Info about Drakensang Online:

Official game description:
The Drakensang Online saga is now available on Steam!  
Terror and despair are pouring out of the shadows of history: The mighty dragon of the Anderworld has arisen! Join forces with other warriors and magic wielders to heroically fight in epic battles for the fate of civilization.  
This fantasy RPG will take you across an amazing 3D world. Charge into battle either alone or with other players, develop your strength and skills, and defeat the wicked creatures of the Anderworld.  
**Discover the mysteries of Dracania**  
Experience the latest chapter of the famous Drakensang saga. Immerse yourself in the epic story and join in the massive multiplayer battles.  
**Hunt monsters alone or as part of a team**  
Explore eerie dungeons, swamps, woods, and caverns either alone or in cooperation with your team of fellow fighters to destroy powerful monsters or go head to head against other players in the PvP arena.  
**Customize your character and craft your way to glory**  
Develop your Dragonknight or Spellweaver through the agile fight and skill system and truly individualize your experience with character skills.  
Play now and start your adventure, hero of Duria! The time has come to discover Drakensang Online - a world of magic and intrigue awaits you.

Release date: 16 May, 2023

Categories: Action RPG, Multiplayer, Single-player, Character Progression, Real-time Combat, Dungeon Crawler, Crafting, Character Customization


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Overall positive game experience (weight 0.99): Players generally praise the game for its overall quality, engaging gameplay, and immersive world. Many highlight its nostalgic value, especially for those who played it in their childhood or during its earlier years. The game is considered a solid MMORPG with good graphics for its age, offering enjoyable content for both solo and co-op play.
- Accessible free-to-play model (weight 0.14): A significant number of reviews emphasize that the game is genuinely free-to-play, allowing players to progress and enjoy content without spending money. While some pay-to-win elements exist, players appreciate that premium currency and items can be earned through in-game activities.
- Diablo-like gameplay (weight 0.13): Many players compare the game favorably to classic action RPGs like Diablo, noting its similar gameplay mechanics and overall feel. This comparison often serves as a strong positive for fans of the genre.
- Fair premium benefits (weight 0.1): The premium subscription offers various benefits, such as increased experience and honor points, extra inventory slots, and convenient features like free travel. These advantages are seen as reasonable and not overly exaggerated.
- Enjoyable quests and leveling (weight 0.1): Players find the questing system enjoyable and user-friendly, with clear guidance and markers that make progression smooth. The leveling experience and PVE content are also highlighted as positive aspects.
- Multi-language support (weight 0.08): The game offers support for multiple languages, including Czech, Turkish, and Italian. This localization is a significant positive for players in those regions, enhancing accessibility and immersion.
- Simple and intuitive controls (weight 0.07): The game is noted for its intuitive and simple controls, making it easy for new players to pick up and understand. The user interface is also described as straightforward.
- Active development and updates (weight 0.07): Reviewers appreciate the game's long-term activity and consistent updates from developers, especially its availability on Steam. This indicates a commitment to the game's longevity and evolution.
- Rewarding in-game events (weight 0.05): The game features numerous events that offer valuable rewards, including special loot, cosmetics, and premium currency. These events are often described as fun and accessible even for new players.
- Engaging storyline (weight 0.05): The game's storyline is generally considered good, interesting, and engaging. Players appreciate the narrative quality and how it guides their progression.
- Steam platform availability (weight 0.04): Players are pleased that the game is available on Steam, which often comes with the added benefit of achievements, enhancing the overall player experience and accessibility.

Common complaints:
- Excessive & Unrewarding Grind (weight 0.9): The game is described as an excessive grindfest, with slow and repetitive progression. Players find themselves constantly farming for levels and items, which becomes boring and unrewarding due to poor drop rates and high time investment.
- Severe Technical Issues & Crashes (weight 0.8): Players report widespread technical issues including frequent crashes, freezes, and performance problems, even on high-end systems. These issues significantly hinder gameplay and make the game unplayable for many.
- Outdated Graphics & Mechanics (weight 0.78): Many players feel the game is outdated in terms of graphics, mechanics, and overall design. It struggles to compete with modern ARPGs, leading to a lack of engagement and a perception of being clunky and uninspired.
- Negative Impact of 'Dark Legacy' Update (weight 0.77): The 'Dark Legacy' update and subsequent reworks are heavily criticized for fundamentally changing the game, destroying old builds, and causing a mass exodus of players. Many feel these changes worsened the game's quality and removed its original appeal.
- Difficult Solo Play & Declining Playerbase (weight 0.74): The game is increasingly difficult to play solo, especially at higher levels, forcing players into group content. This is compounded by a declining player base and difficulty finding active groups or guilds, making progression challenging for new and returning players.
- Poor Developer Communication & Negligence (weight 0.72): Players express significant frustration with the developers' lack of communication, unfulfilled promises, and perceived negligence. There's a strong sentiment that the development team does not care about the game or its community.
- Repetitive & Generic Quests (weight 0.67): The game's quests, both main and side, are described as generic, repetitive, and uninspired. They often involve excessive travel and simple fetch tasks, leading to a boring and unengaging storyline.
- Aggressive Pay-to-Win Monetization (weight 0.4): The game is heavily criticized for its aggressive and predatory microtransaction system, which is perceived as pay-to-win. Players feel forced to spend money to progress, with high prices for premium features and essential in-game items.
- Broken & Abandoned PvP (weight 0.15): The PvP system is widely considered broken, unbalanced, and abandoned by developers. Players report a lack of activity, one-shot mechanics, and a general decline in quality, leading to a loss of interest in endgame content.
- Persistent Language Setting Bugs (weight 0.13): The game has persistent issues with language settings, often defaulting to English despite user preferences. Players report having to manually change the language every time they launch the game, and some advertised language options are not actually available.
- Account Login Issues on Steam (weight 0.11): Many players are unable to log in with their existing non-Steam accounts or link them to the Steam platform. This prevents old players from accessing their progress and characters through the Steam client.

Gameplay feedback:
- Increased Max Level to 100 (weight 0.18): The maximum character level has been significantly increased from previous caps (40 or 55) to 100. This change was part of a major content expansion, shifting the game's focus towards endgame content at level 100.
- Excessive Grind and Time Sink (weight 0.17): The game is perceived as excessively grindy, requiring an immense time investment to progress characters, especially without paying. Players report needing thousands of hours and an unreasonable number of runs for specific items, making progression feel slow and repetitive.
- Repetitive Quest Design (weight 0.09): Quests are often criticized for being repetitive and uninspired, primarily consisting of 'kill X enemies' or 'collect X items' objectives. This contributes to a feeling of lacking engaging endgame content.
- Limited Class Build Diversity (weight 0.08): The game features four distinct character classes, each with unique abilities and playstyles. However, players note that each class often has only one or two truly viable builds, limiting strategic diversity.
- Browser-Based Origins (weight 0.06): The game was originally, or at least in its early days, accessible and playable directly through a web browser without requiring a separate installation. This highlights its origins as an online browser-based RPG.
- Dungeon Progression Gated (weight 0.05): Dungeons are a core part of the gameplay for farming items, especially in groups after a certain level. However, progression within dungeons is often gated by the need for specific keys to unlock rewards.
- Premium Benefits for Progression (weight 0.05): Premium or Deluxe packages offer significant advantages, such as faster leveling and the ability to resurrect on maps (outside of boss rooms) without penalty, highlighting a pay-to-progress element.
- Stagnant PvE Content (weight 0.04): The game is primarily focused on Player vs. Environment (PvE) content. However, players note that much of the PvE content has remained unchanged for several years, indicating a lack of new additions.
- Automatic Skill Unlocks (weight 0.04): Skills are automatically unlocked as characters reach required levels, with some previously high-level skills now available earlier. However, increasing skill levels beyond a certain point offers minimal improvements.
- Gem and Wisdom Tree Importance (weight 0.03): Upgrading gems and investing in the wisdom tree are crucial for significantly improving character stats and overall power.
- Paid Fast Travel (weight 0.03): Fast travel and teleportation services within the game are not free and require payment using in-game currency, which can be expensive.
- Farmable Cash Shop Items (weight 0.03): Most in-game items that can be purchased with real money are also obtainable through regular gameplay, with the exception of purely cosmetic items and mounts. Items are traded via NPCs.
- Tiered Crafting System (weight 0.03): The crafting system allows players to combine four items of one rarity to create an item of the next higher rarity. It also provides the option to select which stats to retain on crafted weapons.
- Mounts and Cosmetics Available (weight 0.03): Players can utilize mounts for faster world traversal and express themselves with cosmetic items like costumes and emojis, enhancing mobility and personalization.
- Currency and Character Binding (weight 0.03): Most in-game currencies, excluding premium currency, are character-bound, meaning they cannot be shared between different characters on the same account. Characters created with premium currency are server-bound.
- Specific Boss Item Drops (weight 0.03): Specific powerful weapons, such as the 'Wrath of Shadows' sword and 'Predator' bow, were historically obtained as drops from the epic boss Mortis.
- Recurring Cosmetic Vendor (weight 0.03): A specific NPC, 'The Troll,' used to periodically sell cosmetic items like costumes and emotions, indicating a past or recurring vendor for such items.

Performance notes:
- Severe server and lag issues (weight 0.08): Many players are experiencing severe server-side issues, including frequent lag spikes, disconnections, and skills not registering correctly. This is happening even for players with high-speed internet connections, indicating a problem with the game's servers rather than individual player connections.
- Mixed performance and loading issues (weight 0.07): Players report mixed experiences with game performance. While some find it runs smoothly even on less powerful hardware, others with high-end PCs experience significant issues like low frame rates and extremely slow asset loading, even with SSDs.
- Smooth performance for some (weight 0.03): Some players report a positive experience, noting that the game runs smoothly without lag or stuttering. They also mention that previous issues with constant crashes have been resolved, indicating an improvement for some users.
- Small game file size (weight 0.01): A player noted the game's small file size, which is a neutral observation and doesn't directly impact gameplay or performance in a significant way for most users.

Recommendations:
- Mixed game recommendation (weight 0.41): Player sentiment regarding the game's overall recommendation is highly mixed, ranging from strong recommendations for casual play to outright warnings against playing at all. Many suggest it's only suitable for specific, low-expectation scenarios or that its 'golden times' have passed.
- Recommended for ARPG fans (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for fans of the ARPG genre, particularly those who enjoy Diablo-likes. Some players also recommend it for nostalgia, especially for those who played Drakensang Online in the past.
- Tips for new players (weight 0.06): New players are given various tips, including ignoring old negative reviews, finding an active clan, investing in inventory space, and playing to a certain level (e.g., 55) or creating multiple characters to learn classes.
- Better alternatives exist (weight 0.05): Several players suggest alternative games like Path of Exile, Diablo, Last Epoch, or WoW, implying these offer a better or more complete experience compared to the current game.
- Best played with friends (weight 0.05): The game is highly recommended for playing with friends or in a party, as it enhances the experience and makes the grind more enjoyable. Some even suggest not starting without a friend group.
- Good for casual grinding (weight 0.04): The game is suitable for players who enjoy grinding, especially when played casually with friends and background music. It's seen as a good option for a relaxed, engaging evening pastime.
- Desire for classic servers (weight 0.04): There's a desire for 'Classic' servers with old game rules and a restoration of the original PvP system. Some players also suggest a full server reset.
- Uninstallation and refund demands (weight 0.03): Some players have uninstalled the game and are demanding solutions or refunds, indicating significant dissatisfaction with their experience.
- Premium recommended for endgame (weight 0.03): Premium membership is recommended for players who reach significant playtime (e.g., 100 hours) or for those participating in endgame content.
- Client vs. launcher preference (weight 0.03): Players have differing opinions on the best way to access the game, with some recommending the standalone client and others preferring the online launcher over Steam.
- Class strength progression (weight 0.02): New players are advised that while any class can be picked, the Knight class is weak early on but becomes strong in the late game.
- Plans to continue playing (weight 0.01): One reviewer plans to continue playing the game through the winter months, indicating ongoing engagement.
- Hopes for Chinese release (weight 0.01): One reviewer expresses hope for an early release of a Chinese version of the game.

Other player notes:
- Nostalgia for game's past (weight 0.3): Many long-term players express nostalgia for the game's past, often noting its origins as a browser game. They feel the game has changed significantly over its decade-plus history, not always for the better, and miss its earlier state.
- High membership costs (weight 0.08): The cost of premium and deluxe memberships is a point of contention, with many finding them too expensive despite available discounts. Some players feel compelled to spend money to enhance their enjoyment.
- Account transfer issues (weight 0.06): There are issues with account and character migration, particularly for long-time players moving to Steam. While characters can be transferred, achievements often need to be re-earned manually, creating a frustrating experience.
- Critical unaddressed bug (weight 0.03): A critical bug, 'Error 36,' has persisted for months, preventing players from switching maps and making the game unplayable for those affected. This indicates a lack of timely bug fixes.
- Character class mentions (weight 0.03): Some reviews mention specific character classes played, such as Dragon Knight (tank) or warrior with a two-handed weapon, indicating engagement with the game's class system.
- Language change instructions (weight 0.03): Instructions are provided for changing the game's language, specifically to French, by using an option on the server selection screen. This indicates a need for clear language setting guidance.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.02): The game is noted for its low system requirements, allowing it to run on older or less powerful machines. This is a positive point for accessibility.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.27): Players are frustrated by pervasive and aggressive monetization, including pay-to-win mechanics, high costs, and overpriced items, which hinder progression and force spending. Technical issues such as frequent crashes, freezes, lag, poor performance, and persistent bugs (e.g., language settings, login, teleporting) significantly disrupt gameplay. Additionally, excessive grinding, slow progression, and a lack of new content contribute to a feeling of wasted time and effort.
- Disappointment (weight 0.24): Players express disappointment over the game's decline in quality, often attributed to developer decisions, aggressive monetization, and a lack of meaningful updates or content. The game's outdated graphics, bland gameplay, and repetitive quests contribute to a feeling that it has lost its potential or charm. Many are also disappointed by the inability to progress without spending money and the overall shift towards a pay-to-win model.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.16): Players are satisfied with the game's overall quality, including its graphics, story, and replayability. The game's accessibility, continuous improvements, and balanced difficulty contribute to a positive experience. Social interaction, cooperative play, and convenient functions also enhance player enjoyment, making it a solid MMORPG experience for many.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.09): Nostalgia stems from players' long-term engagement with the game, often since its early days or childhood. Memories of past enjoyment, classic RPG elements, and experiences with friends contribute to a longing for the game's 'gold days' or peak period. This emotion is frequently tied to the game's past state compared to its current changes.
- Anger (weight 0.06): Anger is primarily driven by predatory monetization practices, including pay-to-win mechanics and paywalls for essential content, which are seen as exploitative. Poor technical stability, critical bugs, and a perceived lack of developer accountability or customer support further fuel this anger. Unbalanced PvP and unfulfilled promises also contribute to player outrage.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experience joy through social connections, such as playing with friends and family. The game's overall quality, engaging combat, and the enjoyment derived from dungeons contribute to this positive emotion. The game's continued activity and availability on platforms like Steam also bring joy to its player base.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by the game's overall quality, unique gameplay experiences, and engaging activities like battling beasts and adventures. The game's presence on Steam also contributes to a sense of anticipation and enthusiasm for new players.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players find enjoyment in the game's quests, community interactions, and general feel, especially for those who appreciate MMORPGs. The ability to continue enjoying the game despite changes, particularly in PvP, also contributes to this positive sentiment.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom arises from repetitive gameplay, excessive grinding, and long loading screens. Players find the combat to be too easy and the game to become uninteresting towards the later stages, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is caused by the game's current decline, a loss of past enjoyment, and a perceived lack of developer support or future plans. The realization that the Steam version offers no significant improvements over the regular version also contributes to this feeling.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Players are annoyed by technical issues such as lag in cities and during fast movement, an inconvenient portal system, and persistent language setting problems. The intrusive in-game shop also contributes to a general sense of irritation.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is expressed for the game's future, particularly that a new audience on Steam will appreciate it and that new servers will be introduced. There is also hope that the game will slowly improve over time.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Players are concerned about the game's monetization model and the excessive time commitment required for events. These aspects raise worries about the game's long-term sustainability and player experience.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret stems from the feeling of missed opportunities for a better game version and the time already invested in the game. Players express remorse over the time spent or potentially spent on a game that may not have lived up to expectations.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the unexpected level of activity within the game and that it is not as boring as other MMORPGs. Changes in skill unlocking mechanics also contribute to this sense of surprise.
- Helpfulness (weight 0.01): Helpfulness is demonstrated by players providing practical advice, such as tips for language settings or general guidance for new players. This indicates a desire to assist others in overcoming common issues.
- Acceptance (weight 0): Players express acceptance of the game's grinding aspect, indicating a resignation to this core gameplay loop. This suggests a recognition that grinding is an inherent part of the game experience.
- Resignation (weight 0): Resignation is felt regarding gameplay limitations imposed by pay-to-win mechanics and the perceived inevitable future of the game. This indicates a sense of powerlessness over the game's direction and design choices.
- Love (weight 0): Love for the game is expressed through appreciation for its overall experience, progression systems, and long-term enjoyment. This indicates a deep positive connection and sustained engagement with the game.
- Desire (weight 0): Players express a desire for specific improvements, such as the addition of a LATAM server and a better free-to-play experience. These desires highlight areas where players feel the game could be significantly improved.}