Armello

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 86
  3. Negative: 13 out of 86

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  1. SuperkenGaming
    Sep 5, 2015
    7
    Armello
    About as fun to play as watching paint dry
    Now don’t get me wrong, Armello is a great strategy board game with many layers to make this game potentially insanely addictive, but it’s problem is it’s pacing. There are 4 heroes on the board at a time, now not only are there 4 heroes, there is a king, 3 guards and sometimes multiple banes.. and you have to sit through all of the    Armello
    About as fun to play as watching paint dry
    Now don’t get me wrong, Armello is a great strategy board game with many layers to make this game potentially insanely addictive, but it’s problem is it’s pacing.
    There are 4 heroes on the board at a time, now not only are there 4 heroes, there is a king, 3 guards and sometimes multiple banes.. and you have to sit through all of the these characters turns and it becomes dreadfully boring quickly.
    To be fair, heroes can play cards on each other at any time and the king makes decrees but an optional fast forward button absolutely needs to be patched into this game at least in single player, with a force pause when a character plays a card that affects you, there really is no point in waiting for what feels like an eternity to go again, there is already a tab that allows you to check the current stats of the other 3 heroes you are competing against.
    Other than the dreadfully slow paced gameplay, Armello is a wonderful game.
    Every character has their own bonus perks and starts out each game with a mission that they can
    go towards for cards, companions, gold, and prestige to help further their odds of winning this chance based strategy game. After you’ve completed a mission, you’re then given a choice of the mission you want to go for next, but these missions are completely optional, there are tons of strategies that can be used to win the game.
    You can use your gold to activate combat and trickery cards, and can use your magic to activate magic cards.
    You are allowed to draw cards every turn assuming you have less than 4 cards available to play
    If you don’t want a certain card you can burn it in battle for a guaranteed attack or a guaranteed shield
    or really to just free your hand for hopefully a better draw.
    Combat cards will boost your combat skills,
    Trickery and magic cards can be used either on individual heroes or effect a section of the board.
    These hurdles can hinder the other heroes in their quest, which is a good thing because you can also gain gold and prestige by killing other heroes, by claiming villages on the board, by killing banes, or exploring ruins.
    By being the character with the highest prestige, you get to choose the decree the king makes, this decree can effect the entire board or just a few, which does include you
    If the king dies by the rot before a character can defeat him, you will also win the game.
    The rot can be a good or a bad thing depending on your strategy.
    You get the rot by playing cards or losing a battle against banes, if you get up to 5 bane your character becomes corrupted, and like the king, every dawn you lose 1 health, but by defeating other character you gain 1 health. And dying isn’t all too bad here in armello,
    if you die you aren’t out of the game, you just go back to your starting space.
    To win with the rot, you simply get your rot higher than the kings is, you attack the kingdom and defeat him in battle.
    You can also just straight up attack the king to win or collect all 4 spirit stone to cure him.
    I really love the game of armello, I want to pour hours and hours into this board game
    But I feel like it doesn’t respect my time enough and in the current state it’s in I just can’t
    For being a game, you do a lot more waiting than you do playing, and that’s a huge issue
    For what it is
    Strategy Boardgame:
    8.5/10

    Overall:
    6.5/10    … Expand
  2. upThere
    Sep 5, 2015
    5
    Feeling a bit cheated by this game. The character artwork, the world and story videos are truly amazing and got me invested, but after a few hours trying to get deep into this gameplay, the fun just isn't there. You spend ages waiting around for other players to do their thing - which is fine if there's real strategies to plan - but when stuff does finally happen the outcome seems all tooFeeling a bit cheated by this game. The character artwork, the world and story videos are truly amazing and got me invested, but after a few hours trying to get deep into this gameplay, the fun just isn't there. You spend ages waiting around for other players to do their thing - which is fine if there's real strategies to plan - but when stuff does finally happen the outcome seems all too random and incoherent. Disappointed in what could have been a very compelling game. The music is great though.… Expand
  3. Shoki
    Sep 3, 2015
    6
    I was hoping that this would be so much better. It's pretty flat. So much is based on luck that there really isn't much strategy to be had. The sound design is pretty weak and the levels are all over the place. Maybe they will improve it as time goes on. I think you are better off with something else for the time being.
  4. TtheWriter
    Oct 4, 2015
    5
    The art style is gorgeous, the game itself intricate. You are CERTAINLY at the mercy of dice and deck here, which is what too many other reviewers are complaining about. Its. a. BOARD. GAME. And a hobby board game at that. I think it's amazing and worth playing. However, the lack of an in-game chat system makes this board game feel very isolating and lonely. If you wanna have fun here,The art style is gorgeous, the game itself intricate. You are CERTAINLY at the mercy of dice and deck here, which is what too many other reviewers are complaining about. Its. a. BOARD. GAME. And a hobby board game at that. I think it's amazing and worth playing. However, the lack of an in-game chat system makes this board game feel very isolating and lonely. If you wanna have fun here, bring friends and bring Skype.… Expand
  5. Sjalka
    Sep 12, 2015
    7
    In a way - this is how a computer game of a board game should be like. It still is a board game - but the computer adds its strength in terms of design and game mechanics.

    For me personally - i respect the game as it is programmed on PC. I see that it seems to be very well done. I just do not care for the actual "game". Its like getting a near perfect PC version of Monopoly where you    In a way - this is how a computer game of a board game should be like. It still is a board game - but the computer adds its strength in terms of design and game mechanics.

    For me personally - i respect the game as it is programmed on PC. I see that it seems to be very well done. I just do not care for the actual "game". Its like getting a near perfect PC version of Monopoly where you can safely say "yes - that is how it should look and feel like on PC!" - but simply not liking Monopoly.

    A game session is nice and short (however - too long for just a very quick casual burst) - the AI ... well.... does not seem to play impartial but tends to team up against the player (at least in solo player mode)
    It does sometimes feel like the AI either has a ton of luck on rolls and encounters - or simply cheats a little.

    In terms of design - i would have liked a much much longer experience to get to know the hero one is playing - as well as the other players heroes. I have played it a few times - and caught myself simply not caring for the lore, the background in general - or whats actually going on at all. - In short - i am not immersed in the game and the game does not make an effort to immerse me.    … Expand
  6. nabbone
    Dec 27, 2015
    7
    Fun and simple, graphically attractive. The right balance between luck and strategy. For each clan strategies completely change the way you play. Online mode very well done.
  7. tobivv
    Apr 24, 2020
    6
    Decent RPG board-video game, with very nice artstyle. The game is very RNG-heavy, and not only in battles, so you don't really feel the losses or wins are deserved.
  8. klaaz
    Jan 26, 2023
    7
    The game is simple and fun but becomes repetitive with the passing of the games making them predictable and losing interest in them.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. PLAY! Zine
    Sep 7, 2016
    85
    Armello is so gorgeous, it kept reminding us that there is no an actual physical board game like this even though it really deserves to be. The game successfully mixes several elements from other genres, telling story and making our imagination run wild.
    Read full review
  2. GameSpew
    Apr 9, 2016
    80
    I’d highly recommend Armello to fans of Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, Starcraft, D&D, or anyone wanting to branch out from traditional board games. The graphics, though not the most exceptional in terms of quality, are beautiful; the combination of 3D effects with almost anime-esque cu scenes gives the game a unique and striking look. It’s interesting, the music has a calming effect, and it gives so much for a relatively unknown game, for not much money.
    Read full review
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Jan 4, 2016
    85
    Game of Thrones with fantasy animals. Light tactical game is great fun as multiplayer. [Dec 2015]
See all critic reviews »