimes unplayable and completely broken.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, it's not uncommon that you'll softlock in a way that requires you to end an expedition and quit to the main menu.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess that at first was hilarious and at times charming, but has since (after 2 post 1.0 patches) become sad and borderline disrespectful to the player base.”
  • optimization741 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. Despite some users experiencing stable performance, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, riddled with bugs, and often unplayable, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many reviewers express frustration over the lack of significant improvements in optimization since the game's release, leading to a generally negative perception of its technical performance.

    • “The game offers impressive graphics, addictive gameplay, and good optimization, making it a truly great experience.”
    • “The graphics in the game are just super; moreover, it seems to be optimized as well. I don’t have the most powerful computer, but I didn’t notice any lags.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, very optimized, in-depth character progression, and endgame randomized content.”
    • “Bought this game in February 2020, and after 4 years of questionable content updates, it is still unoptimized, buggy, and overall boring. Now the developers are pulling down multiplayer.”
    • “The game is unfinished, unoptimized, and clunky. It will never get better because it's abandoned.”
    • “The optimization has and seems to forever be this game's biggest downfall.”
  • grinding596 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the endgame where the focus shifts to resource farming and leveling. While some appreciate the grind as a core element of the genre, others criticize it for lacking meaningful rewards and variety, leading to a sense of burnout. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant factor that can either enhance or detract from the enjoyment of the game, depending on individual preferences for grind-heavy gameplay.

    • “The endgame is grindy, but what game of this type isn't grindy?”
    • “Beautiful art, smooth gameplay, a leveling system that isn't tedious or boring.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The overwhelming majority of these games consist solely of extrinsic vertical progression and the extremely repetitive (and sometimes relaxing) banal activity of grinding endless hordes of enemies with minimal effort.”
    • “Endgame is grinding without any purpose.”
    • “The endgame is extremely grindy ... a lot more (and slower) grind than Path of Exile for example, with less progress and even less rewards and absolutely no goal.”
  • music580 mentions

    The music in the game has received a largely positive reception, with many players praising its orchestral quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. While some found it to be memorable and immersive, others noted that it can be repetitive or lacking in distinctiveness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's medieval and dark fantasy themes.

    • “The music suited the game nicely and added to the medieval feel of the game.”
    • “The immersive voice acting and atmospheric soundtrack further enhance the storytelling experience, adding depth and emotional resonance to the game.”
    • “The soundtrack was recorded by a live orchestra, and it is truly beautiful, astoundingly awesome music.”
    • “The music is forgettable, with basically no theme to speak of.”
    • “Even the music sounds cliché.”
    • “Music isn't compelling.”
  • atmosphere208 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and dark, gritty world that effectively enhances the storytelling experience. Many players appreciate the detailed environments and atmospheric effects, which create a captivating and engaging experience reminiscent of classic ARPGs like Diablo. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character design and interruptions that can detract from the overall immersion.

    • “The atmosphere is just phenomenal (only Path of Exile can rival it).”
    • “The graphics were stunning, creating a dark and atmospheric world that drew me in.”
    • “The immersive voice acting and atmospheric soundtrack further enhance the storytelling experience, adding depth and emotional resonance to the game.”
    • “The game has a dark atmosphere, but most human characters have very silly design, with men being enormous with impractical armor and women being super thin and booby.”
    • “When delving into a hellish flesh-themed dungeon, the player can just pop back to town at any time, which totally destroys the atmosphere, and erases any sense of 'there's no turning back.' So it was quite laughable when the player character said exactly that phrase before I proceeded to peace-out back to town.”
    • “The atmosphere and the characters/story in the game are somewhat childish and Marvel-like in their stories.”
  • humor195 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which players often find amusing rather than frustrating. Many reviews highlight the unintentional comedy of character animations, voice acting, and absurd gameplay moments, creating a "so bad it's good" atmosphere. While some players appreciate the charmingly flawed dialogue and quirky interactions, others feel that the humor can detract from the overall experience, especially when it becomes repetitive or annoying.

    • “I genuinely enjoy the story and some of the characters' wry humor had me laughing out loud.”
    • “If you enjoy laughing at the absurdity of torturous hot garbage then boy is this the game for you.”
    • “The voice acting is generally pretty good and the dialogue is sharp and witty - some of it made me laugh out loud.”
    • “Absolute rip off for the price, although fun when working, this has so many bugs and glitches it's not funny.”
    • “Stay well clear of this game for the moment; it is full of bugs and issues that need fixes ASAP. Had issues with the final boss of the story a dozen times because he takes damage too quickly and just stops, becoming unkillable. The game broke on me so many times that it is not funny anymore, including other main bosses of the story that just break mid-fight. The multiplayer is a sham where you have to restart the game a number of times just so it can work correctly; even then, you encounter issues.”
    • “But this game is so far from launch ready it's not funny.”
  • replayability179 mentions

    The game's replayability is a contentious topic among players, with many expressing disappointment due to a lack of engaging endgame content and repetitive gameplay. While some appreciate the variety in character builds and customization options that enhance replayability, others feel that the overall experience is hindered by bugs and a limited campaign length, leading to a consensus that the game currently lacks substantial replay value. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some players finding potential for replayability through diverse builds, while others deem it insufficient compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “Overall, Wolcen has endless replayability with its item diversity, advanced challenges, and regular updates and seasonal events.”
    • “The ability to mix and match skills with passive abilities lends itself to near unlimited replay value.”
    • “The build system is incredibly complex, leading to huge replayability.”
    • “This lack of replayability is even further showcased when forcing old players to replay stuff they have already done or received.”
    • “The campaign was actually really enjoyable, but once that's done, there's no replayability and there is no longer any reason to tolerate the game's overall poor balancing and barebones endgame.”
    • “Currently there's basically zero replay value.”
  • monetization153 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to its rushed release and numerous bugs. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and in-game purchases, others express skepticism about the game's long-term viability, fearing that future monetization strategies may be implemented. Overall, the sentiment is largely negative, with many feeling deceived by the game's marketing and unfinished state.

    • “No cash grab receives the amount of updates this game has gotten.”
    • “I was looking for something like Path of Exile but without microtransactions, so I could actually make my character look good without purchasing armor, and this game delivered in spades.”
    • “No ads, no in-app purchases... just pure fun!!!”
    • “It was a cash grab.”
    • “The whole thing was a cash grab, pure and simple.”
    • “This game was a cash grab from the get-go; they released it in the worst state I've seen any game release in ever, and I've played them all.”
  • character development111 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and flexibility, allowing players to create unique builds without being restricted to specific classes. While some reviews note that the character design can be hit or miss, with occasional clichés and limitations, the overall mechanics and skill systems are considered engaging and well-implemented. However, there are criticisms regarding the narrative depth and the significance of character choices, suggesting that while the development system is robust, it may lack meaningful impact in the broader context of the game.

    • “The character development is fantastic, and there are so many options and ways to make your character a complete badass.”
    • “Wolcen really shines and sets itself apart from similar titles with its gameplay and character design.”
    • “The variations on character development are phenomenal with nearly limitless options.”
    • “The backstory is next to nonexistent, character development was cut off with an axe, story progressing is pretty much 'hold my beer and watch this' and cutscenes are just inserted into the middle of anything with no transition or warning at all.”
    • “There are no real strategies for a possible character development and there is literally not a single tactical element while playing: it's just so super easy to pick one good skill and kill all the monster-filled floors with just that single skill.”
    • “It offers an illusion of customization, but the choices you make only play a minor role in your character development.”
  • emotional54 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses from players, with some praising the immersive voice acting and well-crafted character interactions that create heartfelt moments, while others criticize the overall storytelling as boring and predictable. Many players express disappointment over the game's lack of polish and balance, which detracts from the emotional impact, despite some thrilling boss encounters that evoke a sense of danger and achievement. Overall, while there are moments of emotional resonance, the game's inconsistencies and bugs leave many feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.

    • “The immersive voice acting and atmospheric soundtrack further enhance the storytelling experience, adding depth and emotional resonance to the game.”
    • “Thrilling and emotional story that I was amazed by.”
    • “The characters are engaging, the voice acting is on point, the story makes me want to know more, and it made me feel a few feelings - things definitely not true for other games I've played like this.”
    • “Game still suffers from the boring story quests, and balance issues.”
    • “Predictable and boring story.”
    • “Boring story, buggy implementations, grind-like fights.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

59% average critic score

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Play time

17hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
6-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 481 analyzed playthroughs

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