Zoria: Age of Shattering

Zoria is systems-heavy and a bit janky and undercooked in places, but it's a hearty RPG with a lot of spirit and great promise.

Zoria can offer a compelling tactical experience, but presentation and graphical weaknesses dull the shine.

Zoria: Age of Shattering isn’t a surprise, but it will definitely thrill RPG fans and convince them of its merits. While it does have a few shortcomings—such as the crafting system, occasional glitches with obstacles during combat, and a slightly hackneyed story—the excellent music, superb controls, and very good turn-based combat elevate the game. All in all, this is a slightly above-average title, and if a few updates are released in the future, the score could easily jump up another point.

Zoria: Age of Shattering is an ambitious RPG that offers an interesting alternative within the genre, steeped in the best of the old school. One of those videogames that come out of nowhere and surprise for the better.

Zoria: Age of Shattering is an engaging CRPG that doesn't reinvent the genre, but does improve on a number of systems, but could benefit from adding gamepad/controller support and perhaps some multiplayer coop.

The lack of cohesion is prevalent in almost every part of Zoria: Age of Shattering, which is a massive shame as there is passion oozing all over the game. Tiny Trinket is a team of passionate developers who enjoy bringing a sense of nostalgia from the '90s and early 2000s into the things they develop; this game also shows that. Still, there are just so many minor issues that pile up that bring down Zoria: Age of Shattering. All these issues could have seriously benefitted from more time in the oven.

Zoria: Age of Shattering is a product of love and passion from Tiny Trinket Games. The game features a deep narrative, complex tactical combat, base building, and so much more. However, the lack of QoL-features brings it down: the highs are exhilarating, but the lows can feel a bit too draining.

Emerging on the verge of death from a dungeon, with the party on the brink and afflicted by a chain of debuffs, without supplies or potions, and returning triumphantly to the fortress to sell the loot and invest all the earnings in new equipment and upgrades, provides a unique satisfaction, one capable of curling the corners of the mouth into an involuntary smile.

Zoria: Age of Shattering follows the rules of the staple medieval RPGs in the market, which is absolutely fine. The charm of the overworld and replay value in the game are immensely high, but some quality control might have led to a polished release. In terms of gameplay, it feels close to home but then feels clunky at times to put you off, so it’s better to approach Zoria’s world with a bit of a pinch of salt into your inventory.