Alder's Blood

 Switch
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 5 out of 26

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  1. mchufflepuff
    Mar 13, 2020
    10
    A peculiar blend of RPG and strategy games. Very dark and grim. It has that 'hard-to-catch' vibe of Fallout 1 and 2. That longing, that desolation after the world crumbled. Then again, I felt the same 'melody' when playing Planescape: Torment, over 20 years years ago.

    I have no idea how such a gem went under my radar. Kudos to TheGamer for showing me this work of art.
  2. Loncia
    Jun 9, 2020
    9
    So I got this game after the large bugzfixing patch from a few days ago and I can say I'm impressive so far. Got 5-ish hours into the game so far and haven't experience any bugs. The art style is really cool and the story is wonderful. The gameplay is tactical, with three hunters in a mission having to use abilities and items wisely. With the "odor/smell" mechanism that will make you planSo I got this game after the large bugzfixing patch from a few days ago and I can say I'm impressive so far. Got 5-ish hours into the game so far and haven't experience any bugs. The art style is really cool and the story is wonderful. The gameplay is tactical, with three hunters in a mission having to use abilities and items wisely. With the "odor/smell" mechanism that will make you plan ahead does make for interesting play and is a pretty neat feature. Overall, highly recommend for those looking for a darker, story-driven tactical rpg-like game.… Expand
  3. DecoyDoctorpus
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    I bought this when first released on Switch, and there a couple of things, like the random wind switches and quick corruption of hunters that bothered me a bit. Still though it was a great game with great potential, but didn't play it much because i got into something else. One day i seen patch 0.6 was in and i updated gamed. In going back i can see alot of issues have been ironed out.I bought this when first released on Switch, and there a couple of things, like the random wind switches and quick corruption of hunters that bothered me a bit. Still though it was a great game with great potential, but didn't play it much because i got into something else. One day i seen patch 0.6 was in and i updated gamed. In going back i can see alot of issues have been ironed out. This game is extremely good. It has something that sets it apart as an RPG. For one the story is extremely well developed, and after Japanese RPG fatigue, it is very refreshing to get something like this. The game gets pretty difficult and there gets a point where you must develop careful strategy to progress. You cannot just blaze through it. The graphical style is refreshing and different. It has a certain aura and quality that gives a certain vibe. Somehow the story resonates with our own times, and i think this is what makes it interesting. Couple things i would still like to see 'improved', but considering this is an indie development this games deserves a solid 10/10.… Expand
  4. MaxKolonko
    Dec 31, 2020
    9
    Gave me flashbacks from Fallout Tactics and old Ufo games. Sweet jesus those were the games. As for Alder's Blood - it's scratching the same itch. And the game is MASSIVE. Like, really huge.
  5. deduwa2137
    Mar 13, 2020
    10
    I had such a pleasant experience when playing this game!! Animations are so well done, music is so climatic and great! Amazing, simply amazing.
  6. CakeEater
    Mar 13, 2020
    10
    Absolutely beautiful game. The game has some really cool mechanics from different game and it does it really well. The story and art is fantastic. Great work from the devs
  7. eridani
    Mar 14, 2020
    9
    Challenging, inventive, compelling, this is the best TBT game since XCOM 2. Stealthy, hit-and-run tactics are key here and is well implemented. Each encounter feels fresh and and each move requires thought and planning. Who knew griefing werewolves could be so much fun? Beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a chilling soundtrack complete the package. I hope for a large-text mode in the nearChallenging, inventive, compelling, this is the best TBT game since XCOM 2. Stealthy, hit-and-run tactics are key here and is well implemented. Each encounter feels fresh and and each move requires thought and planning. Who knew griefing werewolves could be so much fun? Beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a chilling soundtrack complete the package. I hope for a large-text mode in the near future as I play it on a Switch Lite.… Expand
  8. H1senberg
    Mar 14, 2020
    10
    Absolutely fantastic game, with a brilliant setting of Lovecraft’s themes in an almost apocalyptic old west wasteland. Love the horror and tactical strategy mix. Wonderfully dark and well thought out story far beyond what you’d normally see in this genre, with great characters, and much deeper game play mechanics than I’d expected. Well written dialogue, beautiful art design, and anAbsolutely fantastic game, with a brilliant setting of Lovecraft’s themes in an almost apocalyptic old west wasteland. Love the horror and tactical strategy mix. Wonderfully dark and well thought out story far beyond what you’d normally see in this genre, with great characters, and much deeper game play mechanics than I’d expected. Well written dialogue, beautiful art design, and an ominous and haunting soundtrack to round it out. More proof that quality does not only come from AAA games, but from talented developers with a passion project.… Expand
  9. Lady_F
    Mar 13, 2020
    9
    This is my first review ever and this is probably one of the best modern, tactical-strategy around. I find it insane it came from an indie developer because sure as hell it doesn't look like an indie game. So, in a nutshell, because I am really lazy and it's really late:
    In alternative reality X-com decided it doesn't want to be Sci-Fi and about aliens anymore. So it went through some    This is my first review ever and this is probably one of the best modern, tactical-strategy around. I find it insane it came from an indie developer because sure as hell it doesn't look like an indie game. So, in a nutshell, because I am really lazy and it's really late:
    In alternative reality X-com decided it doesn't want to be Sci-Fi and about aliens anymore. So it went through some weird warp tunnel but met Great Cthulhu on the way and they had a baby and then suddenly Bloodborne came and was like 'hey sup' and became the baby's godfather and taught the kid all the ins and outs and that baby's grew up to be known as Alder's Blood.
    Its RPG, its strategy, its massive lore and a book-worthy story and plot.
    In the indie league - its a GOTY material.    … Expand
  10. CantinRenard
    Mar 16, 2020
    4
    A Game with a crazy amount of potential. The corruption mechanic ended up being too harsh for me, about 5 hours in i ran out of hunters over night and out of money (used to hire new hunters), and just threw the towel in. I love hard game, but the difficulty here fails to make it fun. A little sad as i feel i wasted some good game dollars, but i believe that with a little tweaking thisA Game with a crazy amount of potential. The corruption mechanic ended up being too harsh for me, about 5 hours in i ran out of hunters over night and out of money (used to hire new hunters), and just threw the towel in. I love hard game, but the difficulty here fails to make it fun. A little sad as i feel i wasted some good game dollars, but i believe that with a little tweaking this game could be amazing. It has a lot of good things going on for it, butt the difficultiy makes hard to enjoy them. (The wind changing direction without warning really!?)… Expand
  11. TylerKint
    Mar 16, 2020
    5
    I'm not really a suspicious person. But I'm surprised by the high user ratings here (also because the company advertises with the high metascore).
    It seems to me that some of them are not honest reviews. That's a pity and seems unnecessary to me. The game is ok, but some mechanics are exhausting.
  12. vdkc2h5oh
    Apr 10, 2020
    7
    To the guy who gave 0/10, and 3/10 before. I remember ur review, I read it before i played myself. You didn't hide ur score was given after playing only a short demo(mini prequel) from last year, where 90% of things this game offers doesn't appear. Ofc this is a publisher mistake to not update "mini-prequel" and leave potential players with wrong reception of their work. But i don't thinkTo the guy who gave 0/10, and 3/10 before. I remember ur review, I read it before i played myself. You didn't hide ur score was given after playing only a short demo(mini prequel) from last year, where 90% of things this game offers doesn't appear. Ofc this is a publisher mistake to not update "mini-prequel" and leave potential players with wrong reception of their work. But i don't think game deserve so bad reviews, It is challenging, nice designed game with interesting mechanic which need to be a little bit polished to be great. 7/10 from me and i w8 for patches to make it 8 or maybe even better.… Expand
  13. BattleMouse
    Mar 28, 2021
    8
    Now this one took me by surprise. Incredibly solid game for a newcoming indie studio. Plus - due to platform specifics - we don't get a lot of strategies, leave alone tactical one here on nintendo switch. But beware about one thing - this game is HARD. Like, really.
  14. Liam2000
    Aug 25, 2022
    1
    I love the game but it is completely broken, full of bugs, always crashing or freezing, it’s unplayable at this state.

Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. GameCritics
    May 8, 2020
    60
    I find Alder’s Blood in a very strange position. The aesthetic, combat, and ideas drew me into the shadows of its world. However, the bugs, design issues and general lack of polish have killed my drive to continue playing. I might come back to it in the future once it’s been patched, but not until it’s had a lot more time to polish off its rough edges.
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  2. Switch Player
    Apr 10, 2020
    70
    Alder’s Blood takes inspirations from different games to create a unique adventure RPG which blends Western and Victorian-style characters. Due to a focus on stealth, its strategy turn-based combat can lead to some frustrating segments, but a distinct art-style and deep world-building transforms the stressful segments into an overall worthwhile experience.
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  3. Pure Nintendo
    Apr 9, 2020
    90
    Alder’s Blood is a wonderfully crafted game with an intoxicating story. Its missions are simple but your strategy can’t be if you want to survive.
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