ENDALOR

ENDALOR is an ambitious early access survival RPG with strong soulslike influences, developed by a small two-person team. Players appreciate its unique blend of stamina-based combat, exploration, and crafting, with a world that feels handcrafted and atmospheric rather than procedurally generated. The gameplay loop is engaging, featuring diverse enemies, boss fights, and a variety of weapons and magic staves. Progression feels natural and rewarding, with a balance that allows players to overcome weaker foes while still being challenged by stronger ones.

However, the game is still rough around the edges, with numerous bugs such as save file corruption, inventory loss on death, and multiplayer issues that affect co-op stability. The lack of a map and limited quality-of-life features like keybinding persistence and UI improvements frustrate some players. Despite these shortcomings, the developers are praised for their active communication and ongoing updates. Many players see great potential and express enthusiasm for future refinements and content additions.

Highlights

Players praise ENDALOR's combat system for feeling impactful and responsive, combining survival mechanics with soulslike stamina management. The handcrafted world design and atmospheric zones, including caves and diverse biomes, receive positive remarks. The progression system is noted for its balance, allowing gradual mastery over enemies and rewarding exploration.

The building and crafting mechanics are straightforward and functional, supporting player creativity without overwhelming complexity. Boss fights are engaging and visually appealing, offering satisfying challenges. The art style, while not high-end, is appreciated for its charm and clarity. Additionally, the small dev team’s dedication and responsiveness to player feedback are highly commended.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's technical issues and missing features typical of early access. Save system bugs leading to progress loss and disappearing inventory are major pain points. Multiplayer suffers from loading glitches and desynchronization, sometimes making co-op unplayable.

The absence of an in-game map or player location indicators complicates navigation and coordination, especially in multiplayer. Combat, while fun, can feel clunky with awkward enemy animations and hitboxes. Building mechanics lack polish, and keybindings often fail to save. Performance problems such as lag and memory leaks are reported. Some players find the respawn rate of mobs and resources too fast, reducing the challenge and immersion.