Pale Coins

Pale Coins is a well-crafted indie action RPG developed by a solo developer, blending classic RPG elements with modern gameplay mechanics. Players praise its engaging loot system with varied and exciting items, smooth and responsive combat, and deep character customization options that allow mixing combat styles like Warrior, Ranger, and Mage. The game features multiple factions, meaningful choices, and replayability through new game plus and alternate endings. The pixel art style and atmospheric music add charm, evoking nostalgia for classic titles like Gothic and Drova. Despite its relatively short length of around 8-12 hours, the game provides a satisfying experience with plenty of content to explore.

However, some players note that the world feels a bit empty and repetitive, with occasional bugs and UI clunkiness, especially with controller navigation. The story and dialogue are serviceable but not deeply immersive. Overall, Pale Coins offers excellent value for its price and stands out as a remarkable solo dev project worthy of support.

Highlights

Players especially praise the loot and gear variety, which keeps the gameplay loop engaging and rewarding. The combat system is described as polished, swift, and satisfying, with a good balance of difficulty and responsiveness. The character progression and customization allow flexible builds and meaningful choices affecting playstyle. The pixel art graphics and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the dark fantasy world, creating a nostalgic yet fresh RPG experience. Additionally, the game's replayability through multiple factions, secret content, and new game plus modes is highly valued.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the short overall game length, leaving players wanting more content and story depth. The world design can feel empty and repetitive, with limited secrets or interactability. Some players experience bugs and softlocks, though patches have addressed many issues. The UI and menu navigation, especially on controllers, are considered awkward and unintuitive. Crafting and some gameplay systems feel underdeveloped. Additionally, quest directions and progression can be obscure or confusing, with irreversible choices and limited dialogue options.