Skald: Against the Black Priory

Skald is a propulsive throwback RPG that exudes grisly character, though its commitment to tradition holds it back in a genre rife with competition.

A few bugs and grumbles are utterly brushed aside by a charming and accessible modernisation of 80s RPG detail.

Bask in the heady nostalgia of an '80s retro RPG with strong systems and a dark, mature narrative.

Inspired by great classics of the past, SKALD isn't just fueled by nostalgia but is a proper good CRPG in its own right, one that fans of the genre should probably consider playing.

SKALD: Against the Black Priory offers a deep, strategic, and nostalgic RPG experience that’s a lot of fun to play through. Don’t get me wrong, it has got a bit of a learning curve and its old-school stylings won’t be for everyone, but exploring its intriguing world, battling enemies in tactical showdowns, and rolling dice to determine your success never stops being satisfying as you uncover the secrets of the island of Idra. And hey, if you’re not too familiar with the genre, you can play on the easy difficulty setting to settle yourself in, with the game offering plenty of accessibility options to fine-tune the experience to suit you. It does have some flaws, but SKALD: Against the Black Priory delivers an old-school RPG experience that’s simply oozing in quality and charm.

Yet even these rough edges work in concert toward something singular and idiosyncratic. Indeed, the story becomes hard to pin down in the lead-up to a truly audacious ending, and the occasional abandonment of combat fortifies the horror undertones far more effectively than simply killing everything in your way. Skald may be easy to distill to its overt influences, but its best moments use those touchstones to build something new.

Anybody who has ever enjoyed a turn-based RPG and fancies a trip down memory lane will find themselves delighted with SKALD: Against the Black Priory.

High North Studios offers a window to the past with Skald: Against the Black Priory, an extremely nostalgic and charming retro RPG proposal. Those who can overlook the graphical limitations and adapt to its mechanics will find in the work of High North Studios a wonderful window to the past and an authentic old school proposal.

Skald: Against the Black Priory captures the spirit of your favorite old-school RPGs while serving up deep side quests and memorable lore, but its combat and progression systems eventually run into trouble and its overarching narrative never quite takes off.