Info about Moonring:

Official game description:
**A _free_ game by the co-creator of the XBox's Fable series.**  
Five hundred years ago, the land of Caldera was plunged into endless darkness. Decades later, five moons rose in the sky, bringing light to the world and strange Gods with it. With them came the Dreams: calls to Devotion promising supernatural Gifts.  
Thus, the new Calderan civilisation was born; a world of Devotion and Dreamers, Gods and Gifts, with a Dreamless Archon acting as the Gods' mortal representative. But Archons are not eternal, and a successor must be found.  
You are Dreamless: free to choose your own destiny, to ask questions others dare not, or even become Archon yourself.  
What will you do, Dreamless one?  
Moonring is a retro-inspired open-world, turn-based, tile RPG in the style of the classic Ultima games, but created from the ground up with modern design sensibilities.  
The world's geography is hand-designed, but the deadly dungeons beneath the surface reconfigure each time you leave... or die.  
Travel, trade, sneak, fight and sail the world of Caldera. Speak with the townsfolk, learn Caldera's secrets, and challenge the Archon for his throne... or even overthrow the Gods themselves!  
Features:  
\- Large, hand-designed open world  
\- An infinite supply of dungeons generated using your character name  
\- Over 100 varied enemy types, from fodder to bosses  
\- 35 unique Gifts from the Gods, their usage changing with the moon phases  
\- Sailing, ship-to-ship combat and boarding  
\- A Dungeon Synth OST with over 50 tracks, all made using retro Mod Trackers!  
\- A hidden magic system and many other mysteries  
A note from the creator:  
Hi folks. I've loved RPGs since the early 1980s, and grew up playing games like Lord British's 'Ultima' series and early Roguelikes. This is my love-letter to a style of gaming that has largely fallen out of fashion: with its vivid, bright sprites overlaid on stark black backgrounds, true open-world gameplay, and lack of handholding. The days I spent playing these games were spent in joyful exploration and discovery, venturing into the dark unknown, a co-author of the experience, filling in the gaps left by the primitive art with my imagination. For those of you who did the same, I hope Moonring recaptures some of the spirit of those days for you. For those who did not, I hope that the more modern conveniences you find in this game allow you to catch a glimpse of what we did 40 years ago.  
My heartfelt thanks to all who spared even a moment to play this. Please be kind to my mistakes. I will fix them. :-)  
\- Dene

Release date: Sep 28, 2023

Categories: Turn-based Combat, Open-World Exploration, Retro Aesthetics, Procedural Generation, Character Progression, NPC Interaction, Sailing Simulation, Hidden Object

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair / Pure; summary: The overall sentiment from users is highly positive regarding the game's monetization strategy. Players are enthusiastic about supporting the developer through the purchase of DLC, which is seen as affordable and well-deserved. There are no indications of predatory monetization practices, and users are even expressing interest in future paid expansions.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Guidance; summary: The game has a steep learning curve and requires significant time investment or reliance on external guides for progression. While the depth of game mechanics and secrets is appreciated, it can also be overwhelming for some players. The use of external guides is common, suggesting a need for better in-game guidance.
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Seamless; summary: The overall user feedback indicates that the game offers an exceptional experience on the Steam Deck. Users have praised the native controller support and the high-quality user experience, comparing it favorably to classic games with modern enhancements.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth playing at various price points. Several reviews mention that the game is free but would be worth a price tag ranging from $10 to $30. This indicates that the community considers a fair base-game price to be within this range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 45.0h
  - Story completion: 20.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct mentions of playtime metrics. The first quote indicates a session length of a couple of hours. The second and third quotes suggest that a complete run of the game, including exploring the world and finding most of its secrets, takes around 40 to 46.3 hours. The fourth quote supports the idea that beating the game can take around 20 hours, which aligns with the story completion time. There is no direct evidence provided for endgame playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a challenging and slow start, but it becomes enjoyable after players overcome the initial learning curve and find effective strategies or items.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Finding the right combination of skills or items
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: challenging early game; slow progression; steep learning curve; tedious mechanics
  - Unlock drivers: understanding the mechanics; finding effective strategies; discovering useful items
  - Conditions: patience; willingness to explore; understanding the game's systems
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and exploration
    - Playstyle: Explores the game world at a leisurely pace, appreciating the depth of the story and lore.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school gamer; RPG fan
    - Reference games: Ultima; Final Fantasy
  - Patient Beginner (sale)
    - Motivation: Learning and overcoming challenges
    - Playstyle: Takes time to learn the game mechanics, uses grinding to progress, and appreciates the forgiving checkpoint system.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: new player; beginner
    - Reference games: Caves of Qud; Tales of Maj'Eyal
  - Tactical Combatant (buy)
    - Motivation: Tactical combat and customization
    - Playstyle: Focuses on tactical combat, enjoys customization options, and appreciates the variety of playstyles.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: tactical gamer; combat enthusiast
    - Reference games: Caves of Qud; Tales of Maj'Eyal; Baldur's Gate 2


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:
- Engaging world exploration (weight 0.73): The game offers an interesting and fun world to explore, filled with secrets, quests, and lore. Players enjoy the exploration and discovery aspects, which are often rewarding and engaging.
- Ultima-inspired gameplay (weight 0.63): The game is heavily inspired by the Ultima series, particularly Ultima IV and V, capturing the essence and aesthetics of those classic CRPGs. It is often described as a love letter to Ultima, making it a must-play for fans of the series and old-school RPGs.
- Beautiful and unique art style (weight 0.46): The game features a beautiful and unique art style that blends retro and modern elements. The visuals are appealing, with a great color palette and phenomenal art style.
- Retro-style RPG with modern elements (weight 0.41): The game is an impressive retro-style RPG that incorporates modern elements, making it a great game for fans of traditional RPGs. It is often described as a fantastic old-school RPG with a unique visual style.
- Rich lore and story (weight 0.36): The game offers a compelling and rich lore and story, with intriguing storytelling and amazing story quests. Players appreciate the depth and detail of the game's narrative.
- Excellent soundtrack and sound effects (weight 0.25): The game features an excellent soundtrack and delightful music, enhancing the overall experience. The sound effects are also praised for their quality.
- Free game with high value (weight 0.22): The game is completely free, with no in-game purchases, and is often praised for its high quality and value despite the lack of a price tag.
- Unique world and mechanics (weight 0.2): The game features a unique world and mechanics, including a unique combat system and story. The world is described as gigantic and filled with interesting elements.
- Engaging combat mechanics (weight 0.19): The game offers engaging and tactical combat mechanics, with dynamic fights and many levels of engagement.
- Satisfying puzzles (weight 0.19): The game includes unique and fun puzzles that players enjoy solving. The puzzles are often described as satisfying and well-integrated into the gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Game is excessively difficult (weight 0.43): Many players find the game's difficulty level to be extremely high and punishing, making it challenging to enjoy or progress.
- Lack of clear direction (weight 0.3): Players often feel aimless and unsure of what to do next, leading to frustration and confusion.
- Repetitive gameplay elements (weight 0.27): Certain aspects of the game, such as dungeon crawling and random encounters, are seen as repetitive and tedious.
- Early game issues (weight 0.15): The early game is criticized for being difficult, buggy, and less enjoyable compared to later stages.
- No save system (weight 0.09): The absence of a save system, particularly before boss fights, is a significant issue for players.
- Frustrating sailing mechanics (weight 0.09): The sailing mechanics in the game are reported as frustrating and difficult to manage.
- Slow progression and start (weight 0.09): The game's progression is noted to be slow, with a particularly slow start that can be off-putting.
- Graphics are problematic (weight 0.09): The graphics are described as too colorful and busy, which can be particularly challenging for colorblind players.
- Menu navigation issues (weight 0.09): Players find the menus difficult to navigate, adding to the overall frustration.
- Language barrier (weight 0.08): The game being only in English poses a challenge for non-English speakers.
- Not a true roguelike (weight 0.08): Despite some randomized elements, the game is not considered a true roguelike, which may disappoint some players.
- Cannot dismiss summons (weight 0.07): There is no way to dismiss summons, which can be inconvenient for players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Extensive exploration mechanics (weight 0.34): Players are encouraged to explore the game world, including an overworld and dungeons. The exploration mechanics are designed to reward discovery and curiosity.
- Roguelike elements and randomized dungeons (weight 0.34): The game includes roguelike elements such as randomized dungeons, adding replayability and unpredictability to the gameplay experience.
- Classic RPG with modern refinements (weight 0.32): The game incorporates traditional RPG elements and mechanics, refined for modern audiences. It captures the essence of classic RPGs while updating them for contemporary players.
- Turn-based tactical combat system (weight 0.32): The game features a turn-based combat system that requires tactical thinking. This includes unique mechanics like a bumping system, adding depth to the combat experience.
- Innovative dialogue and NPC interaction (weight 0.3): The game features a unique dialogue system that allows players to interact with NPCs in innovative ways, including typing phrases and engaging in conversation trees.
- Rich lore and immersive worldbuilding (weight 0.28): The game is praised for its deep lore and unique worldbuilding, which contribute to an immersive RPG experience. Players appreciate the depth and detail in the game's story and setting.
- Deep progression and leveling (weight 0.26): The game offers a robust progression system, including character leveling, equipment, and abilities. This system allows players to develop their characters and gear over time.
- Retro visual aesthetics (weight 0.22): The game features a retro visual style, evoking nostalgia with its old-school vibe and CRT-like visuals. This aesthetic choice enhances the game's nostalgic appeal.
- Challenging gameplay and difficulty (weight 0.22): The game offers a challenging experience with a steep difficulty curve. Players must engage in puzzle-like problem-solving and strategic combat.
- Hidden magic and secret systems (weight 0.13): The game includes hidden mechanics such as a secret spell system, encouraging players to explore and discover hidden elements within the game world.
- Poise combat mechanic (weight 0.12): The game features a unique combat mechanic called 'poise,' where damage taken is absorbed by a regenerating shield. This adds a layer of strategy to the combat system.

Performance notes:
- Optimized for Steam Deck (weight 0.24): The game is highly compatible with the Steam Deck, offering smooth performance and responsive controls tailored for the device.
- Crashing issues present (weight 0.13): Some players have reported occasional crashes and errors, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.06): The game is easy to run on older PCs, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware configurations.
- Resolution problems (weight 0.05): There are issues related to the game's resolution, affecting the visual quality and gameplay experience.
- Moderate graphics quality (weight 0.05): The graphics are considered to be of average quality, neither outstanding nor poor.
- Keyboard-focused UI (weight 0.05): The user interface is designed with keyboard users in mind, which may affect the experience for those using other input methods.
- Buggy merchant interactions (weight 0.05): There are issues with merchant interactions, causing bugs that can affect gameplay.
- Dual pad typing support (weight 0.04): The game supports typing with dual pads, offering an alternative input method for players.

Recommendations:
- Worth trying out (weight 0.23): Many reviewers suggest trying the game to see if it suits your preferences, indicating it has broad appeal.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.21): The game comes highly recommended by many players, especially for RPG lovers due to its unique features and affordable price.
- Support the creator with DLC (weight 0.13): Players encourage buying the DLC to support the game's creator, indicating strong community support.
- Ideal for retro game fans (weight 0.1): The game is highly recommended for fans of retro-style games, indicating it has a classic feel or mechanics.
- Hidden gem worth discovering (weight 0.09): Reviewers describe the game as a hidden gem, implying it is underrated and offers unique experiences.
- Adjustable difficulty options (weight 0.09): The game offers options to tune down difficulty and adjust dungeon sizes and visibility, catering to different player preferences.
- Suitable for all player levels (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for both veterans and newcomers, suggesting it has accessible and deep gameplay mechanics.
- Visit towns and perform tasks early (weight 0.06): Players recommend visiting towns and performing tasks for the gods as soon as possible, hinting at important early-game strategies.
- Avoid spoilers on first playthrough (weight 0.06): It is suggested to avoid looking anything up during the first playthrough to enhance the experience.
- Avoid permadeath on first run (weight 0.05): It is advised not to choose permadeath for the first playthrough, suggesting the game has high difficulty settings.
- Read in-game instructions (weight 0.05): Players advise reading what the game tells you, indicating that the game provides important information through its text.
- Appeals to early RPG fans (weight 0.05): The game appeals to those who played early RPGs or are looking for a quirky, sometimes frustrating experience.
- Use quest tab in notes (weight 0.05): The quest tab in notes is highlighted as a useful feature, suggesting it helps in tracking progress and objectives.
- Opt into the Beta (weight 0.05): New players are encouraged to opt into the Beta, indicating ongoing development and improvements.
- Perfect for adventurers (weight 0.05): The game is described as perfect for adventurers, suggesting it offers exploration and adventure elements.

Other player notes:
- Need for quality of life features (weight 0.06): Players have expressed a desire for additional quality of life features such as the ability to tag the map or add notes.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.15): Players are thrilled by the game's unique mechanics, exploration, and discovery elements. The blend of retro and modern gameplay, along with the variety in gameplay and map design, contributes to this excitement. Additionally, the game's rich content, free availability, and inspirations from classic games like Ultima add to the anticipation and eagerness to experience more.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Players experience frustration due to several gameplay mechanics and design issues. These include slow initial progression, difficult strategy and resource management, lack of explanation for basic mechanics, and frequent nerfs to strategies. Additionally, the difficulty in finding items, progressing the main story, and the lack of save points in certain dungeons contribute to this frustration.
- Appreciation (weight 0.1): Players appreciate the game's unique world, gameplay, and visuals, which blend classic RPG elements with modern quality-of-life features. The game's high quality, despite being free, and the developer's attention to detail and continuous updates are highly valued. The balanced gameplay, artistic story exploration, and the game's respect for player time also contribute to this appreciation.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players find joy in the game's customization, progression, and exploration elements. The positive experiences with the game's art style, combat, and overall vibe, along with the engaging exploration and puzzle-solving, contribute to this joy. The game's unique and enjoyable gameplay mechanics, combined with its beautiful visuals and atmosphere, enhance the overall experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Players admire the game's masterful design, creativity, and the developer's ability to create a deep and interesting game with limited resources. The combination of old-school RPG elements with modern quality-of-life features, along with the game's innovative systems and immersive world-building, are highly praised. The game's high quality, despite being free, and the developer's passion and effort are also greatly admired.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.06): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's similarities to classic RPGs like Ultima and Dragon Warrior. The old-school vibe, reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences, and the game's ability to recapture the feel of CGA/Apple II era games contribute to this sense of nostalgia.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Players enjoy the game's fun skills, potions, and interactive environment. The unique world exploration, relaxing atmosphere, and beautiful art, along with the game's charm and fun gameplay, contribute to this enjoyment. The sense of mystery and discovery, combined with the game's accessibility and world-building, enhance the overall experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players feel satisfied with the game's depth, complexity, and overall high quality. The fun exploration and combat, along with the game's unique gameplay and high quality for a free game, contribute to this satisfaction. The accessible and engaging gameplay, combined with the game's performance on older hardware, enhance the overall experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.05): Players are surprised by the game's high quality despite being free. The unexpected entertainment value and the game's innovative dialogue system contribute to this surprise. The game's quality and availability for free are also major factors.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): Players are curious about the game's story, mysteries, and secrets. The exploration and uncovering of secrets, along with the rich lore and the game's narrative and progression, contribute to this curiosity. Talking to characters and reading books also piques players' interest.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game's unique mechanics and flavorful world. The satisfying progression and balanced challenge, along with the game's aesthetic and overall experience, contribute to this love.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players are grateful for the developer's work and passion, as well as the successful resolution of issues like the font error. The game being free and a passion project also contributes to this gratitude.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Players are interested in the game's plot and world, as well as its unique art style and comparison to old CRPGs. The intriguing lore and Ultima vibes also contribute to this interest.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive experience with the game's unique charm, leveling system, and overall quality. The game's completeness and good performance on platforms like Steam Deck contribute to this positivity.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's unique mechanics, immersive world, and the developer's effort. The gameplay, music, and pacing, along with the game's innovative approach to traditional roguelike mechanics, contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are in awe of the game's insane world-building and design. The game's intricate and immersive world contributes to this sense of awe.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Players are amazed by the game's high quality despite being free. The depth and quality of the free game contribute to this amazement.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the amount of time and work put into the game, as well as its complexity and depth. The game's high quality and the developer's effort contribute to this impression.}