Kenshi

I've played Kenshi for several weeks now and I would really like to recommend it, especially if you are into RTS/Sandbox games, but I just cannot do this. The games is a huge mess and not optimized at all. That means long loading times, low fps and stuttering even with a high spec computer. There are several mods that can help speed it up (e.g. reducing clutter, smaller texture files, deactivating weather effects). Characters get stuck every now and then in buildings or terrain. Saving constantly and keeping multiple save files helps a lot if you find yourself in a situation, where hitting F12, resetting population or replacing the squad doesn't work. But reloading can take up quite some time, up to a few minutes, since the world is so huge. However, the biggest problem I've got with Kenshi is that it keeps crashing a lot. A LOT. I tried to suck it up and push through, but I've come across a point where I am no longer willing to play this game as it is quite frustrating when there are several crashes in a 1-2 hours period and you have to repeat what you had done already multiple times.

Buggy, overrated, feels like a Beta I would have played 10 years ago and that makes sense because it's been in development about that long. There are many systems and ideas floating around in this game but none of them feel truly fleshed out while all of them have some degree of monotony and repetition that would make your average JRPG blush. Mix in a terrible UI, worse performance, some game-breaking bugs, and an oversized map with copy-paste locations thinly spread out and you have Kenshi. I feel like the cult following around this game are confusing width with depth and also monotony with difficulty, it's maybe a solid 3 if it was completely bug-free and had decent performance.

Pros: Genuinely expansive world that goes from isolated to comradery when you start succeeding more at the game Reactive world. Certain factions will treat you certain ways and killing leaders shifts the balance of power. Hell, you can influence the market by making too much of a good Massive amount of playstyles available, from running a drug empire to hunting the world's most dangerous bounties to going on a holy quest for your empire. Lore is inspired by the "Everyone is wrong" approach. The history of the world has to be sought after and even the people who were around to see it happen aren't perfectly reliable sources. Think FromSoft style lore, or Morrowind, or the original Fallout RPGs and New Vegas, so on. Cons Glitchy and Poor Performing. It isn't the most stable game, and it has a fair amount of glitches. Brutal Difficulty. I won't pretend I understood this game right away. Its dense and brutal, but it does at least come with the balm that even some unfortunate things can become advantage. Once you have the money you'll be hoping for severed limbs so you can upgrade your people. That Problem Every Survival/Crafting Game Has. You're gonna need a wiki if you don't wanna suffer some to learn.

I have to be honest here. This game sat in my wishlist for many years before I decided to purchase it. But one day that would all change and I would say heck with it and pulled the trigger, and boy am I glad I did. First thing to get out of the way is that the game is far from perfect. Menus are cluttered, clicking can be a little imprecise, and there is occasional loading when you hit certain areas that can take you out of the experience a little. No deal breakers though. With that said, Kenshi is a wonderful hybrid of different games meshed together that actually works REALLY well. There is very likely something here that will appeal to everyone. Part Diablo, part builder, part survival game. There is a lot to take in. With that said, it can be a little daunting learning all of the different mechanics, and some of them aren't explained well. I found myself looking some things up online to get a better understanding. I generally don't like games that I have to jump through hoops for just to learn the basics, but there is something about the game that makes it a joy. Kenshi can feel unfogiving at times, especially during the early hours when you are still trying to get your footing. It also likes to throw curve balls at you when you least expect it. It is this that I like the most about it. The random things that can happen at any given moment, create a unique and organic feeling experience with every playthrough. The games sandbox really does a great job of making things feel fresh and interesting. Another thing to note is that the game can even feel like it drags at times. For example, early on you will probably spend lots of time mining so that you can save up some cash. This is by design mind you, and I personally enjoy the repetition. In closing, Kenshi is one of my favorite games. It tries it hand at many different genres, and succeeds! My only regret is letting it sit in my wishlist for 5 plus years and not purchasing it sooner. I highly recommended Kenshi.

The rumours are true, Kenshi is an open world RPG that's also a true sandbox experience. There's no story, the player has to make their own fun and don't expect any hand-holding whatsoever. In this sense, you could compare this game to the likes of Mount & Blade, but Kenshi goes further with its hardcore systems with all the good and bad they bring. It's easy to die, get lost, not know what to do and where to go. To some, this is the pinnacle of true RPing in a sandbox. To others, this is the bane of their existence and won't get far in... but that's what you have to admire about this game, it goes all with or without you. Even the game's own world lives on and continues without player input, since you're not the Chosen One, there's no reason for NPCs to care about you. To put it lightly, you have to earn the power fantasy, the game will not immediately grant you it. What Kenshi does well is excel on its strengths, which is why I rated the game four stars, because with the freedom comes lots of mechanics and opportunities for you to build your own character and craft your own story. However, there IS lore to discover and learn, which helps put things in context and replaying the game multiple times will uncover more and more as you learn and just keep playing. The graphics aren't great, there's no voice acting and the UI can be cumbersome but you're getting a deep RP experience in return. There's plenty of content but not in abundance, admittedly, as I feel like the dev has traded quantity for quality and immersion over stuff-to-do. If all else fails, you can try the many mods and see if any of them fill in the gaps!