ELDERBORN

I've enjoyed playing Elderborn. Difficulty-wise it was just right - challenging enough so it can't really be called easy, but not challenging enough to make you want to rip your shirt off out of frustration. Music was nice, although a bit repetitive, could use a track or two more. I've found I mainly used 2 or 3 weapons out of probably about 10. Boss fights were fairly difficult. Overall, the gameplay was pretty fun and I enjoyed slashing my way forward. There was not much of a story, and that's perfectly fine. Save system uses checkpoints, but it's good as you can find them reasonably often. Since once you die, all enemies respawn, it would really suck if checkpoints were far from each other, and I'm glad they are spread here with just the right frequency.

gra ze wszechmiar szmatława i polecam

Solid enough Sword and Sorcery style FPS game. Most of the game takes place in two primary levels, a cave system and then a city. The City is the more interesting of the two. There is a third level as well but it is a lot shorter than the first two, intended more to be a showcase of power than a direct challenge. There's probably 5-8 hours of gameplay here in the first playthrough depending on how long you take.

Slow start. Great combat - if only Elder Scrolls games incorporated something so good. Simple design, but a complex experience. Can highly recommend.

Cool game.

Too damn short, great little game

Good game! I bought it on GOG and (IIRC) 100%ed it, but I liked it so much I'm now here, too!

short but fun

Elderborn is about a warrior chosen by his tribe's elders, proven worthy by a trial of combat, to go on a quest to infiltrate the city of Jurmum to fight the enemies that dwell within and to discover its mysteries. The game is short, there is 2 chapters plus an epilogue that finishes the game, I finished it in 4 hours of game time. I feel that it should be much longer than this, although the content that does exist does not lack quality or completeness. The combat is fun, you discover a variety of different weapons with different attributes and various abilities. I recommend using the weapons that gives you the ability to parry, because the parry mechanic is powerful and gives you an advantage. In some ways, this game reminds me of Hexen, an old FPS game with simple game design, but Elderborn is more complex and the combat is more intricate. The sound effects of Elderborn did not fully satisfy me, I feel like the sounds of weapon collisions could be more impressive and satisfying. All in all, I do recommend this game, but for how much it costs there should be more content.

проходняк

The first chapter is a complete mis-fire. This type of game demands an open air environment. Putting it in a cave for the beginning just feels claustrophobic. The rest of the game is insanely good OMG please make more of this

Had a blast playing this game. Overpowered kick = game rules.

I'm not used to playing games with soulslike mechanics yet I enjoyed the campaign on normal. Perfect amount of challenge for a newbie like me.
Enemy variety felt decent and the game is short - it doesn't overstay its welcome. Weapon variety is also great for a game this small - and I found use of almost every type for different enemies. Huge hammer and the skullcrush are the best though - crushing enemies in a single blow is VERY delightful.

The biggest downside for me is that you can't unlock all the coolest abilities in one playthrough, you pretty much have to play NG+ for unlocking the true fun. And loking some essential features like air dash at the end of a skill tree is a bummer.

And the sountrack. As a metalhead I found some moments of it pleasing, but it's very repetative and it lacks in building the right atmosphere for the environment. Some chilling ambient music would've been very much welcome.

Elderborn is a cool game. It focuses on a specific experience and delivers it. The game has very fluid combat, and although limited in scope, it achieves a lot of highs. There's a bit of souls-like exploration in most levels, and even interconnected parts of the maps and scenery.
It gets a bit stale towards the end. Specially the climax, but it's a bit to be expected for how indie this game is. Still, it was a very fun game.

love when old men take shirt off

Короткая, бюджетная, но кайфовая.
Единственный "соулс-лайк" в который не скучно играть.
Хотелось бы сиквел.

fun

Elderborn is almost a good game. It's got most of the ingredients that would require, such as strong visuals, tight gameplay, and varied enemies. But the placement of those enemies is so terrible and ill-conceived that it basically ruins the entire game.

The game is allright until you reach second stage last boss battle (it ruined the whole experience for me), for some reason they decided to give the two guardians a million health. I managed to cheese the boss and beat it. The third stage was fine as a last stage, but the ending felt unrewarding. I Played the game on hard difficulty for reference.

Absolutely incredible little game, made I'm guessing by some Polish guys who watched too much Heavy Metal. Or, maybe the right amount. Combat feels great, this is not a game with a complex skill tree and a whole bunch of moral choices, it's a game about killing the degenerate remains of a dying civilization.

If I have a complaint it's that I want to play it more. The game is short, with combat this good and such a ridiculous assortment of weapons it's really a shame there isn't more. I'm going to end up reinstalling this and playing it again because I just like killing so much--which is more than I can say for a lot of titles I paid full price for, this little gem costs as much as burger from Five Guys and it's worth every penny.

Hyperstrange: Give us a sequel. Yes, I know how it ends, do it Wolodyjowski it'll be radical everyone loves it. 10 Jeweled Thrones of Men trampled under my sandaled feet out of 10.

simple and fun
short game, high replayability

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic + Dark Souls + DOOM

Nice little game, I enjoyed playing it.

What a journey that was.
My only complain is that it was too short.
Gameplay and level design was on point.

Having played through all the Dark Souls games and Bloodborne I decided to give this game a try as well. Elderborn is a souls-like FPS game that takes place in a world of barbaric tribes. We step into the shoes of a barbarian from one of these tribes whose mission is to enter the invaded, and destroyed city of Jurmum in order to uncover its secrets and riches. The things that stand out most from the game is the soundtrack and the weapon variety in the game. The soundtrack is pure metal AF and fits the game really well.

At the beginning of the game we only start out with a sword however as we progress to the levels, more weapons can be picked up along the way. As we slay enemies we also get Essence which can be used to upgrade your character in one of 3 areas: Strength, Speed, and Vitality/Health. Each area also offers special abilities/attacks that can be unlocked by placing 20 levels into each area.

The major downside of the game for me is its short-length. The game consists of only 3 levels and despite those levels being well designed, the game can pretty much be cleared in between 5 - 8 hours of game play on normal difficulty, if you really want to challenge yourself and make the game a bit longer, then go for the Hard or the Elderborn difficulty. The length of the game is also soured further for me due to the fact that the world of Elderborn has an interesting lore and back story. You progress through the levels learning about the world and the story of how Jurmum came to be in the way it is only for it to suddenly end. I feel that if the game was made out to be longer, the story and lore could've been expanded way more as they do have that potential in them in my opinion.

Once the game is completed, we do have the option of replaying the game in NG+ however, due to the mentioned shortness of the game, it does get repetitive really quickly. The game is Steam Deck verified so I didn't experience any issues or crashes during my play through, and is not heavy on the battery. In summary Elderborn is a short but sweet experience that offers an interesting and captivating lore that does have a potential to be expanded upon. The game does suffer with repetitiveness due to its length however, it is still worth picking up and playing especially on sale.

this game is boring and sucky
not even worth the $3 i paid for it

The dumbest game I've played in a while.
Pretty cute though.

BUY. THIS. GAME. RIGHT NOW.

This is a great merge of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic and Souls-like. Wells, that saves you (and ressurect enemies), syringe (estus), bosses (only met one yet), but this game is first person. Just completed chapter one and it took 2 hours. This is a simple game, if not to say primitive, but man is it a fun.

A really fun short experience. Combat is Satisfying if a bit limited and some mechanics are a bit underbaked such as Blocking vs Parrying, and weapon arsenal feels a bit bloated.

If you want a story this is not the game I would recommend for that, it ends on a bizarre note. Thankfully the only story is in optional notes and a few short cutscenes so it doesnt matter that it's kinda ass.

Game is decent hack-and-slash, pretty short, nothing special but fun if you want to turn your brain off for a few hours. Knocking enemies off ledges feels good.

A cross between Doom remake and Dark Messiah that puts some hair on your chest.

+ Epic head smashing, front kicking, and ragdolling mfks in slowmo
+ No arbitrary stamina/mana/ammo limitation. You're hardcore badass, balance be damned!
+ Metal \m/
- Barebones story
- Many weapons feel the same

For the price of a cup of coffee, you get an absolute banger of a soundtrack AND the dark fantasy love child of DOOM. Not into Souls-likes? Neither am I—but crank it to Hard AF, and it’s pure Doom-style carnage with a sprinkle of Souls flavor. Cheap, brutal, badass.

I was really enjoying this game... until I reached the second level. What I had found to be a well balanced but difficult game threw everything out the window in favor of making core abilities unviable and spiking enemy damage output. No longer did I feel like I was learning new tech and instead had to default to a turtle method to survive. I reached a point where it stopped being fun and was just annoying. Maybe I'll return to this game in the future to give it another shot, but I can not in good faith recommend it to annyone.

SIMPLE - BUT ENGROSSING.

ELDERBORN is a melee-focused first-person action game that blends fast-paced combat with light RPG elements. As a player, you can level up one of three attributes: speed for faster attacks, strength for harder hits, or toughness for better damage resistance. This progression system is straightforward but effective, giving players the freedom to tailor their playstyle while maintaining the game’s action-oriented approach.

Gameplay and Combat

At its core, ELDERBORN shines as a combat-driven experience. The game’s melee system is engaging, with a variety of weapons that fit into distinct archetypes: fast weapons with the ability to parry, fast weapons with the ability to block, slow weapons with parry functionality, and slow weapons with blocking capabilities. This diversity allows for experimentation and adapting to different enemy types or personal preferences. The parry system, in particular, adds a satisfying layer of skill to the combat.

The game also features a fantastic mechanic that allows players to use the environment to dispatch enemies. You can kick an enemy, which lifts their shield and makes them vulnerable, or use the kick to send them backward. If an enemy is near an edge, they will take fatal damage from the fall. This mechanic adds layers to the already excellent level design, encouraging creative approaches to combat and making each arena feel dynamic and interactive.

The enemy roster is serviceable, introducing new foes as you progress through the game’s dungeon-like locales. While you’ll encounter the same enemies repeatedly, their distinct attack patterns keep combat engaging. The real challenge lies in arenas that mix multiple enemy types, requiring you to quickly assess and prioritize threats. This variety in combat scenarios compensates for the limited enemy designs.

However, the game’s combat-heavy nature can make repeated deaths frustrating, particularly in sections with ranged enemies that efficiently harass the player. These moments can feel overly punishing and disrupt the otherwise enjoyable flow of the game.

Exploration and Environment

The environments in ELDERBORN are well-crafted and fit the dungeon-crawling theme. Each locale feels distinct yet cohesive, with enough environmental cues to navigate without a map. That said, it’s easy to get momentarily lost due to the game’s labyrinthine layouts. The absence of a map feels intentional, encouraging players to pay attention to their surroundings, though it may not appeal to everyone.

Grabbing items in the world is a minor but recurring annoyance. The interact button requires you to hold it down, and enemies can interrupt this action. While this mechanic likely aims to prevent players from bypassing combat, it becomes frustrating when environmental factors make items harder to grab. This is especially noticeable when picking up keys in the heat of battle.

Audio and Soundtrack

One of ELDERBORN’s standout features is its soundtrack. The metal music perfectly complements the game’s intense combat and dark fantasy atmosphere. The absence of lyrics is a smart choice, ensuring the tracks don’t become overly repetitive despite being heard throughout the adventure. The music elevates the experience and adds a unique identity to the game. More action games could benefit from incorporating similarly styled soundtracks.

Verdict

ELDERBORN is a solid melee action game that delivers a satisfying combat experience with a distinct aesthetic and an excellent soundtrack. Its flaws, such as repetitive enemy encounters, minor exploration frustrations, and the cumbersome item interaction mechanic, don’t overshadow its strengths. If you’re looking for an action-oriented game with a heavy metal flair and enjoy melee-focused combat, ELDERBORN is worth your time.

been fighting monsters for 40 mins and wondering where the fuck im at the rest of my playtime

not bad, has some souls like elements with some dark messiah fighting style

This game is nuts... and I like it.

DOOM and Hexen had a baby in 2020, but it hates guns or magic. 3/5 elders.

good

Neat little game, really makes you feel like a BARBARIAN. Bit short, but that's okay.

the level design here is actually ok, despite reusing a lot of the same assets to make the level systems, and the enemies aren't so bad. where it's not so good to not worth bothering with is a lack of a roster of weapons and abilities beyond the first handful. it wasn't even worth the 3 dollars it was on sale. just go play dishonored again.

Great combination of Doomclone and Soulsbourne. Level design is intricate, and combat is easy to get behind. While the levels ups are small and incremental, you'll be feeling the power in short order as you progress. Parrying attacks is a bit iffy, though.

For a game that's trying to be like dark messiah, it's combat is slow and ineffective.

doom with swords 10/10

Cool game. Combat feels like Skyrim but better physics and impact. Pretty short, but there's some replayability with NG+.

At first i was a bit underwhelmed by the combat, but after getting the spear and using parrying I blasted through it in one session. No animation and fatality locks or similar bs, just fluent slaughter. Great fun!

Guy trying to make a Dark Messiah of Might And Magic clone also plays dark souls for 5 minutes and gets an impression the game should have the speed and intensity of the grampa fight from family guy and that "guy with shield + at least one ranged asshole somewhere behind him" is the peak of encounter design
Featuring Incredibly Generic 'Metal' Music from the "Your Normie Friend's Playlist" series

doom with swords, need I say more? Also parrying feels GODLIKE

Very satisfying combat! Getting bullet time on a successful parry feels great, and so does launching foes with a heavy swing of the hammer. However, the game is very short. Only took me 5 hours to beat the campaign. Therefore, I'd recommend it if you can get it for $5-10. I wish it was much longer!

Stylistically and aesthetically speaking, this game gives me Doom, Arx Fatalis, and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver vibes. It's a straightforward FPS hack and slash with minor RPG elements. It's quite fun and quick to pick-up. Good level design, combat, and game-play, along with satisfying Ragdoll physics and fun metal soundtrack. You basically fight different enemy types as you progress through the zones, obtaining new weapons and experience orbs. You can assign skill points to Strength, Speed and Resilience, in addition to gaining some special abilities along the way. Also note, you have the option to play as a male/female protagonist if that is important to you (not that it has any impact on the story or game-play.) Solid purchase if you get this on sale, and still good value if purchased at full price. Not disappointed by this game at all.

EDIT: As far as improvements go...

1.) Game could really use a map or objective hints
2.) Second stage is a bit long and tedious
3.) No sure why it's necessary for enemies to re-spawn on death