Info about Exiled Kingdoms:

Official game description:
Exiled Kingdoms is a single-player Action-RPG that allows you to roam freely through a unique world, full with surprises and adventure. It is an isometric game, inspired by the classics in many ways: a challenging environment to explore, choices with consequences, and a simple but versatile rulesystem enabling endless ways to develop your character. Each of your character stats will make a difference, and the world is highly reactive; new conversation options might be enabled with high intelligence, or vary depending of your standing with the many factions or your previous actions.  
**Explore a vast world:** no one will point you to the best hidden secrets in the **135 areas**. Talk to **over 300 NPCs with unique dialogues**, and solve **90 quests** ranging from the "stereotypical" menial tasks in early levels, to epic-scale plots full with twists and hard choices. Customize your character with **70 skills** and hundreds of different items. Overcome all kind of monsters and antagonists, choosing carefully the weapons or powers for each encounter if you want to have a chance. And return to the classical dungeon crawl, with traps and secret doors, and death awaiting the unwary adventurer behind every corner.  
Exiled Kingdoms is a huge game, with content hand-crafted during 4 years of development and writing. It easily counts 120+ hours of gameplay for the average player, and much more taking into account replayability.
Story introduction: A dark tale, and a brave new world
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A century ago, the Andorian Empire was destroyed by a magical cataclysm that brought The Horrors into our world; humanity was nearly annihilated. Many thousand managed to escape sailing away to the Imperial Colony of Varannar: a savage island, dangerous and unexplored. Mistrust and blame made impossible to elect a new Emperor, and the four Exiled Kingdoms were proclaimed.  
Nowadays, the ragtag kingdoms still struggle to survive in a harsh land, often waging war on each other and slowly declining into barbarism. Empire and the Horrors are, for many, just old legends and fairytales. But as a novice adventurer you rarely pay attention to such old stories; you're more concerned with your latest misfortunes and chronically empty purse.  
But for once, luck seems to be on your side. A magical letter from New Garand materialized in your hands; it states that you are the sole beneficiary of a big inheritance. You don’t remember any relatives in the capital of the Kingdom of Varsilia, but certainly that won’t stop you from an opportunity like this! The road to New Garand will reveal many surprises, and will teach you that fairytales and legends can become, in fact, very real.  
**Note about assets:** part of the art used in the game, trailer and screenshots is shared under different open licenses. You can check a full list at the Exiled Kingdoms website which includes all the details about license and the original authors.

Release date: Feb 23, 2018

Categories: Action RPG, Exploration, Character Progression, Multiple Endings, Open-World Exploration, Choice-based Narrative, Isometric Action-RPG, Hack and Slash

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Wiki-Dependent Experience; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals that while the game has a supportive community and a helpful wiki, players heavily rely on external resources to understand quests, game mechanics, and navigation. This dependency on the wiki can detract from the in-game experience, as noted by several users who feel compelled to use it to progress efficiently.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The primary issue identified from user feedback is related to control problems. Users find the controls uncomfortable and poorly ported from the mobile version to PC. This significantly impacts the user experience, making it frustrating and less enjoyable.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game to be of high value relative to its price. Multiple reviews mention that the game is 'well worth the price' and represents 'insane value for money.' Additionally, the game is often featured in bundles and goes on sale, indicating that the base price is considered fair but that discounts are appreciated. The reviews do not provide specific price points but strongly indicate that the current price is seen as reasonable and offers good value for the amount of gameplay and enjoyment provided.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 90.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct references to playtime metrics. The first quote mentions a player having almost 100 hours on Steam and at least 300 more on mobile, indicating extensive playtime for game completion. The second quote shows a player reaching 280 hours, suggesting a high level of engagement and long play sessions. The third quote explicitly states that it takes around 90 hours to complete all quests, which aligns with the game completion metric. The fourth quote supports the idea of significant playtime on mobile, reinforcing the game's ability to engage players for long periods.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game offers immediate fun after a short tutorial, with a rewarding progression system that requires some initial grinding and careful play.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: Unlocking more abilities
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Initial difficulty; Need for grinding
  - Unlock drivers: Unlocking more abilities; Progressing through the game
  - Conditions: Open world exploration; Careful play in beginning areas
- Player Archetypes:
  - Old-School RPG Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and deep character building.
    - Playstyle: Exploration and character customization.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school player; RPG fan
    - Reference games: Diablo 1; Baldur's Gate; Dark Souls
  - Story-First Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and relaxed gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Casual playthrough with focus on narrative.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: story lover; casual gamer
    - Reference games: Baldur's Gate; Diablo 1
  - Hardcore Grinder (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Challenge and character progression.
    - Playstyle: Intensive grinding and high difficulty playthroughs.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: hardcore gamer; grinder
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Diablo 1


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:
- Extensive exploration opportunities (weight 0.75): The game features a vast open world with many areas to explore, including dungeons and various locations.
- Challenging and strategic combat (weight 0.59): Combat in the game is noted for its difficulty and the need for strategic thinking, making it both challenging and fun.
- Classic RPG experience (weight 0.44): The game is noted for its old-style RPG elements, making it a great classical RPG with a true medieval vibe.
- Variety in character classes (weight 0.41): The game offers different classes and playstyles, allowing for varied character development and progression.
- Diverse and engaging quests (weight 0.4): The game offers a large number of well-written and interesting quests that vary in type, contributing to an engaging open-world experience.
- Exceptional world-building (weight 0.39): The game is praised for its complex and well-developed world, with extraordinary world-building and interesting lore.
- Great value for money (weight 0.36): Players feel the game is well-priced and offers excellent value, often being on sale and providing more content than expected.
- Easy to learn gameplay (weight 0.35): The gameplay is simple and easy to learn, though it can be deceptively deep and comfortable to play.
- Engaging and surprising story (weight 0.31): The game features a captivating and engaging story with unexpected twists, making it a highlight for many players.
- Positive overall reception (weight 0.29): The game is generally well-received, with players describing it as good, beautiful, and enjoyable.
- Many secrets to discover (weight 0.26): The game is full of surprises, including many hidden dungeons and secrets to discover.
- Long gameplay duration (weight 0.16): The game provides a substantial amount of content, with gameplay durations ranging from 60 to 90 hours.
- Retro graphics and feel (weight 0.15): The game has retro-style graphics that contribute to its old-school feel, appealing to fans of classic RPGs.
- Good for casual play (weight 0.15): The game is entertaining and addicting, making it good for passing time.

Common complaints:
- Combat and animation issues (weight 0.37): The game suffers from poor combat sounds, bad animations, and messy combat mechanics. There is also a lack of variety in combat.
- High difficulty level (weight 0.32): The game is noted for being very difficult, often needlessly so. This high difficulty can be frustrating and unfriendly to players.
- Excessive grinding required (weight 0.24): The game requires a lot of grinding, with experience points needed to level up becoming too high. Grinding elements are frequently mentioned as a downside.
- Lack of save feature (weight 0.24): There is no save feature in the game, particularly noted in dungeons where saving is not allowed on medium and higher difficulties.
- Poor companion AI (weight 0.21): The companion AI is poorly designed and exhibits balancing issues. NPCs and mobs in the game are often described as very stupid.
- Clumsy controls (weight 0.19): The controls are described as clumsy and frustrating, with movement controls being particularly criticized.
- Simple and old-school graphics (weight 0.19): The graphics are described as simple and old-school, lacking polish and detail in visuals and animations.
- Inaccessible map areas (weight 0.15): Some areas of the map are inaccessible or underdeveloped, indicating that parts of the game might still be in development.
- Cumbersome inventory management (weight 0.11): Inventory management is cumbersome, especially with the need to switch weapons frequently and shared inventory between PC and companion.
- Weak quest guidance (weight 0.11): The game lacks proper quest guidance, with no quest markers to help players navigate.
- Class and equipment imbalance (weight 0.11): There is poor balance in equipment sales, particularly for mage equipment. Magical classes are harder to play due to lack of potions and equipment.
- Repetitive and ordinary gameplay (weight 0.11): The gameplay is often described as ordinary and repetitive, contributing to a lack of engagement.
- Poor asset quality (weight 0.11): The game has horrible problems and horrendous assets, indicating low-quality visuals and design elements.
- Constant monster respawn (weight 0.11): Monsters respawn quickly and constantly, which can be frustrating for players.
- Clunky user interface (weight 0.11): The user interface is clunky and has mechanical shortcomings, making it difficult to navigate and use.
- Lack of updates and content (weight 0.1): The game suffers from a lack of updates and content, leaving players with limited material to engage with.
- Expensive healing potions (weight 0.1): Healing potions are expensive and ineffective, making it difficult for players to manage their health.
- Translation errors (weight 0.1): There are translation errors in multiple languages, including Czech and Portuguese.

Gameplay feedback:
- Classic RPG with old-school mechanics (weight 0.61): The game features traditional RPG elements and old-school isometric gameplay, reminiscent of classic RPGs. It combines story-driven gameplay with engaging mechanics that appeal to fans of the genre.
- Character customization and progression (weight 0.45): Players can customize and develop their characters through various upgrades, traits, and skill progression systems.
- Multiple difficulty levels (weight 0.4): The game features various difficulty settings, including a hardcore mode with permanent death, providing distinct challenges for players.
- Open world with exploration (weight 0.36): The game offers a large, open world with diverse locations and non-linear gameplay, encouraging exploration and freedom.
- Variety of quests (weight 0.35): The game includes numerous well-written quests, offering a mix of main quests and side activities to keep players engaged.
- Engaging combat mechanics (weight 0.3): The combat system is challenging and requires preparation and planning, offering a brutal yet engaging experience.
- Similar to classic games (weight 0.24): The gameplay is compared to classic games like Diablo, Baldur's Gate, and Arcanum, blending elements from these influential titles.
- Companion system with AI (weight 0.19): The game includes a companion system with three possible companions, though their AI behavior has some limitations.
- Medieval fantasy setting (weight 0.15): The game is set in a medieval RPG world with a western fantasy theme, enhancing the classic RPG feel.
- Isometric perspective (weight 0.15): The game features an isometric view, which is a hallmark of classic RPGs and adds to the retro feel.
- Hack and slash gameplay (weight 0.15): The game includes hack and slash elements, combining combat with an isometric view.
- Crafting and restoration system (weight 0.15): The game features a crafting system for potions and items, as well as a mana and health restoration system using potions and taverns.

Performance notes:
- Stable performance reported (weight 0.21): Some players have experienced stable performance with no crashes or glitches, and minimal CPU and RAM usage.
- Lack of visual polish (weight 0.2): Players have pointed out that the game lacks polish in visuals and animations, with simple graphics and lack of detail.
- Game crashes on launch (weight 0.13): Several players reported that the game does not open and crashes upon launch.
- Lack of display options (weight 0.12): Players have noted the absence of a borderless window option and the inability to resize the game window.
- Poor controller support (weight 0.12): The game has been criticized for its terrible controller compatibility and support.
- Occasional performance stutters (weight 0.07): Some players have experienced occasional small stutters during gameplay.
- No modding support (weight 0.07): Players have expressed disappointment over the lack of modding support in the game.
- Charming low-res graphics (weight 0.07): Some players appreciate the charming low-resolution graphics and speedy performance.
- Interface usability issues (weight 0.07): The game's interface takes some time to get used to, which has been a point of contention for some players.
- Long load times (weight 0.07): Players have noted that the game has long load times.
- Potential freezing on Linux (weight 0.06): There have been reports of potential freezing in full-screen mode specifically on Linux systems.
- Stiff combat mechanics (weight 0.06): The combat in the game feels stiff according to some players.

Recommendations:
- General recommendations (weight 0.36): Many reviewers generally recommend the game without specifying a particular audience. It is often suggested as a worthwhile experience.
- Gameplay and mechanics (weight 0.24): Players suggest being cautious with saves and trying the free mobile version first. The game offers a good balance between challenge and acquired power, with experience levels being very important.
- Niche appeal (weight 0.15): The game is recommended for a niche of players who enjoy grinding, exploration, and very shallow games.
- Build and exploration (weight 0.12): Players advise not to stress over builds and to have fun exploring the possibilities. You can reset your build or find better gear if you have trouble.
- Enjoyable and challenging (weight 0.12): The game is enjoyable and offers real challenges and intelligence in gameplay. It is recommended for those who can push past its mechanical shortcomings.
- Open and dynamic world (weight 0.07): The game features an open and dynamic world with hundreds of things to do, making it engaging and entertaining.

Other player notes:
- Java engine and retro aesthetics (weight 0.11): The game utilizes the Java engine and features old-school graphics and interface, giving it a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games.
- Unique art style with famous NPCs (weight 0.07): The game boasts a distinctive art style where non-player characters (NPCs) are based on famous artwork, adding a creative and cultural touch to the visual experience.
- Multiple starting avatars available (weight 0.07): Players can choose from different starting avatars for the hero, allowing for customization and personalization of the gaming experience from the beginning.
- Turkish language support requested (weight 0.06): Players have expressed a desire for the game to include Turkish language support, which could enhance accessibility for Turkish-speaking users.
- Community-created game guide (weight 0.06): A guide for the game has been created, likely by a community member, which can help new players understand the game mechanics and navigate the game more effectively.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.18): Players are thrilled by the game's expansive open world and deep progression systems. The engaging story, rich lore, and challenging gameplay contribute to the excitement, along with the variety of quests, character classes, and the promise of future updates.
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Technical issues, such as game crashes and missing content, particularly on mobile ports, are major sources of frustration. Players also struggle with the game's high difficulty, grinding, repetitive gameplay, and various mechanical issues like clunky controls, unclear aggro mechanics, and inventory management problems.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.17): The game evokes nostalgia through its old-school RPG style and mechanics, reminiscent of classic games like Diablo and Baldur's Gate. Players appreciate the retro graphics and gameplay, which bring back memories of their childhood and earlier gaming experiences.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players find satisfaction in the game's depth, challenging gameplay, and engaging mechanics. The variety of classes, well-done power scaling, and the sense of accomplishment from character progression contribute to a fulfilling gaming experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): The game's engaging gameplay, large world, and fun combat system provide a highly enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the witty humor, diverse quests, and the overall entertaining and challenging nature of the game.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of updates, unbalanced gameplay, and the disparity between expectations set by the store page and the actual experience. Issues like dull side quests and frustrating endgame content also contribute to this sentiment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's lore, design, and exploration aspects, despite some graphical shortcomings. The game's story, music, community, and the complete Italian translation are also highly valued.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): The game's engaging story, complex world, and dynamic gameplay generate a lot of enthusiasm among players. Detailed positive reviews highlight the game's exciting features and overall quality.
- Addiction (weight 0.03): The game's addictive gameplay keeps players coming back for more. The desire to replay with different characters and the overall engaging experience contribute to its addictive nature.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players express deep affection for the game, considering it one of their favorite RPGs of all time. The unique and special qualities of the game resonate strongly with them.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the game's good writing, mechanics, and storytelling. The fact that the game was developed by a single person adds to their admiration.
- Recommendation (weight 0.01): Players highly recommend the game due to its overall quality and engaging experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's uniqueness and excellence, appreciating its standout features and overall design.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): The game's story and lore development keep players immersed throughout their entire experience, providing a deeply engaging narrative.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): The engaging story and the variety of quests, weapons, and armor spark curiosity among players, encouraging them to explore more.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Players have mixed feelings due to the game's intriguing story being overshadowed by a lack of polish and dull side quests, creating a conflicting experience.}