Info about SWORN:

Official game description:
SWORN is a 1-4 player co-op action rogue-like. Explore and reclaim a fallen Camelot from the reign of a corrupted Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
Play solo or unite with friends to stand off against the Knights of the Round Table. Combine the strengths of your characters in surprising ways and master abilities to become knights worthy of standing off against Arthur himself.
*   Meet familiar friends and foes from Arthurian legend.
*   Discover the source of spreading darkness over Avalon.
*   Befriend and learn from powerful figures such as Merlin and Nimue.
*   Take up your sword as a Soulforged knight.
Swear fealty to the Fae Lords, and choose from over 200 unique blessings to unleash your full potential. Will you wield the cleansing fires of Titania or take the blessings of Oberon to strike with the fury of the wind?
Versatility thrives in the ever-changing battlegrounds of Camelot. Combine your blessings with unique character, weapon, and ability selections. Test thousands of unique builds as you become a seasoned knight.
Upgrades from the Beacon of Avalore will forge your squire into a worthy champion over time. However, if you believe you are already worthy of facing Arthur, get ready for a challenge that will put your skills to the test.
Delve into a beautifully crafted comic world, inspired by the work of American artist Mike Mignola. Fully experience the awesome art and original sound that brings the world of SWORN to life.

Release date: Sep 23, 2025

Categories: Cooperative Multiplayer, Roguelike, Character Progression, Action RPG, Deckbuilding, Soulslike Combat, Action Adventure

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 60; verdict: Aggressive Monetization; summary: The game has a mixed reception regarding its monetization strategies. While some players appreciate the optional cosmetics and the ability to use in-game currency, others feel that significant content is locked behind paywalls and Day-1 DLC, which can be frustrating. The overall sentiment suggests that the game's monetization could be improved to provide a better player experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs well on Steam Deck with minor performance issues such as frame jumps and connectivity problems. The visual quality, especially on the OLED version, is highly praised.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Playable with Issues; summary: The game has a mix of positive and negative feedback regarding its performance on Steam Deck. While many users report a great experience with good visuals and controller support, there are notable issues with cloud saves and sporadic performance hiccups. The overall experience seems to be positive but with some significant drawbacks that need attention.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game exhibits significant performance issues on systems with less than 8GB of VRAM, particularly on Windows.
  - Sample size: 27 (1% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 9 reports): The game frequently crashes on systems with 4GB VRAM, especially after recent updates.
  - Caveats: 27 of 2139 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $12.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth purchasing when it is on sale, typically around $15 or less. Many users explicitly state that the full price of $24.99 is not justified for the content and experience provided. The consensus among the reviews is that the game is more appropriately priced in the lower range, making it more accessible and fair for the amount of content and enjoyment it offers.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 14.0h
  - Story completion: 12.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime. The first quote mentions about 12 hours to beat the main game. The second quote implies a significant amount of playtime required to complete various tasks. The third quote states a completion time of 14 hours. The fourth quote suggests around 10 hours to finish the game once and up to 25 hours for different combinations. These quotes help estimate the typical playtime for game completion, story completion, session length, and endgame content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is fun immediately for those who enjoy co-op gameplay, with the fun factor significantly enhanced by playing with friends. The enjoyment is anchored in unlocking new content and progressing through the game's meta-progression systems.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: Unlocking new content and progressing through meta-progression
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: buggy multiplayer experience; repetitive gameplay; limited content variety
  - Unlock drivers: playing with friends; unlocking new content; meta-progression systems
  - Conditions: co-op mode; exploring new builds and synergies; engaging with meta-progression
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hades Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: More combat variety and multiplayer
    - Playstyle: Cooperative multiplayer with a focus on varied combat mechanics.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Hades fan; Multiplayer enthusiast
    - Reference games: Hades; Hades 2
  - Frustrated Co-op Player (no buy)
    - Motivation: Stable multiplayer experience
    - Playstyle: Cooperative multiplayer, often experiencing technical difficulties.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Co-op player; Technical issues sufferer
    - Reference games: Hades; Other co-op roguelikes
  - Solo Struggler (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Better solo balance and less grind
    - Playstyle: Solo play, often struggling with balance and grind.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: Solo player; Grind critic
    - Reference games: Hades; Other solo roguelikes
  - Grind Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Purposeful grind and character development
    - Playstyle: Grinding for character development and powerful builds.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Grind lover; Build crafter
    - Reference games: Hades; Other roguelikes with deep character development


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Enjoyable gameplay experience (weight 0.49): Players consistently report that the game is fun and enjoyable, with engaging combat mechanics and a great overall experience. The game is praised for its fun factor, whether played solo or with friends.
- Variety in characters and weapons (weight 0.43): The game offers a wide range of characters, weapons, spells, and abilities, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences and customization. This variety enhances replayability and player engagement.
- Cooperative multiplayer (weight 0.37): The co-op mode is highlighted as a significant positive aspect, with seamless and enjoyable cooperative gameplay. Players appreciate the multiplayer aspect, which enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Positive artistic design (weight 0.17): The game is visually appealing with good artistic design, aesthetics, and ambientation. Players appreciate the graphical quality and overall visual presentation.
- Solid gameplay mechanics (weight 0.15): The game is praised for its solid base gameplay, combat, and progression systems. The underlying mechanics are well-designed and balanced, providing a satisfying gaming experience.
- Good value for money (weight 0.08): Players feel that the game offers good value for its price, especially when discounted. The overall experience and content justify the cost.
- Fast-paced combat (weight 0.07): The combat is described as fast-paced, fluid, and responsive, adding to the overall enjoyment and engagement of the gameplay.
- Customization options (weight 0.07): The game offers various customization options, including controls, spells, and character builds, allowing players to tailor their experience to their preferences.
- Fun unlocks and perks (weight 0.07): Players enjoy the variety of unlocks and perks available in the game, which add to the fun and progression.

Common complaints:
- Comparison to Hades (weight 0.32): Many players feel that the game is a inferior copy of Hades, lacking the same level of writing, art, and overall quality. It is often described as a poorer alternative to Hades.
- Connection and multiplayer issues (weight 0.27): Frequent disconnections and a lack of a reconnection option plague the multiplayer experience. Players also report voice chat issues and general unreliability in multiplayer sessions.
- Balance and gameplay issues (weight 0.27): The game suffers from significant balance issues, unoriginal gameplay mechanics, and a lack of innovation. Players report clunky gameplay and poor playability, which detract from the overall experience.
- Unengaging story (weight 0.14): The story is often described as minimal, lackluster, and unengaging. Players find the narrative weaker and less clear compared to other games in the genre.
- High difficulty and lack of polish (weight 0.12): The game is considered too difficult, especially for solo players. Additionally, it lacks charm, personality, and polish, making it less enjoyable.
- Weak soundtrack (weight 0.11): The music and soundtrack are considered weak and uninspired. Players feel that the music does not meet the standards set by similar games.
- No mid-game saving (weight 0.1): Players are frustrated by the lack of a mid-game saving feature. There is no option to save and exit during a run, which can be inconvenient.
- Poor voice acting (weight 0.08): The voice acting is often criticized as unconvincing and of poor quality. Specific mentions include issues with Merlin's voice acting.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse character classes and abilities (weight 0.36): The game features multiple playable characters, each with unique weapons and spells. There are four characters, and each has four distinct weapons and spells to unlock, providing a wide range of gameplay styles and strategies.
- Similarities to Hades (weight 0.18): The game draws comparisons to Hades in terms of gameplay mechanics, room style, and overall design. Players familiar with Hades will find similar elements of humor, charm, and gameplay structure.
- Roguelike gameplay mechanics (weight 0.12): The game incorporates roguelike elements, offering a top-down perspective and progression systems typical of the genre. This includes procedural generation of levels and permadeath mechanics, providing a challenging and replayable experience.
- Engaging combat mechanics (weight 0.11): Combat in the game is designed to be tactical and challenging, with fluid movement and attack mechanics. Players can enjoy a slower, more strategic combat experience.
- Addictive progression systems (weight 0.09): The game features a metagame progression system that encourages repeated playthroughs. This includes between-run progression and an addictive grind loop that keeps players engaged.
- Blessings and upgrades mechanics (weight 0.09): The game includes a system of blessings and upgrades that provide various enhancements to characters. However, some players have noted imbalances and the need for luck to obtain favorable blessings.
- Adjustable difficulty settings (weight 0.09): The game features various difficulty settings, allowing players to choose their preferred level of challenge. This includes options for progressive difficulty and a hardest difficulty setting for those seeking a more intense experience.
- Build crafting and diversity (weight 0.07): The game offers a variety of builds and build crafting options, allowing players to customize their characters with different abilities and upgrades. This diversity enhances replayability and strategic depth.
- Level and boss design (weight 0.07): The game includes a variety of level designs and boss encounters. However, some players have noted that levels can feel repetitive, and balancing issues may affect the overall experience.
- Arthurian mythology theme (weight 0.07): The game is set within an Arthurian mythology framework, incorporating Celtic themes and legends. This thematic choice adds a unique flavor to the game's setting and narrative.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes and bugs (weight 0.16): The game suffers from frequent crashes and various bugs, ranging from game-breaking issues to minor bugs encountered during gameplay.
- Performance issues (weight 0.14): Performance problems include gameplay lag, frame jumps, freezing, and performance hitching on some menus. Some players report that limiting the FPS can mitigate these issues.
- Positive performance feedback (weight 0.06): Some players report positive experiences with the game's performance, noting buttery smooth combat and stable connections in multiplayer.
- Animation and control issues (weight 0.04): Players have noted issues with animations and unresponsive controls, which can affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Slow gameplay (weight 0.02): Some players find the gameplay to be slow and sluggish, impacting the overall experience.
- Minor audio issue (weight 0.02): A specific issue where music stops at Baron difficulty has been reported by players.

Recommendations:
- Hades comparison and recommendation (weight 0.28): The game is frequently compared to Hades, with many reviews suggesting it is best suited for fans of Hades or those looking for a similar experience, especially in multiplayer.
- Price and value considerations (weight 0.19): Opinions on the game's value vary, with many suggesting it is worth buying on sale or at a lower price point, while some find it worth the full price.
- Recommended for multiplayer (weight 0.17): The game is highly recommended for its multiplayer and cooperative gameplay, making it a great choice for playing with friends.
- Alternative game suggestions (weight 0.04): Some reviews suggest playing other games like Risk of Rain 2, Ember Knights, or Ravenswatch instead of this game.
- Consider for single-player (weight 0.04): The game is suggested for its single-player experience, though some reviews indicate Hades might be better for solo play.
- Good for gifting (weight 0.02): The game is considered a good purchase for gifting to others, indicating it has appeal as a present.
- For fans of action roguelites (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for fans of the action roguelite genre, highlighting its appeal to a specific audience.
- Unique roguelite experience (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for its unique take on the roguelite genre, offering something different within the category.
- Potential for future improvement (weight 0.02): The game is recommended with the potential to become excellent with more content and balancing in the future.
- Recommended based on gameplay (weight 0.02): The game is recommended based on its gameplay experience, indicating that it offers enjoyable mechanics and features.
- Worth trying out (weight 0.02): Some reviews simply suggest giving the game a try, indicating it has some appeal worth exploring.
- Difficulty concerns (weight 0.02): There are mentions of avoiding higher difficulties, suggesting that the game's difficulty might not be balanced well.
- Part of a game bundle (weight 0.02): The game is noted as a decent addition to a specific game bundle, indicating it has some value in a collection.
- Support the developer (weight 0.02): Some reviews suggest buying the game as a way to support the developer, especially if you enjoy the genre.

Other player notes:
- Reroll die for room rewards (weight 0.03): Players expressed interest in having a reroll die feature to modify the rewards of the next room. This suggests a desire for more control over in-game rewards and progression.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated by frequent crashes, disconnections, and the lack of a reconnect feature, which often result in lost progress. The game's high difficulty, flawed lock-on mechanics, and imbalance in character powers and weapons also contribute to this frustration. Additionally, the grind-heavy nature of the game and the lack of mid-game saving are significant points of contention.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.21): Players enjoy the cooperative gameplay and the variety of weapons, spells, and powers available. The game's similarity to Hades, along with its unique multiplayer features and enjoyable combat, contribute to a fun and engaging experience. The satisfying progression system and the ability to play with friends enhance the overall enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of originality and its comparison to Hades, often seen as an inferior clone. The lack of enemy variety, repetitive content, and multiplayer issues contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, the game's lack of polish, frequent crashes, and limited endgame content are significant disappointments.
- Excited (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the game's art style, cooperative gameplay, and enjoyable soundtrack. The variety of characters, abilities, and builds, along with the game's similarity to Hades, contribute to this excitement. The discovery of new tactics and synergies, as well as the fun and exhilarating gameplay, also generate excitement.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players experience joy from the fun and addictive combat, as well as the enjoyable cooperative gameplay. The variety in gameplay and the ability to play with friends contribute to a highly enjoyable experience. The unique take on roguelikes and the engaging multiplayer experience also bring joy to players.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Players find satisfaction in the game's cleaner graphics, cooperative gameplay, and good controller support. The engaging combat, good soundtrack, and well-balanced gameplay contribute to a satisfying experience. The variety of content and the polished gameplay also provide a sense of satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the game's co-op gameplay, variety of content, and replayability. The enjoyable multiplayer experience and the fun, addicting gameplay contribute to this excitement. The game's uniqueness and the deep gameplay with friends also generate excitement.
- Happy (weight 0.03): Players are happy with the game's multiple classes, excellent gameplay, and strong reward system. The fun and satisfying co-op mode, along with the meaningful progression and tight combat, contribute to this happiness. The game's customization options and the enjoyable multiplayer experience also bring happiness.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Players are frustrated by the poorly designed death penalty, frequent glitches, and disconnection issues. The imbalance among gifts from gods and the poorly implemented combat and movement mechanics contribute to this frustration. The lack of a reconnection feature and the overpowered stun blessings also add to the frustration.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive experience with the game's multiplayer gameplay, aesthetics, and variety. The enjoyment of coop gameplay and the smooth gameplay contribute to this positivity. The game's variety and the enjoyable multiplayer experience also generate positive feelings.
- Satisfied (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied with the game's build variety, visual clarity, and enjoyment. The combat and progression systems, despite some design flaws, contribute to this satisfaction. The game's value and the enjoyable experience also provide a sense of satisfaction.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to the lack of a lifesteal feature, frequent crashing, and gameplay mechanics and bugs. The lost progress due to cloud save issues and the poorly designed talent system contribute to this anger. The perception of the game as a shameless rip-off of Hades also generates anger.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the game's lack of content, higher difficulties, and lack of charm. The comparison to Hades and the perceived lack of quality contribute to this disappointment. The lack of a victory congrats in the hardest difficulty and the game's limitations also add to the disappointment.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Players are angry about the poorly designed talent system, the perception of the game as a shameless rip-off of Hades, and the lost progress after reinstalling. The game's balance issues, bugs, and frequent crashes contribute to this anger.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's challenging and fair gameplay, as well as the multiplayer feature. The positive gameplay experience and the game's variety and charm contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Enthusiastic (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's variety, charm, and detailed features and mechanics. The helpful tips and high ratings shared by reviewers contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's cool art style, interesting character design, and balanced gameplay. The fun multiplayer experience and the game's unique features contribute to this appreciation.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for future improvements and updates to the game. The expectation of enhancements and the potential for the game to evolve contribute to this hopefulness.}