Torchlight

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 910 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 618 out of 910
  2. Mixed: 238 out of 910
  3. Negative: 54 out of 910
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  1. oblivion2011
    Jul 11, 2011
    7
    This game has all the basic elements of an RPG, but lacks the variety of one. Environment leaves you feeling trapped in a box going back from the caves and then back to hometown. I feel this game is more linear and condensed than an actual world to explore.
  2. [anonymous]
    Jan 1, 2010
    5
    Virtually the same game as Fate, but that is to be expected I guess. I was hoping for more, and was disappointed.
  3. wordy_actions
    Jun 24, 2011
    7
    Fantastic indie Diablo clone. The graphics are vibrant and reminiscent of Warcraft (not a bad thing). There are only 3 classes but they've done a good job of making each unique. Lots of opportunity for customizing your character's abilities. Loads of cool armor and weapons. Good variety of weapons. For just a few dollars you get hours of fun. Highly recommended for PC gamers.
  4. GamerPiggy
    May 17, 2012
    7
    Pretty fun game. I got it because I pre-ordered the sequel, and I'm enjoying it very much. The vanilla game does have a few things that annoy me, such as not being able to rebind keys and an awkward UI. Very moddable, though, which is a plus. All around a fun game, but the sequel is looking to be much, much, much better.
  5. PLANETX
    Mar 13, 2012
    7
    A great hack and slash RPG. IT's simple, easy to play, and has a good amount of fun. It does lack class customization and of course any Multiplayer, but if you loved games like Diablo than you'll definitely want to play this. It's at least good for one run, original, and worth your money.
  6. whitespider999
    Feb 17, 2012
    7
    I have always been a fan of action/loot/rpgs, and this satisfied all my urges. A beautiful interface, smooth gameplay, rewarding loot, and a great modding community make this a must have. The visuals are rounded, attractive, and run on very old pc's, however the music is probably the best aesthetic thing about the entire game - it is truly exceptional. And while the package and content isI have always been a fan of action/loot/rpgs, and this satisfied all my urges. A beautiful interface, smooth gameplay, rewarding loot, and a great modding community make this a must have. The visuals are rounded, attractive, and run on very old pc's, however the music is probably the best aesthetic thing about the entire game - it is truly exceptional. And while the package and content is fantastic, the game has some faults as well. It's very repetitive, focusing purely on a single descending dungeon (with a few side portals). In a game like this, you do need more variety to make it interesting for longer. And the omission of multiplayer and the ability to share your game experience limits the longterm value. Regardless, this game understands what makes a action rpg tick.… Expand
  7. AlfishKK
    Oct 22, 2011
    6
    I liked so much about Torchlight--the graphics were were really cool, gameplay was fast-paced and the spells and abilities were fun. Overall I did like it, but for me it was brought down by the flimsy story and non-characters. None of the NPCs have anything interesting to say and no bosses (except the last one) have back stories or motivations, they just show up with their cool characterI liked so much about Torchlight--the graphics were were really cool, gameplay was fast-paced and the spells and abilities were fun. Overall I did like it, but for me it was brought down by the flimsy story and non-characters. None of the NPCs have anything interesting to say and no bosses (except the last one) have back stories or motivations, they just show up with their cool character designs and then you kill them and think, "Wish I knew what that guy's deal was." Even your character doesn't have any personality.

    I'm someone who likes to read the same books over and over, and for me the replay value comes from the story. There wasn't any in Torchlight, so I beat it once and had fun... but I haven't played it since.    … Expand
  8. Scoobydruid
    Oct 28, 2011
    7
    Game started out OK but the cartoon graphics are disappointing. The game lacks richness and variety. While it might be cheap ($20), I'd gladly pay $60 for a better experience. Time is a more precious commodity to me than an extra $30-50. But this game wouldn't sell well at the higher price point. For the price, it's good value, but if graphics are an important part of the experience, IGame started out OK but the cartoon graphics are disappointing. The game lacks richness and variety. While it might be cheap ($20), I'd gladly pay $60 for a better experience. Time is a more precious commodity to me than an extra $30-50. But this game wouldn't sell well at the higher price point. For the price, it's good value, but if graphics are an important part of the experience, I wouldn't bother buying this. This was my first dungeon crawler. It was very easy to pick up and play, but I got tired of it before finishing the whole thing. But since it only cost $20, I didn't feel ripped off.… Expand
  9. slan
    Nov 6, 2011
    7
    Good game, albeit repetitious -borrowing unashamedly for Diablo -yet it does not pretend to be anything more than it is.
    A small company that does a good job which has been a success against the odds (Diablo).
    It had better get its new version out before Diablo 3- as at lest abridge for addicts of the game - or its next more ambitious effort will lose sales ,at lest in the short term.
  10. Billick
    Jan 25, 2012
    7
    Torchlight is a fairly standard hack and slash dungeon crawler. It's not a bad game by any means, but it doesn't do anything to make it stand out either. For the price, it's worth checking out if you're a fan of Diablo style games.
  11. Clocktopus
    May 16, 2012
    7
    Torchlight is an interesting take of the Action RPG genre, adding a fresh style and some fresh scenery. The constant decent down Torchlight makes for an interesting adventure. The gameplay is traditional to the genre and offers not much in the way of innovation, however the game is still good regardless. The pet feature is often irritating to use at points where your pet simply becomesTorchlight is an interesting take of the Action RPG genre, adding a fresh style and some fresh scenery. The constant decent down Torchlight makes for an interesting adventure. The gameplay is traditional to the genre and offers not much in the way of innovation, however the game is still good regardless. The pet feature is often irritating to use at points where your pet simply becomes useless, however with a quick pimpin' the pet seems to carry his load quite literary too as the Pet Inventory selling is a fantastic way to get rid of unwanted loot, an evil disease you seem to get whenever playing any RPG.

    My only gripe with this game is the fact that skill trees need some variety. When playing the Vanquisher I was promised "Traps" however all I got was a skill tree full of "Throw Bomb", not very good at all. I hope to see better skill in T2 or I won't be interested. Overall pretty good experience and looks like some new "Light" for the genre.    … Expand
  12. JudgeHolden
    Apr 3, 2012
    7
    Good to play while waiting for Diablo III. Torchlight is simply yet another Diablo clone and... the Diablo clone par excellance at the same time. The most Diablo-ish thing in it is Matt Uelman's music, simply adorable and magnificent! Cartoon graphics would make this game eternal, just like in the case of World of Warcraft, if it not were for the re-playability... I got bored after about 3Good to play while waiting for Diablo III. Torchlight is simply yet another Diablo clone and... the Diablo clone par excellance at the same time. The most Diablo-ish thing in it is Matt Uelman's music, simply adorable and magnificent! Cartoon graphics would make this game eternal, just like in the case of World of Warcraft, if it not were for the re-playability... I got bored after about 3 hours. Maybe because I found it challenging only at Very Hard difficulty setting... or maybe the quests were so repetitive... Anyways, TL is a good game, but not an epic one.… Expand
  13. jjlinjjie
    Dec 3, 2012
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Decent game,on average.At first it is stunning.It has the feel and touch of a perfect fantasy game.After the user goes in the dungeon and descend further,he will discover that the game lacks variety.The quests are identical in all good sense.And how long does it take Syl to cure the player of corruption?And then she gets kidnapped.Then bam!at around level 30,the player fights the final boss and goes into an infinite randomly generated dungeon.Seems like the developers ran out of ideas almost halfway through the game.Now for the good.Nice music!Also the death penalty is balanced.Difficulty level is a bit low,but to compensate there are other penalties,like enchantment(unless you get a mod).… Expand
  14. TheLagbringer
    Jul 31, 2013
    6
    At first it's not bad. You are surprised by some intelligent innovations (compared to Diablo 2) and nice (performance friendly) graphics and amazing gameplay. After few hours, sadly, you realize this game is pure grind. The main story is cheap and develops extremely slowly where meanwhile you are grinding. Grind side quests, grind campaign progress, moar grind even map architectures areAt first it's not bad. You are surprised by some intelligent innovations (compared to Diablo 2) and nice (performance friendly) graphics and amazing gameplay. After few hours, sadly, you realize this game is pure grind. The main story is cheap and develops extremely slowly where meanwhile you are grinding. Grind side quests, grind campaign progress, moar grind even map architectures are repeating with just different textures attached. It's a nice game to relax at, smashing em' creeps, but don't expect it to be an astonishing storytelling adventure.… Expand
  15. Larux18
    Feb 28, 2012
    6
    Torchlight is a rare game we get, its a Diablo clone, that is clear, but its a great example on how a dungeon crawler is made. I really think this game has potential in it, or had, unfortunately it was not used to its maximum power. The environments are repetitive, really repetitive, every 5 dungeons or so you get a change but that doesn't kill the repetition, and all the lost dungeons andTorchlight is a rare game we get, its a Diablo clone, that is clear, but its a great example on how a dungeon crawler is made. I really think this game has potential in it, or had, unfortunately it was not used to its maximum power. The environments are repetitive, really repetitive, every 5 dungeons or so you get a change but that doesn't kill the repetition, and all the lost dungeons and extra ones are the same thing, that is the major disappointment of this game. After I see the enemies getting extremely repetitive too which get a little tedious and then of course there is repetitive loot which is found in massive amounts. All these issues make this game a little bit tedious but there is a saving grace, the art style is just outstanding, the sound is good and the learning curve here is just about right. I will tell you to buy this game if you are a diablo fan since this is a great experience for dungeon crawler fans but its not the reboot of the genre nor is it innovative to death, it gets a 6/10 but i will still recommend a buy.… Expand
  16. averagegamer707
    Jul 17, 2011
    6
    In the beginning you choose one of three common RPG archetypes, the warrior, rogue/ranger or mage. You are then placed in the small town of Torchlight, and thrust into action which foreshadows the main story line of the game. Now, I don't have a lot of experince in this genre really, but to me the story seemed very weak, which I will come back to later. In the first few missions you areIn the beginning you choose one of three common RPG archetypes, the warrior, rogue/ranger or mage. You are then placed in the small town of Torchlight, and thrust into action which foreshadows the main story line of the game. Now, I don't have a lot of experince in this genre really, but to me the story seemed very weak, which I will come back to later. In the first few missions you are only required to do simple things (kill this thing here, go talk to that person there) which I found boring at first, but after a while of clicking away the story progressed and so did the quests, and I started to really get into the combat and it became very entertaining. As I beleive to be common in the genre, as you level up you get a certain amount of points to increase your stats as well as gain new abilities. Playing as the 'alchemist' (the mage type character), I found the new spells and pets kept me playing, and for a while I really liked the game.
    The problems came after the 17th floor (each quest brings you deeper and deeper into the main 'dungeon', and I beleive there are 35 floors to the main dungeon) or thereabouts where the game slowed down to a crawl (in a dungeon crawl game, who would have thought?). I think there are several problems that are faced by each genre, and even in general, that need to be addressed by developers. In dungeon crawls, you are bascially asking the player to do the same thing over and over again to get through a dungeon, usually in a pretty formulaic way (you go through here, kill those, go to another level/area). To keep the player interested, I think its pretty important to balance interesting and varied combat against the background of an intriguing and engaging story so the player doesn't realise that all they are doing is clicking buttons and killing data.

    While Torchlight delivers varied combat, seen in its variation in level design (to an extent) and enemy models, introduction of new spells at a nice and natural pace and drawing the player into combat through an interesting armour/weapon discovery system which gives a good incentive, the story is greatly lacking. While not overly generic, the development of the story is slow and not overly compelling, making me often question why I was even bothering to play, other than to watch my character perform some devastating spells and attacks. To me, they failed in the balancing act I mentioned previously. By the 20th floor the game turned into nothing but 'walk here, AoE that, find the stairs to the next floor', which lead me to the analogy of self harm with kitchen utensils.

    The game also has some cool features worth mentioning, like having a dog or cat (you decide at the beginning of the game) to help you in combat, as well as being able to tell them to go back to town from a dungeon with items to sell, a handy way to make money as well as clear inventory space without losing momentum in dungeon crawling. The use of town portal scrolls is also handy, which allows you to teleport to town to hand in quests etc and then you can return to the place you teleported from. While being helpful features, they are not nearly enough to save the game from it's weak story line and player motivation.

    I do not contend that this is a horrible game, the combat (a key feature of this kind of game) is very fun, and the game does well to draw you in. Fans of the genre will probably enjoy this game a great deal, as I've read in numerous other reviews, overlooking the game's plot faults. It has a lot of replay value for fans, being able to try the game again on different difficulties or as a different class, as well as the option of fighting through a dungeon with infinite levels and side missions at the end of the main quest (but if I wanted to do this, I would go back to World of Wastecraft).

    To conclude, while the combat of Torchlight is fun and engaging, the story is not much of either. For people who aren't great fans of the genre, you will probably get a few hours of great fun and then a few hours of soul crushing monotony, while fans will probably spend the 10-60 hours of possible gameplay in complete bliss.

    Breakdown

    Presentation - 7/10 -The user interface is reasonably compact and functional, with the use of a number of easy to use buttons to hotkey spells. Some keys are a little awkwardly placed, which cramped my hands a few times.

    Graphics - 8/10 - Cartoony graphics, but quite detailed and very charming

    Sound - 8/10 - Very fitting musical score, capturing the ambiance and feel of each level of the dungeon

    Gameplay - 7/10 - Combat is very fun, but gets old some time into the game, slowing to a grind

    Plot - 3.5/10 - weak story, slowly implemented and not compelling/does not draw you in

    Lasting impact on player - variable - if you're a fan, you will love the options, but if you aren't like me you might avoid finishing it once


    Overall about a 6/10 (Okay)
    See other reviews at http://criticalgamingstudies.blogspot.com    … Expand
  17. SailorCleiko
    Apr 7, 2012
    6
    +Small learning curve; +Cute graphics; +Lots of items; -Soo repetitive, -Lots of clicking, -Quests are boring, -Character development not the best. Play this game if you're looking for something quick to get into and if you have a long attention span.
  18. Restax
    Mar 15, 2012
    6
    A LOT like Diablo, even going so far as to use some of the same musical scores and SFX. Quite addictive for a while but feels very samey. I did enjoy playing it but don't know if I'd ever go back to it or even purchase a sequel.
  19. Ordish
    May 2, 2012
    6
    Torchlight is a decent game. It follows in the model of Diablo hack and slash games with more cartoonish graphics. The game is well polished but the gameplay tends to get very repetative in a short amount of time. If you enjoyed Diablo you will likely enjoy Torchlight but you just won't love it.
  20. FrodoFraggins
    Jul 20, 2013
    5
    Shallow gameplay. Poor class selection. Overly cartoony. No private servers means hacked characters galore. No multiplayer code. Very unambitious title from some of the developers of Diablo 2. Fun for about 20 hours or so. There are simply far better alternatives out there.
  21. syrik
    Sep 26, 2011
    7
    This is plain and simple a Diablo clone. It plays like Diablo, copies the main plot of Diablo (troubled town sitting on top of hell, or a long cavern thought to be hell), hell it was even made by some of the same people that made Diablo. If you want originality in a game...well, go back in time to the 80's, but this ain't it. What it does offer is fun gameplay at a reasonable price.This is plain and simple a Diablo clone. It plays like Diablo, copies the main plot of Diablo (troubled town sitting on top of hell, or a long cavern thought to be hell), hell it was even made by some of the same people that made Diablo. If you want originality in a game...well, go back in time to the 80's, but this ain't it. What it does offer is fun gameplay at a reasonable price. This title now sells for $15, a reduction from a whopping $20, making it a screaming deal when it was full priced still. The graphics are pretty, not overly taxing on your system (the company says it can be played on a tablet, pretty cool) and it runs smoothly. Levels are randomly built so you won't have the same map over and over. Tons of loot drops, also randomly generated, keeping you always looking for an upgrade. Again, just like Diablo. A couple of things are missing from the game like the ability to keymap (seriously developers, let me set my own buttons, IN EVERY GAME) and you can't respec (I guess everyone is supposed to automatically know what every spell and ability does) both things which hurt the game. Another rude awakening thing you will learn is the enchantment system is also random and there is a chance that the item you are enchanting will be rendered useless (all stats removed) which is very annoying if you really like whatever it is you are using. But overall, considering how many Diablo clones there are in the world, how fun this one actually is to play and its price it comes out as quite a good game.… Expand
  22. Grizz
    Oct 12, 2011
    7
    Torchlight is a fun game with a lot of polish. The graphics are cartoonish but charming and look very good for how low the system specs are. I have two large complaints however. The first being no multiplayer whatsoever. It's a shame for a dungeon crawler like this to not have multiplayer support as this would have made the game much much more fun. The second issue I had was the lack ofTorchlight is a fun game with a lot of polish. The graphics are cartoonish but charming and look very good for how low the system specs are. I have two large complaints however. The first being no multiplayer whatsoever. It's a shame for a dungeon crawler like this to not have multiplayer support as this would have made the game much much more fun. The second issue I had was the lack of depth/re-playability. The game features only 3 classes and there aren't that many skills to chose from. Nonetheless if you are a fan of dungeon crawlers then you will definitely enjoy this game.… Expand
  23. jcasetnl
    Jun 16, 2013
    5
    Torchlight is an inoffensive dungeon crawler. Inoffensive because it doesn't do much wrong but it also doesn't really inspire in any way. Of all the spells, magic weapons and enchanted armor you'll find, what this games needs most is a Potion of Give a Damn.

    At first I enjoyed the gameplay, particularly with the opening town exploration and "buddy" mission to kick off the story, but    Torchlight is an inoffensive dungeon crawler. Inoffensive because it doesn't do much wrong but it also doesn't really inspire in any way. Of all the spells, magic weapons and enchanted armor you'll find, what this games needs most is a Potion of Give a Damn.

    At first I enjoyed the gameplay, particularly with the opening town exploration and "buddy" mission to kick off the story, but that all ends within an hour of play. After about ten hours I suddenly had an epiphany that it was undeniably repetitive and it didn't really matter what I did. It very quickly became a run-of-the-mill level grind with almost no story development. 99% of the time you'll be left-clicking bad guys or adjusting your inventory. The levels also started to get visually so repetitive it was easy to get turned around and accidentally back-track.

    The sudden realization that all the armor, stat and magic advances my character had made really were pointless was enough to move on for greener pastures.    … Expand
  24. NotGood
    Jan 17, 2010
    6
    Diablo was fun back in the day.... and this may have been too. This game doesn't tread any new ground. Its all been done before and better. I quit playing after 2 hours because it lacked any depth and gives you no reason to stay. The art style is refreshing and the ability to send your pet to town to sell items in his inventory was a good idea. But in the end there are many better Diablo was fun back in the day.... and this may have been too. This game doesn't tread any new ground. Its all been done before and better. I quit playing after 2 hours because it lacked any depth and gives you no reason to stay. The art style is refreshing and the ability to send your pet to town to sell items in his inventory was a good idea. But in the end there are many better ways to spend my time. Trying to cash in on the success of Diablo is too old by now...… Expand
  25. TitaniumDragon
    Jul 21, 2012
    5
    This game is severely mediocre. Have you played Diablo II? It is a better game than this is. The gameplay is repetitive even by the standards of the genre, and it all feels rather pointless. The quests are lame and the gear grinding is undisguised.
  26. chevmech
    May 11, 2012
    7
    I don't understand how this game can exist at all. It is a carbon copy of the WT game FATE. From the graphics to the gameplay to the interface. EXACTLY the same. While it is a great game, I can't fathom how they avoided copyright infringement! All the same, I recommend this game (as well as FATE) to anyone who loves Diablo cloned dungeon crawlers.
  27. LeahR
    Jan 1, 2010
    6
    Slick yet ultimately superficial Diablo clone. While I'm aware of the irony in this statement, Torchlight is not as "deep" as other hack-'n-slash titles like Titan Quest, which offer far more complex maps, quests, classes, and skill trees. With Torchlight's 3 classes and imbalanced skill trees (a mix of overpowered and useless skills), as well as a virtually non-existent Slick yet ultimately superficial Diablo clone. While I'm aware of the irony in this statement, Torchlight is not as "deep" as other hack-'n-slash titles like Titan Quest, which offer far more complex maps, quests, classes, and skill trees. With Torchlight's 3 classes and imbalanced skill trees (a mix of overpowered and useless skills), as well as a virtually non-existent quest system and repetitive maps, the replay value is low compared to TQ and other Diablo clones. Also, no online multiplayer or LAN co-op gameplay is a huge disappointment. Still, not bad for fast-paced, mindless, single-player fun with its obviously Blizzard-inspired, Warcraft-esque graphics and setting.… Expand
  28. JesusChrist
    Dec 20, 2009
    6
    I agree that it's well polished, but again, it's just a clone of fate/diablo. If this game had multiplayer (real multiplayer, not mmo), my rating would be much higher.
  29. Babo
    Dec 25, 2009
    6
    Think the lack of multiplayer is a big disappointment. Although the game has nice look and feel, after a couple of hours of playing it gets kind of boring. Waiting for D3
  30. suneater
    Dec 11, 2012
    5
    Extremely mediocre. I don't understand the hype behind this... how did it receive so many awards? It's basically Diablo 1's gameplay (including character customization/growth) with WC3/WoW graphics. Very derivative and only worth playing if you can get it on sale. Oh yeah, and no multiplayer. If you're looking for a Diablo clone please try Titan Quest or Sacred instead.
  31. MightyThor
    Aug 2, 2013
    6
    The style, graphics, sound, music and even aspects of the gameplay of Torchlight are all outstanding. But I can't give it more than an average 6 because the game is so repetitive. Unless you suffer from ocd and must collect every item set and max enchant your gear, you will eventually lose interest in this game, most likely around 5-10 hours in. Which is still pretty fair value for a gameThe style, graphics, sound, music and even aspects of the gameplay of Torchlight are all outstanding. But I can't give it more than an average 6 because the game is so repetitive. Unless you suffer from ocd and must collect every item set and max enchant your gear, you will eventually lose interest in this game, most likely around 5-10 hours in. Which is still pretty fair value for a game price at $10 (and often on sale for less).

    It's unfortunate too that the dungeons aren't more dynamic and interesting because the classes and talent systems are really well done. Your class has three skill trees so you can make them do very different things. Want a warrior that casts powerful spells? No problem! You just won't be as strong as a mage. Your rogue can go swashbuckling sword master or a long distance hunter like hero, it's all up to you. The gear is also cool and well itemized. But ultimately I felt like I was leveling up for no reason. None of the dungeons were challenging so I could simply auto attack my way through everything.

    Ultimately I wanted to fall in love with torchlight, but after the excitement of a new crush wears off, it's time to move on.    … Expand
  32. DeusXCom
    Nov 22, 2014
    5
    Diablo 2 wannabe, except without all the Diablo 2 special flavour. The gameplay itself is nicely fluid, you feel right at home with controls, you kill hordes of enemies, loot plenty of stuff, level up skills for your character, but soon you realize that this is all you do and that it's getting more and more repetitive, more and more boring, there is no variation, whatsoever. Even questsDiablo 2 wannabe, except without all the Diablo 2 special flavour. The gameplay itself is nicely fluid, you feel right at home with controls, you kill hordes of enemies, loot plenty of stuff, level up skills for your character, but soon you realize that this is all you do and that it's getting more and more repetitive, more and more boring, there is no variation, whatsoever. Even quests that should spice it up a bit are a joke, basically a robot that wants you to kill a monster every 2 levels, rinse and repeat, a mage who wants you to bring him an ember ever few levels, rinse and repeat and that's it. You even stop caring about the story or other characters, because there is nothing to care for, you just go deeper and deeper, killing more and more hordes of enemies, selling junk. Torchlight basically took the core mechanic of Diablo, but stripped it of all the things that made it interesting. The story is barely there and what is there is just for the sake of being there, nothing really interesting. I'm also not a big fan of the 3D cartoonish artstyle, doesn't look appealing to me at all. Enemies are not very varied, but honestly you don't even care what you kill you just kill hordes and hordes of something and by the end I was really glad it's over. I liked some of the improvements such as your companion pet which you can send to town to sell junk and by far the best element of this entire game is the music by Matt Uelmen which screams Diablo 2. That was the only thing that preserved it's quality. Other than that I don't think this is worth playing and it definitely didn't convince me to continue with end game content or play the sequel, I think I had enough of mindless killing of hordes of repetitive enemies in generic 3D cartoonish environments. No, in 2014 I prefer something more substantial, more interesting, this is not good enough honestly. 5/10… Expand
  33. MarkM
    Dec 30, 2009
    7
    The graphics are cartoon-like a 3D Final Fantasy game; but for the fact that it's detailed and colorful. You might label it "popcorn RPG" ( Dungeon Crawler ), played in short bursts. Rather, gaining new armour, trinkets, and weapons can be addictive. You might end up playing over an hour. Especially with shared storage. There is a character retirement feature, where you bestow new The graphics are cartoon-like a 3D Final Fantasy game; but for the fact that it's detailed and colorful. You might label it "popcorn RPG" ( Dungeon Crawler ), played in short bursts. Rather, gaining new armour, trinkets, and weapons can be addictive. You might end up playing over an hour. Especially with shared storage. There is a character retirement feature, where you bestow new benefits and perks. It sounds interesting, but not sure what it means yet. The levels layouts change ( for each character )But, understand the random sections of the level are reused through the game, except for areas that have different textures. So, though the layout might be new, it will still seem familiar. Being the Dungeon Crawler that it is, the action can get wild. Sometimes too wild. I often lost my character in a mess of magic, explosions, and other animations. But at the same time the game offers skills and spells to take on hordes. Lastly, you get a pet that can fight along side, and be morphed into different creatures for new abilities, for a short time. Best of all they can sell your junk back to town as you continue running a dungeon. The music is calming and doesn't drown out other aspects of the game. But there are maybe 2 or 3 tracks I've heard. With all that explained it's not a breakthrough in RPG, But it's FUN. Don't let anyone have you think otherwise. So, for $5.00 sale who could go wrong? I would still buy it for $15.00. At it's original $20.00 it might seem steap, but a lot was put inot this game, and thats a good price. A score of 7 seems fitting for what I just described.… Expand
  34. kuehnau
    Nov 24, 2012
    7
    Torchlight is a nice combination of a dungeon crawler mixed with the Diablo franchise. Unfortunately, just like the Diablo franchise, the game gets old very quickly. You'll see everything there is to see within an hour of two of playing the game.
  35. andrew77
    Aug 16, 2012
    7
    It was pretty fun. some of the AI lacked I. I played it for about 25 hours and had a good time. One lack was a coop. However, I did enjoy the mindless hack and slash as well as the beautifully drawn worlds.
  36. Karnos
    Sep 24, 2012
    6
    Torchlight was again that i played 3 times each with each character on a different difficulty level. First of all although it is clear that this is a diablo clone, it can hold its own against most dungeon crawlers. The skill trees and the plethora of the items was amazing! On the other hand i found a lot of disadvantages of the game. First of all the quests get really repetitive and i meanTorchlight was again that i played 3 times each with each character on a different difficulty level. First of all although it is clear that this is a diablo clone, it can hold its own against most dungeon crawlers. The skill trees and the plethora of the items was amazing! On the other hand i found a lot of disadvantages of the game. First of all the quests get really repetitive and i mean a lot. Furthermore, there is no real main quest with any twists or turns. The graphics were a bit cartoony for my taste too, although the music wasn't so bad. The gameplay was very simple point n click and it featured little dialogue. I also felt that the environments and enemies were quite repetitive and that the absence of epic one of a kind loot was there. Finally i found it very easy to play even on hard with the warrior character. They also could have made some more characters... Generally though, this is one of those games that you don't play for the intriguing quest but to waste time… Expand
  37. No1livesforever
    Nov 30, 2012
    7
    A good mindless dungeon crawling action RPG that should have gotten more attentions from players at its release.The story was easily forgettable; I enjoyed its leveling up and skills trees. I finished and enjoy the game with Alchemist the spellcaster, and Destroyer the warrior. Buy this game if you are looking some mindless clickfest entertainment, which is what I was looking for when IA good mindless dungeon crawling action RPG that should have gotten more attentions from players at its release.The story was easily forgettable; I enjoyed its leveling up and skills trees. I finished and enjoy the game with Alchemist the spellcaster, and Destroyer the warrior. Buy this game if you are looking some mindless clickfest entertainment, which is what I was looking for when I purchased this game.… Expand
  38. Qarren
    Mar 26, 2021
    5
    I love this part in Game of Clones where Diablo exists and is great and beloved, and little Torchlight is also there and just happy to be included. Torchlight is Podrick. Also like Podrick, Torchlight ultimately finds itself in a place it's not nearly qualified for, but we'll let that slide since he's just so adorable.
    You might think that intro harsh and you'd probably be right. However,    I love this part in Game of Clones where Diablo exists and is great and beloved, and little Torchlight is also there and just happy to be included. Torchlight is Podrick. Also like Podrick, Torchlight ultimately finds itself in a place it's not nearly qualified for, but we'll let that slide since he's just so adorable.
    You might think that intro harsh and you'd probably be right. However, I am prepared as usual to back up my statement, and I couldn't resist the clones joke once I came up with it. So the intro stays!
    Torchlight is Diablo-Lite. Everybody loves to point out that 2 of the Diablo developers were on the team behind this game, and I literally just proved that I'm no different. Sh!t. Nonetheless, I personally found that the qualities I enjoyed most in Diablo are not here. So let's get this out of the way.
    Torchlight does make little improvements over Diablo, mostly in the area of convenience. Also, doggo is life, and this game has doggo. But you know what really sells Diablo over its contenders?
    Atmosphere.
    You can make a fun, top-down action RPG any day of the week. But to really pull of a oppressive, gut wrenching feeling of suspense and hopelessness is hard. Torchlight does not do this. Diablo: Fun for the Whole Family Edition has no atmosphere and, quite frankly, looks more generic than a white guy playing Wonderwall on acoustic guitar. It's cool to like this game on its own merits, but to compare this to Diablo? Don't make me laugh. It's not like I make you laugh, so return the favour.
    Now that that's out of the way, let's talk Torchlight in its own right. I burnt through this game like an Australian bush fire goes through Koalas. I beat this game in ~12 hours, and that was about 4 hours too long. Usain Bolt's record time ain't got nothing on how quickly I beat the first few levels, and 1 complete orbit of Neptune ain't got nothing how long the final few levels felt. I can understand increasing the length of levels as the game progresses in order to increase challenge. But by golly, sir, if the mechanics of the game aren't advancing along with the level length and enemy health then boy howdy, sir, is the shallowness of the increase more noticeable.
    By removing the small reward that is reaching a new level to break up the pace of the game I now feel like I'm never progressing because what I'm doing right now looks exactly the same as what I was doing an hour ago. The mechanics and challenge are exactly the same as they were, and not even the floor number has changed to reflect my progress. I find the term 'fun run' to be an oxymoron, and the final levels feel like a 'fun run.'
    I played the alchemist character and decided to go with a full summoner class structure. To give this game its due credit, I loved that I could run this build. Between class abilities and spells, which are separated to allow extra nuance in mix builds or even dedicated builds, I was able to have an army of up to 20 pets/minions at once. Not gonna lie, das pretty dope. During the game's ludicrously easy initial levels I didn't have to raise a finger. I just walked around reading and enjoying fine wine while my, rather multicultural, squad run around smacking everything out of my path, the way a bullet train removes deer from the tracks. I was actually saddened by the later levels when my dedicated summoner with little health and defence suddenly became priority target number 1. Enemies would routinely ignore the invasion force headed their way and chase me to kill me in 1-2 hits while the Benny Hill theme played, and Statler and Waldorf sat in the corner saying things like:
    "Do you think he'll survive?"
    "I don't think we'll survive."
    "You think the demons will kill us?"
    "No, watching his play style will kill us."
    It was depressing.
    The most depressing thing, however, was the final boss. I won't spoil anything plot wise because that's not possible. To spoil a plot first there has to be a plot. But I digress. Do you think there's a list somewhere with all the absolute DON'TS of game design? I certainly hope not, because that means the devs just ignored it outright, or worse, used it as inspiration. This boss fight ticked off every pet peeve of mine:
    Bosses with ludicrous health
    Bosses with no mechanics of their own, just adds
    Infinitely spawning adds
    Regenerating health
    If you could measure the painful force of bad boss fights in Richter scales of magnitude, this guy'd be a Tohoku.
    I make the game out to seem worse than it actually is by focusing on what I disliked. But gee whiz, sir, my arguments aren't invalid. If you're like me, stick to Diablo. But if you're not a neurotic Oblivion NPC with a deluded sense of humour, then give it a go.
    Not kidding about that multicultural thing. I had dogs, demons, zombies, skeletons, robots, and sentient gems and swords. I practically mained the United Nations of Torchlight.    … Expand
  39. Barby
    Aug 16, 2016
    7
    I remember playing this game as a simple distraction but by progressing became more and more challenging. Don't be confused by its simple graphics, it's a complete RPG in all ways, and better than many others more famous. Maybe the best is its full mod support that extends its life even today at pair with Torchlight II.
  40. muzmuz
    Dec 29, 2015
    6
    An RPG game definitely enjoyable even in single player. If you love strengthening your characters with various equipments and skills, Torchlight is the right game for you
  41. sevifc
    Feb 26, 2016
    7
    Todo buen amante de Diablo tiene que jugar a Torchlight. Escenarios maravillosos, cientos de items y armas diferentes. Escenarios bastante bonitos y muy buen cuidados. La historia fantástica también.
  42. Dco326
    Jan 15, 2022
    5
    Prvo iz ove godine fate je mnogo bolja igrica iako su joj grafike govno, drugo igrao sam sa minionima i doslo mi je bilo da se ubijem trece standard dificulty je bio prelak a ovo drugo sranje od dificultija je okej do pred kraj kada su me 2-3 miniona bukvalno iznova i iznova ubijali na istu foru gde sam morao da se pomeram milimetrima da bi moj glupi ai od miniona ukapirao da treba bar daPrvo iz ove godine fate je mnogo bolja igrica iako su joj grafike govno, drugo igrao sam sa minionima i doslo mi je bilo da se ubijem trece standard dificulty je bio prelak a ovo drugo sranje od dificultija je okej do pred kraj kada su me 2-3 miniona bukvalno iznova i iznova ubijali na istu foru gde sam morao da se pomeram milimetrima da bi moj glupi ai od miniona ukapirao da treba bar da napadne i da IZNOVA I IZNOVA BACANJE SPELA ZA GLUPE IMPOVE BOZE ME OPROSTI... Ne preporucujem i nikad ne bi vise igrao. Tezak waste of time fate je 10 puta bolji diablo 100 puta bolji.… Expand
  43. Andromeda707
    Jun 13, 2020
    5
    5.0/10
    Когда-то я думал, что я являюсь полноценным фанатом подобного ARPG жанра, так как я питаю любовь к первым двумя частям Diablo, а третья часть вовсе не вызывает у меня негатива, который появился у многих фанатов серии, а также люблю ещё с детства серию Titan Quest. Но поиграв в Torchlight я начинаю понимать, что не каждый "хороший Diablo-клон" может быть хорошей игрой.
    От сравнений    5.0/10
    Когда-то я думал, что я являюсь полноценным фанатом подобного ARPG жанра, так как я питаю любовь к первым двумя частям Diablo, а третья часть вовсе не вызывает у меня негатива, который появился у многих фанатов серии, а также люблю ещё с детства серию Titan Quest. Но поиграв в Torchlight я начинаю понимать, что не каждый "хороший Diablo-клон" может быть хорошей игрой.
    От сравнений с вышеуказанной игрой никуда не деться, но важно понимать, что Diablo привлекает меня именно своим интересным сюжетом и запоминающейся атмосферой. Ни того, ни другого в Torchlight нет. Вообще данная игра напоминает скорее какой-то дешевый продукт в жанре ARPG, в который так хотелось поиграть многим фанатам таких игр в 2009 году, когда в свет ещё не вышли никакие Diablo 3, Path Of Exile и всё остальное. Всё, что нам приходится делать в этой игре - исследовать однотипные, а главное, скучные, локации пачками, закликивать противников своими атаками и выбивать с них бесполезный в 99 процентах случаев лут (если не считать свитки идентификации), в общем всё, как обычно, только ещё и на фоне очень скучной сюжетной линии и в своеобразной визуальной стилистике, которая могла бы мне понравится, но всё же не сделала этого. Большие были надежду и на музыку Мэтта Ульмена, которая была, безусловно, на уровне (элементы трайбал эмбиента очень хорошо ложатся на исследования тёмных и злых подземных глубин), тоже успевала надоедать и местами уже начинала скорее раздражать, чем приятно ложиться на ухо.
    Касаемо личного игрового опыта - я провел в игре чуть более 10 часов (которые как будто растянулись на 30) на высоком уровне сложности, который не сделал игру ни на грамм интереснее. Примерно до 30 уровня подземелий я почти не сталкивался ни с какими проблемами, уничтожая всех и вся единственной магией, играя за лучницу. Затем уже начались резкие сложности, которые легко регулируются ещё и закликиванием кнопки с зельем здоровья. И тут я столкнулся с проблемой, которую не смог решить - я просто не смог победить предпоследнего босса игры, что бы ни делал. До этого я (скрипя зубами) исследовал каждый закуток, убивать каждого монстра в надежде получить интересный шмот (не вышло), получить побольше опыта (тут уже лучше), но всё это не помогло мне победить Алрика, а возвращаться в предыдущие уровни и прокачивать себя до изменожения у меня уже не было никаких сил. Я бросил игру в этот момент, а затем понял, что не пропустил ничего существенного.
    Если какая-нибудь текстовая RPG или point and click адвенчура вам кажется скучной игрой, то попробуйте сыграть в Torchlight. Вы откроете новые грани слова "скучный".    … Expand
  44. Bloodnes
    Sep 29, 2020
    6
    Поиграл пару часов, не залетела, может дело, что игра 2009 года, но в настоящее время лучше поиграть в диабло 3, это по факту клон диабло 1 в 1 только текстуры поменяли на рисованные. Вообщем графика не понравилась, боевка примитивная, персонаж переключается между мобами коряво, вообщем ерунда, да и как упоминалась ранее в отзывах, игра полностью слизана с игры 2005 года Fate 6/10 чистоПоиграл пару часов, не залетела, может дело, что игра 2009 года, но в настоящее время лучше поиграть в диабло 3, это по факту клон диабло 1 в 1 только текстуры поменяли на рисованные. Вообщем графика не понравилась, боевка примитивная, персонаж переключается между мобами коряво, вообщем ерунда, да и как упоминалась ранее в отзывах, игра полностью слизана с игры 2005 года Fate 6/10 чисто для фанатов… Expand
  45. Sitheral
    Jun 23, 2020
    7
    Fun hack & slash, just limited in its scope, there is one town, three classes and atmosphere that doesn't really compare to Diablo, still a neat game to boot.
  46. ErayTellezi
    Nov 17, 2020
    6
    Oynanışı ilk başta çeşitliymiş gibi gelse de bir yerden sonra anlamsızca adam kesmeye dönüşüyor.
  47. FirstSpawn
    May 10, 2021
    6
    Вроды бы не плохо, но на мой взгляд игра сильно проседает по сравнению со второй частью.
  48. borla
    Feb 6, 2022
    7
    It' is a good game with good aspects of a RPG old style. It is too linear and probably thats the only negative thing about this game.
  49. DreamOfHero
    May 6, 2023
    5
    Torchlight is an action role-playing game developed by Runic Games, featuring a wide range of weapons and armor to mix and match for character customization. However, the gameplay experience can be inconsistent and monotonous in some aspects.

    One of the main concerns about Torchlight is the game's difficulty curve, which seems to spike dramatically starting from the 30th floor. This can    Torchlight is an action role-playing game developed by Runic Games, featuring a wide range of weapons and armor to mix and match for character customization. However, the gameplay experience can be inconsistent and monotonous in some aspects.

    One of the main concerns about Torchlight is the game's difficulty curve, which seems to spike dramatically starting from the 30th floor. This can make the game frustrating for players who have grown accustomed to a certain level of ease in the game up to that point.

    Another questionable aspect of Torchlight is the variety of missions available in the game. There are only four types of missions, which can be repetitive and limiting for players who prefer more varied activities. Additionally, all missions are given by only four NPCs, which can limit the sense of discovery and exploration in the game.

    However, Torchlight also offers a wide range of weapons and armor to mix and match for character customization, which can provide players with a great variety of options to create their own unique playstyle. Additionally, the trading and item-selling system can provide players with a way to monetize unused items and obtain money for the items they need.

    In conclusion, Torchlight can be a fun game for players seeking a linear, story-driven gameplay experience. However, players who prefer a more varied and challenging game may find some aspects of the game limiting and repetitive.    … Expand
  50. aecsuter
    Sep 5, 2022
    7
    Good game for those who like the Diablo 2 style.
    But after the main campaign (which is cool) it gets very repetitive and has some achievements that are too boring.
    But it's worth playing the main campaign with all the characters.
  51. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    6
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best PC Game of 2009
12
#12 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
20
#20 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. RPGamer
    90
    With phenomenal music and great art direction, combined with an addictive combat system, it's hard to step away from the keyboard and mouse after the first floor.
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  2. Cheat Code Central
    88
    Runic hasn't dumbed down the experience, they've removed the fluff and distilled it down to the truly fun parts. Add in a few innovations and what you've got is Torchlight; a game that raises the expectations for dungeon-crawling action RPGs by being not just fine-tuned but affordable as well.
    Read full review
  3. Game Informer
    88
    The core of the game is its combat and character progression, and both of those are outstanding. Torchlight might not be breaking any new ground, but the soul of Diablo hasn't been so ably captured in years. You won't find much that approaches Torchlight's worth at its $20 price point.
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