SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech

 Switch
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
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  1. Games.cz
    May 24, 2019
    70
    SteamWorld Quest can’t quite reach the heights of the previous games in the series, but there’s a lot of fun to be had regardless thanks to simple, yet clever combat system, typical sense of humour and many possible styles of play.
  2. Pocket Gamer UK
    May 1, 2019
    70
    Steam World Quest isn't a perfect RPG, but it's a damn good one. If you want some bitesized, simple card battling mechanics on the go, this is an excellent choice.
  3. Digitally Downloaded
    Apr 30, 2019
    70
    On the one hand SteamWorld Quest is a frustrating experience. Image & Form really needs to track down some writers that can weave tales into its intriguing and impeccably-designed SteamWorld universe. There's so much potential there that it's becoming tiring waiting for the team to tap into it. At the same time, SteamWorld Quest is also a delight to play, with a well-developed card-based combat system, gorgeous art and production values, and elegant gameplay structures. It's a game (and franchise) that wears its indie credentials on its sleeve, and it's hard to be too disappointed by its flaws for that reason.
  5. Easy Allies
    Apr 23, 2019
    70
    SteamWorld Quest scratches the RPG itch with an accessible take on card-based battles. It’s never overwhelming which is both a benefit and detriment. The characters are lovable, but the plot fails to capitalize on its engaging foundation. In the end, it’s a solid entry in the SteamWorld franchise, just not the best.
  6. Vooks
    Apr 23, 2019
    70
    It’s great to see developers like Image & Form Games doing different things with their always-interesting SteamWorld franchise. Both the Dig and Heist games worked very well for their genres, and SteamWorld Quest works for card games. There is a decent card game here and the fantasy setting is charming, but it is a shame when not all of the game is as fun to experience. At the end of the day it’s still a solidly-made game and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of their neat robot designs.
  7. RPG Site
    Apr 23, 2019
    70
    A delightful RPG experience. Though there are problems around its edges with prolonged battles and a weak overall narrative, its ability to maintain a deck-building card game inside a RPG in inventive ways continually is nothing short of awesome. Once it clicks with you, it’s hard to not stop theorycrafting, experimenting, and optimizing your deck.
  8. The Indie Game Website
    Apr 23, 2019
    70
    With Hand of Gilgamech, Image & Form have shown that SteamWorld is truly a genre chameleon, moulding itself nicely into a CCG RPG.
  9. We Got This Covered
    Apr 23, 2019
    70
    SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is a funny, charming deck-building RPG that laughs in the face of fantasy and adventure tropes. In the end, though, the game falls victim to repetitive gameplay and ends up overstaying its welcome.
  10. GameSpot
    Apr 23, 2019
    70
    Its uneven difficulty saps some enjoyment out of the otherwise whimsical journey through this new and gorgeous kingdom, but it's still one that is admirably accessible while deep enough to be engaging throughout its 20-hour adventure.
  11. Video Chums
    Apr 23, 2019
    69
    SteamWorld Quest may feature a charming cast of characters and an enjoyable battle system but its overall lack of variety and drab dungeons make it a tough game to universally recommend. If you want a top-notch RPG then play SteamWorld Heist instead.
  12. GameCritics
    May 2, 2019
    65
    SteamWorld Quest is cute and colorful, I’m a fan of the developer and their IP, and the deckbuilding is a genuine strength deserving of praise – something this polished, restrained and approachable is a joy. On the other hand, the overall experience doesn’t offer enough variety or depth, and I struggled to stay engaged before even reaching the halfway point. I’d love to see an enhanced sequel, but the current iteration just runs out of… Well, you know.
  13. Metro GameCentral
    Apr 29, 2019
    60
    The weakest of the recent SteamWorld games but still an enjoyable, if rather unfair, mix of role-playing game and card-battler.
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  1. Eurogamer
    Apr 23, 2019
    I'll be totally honest. After Slay the Spire I thought I had the only card battling RPG I needed for the time being. But I should never bet against the SteamWorld team, and so it proved here. Wit, warmth, smart mechanics and a surprising challenge all make SteamWorld Quest a delight - and then there's Orik, of course. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  2. Kotaku
    Apr 23, 2019
    In the hundreds of battles I’ve had in SteamWorld Quest, no turn in any of them was ever the same. Even now there are strategies and builds I still want to go back and try, despite having already exhausted most of the dungeons. I only wish there were hundreds of new battles I had yet to fight.
  3. Polygon
    Apr 25, 2019
    SteamWorld Quest, however, knows exactly what it is and what it wants to accomplish. Like other SteamWorld games before it, Quest takes a basic idea — in this case, turn-based battles with deck-building — and it builds on it, cog by cog, until the machine takes on the satisfying complexity of a watch. [Polygon Recommends]

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best Switch Game of 2019
83
#83 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019
49
#49 Most Shared Switch Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 82
  3. Negative: 10 out of 82
  1. TurboK
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    Steam World Quest is an amazing mix of Baten Kaitos, Paper Mario and Slay the Spire with a big dash of Image & Form special sauce in it. IfSteam World Quest is an amazing mix of Baten Kaitos, Paper Mario and Slay the Spire with a big dash of Image & Form special sauce in it. If you are a fan of RPGs or card games try this game out, very hard to put down.… Full Review »
  2. Rtheom
    Apr 27, 2019
    7
    This is a card-based RPG that is mostly just meh. It's fine enough, but this format has been done before and done better, so it's not worthThis is a card-based RPG that is mostly just meh. It's fine enough, but this format has been done before and done better, so it's not worth picking up for the mechanics alone. The combat is a bit repetitive and you find yourself mostly just trying to pull the same 3 combos as many times as possible.

    My biggest problem with the game though is the fact that it doesn't seem to have any connection to SteamWorld beyond the art style. The characters keep making references to being "hungry" or having "flesh wounds that heal" and you get "trashium" and other gem types from the dig games as crafting materials, but you never actually see them in the world or anything like that; they're mostly just a line of text. It feels like Image and Form made a mediocre RPG, knew it was mediocre, and so changed the art last minute to make it "SteamWorld" to try and grab a few extra sales off of that.

    This will be worth picking up once it goes on sale to $15, but you're fine until then. It is worth playing in the end, but it's not creative or unique enough to warrant a day-one purchase, even for SteamWorld fans.    … Full Review »
  3. cyklopPL
    Jun 16, 2020
    7
    I really enjoyed this game.
    It is very easily accessible when it comes to card game mechanics (for example when compared to the Witcher Gwint    I really enjoyed this game.
    It is very easily accessible when it comes to card game mechanics (for example when compared to the Witcher Gwint card game), the rules are simple yet at the same time gameplay is very enjoyable.

    BUT, it is best played in small time portions. There is not that many cards to build custom deck (once you unlock some powerful ones you tend to stick with them through many chapters) and as mentioned the gameplay rules are quite straightforward, thus the game is perfect for short sessions. After 1h of continuous play it starts to get boring.

    There is a New Game + mode (which is a plus), but the limited number of cards to unlock do not make it appealing to re-play the game. You will probably stick with most of the end-game deck, maybe upgrading some cards. Still - it's nice that new game+ is here.

    So overall 7/10. Perfectly enjoyable in small 30min subway rides, but would bore to death on a 10h non-stop flight if it was the only game I had.

    While on sale - I would definitely recommend to pick it up,    … Full Review »
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