Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a remarkable open-world RPG that breathes new life into the Arthurian legends with a dark and immersive twist. Having spent around 40 hours in the game, it's clear that this title stands out in many ways, particularly in its atmospheric depth and thoughtful design. Atmosphere and World Design The game's world is captivating, with a consistent and hauntingly beautiful autumnal atmosphere that draws players in. The attention to detail in the environment makes Avalon feel alive and rich with history. Every corner of the world is packed with discoveries, from hidden items to unique enemies and intriguing NPCs, making exploration a rewarding experience. Class Design and Gameplay One of the standout features of Tainted Grail is its class design. Unlike many other RPGs where magic users often feel underpowered or limited, mages in this game truly feel like powerful spellcasters. The balance between different classes is well-executed, ensuring that each playstyle feels distinct and impactful. This thoughtful design extends to combat and progression, making every encounter engaging and strategic. Music and Sound Design The game's soundtrack is another high point, perfectly complementing the dark and immersive world. The music enhances the overall atmosphere, making the experience even more engrossing. Heart and Soul Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is clearly a labor of love. While it may not have the polish of a AAA title, it more than makes up for it with its heart and soul. The development team has focused on what truly matters—creating a rich, immersive world with meaningful choices and a compelling narrative. This dedication shines through in every aspect of the game. Conclusion Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a must-play for fans of open-world RPGs, especially those who appreciate deep lore, strategic gameplay, and a captivating atmosphere. Its thoughtful design and immersive world make it a standout title in the gen

Right off the bat: I was completely captivated by Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon, putting in 24 hours of playtime over just four days. I was looking to scratch that 'old-school Elder Scrolls itch' without playing Oblivion for the umpteenth time...this game did the trick 100%. Based on a grimdark, macabre reimagining of the Arthurian Legend, Tainted Grail's main story - even most of its side quests - had me hooked right to until credits rolled. What it lacks in AAA visual/sonic/mechanical fidelity, it more than makes up for in tone, spirit and heart. Is it an unabashed homage to TES? Yes - right down to its "level by doing" system, dialogue style, cooking/alchemy/crafting mechanics, and combat feel. However, it always feels like a loving tribute - not a cheap ripoff. I only dock a point at this juncture due to quest/pathing bugs, regular crashes and limited enemy variety reflective of the game's early state. Otherwise, I consider my $22 (bought on sale) very well spent! I'm super excited to see Questline bring it toward the finish line and greatly look forward to giving it another run once the game is finished. Bonus Kudos: Despite running on four-year old hardware (RX580 GPU & 3700X CPU), I was able to play on Ultra settings with very few issues!

If you're someone who has a soft spot for dark, atmospheric RPGs, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon might just be your next obsession. On the surface, it definitely evokes Skyrim—open world, first-person exploration, and that familiar feeling of being a lone adventurer carving their path through a crumbling world. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find a rich blend of influences that go far beyond Bethesda’s flagship. There are shades of Soulslikes in the world design and combat pacing, a haunting touch of the Gothic series in the overall mood and tone, and even some clear callbacks to Morrowind and Oblivion in how the game handles quests, exploration, and lore delivery. It’s a slow-burn experience that respects player agency and rewards curiosity—something that’s increasingly rare in modern RPGs. What really sets Tainted Grail apart, though, is its unique dark fantasy aesthetic. The game draws from Celtic mythology, classic grimdark themes, and—this was unexpected but deeply welcome—a dose of HR Giger-style alien horror. It’s weird, it’s twisted, and it absolutely nails that “beautiful decay” vibe that makes wandering through its world both eerie and captivating. Visually, it’s surprisingly impressive for an indie RPG. Environments are dense, moody, and atmospheric. Characters and animations may not rival AAA titles, but they serve the world well. I did run into a fair number of visual bugs, but nothing game-breaking. Most of it was fixed with a quick reload. My only real gripe is performance—it's a bit wobbly at times, and I do hope the devs manage to iron that out for the full release. All in all, I highly recommend Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, especially if you’re a fan of old-school RPGs or ambitious projects like Enderal. It’s rough around the edges, sure—but what it offers in tone, depth, and atmosphere is something truly special.

Man, this game caught me off guard in the best way! The graphics are honestly pretty darn good—nothing groundbreaking, but they’re sharp, colorful, and really bring the world to life. I was impressed by how well it ran, too. What I loved most was how varied the gameplay is. It never feels repetitive, and there’s always something new to mess around with. Oh, and huge props for the DRM-free release on GOG! It’s so nice to just download and play without dealing with annoying launchers or online checks. That kind of respect for players goes a long way!

Disclaimer - played just a couple of hours, but GOG aggresively asks for a review. 4/5 Game mechanics. Combat can be intimidating at first, but it all comes together the more you play and more 'tools' you use. For example startt with a sneak range opener, then a spell and then finish in melee. Funny thing is that you should treat combat like a soul's like. aka keep dodging. In the long run this kind of combat can get a bit boring, but variety of weapons/spells can help. 5/5 Atmosphere. The story, visuals and music create an excelent combination. 5/5 Performance. played at max, nothing broke much. It did look that after a couple of playing, the game become slugish/frame skips, maybe a memory leak of sort. Or me just playing till early morning.