Risen

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 894 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 659 out of 894
  2. Mixed: 163 out of 894
  3. Negative: 72 out of 894
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  1. SeanF
    Oct 27, 2009
    10
    Let me start this review by saying that I've never played any of the Gothic games. Or Oblivion. Or pretty much any RPG that has been released (for PC or consoles) in the last 8-or-so years. I lost interest in gaming a long while back, after a marriage, kids and work took up all of my time. I bought a new computer last week, and figured I'd take a look on Metacritic and see which Let me start this review by saying that I've never played any of the Gothic games. Or Oblivion. Or pretty much any RPG that has been released (for PC or consoles) in the last 8-or-so years. I lost interest in gaming a long while back, after a marriage, kids and work took up all of my time. I bought a new computer last week, and figured I'd take a look on Metacritic and see which RPGs were well-received -- I used to love the genre, and have played many of the classics (Wizardry series up to 7, Ultima Underworld, Betrayal at Krondor, etc.) and figured that I'd pick up a title to play for an hour or two in the evenings before bed. After considering a few, I decided on Risen and purchased it from an online retailer. I had no idea what I was in for! I have scarcely done anything but sit in my computer chair, jaw gaping for the last 4 days. This game is just incredible... the world is so fully realized it's almost shocking. People go about their daily lives, the days and nights cycle and weather changes, the world has very lived-in feel and a real sense of history. It is so easy to get lost in it, especially due to all of the distractions that the game offers you: collecting animal trophies, crafting swords and jewelery, mining... the list goes on and on. Should you decide to focus on the main quest line, the plot is gripping and voice acting accomplished. The game has a sense of moral ambiguity throughout that's very mature and thoughtful. There is no right and wrong side -- you are left only with your own morals and instincts to decide your friends and foes. Also, characters are multi-dimensional and not always as they appear... you will often serve as a tool for someone else's ulterior motives unless you're wise enough to catch on and refuse. I am, perhaps, not the best judge of graphics since I've been out of the loop for a while, but i'd argue that Risen is indisputably gorgeous. Beams of rust-orange light poke through the swaying trees at sunset, water flows convincingly around rocks and down falls, nights are inky blackness, broken only by your torch, which casts realistic shadows from everything around you. Just wow. Don't let yourself miss this game, it is really truly a classic and has single-handedly rejuvenated my interest in video games.… Expand
  2. phanj
    Nov 22, 2009
    6
    I tried to and really want to like this game. I just can't stand the combat, which is very frustrating. Your opponent gets guaranteed hits, but the reflex-based combat system implies that your mouse clicking skills will suffice. So the combat tries to be action-rpg because your coordination with the mouse is important and not so much your player's stats (as opposed to DA:O where I tried to and really want to like this game. I just can't stand the combat, which is very frustrating. Your opponent gets guaranteed hits, but the reflex-based combat system implies that your mouse clicking skills will suffice. So the combat tries to be action-rpg because your coordination with the mouse is important and not so much your player's stats (as opposed to DA:O where 'stats' are everything). Even the simplest creatures seem to have more HP than you do and will take many hits to kill. Also the world is chock full of hostiles at every turn, just amplifying how frustrating the game can get when each fight seems rigged to be unfair. When you engage a hostile, you can't defend and attack (mele) at the same time, so you MUST release the shield and strike. And in this 1/20th of a second window where you release your shield and click to attack, your opponent gets a random chance at a guaranteed hit and you are forced to quaff a heal pot (which are hard to find early on). You can NOT hold the shield up and hit with the weapon at the same time. Other people who seem to have not noticed that the combat is unfair say it's fine, but they just haven't noticed the game is cheating in combat. Also the game forces you to do menial tasks to progress in the game like farm a farmer's field. Things like this serve the story, but absolutely are not fun to do. So from that perspective story is primary in this game, and RPG elements secondary. It's an adventure game with RPG elements, but as far as game progression, you must do many of the quests. What I like about the game is that the world is indeed as PB says, detail rich. The world is immersive. Everything is skillfully made. Time of day is very well done. I wish I could stand this game more so that I could see more of what it has to offer, because the scenery is very nice. I've also heard there are some big dungeons to explore and I'd love to see those. Oh well.… Expand
  3. Andante
    Mar 22, 2014
    10
    Words cannot really describe what a masterpiece this game is. It's the best game I ever played after 2009, nothing comes close. Today I'm not really into gaming (tight schedule/engineering student) but I always remember THIS game....I tried to play some other RPG's but I uninstalled them immediately because after Risen almost everything felt crap...
  4. matthew11
    Dec 9, 2013
    8
    Another old-school RPG from Piranhas. I always loved Gothic and this is his spiritual successor. You have whole island to discover, you can do quests for every fraction you want, smithing, hunting, magic, fighting, nobody tells you what you must do for progress in story. In current time, there's not so understanding for RPGs like this, but for old Gothic players (like me) it's a greatAnother old-school RPG from Piranhas. I always loved Gothic and this is his spiritual successor. You have whole island to discover, you can do quests for every fraction you want, smithing, hunting, magic, fighting, nobody tells you what you must do for progress in story. In current time, there's not so understanding for RPGs like this, but for old Gothic players (like me) it's a great reminder for legendary games Piranha Bytes. 76/100… Expand
  5. mike88100
    Jun 21, 2014
    10
    Gra chociaż swoje najlepsze lata ma już za sobą, nadal jest bardzo wciągająca, także graficznie nie jest najgorsza przy najwyższych ustawieniach, polecam każdemu kto ma słabszy sprzęt a oczekuje jak najwięcej z rozgrywki. Osobiście jestem fanem serii "Gothic" a "Risen" To godny następca tej serii.
  6. Vzhik
    Nov 12, 2018
    7
    Игра прошла под лозунгом "Дайте мне магию, буду шмалять по инквизиции". В итоге и магию не всю дали, и инквизицию как-то не особо замочить получилось...
    Очень круто что игра полностью на русском, включая озвучку. Мили боёвка просто полный атас, невозможно без матов смотреть.
    Ничего от Пираний раньше не играл, очень понравились квесты, загадки, ветвления сюжета, ориентированность на    Игра прошла под лозунгом "Дайте мне магию, буду шмалять по инквизиции". В итоге и магию не всю дали, и инквизицию как-то не особо замочить получилось...
    Очень круто что игра полностью на русском, включая озвучку. Мили боёвка просто полный атас, невозможно без матов смотреть.
    Ничего от Пираний раньше не играл, очень понравились квесты, загадки, ветвления сюжета, ориентированность на прохождение где не надо всех тупо выкашивать.    … Expand
  7. Lucassmdt
    Nov 16, 2015
    10
    One of the best gamer I played! The history and the realism cativate until now. The history, centrated in a misterious organization (Inquisitors) and the fate of the world and me, I lone wolf in the mid of all this.
    One of the best gamer ever!
  8. Tilt1k
    Jun 29, 2020
    7
    Its just like gothic 3 with some adjustments and graphics enhancement. I dont know why i even like this style of games. The writing is really stupid and plain, NPCs are not memorable and pretty generic. The combat system is just hit and jump all over again, there is a little variety of enemies and most of them attack the same way. The leveling system is also nothing spectacular.

    Nothing    Its just like gothic 3 with some adjustments and graphics enhancement. I dont know why i even like this style of games. The writing is really stupid and plain, NPCs are not memorable and pretty generic. The combat system is just hit and jump all over again, there is a little variety of enemies and most of them attack the same way. The leveling system is also nothing spectacular.

    Nothing really stands out from this game, and if i look at it on paper it should be bad. But i just enjoyed most of my playthrough, what keeps this game going is the exploration of the island, you just wanna see more and more and find everything. I spent 72 hours in my first playthrough which is quite a lot. As i have said this game is not really amazing in anything but it has some magic in it and if you like RPG games, you should enjoy this one.    … Expand
  9. InQuasi
    Apr 14, 2019
    10
    A masterpiece of sound, atmosphere and world building. A small yet dense world feels so alive, so real for a fantasy game this is truly amazing. I remember many scorching summer days spent wasting away in the immense game that is Risen. Thank you PB, for the best game ever made.
  10. Torgall
    Dec 12, 2020
    8
    Very good RPG that made me nostalgic because of how it resembled the good ol' Gothic. The way this series went after this first game is just sad.
  11. Pekaboyare
    Jan 26, 2021
    8
    Клёвая игрушка, проблемы у нее конечно есть, но она стоит того чтобы пройти её.
  12. Czechinator
    Oct 18, 2022
    9
    Last good game from PB. Great music, great ambient sounds, beautiful world where I enjoyed exploring every corner. The last game they made where I wanted to try another faction right after I finished. When it rained at night it was absolutely magical. Combat was fun. The story was interesting. Dialogue was pretty much ok.
    It really gave off a gothic vibe
    Too bad after this game, every    Last good game from PB. Great music, great ambient sounds, beautiful world where I enjoyed exploring every corner. The last game they made where I wanted to try another faction right after I finished. When it rained at night it was absolutely magical. Combat was fun. The story was interesting. Dialogue was pretty much ok.
    It really gave off a gothic vibe

    Too bad after this game, every game they made got worse and worse in every way.    … Expand
  13. ZOMBIEWINEGUM
    Jan 22, 2012
    9
    When I first saw this game I had no idea how good it was going to be. I will start with the graphics. The graphics are the only thing that make me give this game a 9 rather than a 10. The character models and building have a polygon count a bit on the lower side. The aesthetics on the other hand make this the nicest looking game I have seen for a long time the use of depth of field is justWhen I first saw this game I had no idea how good it was going to be. I will start with the graphics. The graphics are the only thing that make me give this game a 9 rather than a 10. The character models and building have a polygon count a bit on the lower side. The aesthetics on the other hand make this the nicest looking game I have seen for a long time the use of depth of field is just astonishing. The gameplay can only be describes as classic RPG. It looks, feels and plays like a high quality RPG. In my personal opinion this is better than skyrim.… Expand
  14. Ramanujan
    Mar 15, 2011
    9
    I've never played any of the Gothic games so this game was a quite new experience for me. A very enjoyable and engrossing experience too. I've logged 100 hours on this game without even noticing it - it's that immersive. Potions, cooking, mining, forging, stealing, freedom to go almost anywhere from the start and a fresh (to me) approach to combat, which I had to learn fast. Any game whereI've never played any of the Gothic games so this game was a quite new experience for me. A very enjoyable and engrossing experience too. I've logged 100 hours on this game without even noticing it - it's that immersive. Potions, cooking, mining, forging, stealing, freedom to go almost anywhere from the start and a fresh (to me) approach to combat, which I had to learn fast. Any game where spamming the left click button almost guarantees you defeat in battle is a welcome change. A serious or even semi-serious RPGer should find this game well worth their time and money. I had a few very minor grahical glitches (steam version) and the end could perhaps have been better, but this game is full of entertainment and I highly recommend it, especially if the you are disillusioned with the direction of other so-called RPGs.… Expand
  15. DevonM.
    Oct 10, 2009
    10
    Risen is a wonderful return to RPG roots. It does almost nothing wrong in my books. For people tried of the 'Diablo' style of action-rpg that dominates the shelves, Risen will be a wonderful breath of fresh air. This isn't a game where every five minutes you'll be levelling up, nor will you be constantly finding brand new weapons and armor to swap out. Until you start Risen is a wonderful return to RPG roots. It does almost nothing wrong in my books. For people tried of the 'Diablo' style of action-rpg that dominates the shelves, Risen will be a wonderful breath of fresh air. This isn't a game where every five minutes you'll be levelling up, nor will you be constantly finding brand new weapons and armor to swap out. Until you start to get some better equipment and training, each battle will be dangerous and rewarding. After Gothic 3 I was skeptical of buying Risen, I cannot believe I almost passed up what has rapidly become one of the most compelling RPG's I've played since Mass Effect. As far as decisions make in the game, I love how the idea of good and bad isn't so distinct, rather it focuses on what side you'll take and what lines you'll tread there. Sure you apprehend the thief, but do you choose to let him go or turn him in? And if you do, which side are your ambitions aligned towards? Graphically speaking I find the game absolutely beautiful. I love how dark is dark in this game, carrying a torch through the jungle in a rainstorm as the shadows of trees and bushes dance around is a compelling visual experience. The acoustic ambiance is nothing shy of excellent either, this game is a visual and aural feast. Combat, one of the things widely criticized is in my opinion pretty good. With the sole exception of a minor targetting problem, I've never felt like the system was unintuitive, boring or difficult. Combat IS difficult, but not because of the system in place. Rather use of tactics and timing are paramount and can lead to some pretty satisfying kills. At one point I had performed an overhead strike only to kill three gnomes with the same hit, which is not common mind you, but shows how the system is versitile. Also, unlike other casual RPG's, there are no -easy- enemies in this game. Until you get some good armor, training and weapons, even the earliest enemies will still be dangerous, you just get better at killing them. Most importantly I've had no technical issues and it runs fine on my Sony Vaio FW485J/B at max graphical settings. I'm running the steam version of the game. Now, the game does have a few hiccups in dealing with falling, drowning, and the occassional targetting mishap in combat. But none which get in the way to make the game unplayable or less enjoyable. All in all, I love this game. LOVE IT. Anyone rating it poorly most likely simply do not like the design or difficulty of it. Any true hardcore or old school RPGers will feel completely at home here, and like me, have been waiting for this game for a long time.… Expand
  16. JamesG
    Nov 27, 2009
    9
    Great character voice acting, good storyline and progression of hero from fighter to battle mage. They avoided a lot of the annoying aspects of similar games (unlimited weight carrying, fireballs don't kill friends, no limitations based on good/evil alignment, etc).. Beautiful environment with sunrises, birds, rain, nice water effects. Lots of weapons, but not too complicated. Simple Great character voice acting, good storyline and progression of hero from fighter to battle mage. They avoided a lot of the annoying aspects of similar games (unlimited weight carrying, fireballs don't kill friends, no limitations based on good/evil alignment, etc).. Beautiful environment with sunrises, birds, rain, nice water effects. Lots of weapons, but not too complicated. Simple approach to magic that works well. Great game!… Expand
  17. Synplasm
    Apr 9, 2011
    9
    A challenging and very rewarding game. One of the better RPGs to appear in the last few years. If you are prepared to invest in the game you will get your money's worth and much more. Even if you are only a semi serious RPGer you should give this game a try. I doubt if you will be disappointed. I won't go into specifics, I don't need to, just believe me when I say this game is very veryA challenging and very rewarding game. One of the better RPGs to appear in the last few years. If you are prepared to invest in the game you will get your money's worth and much more. Even if you are only a semi serious RPGer you should give this game a try. I doubt if you will be disappointed. I won't go into specifics, I don't need to, just believe me when I say this game is very very immersive. Of course, if you are an instant gratification bod who wants to be walked through the game whilst playing it, simultaneously one shotting everything in your path, then I wouldn't bother.… Expand
  18. DanM
    Oct 2, 2009
    10
    Great RPG. with an unique and impressive fighting gameplay... you can kill much higher level enemies just by being able to control your character and avoid their attacks, block or counter attack in semi combos; the world is a joy to explore and the graphics are a real work of art. Story is captivating and even though I haven't finished the game, I can't wait to start over again Great RPG. with an unique and impressive fighting gameplay... you can kill much higher level enemies just by being able to control your character and avoid their attacks, block or counter attack in semi combos; the world is a joy to explore and the graphics are a real work of art. Story is captivating and even though I haven't finished the game, I can't wait to start over again and take a different path for my character.… Expand
  19. roboticsun
    Oct 14, 2011
    8
    Risen is said to be the successor of the gothic series. I used to try playing gothic 1and 2 but never get into them, because of their weird interface and controls. but I actually liked Risen. the interface is intuitive and easy to handle. the controls are better than gothic games. you just use left mouse button to attack, right button to block and space to jump which makes it quite easy toRisen is said to be the successor of the gothic series. I used to try playing gothic 1and 2 but never get into them, because of their weird interface and controls. but I actually liked Risen. the interface is intuitive and easy to handle. the controls are better than gothic games. you just use left mouse button to attack, right button to block and space to jump which makes it quite easy to get into battle and of course this game is hard, so at lower level, you'd better not get involved with some high level monsters or persons. In this game you have to learn skills from certain NPCs and they will charge you gold for that which is quite realistic. I suggest start with talking to various NPCs and get some easy fetch quests first. The exploration in this game is fun and level design is well-done though the characters' animations are very awkward. story wise it's not impressive however this game has several factions, when you joined one, the quests from other factions will be locked so there are some replay values here. overall if you want to find some realistic open-world RPGs, Risen is a good start but just keep in mind the world in Risen is dangerous even at the beginning if you used to a easy run like in oblivion you will be pissed :).… Expand
  20. AlexH
    Oct 13, 2009
    10
    Very addictive, beutiful world full of secrets, secrets and secrets. Brings back memories of how awesome TeS III: Morrowind was, not as great as MW, but still a great RPG experience. Some minor flaws aren't enough to alter the overall experience of this game. PS. 360-commenters, the 360 version has it's own title.
  21. KevR
    Nov 29, 2009
    9
    This game is a gem of role-playing games. It is not perfect and let me tell you, if you are not up to the challenge this game will annihilate you. It features a beautiful, detailed and living world (except on the 360) and the best combat system ever made for a role-playing game. One that actually requires skill and where every fight is a challenge. The game's main flaw is its This game is a gem of role-playing games. It is not perfect and let me tell you, if you are not up to the challenge this game will annihilate you. It features a beautiful, detailed and living world (except on the 360) and the best combat system ever made for a role-playing game. One that actually requires skill and where every fight is a challenge. The game's main flaw is its chapters. While the 1st and 3rd chapter are insanely well made and I literally finished them without exiting the game, I was disappointed that the 2nd and 4th chapter could not quite keep up with the other two. The game is probably the best RPG to come out since Gothic 2 and KotoR and definitely worth getting. And with an add-on to make up for the weaker chapters and a few flaws (which are so small I cannot recall them atm) may even be the best RPG ever made.… Expand
  22. KevinF
    Oct 18, 2009
    9
    I recently played through this game and enjoyed it immensely. DO NOT get the 360 version and stick with the PC version. Don't even acknowledge that the 360 version exists and your life will be better. That said, I really enjoyed the overall design of the Island and really the most entertaining part of this game is just wandering around getting in trouble and accidentally coming I recently played through this game and enjoyed it immensely. DO NOT get the 360 version and stick with the PC version. Don't even acknowledge that the 360 version exists and your life will be better. That said, I really enjoyed the overall design of the Island and really the most entertaining part of this game is just wandering around getting in trouble and accidentally coming across awesome treasure. I didn't think the story was all that great but I honestly didn't care. The game's characters are all somehow memorable and you'll be surprised how often you hear an NPC referenced and you know exactly where that person is on the island. I was planning on getting this to tide me over until Dragon Age releases in a few weeks but I got so addicted that I finished this damn game already!… Expand
  23. Poloman
    Oct 24, 2009
    8
    Best single player RPG I've played in a very long time. I don't have anything else recently released to compare it to, but I enjoyed it more than Elder Scrolls - Oblivion or Fallout 3.
  24. MikaelO
    Dec 6, 2009
    8
    A solid RPG, with a lot of atmosphere. The combat system is at times not so responsive as one might wish for, in a game that requires you to master your keyboard in order to just survive. The upside of that is of course the good old Gothic feel. This game is difficult. The enemies are really dangerous, and your skill and your character's, will determine the outcome of combat. For A solid RPG, with a lot of atmosphere. The combat system is at times not so responsive as one might wish for, in a game that requires you to master your keyboard in order to just survive. The upside of that is of course the good old Gothic feel. This game is difficult. The enemies are really dangerous, and your skill and your character's, will determine the outcome of combat. For some, this will be a let down, but for the rest of us, it heightens the feeling of accomplishment. As with any quest-based RPG, there are some glitches with the quests, but all-in-all I feel that it works out very nicely. A negative point is the horribly stereotype view of women, but to be perfectly fair, most role playing games on PC tend to be massively sexist.… Expand
  25. CraigB
    Oct 3, 2009
    9
    Awesome game. One of the best RPGs in the last few years. Great to see that PB are back into making beautiful game experiences. Gothic 3 might not have received good reviews, but hopefully Risen gets the praise that it surely deserves.
  26. BenjaminL
    Oct 4, 2009
    10
    great RPG and adventure. I was pretty much thinking that Piranha Bytes were done after Gothic 3 but i gotta say this is one of the most stable games i've played coming out of Germany. The engine is not really the best and brightest of them all but it delivers definitely on the atmosphere front. If you're into RPGs and adventures and like to explore and quest, Risen might very great RPG and adventure. I was pretty much thinking that Piranha Bytes were done after Gothic 3 but i gotta say this is one of the most stable games i've played coming out of Germany. The engine is not really the best and brightest of them all but it delivers definitely on the atmosphere front. If you're into RPGs and adventures and like to explore and quest, Risen might very well be better than Dragon Age.… Expand
  27. lizard
    Nov 7, 2009
    9
    I've not played any of the gothic games but I'm finding this to be a solid and enjoyable RPG. There are a few minor technical issues and I've experienced a couple of annoying CTD's but this hasn't affected my enjoyment of the game too badly, I also feel that performance could be a little bit better. The graphics and world design are superb, despite the reletively I've not played any of the gothic games but I'm finding this to be a solid and enjoyable RPG. There are a few minor technical issues and I've experienced a couple of annoying CTD's but this hasn't affected my enjoyment of the game too badly, I also feel that performance could be a little bit better. The graphics and world design are superb, despite the reletively small size of the island and limited number of major settlements there is still a great deal to discover in this game. The AI is of a reasonable standard and I find combat quite enjoyable, one thing that is a little annoying is the fact that NPC's etc. aren't drawn until reletively close to the player character and the fade in is quite noticeable. Voice acting on the whole is pretty reasonable and the story itself is quite interesting . There's a wide range of different quests and a good amount of different skills that your character can learn ranging from cooking to smithing weapons. Overall I'm really impressed with this game even though it has a few irritating technical issues, one of the better games to appear on the PC this year.… Expand
  28. TomE
    Oct 21, 2009
    10
    This is the game that Gothic 3 should have been. Game play is interesting and thought provoking. The graphics are beautiful. Game play and the story line flows nicely, and can be played leisurely. If you like Gothic 3, even in its broken state, or liked Oblivion or The Witcher, you will love Risen.
  29. TravisL
    Oct 3, 2009
    10
    It's an amazing multiplayer game , the maps are well detailed , and the controls are easy to use and learn , i recommend this to any person who enjoys playing First Person Shooters.
  30. VincenzoN
    Oct 4, 2009
    10
    Really good and exciting experience!! Amazing adventure, full of story, mysteries tied with a huge and complex combat system! Wonderful! I loved Gothic 1 & 2 and I really love this game: the real sequel of the Gothic series! I've appreciated the great job Piranha did! The maximum expression of it! Thanks Piranha!
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Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best PC Game of 2009
19
#19 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Meristation
    80
    Fun, large and with many things to do, Risen is a good game for medieval RPG lovers. It has its flaws, specially due to technical issues, but overall it's a great experience, where every choice has its consequences. The great storyline and the different paths that we can follow are the strongest points of this game.
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  2. SpazioGames
    80
    While Gothic sails away to other developers, Piranha Bytes turns the tide with this return to the origins of true RPG. Deep, polished, compelling, Risen is an RPG for RPG true lovers. Some small glitches and a general lack of accessibility make it step down a little bit on the score, but it's still THE game to have if you love RPGs.
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  3. Everyeye.it
    80
    An old-fashion RPG, with an impressive number of quests and NPC, and a deep level-up system.
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