The Knightling | Review Thread

Gamer_By_Proxy

About to beat off
The Knightling just released. $30 but ($24 introductory price on Steam).
Some of the reviews seem overly harsh imo. Especially DualShockers comparing a $30 title to AAA . . .








80
TheGamer
In a year already filled with sleeper hits, I truly believe The Knightling can be another one on this growing list. Not only does it pack everything you'd want from an RPG into a condensed package, but it borrows from other genres to make a game that will appeal to a massive audience if they're willing to give it a chance. Action adventure, 3D platforming, puzzles, there's something for everyone without the looming threat of setting aside 80 hours to play it.


80
GameSpew
The parry-based combat style isn't going to be for everyone, but The Knightling has plenty more to offer to make up for it. This whimsical adventure has won me over thanks to its clever puzzles and its seriously enjoyable traversal — sledging down a big hill on the back of a big shield has no right being this much fun.


70
Gamereactor UK
The Knightling is a fine action-adventure game with some strong ideas and elements. There's plenty of charisma and quality at the heart of this game, and it's broad and packed enough to keep you engaged until the credits roll. But, and despite its immediately noticeable similarities in gameplay, don't expect a game of nearly the same mechanical depth nor technical refinement as that of a Zelda project, as The Knightling doesn't have the same attention to detail as the series that to this day stands out as one of, if not the best in the genre.


70
Hardcore Gamer
Much like the hero himself, The Knightling might seem small and unimportant, but it can produce great results when it needs to. Exploring the colorful environments is an enjoyable time. There's a ton to see and do and the game invites players to make the most of everything it has to offer. It can be challenging, but it's never frustrating. The light puzzles break up the combat and exploration, and the combat allows the player to find solutions to encounters that fit their preferred play style. Traversal is the true star of the show, especially after all of the abilities have been unlocked. Putting together strings of moves to zip across a region is extremely satisfying. It all comes together to create an action platformer that isn't flawless, but proudly owns its B-tier status. And it should be proud.


70
Shacknews
The Knightling offers a colorful world, fun characters, some interesting gameplay gimmicks, and a lot of Stuff to Do. The downside is an overall lack of "finish" that makes the more intense gameplay feel unrefined and inconsistent, and an open world structure that doesn't do much to distinguish itself from peers. It's a fun, cheerful platformer with plenty of personality and ideas, but perhaps doesn't achieve all its goals as intended.


65
DualShockers
The Knightling has a lot of charm and some fun ideas, but simply can't compete with the larger titles it wants to be compared to. The fluidity of movement is the true standout here, along with a solid, nice-looking open-world that doesn't feel like a chore. Unfortunately, the combat is fairly boring, the puzzles aren't memorable, the platforming feels off, and a handful of quests don't seem to function as intended. I like this team's heart, and I am looking forward to seeing them grow from here. For me, The Knightling sadly just wasn't all the way there yet.


60
Final Weapon
In the end, what remains with The Knightling is the impression of a lively, believable world that you enjoy exploring. The combination of dynamic movement, fun combat, and organic side quests makes The Knightling a title with great potential.


60
IGN Benelux
With a poorly thought-out combat system, an uneven story, and an open world that is largely empty, developer Twirlbound falls into familiar pitfalls as they did before.
 
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I'm 5 hours in. It's pretty good if you like platformers with sliding and gliding. It's not too easy either which is what I feared. I know this will probably get lost in the shuffle right now but it's worth checking out imo.
 
O1@TP = The Knightling (only one at the party)

I beat this game last night. It's a pretty damn good indie that more people should play. Maybe add it to your wishlist for when it's a little cheaper. I beat it in 15 hours while doing most side stuff, but I'm slow I guess. I believe there's still a demo you can try in Steam. The character controls really well which is what makes the game really. You use a shield as a melee weapon, throwing weapon, slide, and glider.

I did have an issue pop up a few times on PC while having the resolution at 4k. For some reason the game will suddenly get really slow and opening/closing the game will not fix it. You can go down to 1440p or 1080p and it'll speed back up again. It's weird. I mainly played the game on Steam Deck. It ran perfectly at like 40fps on Steam Deck. So I'd recommend playing it that way if possible.
 
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