Overlord

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 332 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 242 out of 332
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 332
  3. Negative: 19 out of 332
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  1. LT_Gruber
    Jan 10, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Glorious game and still one of my all time favorites.

    Overlord is an amazing game. I loved the concept of the game, the originality, the humor and the overall feeling of this game so much.

    You play as a badass half dude; half demon called the Overlord. You are resurrected from your tomb by your loyal subjects, simply called Minions. It is your responsibility to take up arms, overthrow all the seven worthless leaders in the kingdom and establish yourself as the ultimate ruler of the lands. To achieve this, you need to gather all your Minion types, expand your horde size, retrieve your stolen artifacts and improve your weapons and armor. I really liked the simple concept of the story, yet every corrupt ruler represents one of the seven sins that you must overcome. Greed, Gluttony, Sloth, Lust, Envy, Wrath and Pride.

    You can make various choices throughout the game. Evil or good; let someone live, give back the treasure to the people etc. It affects the ultimate ending of the game and this way; you can play the game again to see what will happen if you do it different this time.

    I really liked the story throughout and the epic plot twist in the end, in which the previous Overlord takes control over your army, and you are on your own, was epic. You were the eight hero that was supposed to slay the old overlord but got banished to a tomb, from which you were resurrected at the start of the game. When you defeated the old Overlord, you reclaim your title, tower and army and based on your choices, one of the eight different ending cut scenes will play.

    In your army, you got four different types of Minions. The brown Minions are your fighters and deal heavy damage to enemies in close combat. The red Minions are ranged fighters who throw fireballs and set stuff on fire. The Green Minions are assassins and use backstabbing attacks on unaware enemies. The blue Minions are the healers and can resurrect fallen Minions. Combining the right Minions in your army is crucial for success and can determine victory or defeat. You collect different forms of life energy from slain animals and enemies to increase the number of Minions that you can summon from the pits.

    On your conquests, you can find weapons and armor scattered around. Your Minions can pick it up, proudly displaying it above their heads and then put in on. This way, you increase their damage and resistance to damage. To top it off, they look badass when they are in full armor. However, your Minions will put everything on their heads so a sheep hat or a pumpkin is not uncommon and looks ridiculous.

    You also find different relics that your Minions must pick up and drag to the nearest tower portal, so it is stored safely in your castle. These upgrades consist of Health upgrades, Mana upgrades and horde size increase. They are, of course, heavily guarded and not easy to obtain.

    I still think that Overlord looks very pretty. The art style, the soft shaders and the landscapes still look fantastic in my opinion. The animations are still very nice to look at and I really like the interaction with almost all the objects around you.
    The sound and music in Overlord are really well done. It uses trumpets and other blow instruments to signal commands, recall your minions or to send them into battle. The ambient music is nice and calm and adapts perfectly to the situation or scene.

    In the end, Overlord and its expansion, Raising Hell, still stands in my personal favorite top ten games of all time and when writing this review, I suddenly feel the urge again to play it once more.

    Definitely recommend it.    … Expand
  2. Nekrips
    Nov 26, 2022
    9
    An excellent game with an unusual setting that allows you to take the place of a dark lord who controls an army of minions and decides the fate of the world.
    Games don't often give you the opportunity to play with the dark side, so Overlord is a unique game in this regard. The game has a fascinating fairy-tale atmosphere with satire and dark humor in the style of Terry Pratchett. The game    An excellent game with an unusual setting that allows you to take the place of a dark lord who controls an army of minions and decides the fate of the world.
    Games don't often give you the opportunity to play with the dark side, so Overlord is a unique game in this regard. The game has a fascinating fairy-tale atmosphere with satire and dark humor in the style of Terry Pratchett. The game is a parody of the image of the dark overlord in popular culture. Gnarl's comments, jokes, and comic situations give this game its own unique charm.
    The game has interesting and unique mechanics. In addition to controlling the overlord himself, the game focuses on controlling minions. With one wave of the hand, the army of demonic creatures rushes forward, breaking, destroying, killing, and plundering everything in its path. The control system allows you to give orders to certain minions in more detail. There are four types of minions, each of which has unique features. In addition, they can level up on their own in battles, becoming veterans and real killing machines. They can put on any broken item, weapon, or piece of armor, but this can only be seen in detail on brown minions.
    In addition to hand-to-hand combat skills, the overlord himself has a set of spells that can be strengthened over time. Also, while traveling through locations, you can find improvements for the armor or weapons of the overlord, which can later be forged into your Dark Tower. Each location has its own secrets and passages that can be opened later after returning there with new minions. Almost everything that is on the locations can be broken in search of gold or other resources. Even houses can be broken into and destroyed from the inside, taking out all the goods.
    Despite the humor and some frivolity, the game has an interesting plot with its deep lore. It begins with almost nothing to explain. We learn the whole plot and the history of the character as we progress through the game. But until the very end of the game, the personality of the main character is shrouded in a fog of mystery. And that's cool.
    During the passage, the hero will have the opportunity to make one or another choice, which will depend on the end of the game and the overall status of the overlord. For example, you can rescue captured elves, or leave them to be eaten by giant slugs. Give food to hungry villagers, or take it for yourself, etc. Thus, in the game, there is an opportunity to be both light and dark or neutral overlord. This is also reflected in the appearance of the character. Raising Hell DLC allows you to expand the story and links the first and second parts of the game.
    This is a unique and awesome game that allows you to feel like a truly powerful Overlord.    … Expand
  3. ProPrist
    Mar 22, 2022
    10
    The best game I've ever played. Very experimental, fresh and fun. Great visual design and entertaining plotline.
  4. OkDokiYo
    Jun 11, 2021
    10
    I wish this game can come back with a new sequel. It was so fun!!! Amazing game.
  5. MasterOverlord
    Dec 1, 2020
    10
    Overlord is a hidden gem that despite the controls on pc the game as an over all experience is a humorous trek in the shoes of an overlord bent on the destruction of his former allies but has to make decisions that will greatly effect the world around him from saving a starving village or bring the elves extinction, although the games dialogue and characters seem to lack dialogue and theOverlord is a hidden gem that despite the controls on pc the game as an over all experience is a humorous trek in the shoes of an overlord bent on the destruction of his former allies but has to make decisions that will greatly effect the world around him from saving a starving village or bring the elves extinction, although the games dialogue and characters seem to lack dialogue and the story as a whole seems to lack any impact on the player since these can be caused by his actions further into the game it didn't hamper the game as a whole and is still a fun experience. So put your armor on, don your spiky helmet, prepare to wield your favorite weapon, get ready to summon your minions and get your EVIL on… Expand
  6. MatikTheSeventh
    Oct 10, 2020
    8
    Very fun and innovative game idea. Playing as the bad guy has never felt so good before, and the colourful graphics, as well as the humour are awesome.
  7. Purplepink
    Jun 23, 2020
    8
    This game was an amazing surprise. The story was entertaining, the gameplay was really different and surprisingly challenging and the multiplayer co-op part was brilliant.
  8. cleverboy
    Jan 2, 2020
    10
    Great art direction; minions are funny cute, & funny; some puzzle elements; thoughtful map design.
    At first i thought the characters and the setting was bland. The main anti-hero you play is just called "overlord" and you're just on the side of "evil," but as the plot advances, things get more nuanced than that. i definitely want to applaud the devs for the great storytelling that was    Great art direction; minions are funny cute, & funny; some puzzle elements; thoughtful map design.
    At first i thought the characters and the setting was bland. The main anti-hero you play is just called "overlord" and you're just on the side of "evil," but as the plot advances, things get more nuanced than that. i definitely want to applaud the devs for the great storytelling that was fresh and thought-provoking. after i finished it, i had to sit and reflect on how easily good can be corrupted. i did get stuck couple of times and had to look up a walk-through, and it would have been nice to have an in-game map (the printed out map that comes with the box version of the game is pretty much useless.) If it's on sale on steam, definitely check it out (I didn't play the expansion, but i think it's suppose to add additional areas to all the maps, so wouldn't hurt to get that too if you want to just a single run-through both).
    I played this with a xbox360 controller and it worked great.    … Expand
  9. Shawndroid
    Feb 26, 2018
    8
    This was a really fun tactical puzzle game. A lot like Pikmin, but with darker sense of humour.
  10. GreenSkullRider
    Jan 28, 2017
    10
    Divertido, fácil, agradable, único... esto si es un juego para pasar el rato, quizás sea un poco corto. pero junto con su expansión tendras un gran rato agradable
  11. Lord0Dark
    Sep 1, 2015
    10
    I just can not stop! you NEED to play this game. I just love the minions, oh an Gnarl! You just have to love them all. I love this game. Although the most bugs are audio related, after 40 + play throughs you know what to do!

    Play Overlord and serve the master, now!!!
  12. Imnotaddicted
    Jul 21, 2015
    9
    Run around, blowing up sheep, burning down towns and being a general annoyance. The game has some flaws when it comes to getting your minions where you want them and they'll die in droves but hey, you can always get more anyway.
  13. GameKiller1337
    Jun 22, 2015
    10
    Cool,funny game. Normal Graphics ! And Minions ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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    I like This game !
  14. Trashware
    Sep 6, 2014
    9
    + Overlord is a fun and wonderful game. If you have any liking whatsoever towards the Tolkien Universe and don't mind a game that actually succesfully makes fun of it I would recommend it. This is not just a uninspired shoddy attempt for a parody, the developers have taken their spoof seriously. The graphics are bright and detailed and the engine runs smooth. Character models and animation+ Overlord is a fun and wonderful game. If you have any liking whatsoever towards the Tolkien Universe and don't mind a game that actually succesfully makes fun of it I would recommend it. This is not just a uninspired shoddy attempt for a parody, the developers have taken their spoof seriously. The graphics are bright and detailed and the engine runs smooth. Character models and animation are great and I can't help but enjoy the sound of breaking pots and dishes. There are lots of mechanics to be explored as you progress in the game and you'll have a good sense of satisfaction once you're done.

    - The world is not exactly an open one, but not entirely linear either. You can walk about and kill sheep or loot places at your own leisure, although that might get a bit boring if you choose to do so for a long time. If you're not playing with a controller you'll experience some annoyance when trying to swipe your flock of gremlins to the back of the field, but it's far from gamebreaking and at least you don't need to do it all the time.

    I think the game is definitely worth its full price including the raising hell expansion pack, but if you're not sure wait for the sales.    … Expand
  15. Tecco
    Jul 3, 2013
    8
    A very enjoyable game, great humor and a fun story, pc controls could be better, but overall a game worth every penny.
    There is abit of customization and the building up your keep to give extra flavor, but the true joy is in the minions and their comments, and their wacky choice og gear and weapons.
  16. ZazaTR
    Sep 27, 2012
    10
    Overlord proved to be one of the most atmosphere-heavy games in my entire gaming experience Locations and settings range widely: sun-lit village with dimwitted peasants, dark caves filled with poisonous foliage, sand-dunes with dangerous predators, zombie-infested town and cemetery, dwarven breweries and metalworks, great castle, tavern... All that adds to a great experience.
    Controls are    Overlord proved to be one of the most atmosphere-heavy games in my entire gaming experience Locations and settings range widely: sun-lit village with dimwitted peasants, dark caves filled with poisonous foliage, sand-dunes with dangerous predators, zombie-infested town and cemetery, dwarven breweries and metalworks, great castle, tavern... All that adds to a great experience.
    Controls are better in PC version (better camera handling,most importantly).
    Minion element spices up the gameplay, making player think what tactics to choose, instead of diving straight into the battle.
    Satirical humor and voices in the game are plain fantastic too.
    Overall great experience for those who like 3rd person action games, and those who enjoy RTT    … Expand
  17. CannibalBob
    Aug 1, 2012
    9
    Being bad never felt this good! Combining third-person action with some tactical strategy, Overlord lets you rampage through a rich, comical, fantasy world, which is no doubt the best part of this game. Some memorable bits are when you get to make a decision - choose a mistress, save the elves, punish the turncoats, etc. Definitely makes you feel like a villain! The exaggerated fantasyBeing bad never felt this good! Combining third-person action with some tactical strategy, Overlord lets you rampage through a rich, comical, fantasy world, which is no doubt the best part of this game. Some memorable bits are when you get to make a decision - choose a mistress, save the elves, punish the turncoats, etc. Definitely makes you feel like a villain! The exaggerated fantasy stereotypes were awesome - drunken, gold obsessed dwarves, prancy elves, the anti-unicorn... all great fun.
    One major issue is that there is no in-game map, and sometimes directions are poor. There were times when I literally scoured a level multiple times to find the next plot point! This broke the flow of the game, and made Overlord feel tedious at times.

    Overlord has an interesting type of gameplay, and can be quite challenging to get really good (ie. no minions die). The game "punishes" your failures in an interesting way, by forcing you to 'grind' for minion souls in the arenas or elsewhere. This is great, because it really makes the game flow so well, compared to the traditional "reload save" or "return to last checkpoint".
    The challenge in the gameplay lies in micromanaging your minion types. Keeping those blues back so they can revive dead minions is important, but can be difficult due to AI problems. Lock greens down on a flag/guard position, so they can surprise attack enemies for massive damage, but this reduces freedom of movement. This all took some getting used to, and I still had a lot of room for improvement, but I felt that the interface and AI were the weak part of the game. For example, using the right analog stick for manual movement doesn't always move the minions you want - a minion returning to you, for example, will ignore the right stick until he has reached the idle point next to you. Pulling back minions is a constant task, as you're always sending them to loot barrels and crates because they sometimes run the wrong way, into an enemy. Mind you, I was using the xbox gamepad to great effect. Overall, the interface and AI has its quirks, but I never felt frustrated with the game. It's not a very hard game, and once you figure out that losing minions is not a big issue, then it simply becomes a fun and enjoyable experience.
    If you have a gamepad and want to try something new, then Overlord is for you. The unique gameplay, great sense of humor and exploration will guarantee you'll have a blast!    … Expand
  18. veil_lord
    Jan 16, 2012
    9
    Awesome game. I really love controlling the little minions. It's also long and I wasn't ever really bored. I did however dislike the AI glitch in the Browns that makes using them with rally points way harder than it needs to be. Seriously, go out and buy this game now! Or wait for a Steam sale and you can often pick it up for less than $2!
  19. Soturi
    Nov 17, 2011
    9
    Overlord is a game with great idea and good visual overview though controls are sometimes a bit clumsy which appears when you try to command your blue minion to revive another minion. Blue minion will A. attack enemy, B. pick up armor/weapon, C. fetch a lifeforce D) Revive minion
  20. Ears14U
    Oct 7, 2011
    10
    There are plenty of kill or be killed games out there, from past, present, and we know future tense also. I picked this game up and I can tell you that even though it's written in a dark tone, it still comes off as being a whimsical and humorous title to say the very least. The graphics are crisp, the audio is clear down to the voices of the funny creatures. I personally have never givenThere are plenty of kill or be killed games out there, from past, present, and we know future tense also. I picked this game up and I can tell you that even though it's written in a dark tone, it still comes off as being a whimsical and humorous title to say the very least. The graphics are crisp, the audio is clear down to the voices of the funny creatures. I personally have never given a title a "10", in my 30+ years of gaming until now. This title even though it is on the macabre side, yet actually facetiously tends to pull it off. And you will catch yourself at times chuckling to yourself at some of the writer's humor. I had to go back to steam and download the additional add-ons, since I knew with certainty I would love this title. I really don't believe that you would be disappointed at your purchase, should you consider spending a nominal amount on this one! Just catch it when it goes on sale like I did, or go ahead and spend a $9.99 on it. It was quite refreshing the mere half an hour I spent playing it. Of course you can play with mouse and keyboard, but I think it's a lot more fun to grab a cheap microsoft x-box "canned ham" controller and plug it right in. Have fun always, and I hope my review helps anyone out there!… Expand
  21. LA_DOTTORE
    Sep 3, 2011
    9
    Great visuals and fun gameplay, this Real Time Strategy/Action Hack and Slash type game is really fun and, if you're buying off of Steam is definitely worth the $5. In my opinion it's worth alot more! You play the Overlord who has been awakened and needs to gain full power over the world again. Pretty basic story but heroes and mistresses and other things make the story fun and originalGreat visuals and fun gameplay, this Real Time Strategy/Action Hack and Slash type game is really fun and, if you're buying off of Steam is definitely worth the $5. In my opinion it's worth alot more! You play the Overlord who has been awakened and needs to gain full power over the world again. Pretty basic story but heroes and mistresses and other things make the story fun and original and there is enough humour for everyone! You have control over 4 minions: Browns, Reds, Greens, and Blues. Browns being the idiotic beat-'em-up guys, Reds being the archers, Greens being the assassin's, and Blues being the healers of your small army. These 4 groups make the game very fun as they have their skills and weaknesses! Only downer for me would be the animation quality for the Overlord's attacks, they look repetitive and eventually get boring to watch but that isn't important at all! Can't wait to buy the DLC: Raising Hell!… Expand
  22. Ch3m1st
    Jun 11, 2011
    10
    The game is just a boat load of fun, I never had another game put a smile on my face during the entire campaign the way Overlord did. Also it is not a short game, took me about 19 hours to beat (with the raising hell expansion). The minions are a delight to play with and the developers payed attention to the small stuff. they took the time to make sure there is something unique about everyThe game is just a boat load of fun, I never had another game put a smile on my face during the entire campaign the way Overlord did. Also it is not a short game, took me about 19 hours to beat (with the raising hell expansion). The minions are a delight to play with and the developers payed attention to the small stuff. they took the time to make sure there is something unique about every single quest. I can safely say that this game is the best fun I have had playing a video game. it mixes fighting, strategy, and puzzles very well. over all a great game and is highly recommended.… Expand
  23. Duderoth
    May 7, 2011
    9
    In my opinion, Overlord is one of the funniest games out there to this day. The controls are a bit wonky at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to them, and that is the only complaint I can think of off the top of my head. On top of that, this game has superb writing and an excellent plot, which takes your character through each of the seven deadly sins. Each of the environmentsIn my opinion, Overlord is one of the funniest games out there to this day. The controls are a bit wonky at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to them, and that is the only complaint I can think of off the top of my head. On top of that, this game has superb writing and an excellent plot, which takes your character through each of the seven deadly sins. Each of the environments you play through is greatly unique, with its own additional unique set of characters.

    What's really odd about this game, is that it is a complete satire on the stereotypical fantasy game, and as such uses about as many stereotypes for its various characters as possible. But in the end, Overlord stands out as an extremely unique game, and a superbly unique fantasy. It is amazing how it can do both at the same time. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this game, and it was well worth the $20.00 I bought it with from steam a couple years back. (It's probably much cheaper now.) To this day, it's still greatly enjoyable.    … Expand
  24. xboy1024
    Sep 21, 2010
    10
    Very good and funny game!
  25. Nina
    Jan 18, 2010
    9
    Excellent game. childish enough for kids to enjoy. but enough adult humor hidden in for adults to have fun as well. the gameplay mechanic works for everyone. I must recommend getting a controller though as minion control is a pain without it. fun for all ages. and twisted enough to really take out pent up aggression with if you are playing as the TRULY evil overload.
  26. JohnC
    Nov 13, 2009
    10
    One of the funnest games ive played in the past few months was a nice break from the old FPS. Some of the best comedy ive seen in a video game love the minions. Also got it on an amazing deal on steam only $8 in a compilation with Overlord+ Hell Rising, and Overlord II ty steam for putting this on sell or i probably would have never played it.
  27. [anonymous]
    Jun 19, 2009
    10
    this game really brings out some of the best games ive played : fable and pikmin. the controls are awesome and the humor is great
  28. JM
    Jun 16, 2009
    9
    what i've found its that if you wish to avoid all the loading screens then you could grab the console versions ( at the time of writinng the game is now out on ps3, xbox 360 and being worked for the wii) but in terms of the game it's just what i need to fill the niche of mayhem, richly combined with whacky characters, humour and a quirky minion system. the bosses, though a what i've found its that if you wish to avoid all the loading screens then you could grab the console versions ( at the time of writinng the game is now out on ps3, xbox 360 and being worked for the wii) but in terms of the game it's just what i need to fill the niche of mayhem, richly combined with whacky characters, humour and a quirky minion system. the bosses, though a little lacking in the difficulty sector, accurately depict their downfall (see each boss has succumbed to one of the seven deadly sins). the pc i have found can be at times clumsy with controlls like this (psychonauts is another example). the camera is at times difficult to work with but its all countered by the fact that you can slaughter a village for stress relief. once the sequel is released the pain can really begin… Expand
  29. JimT
    Jun 23, 2008
    9
    Too funny to be evil. Hilarious Minion actions, the concept is so simple controls extremely easy to use fun with evil! Quell your evil desires...
  30. ThiagoS
    Dec 17, 2007
    9
    Nice and fun game with some dark humor and good graphics and sounds (if you can run it at the max setting)
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Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best PC Game of 2007
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. PC Gamer UK
    75
    If Overlord is a villain, then it's one of those buffoon-ish sidekicks in a Disney movie. It tries and tries hard to be dark, to carry out depraved deeds and thwart the heroes. But it just can't help but cutely (and it is cute) bumble every attempt, conform to cliches at every chance, and grin gently at its own sophomoric humour. [July 2007, p.82]
  2. Eurogamer
    80
    More than the script (generally witty and sharp, if occasionally undercut by an iffy voice-actor) or the graphic design (a brother to Fable's faux-fantasy charm), the constant capering of your charges is what gives the game its personality. That is, they have a lot of personality and so does the game.
    Read full review
  3. PC Zone UK
    72
    The balancing could do with some tweaking, with some enemies too hard to defeat and some bosses too easy. [Aug 2007, p.70]
See all critic reviews »