Words of Yendor

About

Words of Yendor is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by SandorHQ and was released on November 1, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"Words of Yendor" is a turn-based, procedurally generated adventure game where players solve word puzzles and engage in word duels to navigate obstacles and defeat opponents. The game features detailed hero portraits, multiple types of word puzzles, and a unique combat system. With personalized endings and the ability to duel opponents with the same pool of letters, "Words of Yendor" offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Words of Yendor combines engaging word puzzles with RPG elements, creating a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.
The steampunk setting, along with the art and music, enhances the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
The game offers a variety of mini-games and challenges, providing good replayability and opportunities for players to improve their word-building skills.

The game suffers from complexity and a lack of clarity in its mechanics, making it difficult for players to grasp the rules and gameplay.
Some mini-games feel uninspired and fail to engage players, leading to a sense of frustration rather than enjoyment.
The narrative and character motivations are unclear, which detracts from the overall experience and coherence of the game.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by a steep learning curve and a complex array of mechanics that can be overwhelming for new players, as there is no tutorial to guide them through the various mini-games. While it features engaging word challenges that blend strategy and RPG elements, the lack of clarity in some mechanics can lead to confusion. Despite occasional crashes, the autosave system is reliable, and the gameplay offers rewarding experiences for those willing to tackle its challenges, especially for hardcore puzzle enthusiasts.
- “The gameplay revolves around engaging word challenges where players must construct x letter words from a set of letters or face hangman-style trials.”
- “This unique approach adds a layer of strategy and linguistic skill to traditional RPG mechanics.”
- “The learning curve is definitely steeper than your average word puzzle, and the roguelike mechanics are sometimes unforgiving, but it certainly makes winning a match more rewarding.”
- “Few mechanics carry over between the mini games, and there is no tutorial to speak of.”
- “Every mechanic and mini game is just tossed in from the jump, and the help button simply adds more cognitive overhead by having you follow 10-15 explanation steps.”
- “A simple case of trying to create depth through needless complexity and mechanic bloat.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The graphics of "Words of Yendor" feature a charming blend of hand-drawn visuals and steampunk aesthetics, enhancing the game's immersive experience. The attention to detail and stylish UI contribute to its visual appeal, making it a standout title for fans of word puzzles and roguelite elements. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the game's theme and atmosphere, adding to its replayability.
- “The visuals and sound design complement the game's theme perfectly, creating an immersive world where players can explore diverse locations and encounter unique opponents.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics adds to the overall charm of the game, making it visually appealing and engaging.”
- “Classic word games + roguelite elements + steampunk flavor + stylish UI and visuals + fitting atmospheric music + a pinch of Ambrose Bierce's witty wisdom = a fun and immensely replayable game.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's story features intriguing lore and elements, but lacks clarity regarding character motivations and the mechanics of its fictional world. While the procedural storytelling does not provide a coherent narrative, it incorporates RPG elements and enjoyable story fluff, enhancing the overall experience for fans of word games like Scrabble and Hangman.
- “It's a thoughtful blend of challenge, story, and style that's sure to captivate.”
- “If you enjoy Scrabble, Hangman, or similar games, this is good fun and the story makes it more enjoyable than the plain old word games.”
- “It throws in some RPG elements and has some nice story fluff.”
- “There is lore to the game and some story elements, but nothing is clear, from the player character's motivation to the way the fictional world works (including why and how some words have powers).”
- “The procedural storytelling doesn't offer much of a coherent narrative, either.”
- “There is lore to the game and some story elements, but nothing is clear, from the player character's motivation to the way the fictional world works (including why and how some words have powers).”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its exquisite and soothing qualities, perfectly complementing the steampunk setting. While some find it merely okay, the atmospheric sounds, including creepy elements associated with assassins and ghosts, enhance the overall experience, contributing to the game's replayability and immersive ambiance.
- “I love the steampunk setting, and the music is exquisite.”
- “Soothing music.”
- “Classic word games + roguelite elements + steampunk flavor + stylish UI and visuals + fitting atmospheric music + a pinch of Ambrose Bierce's witty wisdom = a fun and immensely replayable game.”
- “The music is okay and the assassins and the ghosts sound creepy, but in a good way.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game boasts excellent replayability, combining classic word games with roguelite elements, a unique steampunk aesthetic, stylish visuals, and atmospheric music, all enhanced by witty literary references. Players find it consistently engaging and fun, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- “Classic word games + roguelite elements + steampunk flavor + stylish UI and visuals + fitting atmospheric music + a pinch of Ambrose Bierce's witty wisdom = a fun and immensely replayable game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, expressing a desire for more flexibility in swapping letters or a reduction in penalties for each turn, as the current system feels overly punishing.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique blend of classic word games and roguelite elements, enhanced by a steampunk aesthetic, stylish visuals, and fitting atmospheric music. This combination creates an engaging and immersive experience, complemented by witty literary references that add depth to the overall ambiance.
- “Classic word games combined with roguelite elements and a steampunk flavor create a stylish UI and visuals, complemented by fitting atmospheric music, resulting in a fun and immensely replayable game.”