Pendragon Reviews
An accessible strategy game tied to a powerful, dynamic story generator.
A new classic of narrative and strategy, and a game with plenty of space for the player to enjoy themselves.
Pendragon is a fascinating but flawed experiment in procedural narrative.
I think the rules are still a bit too opaque for my liking. But they are, typically for Inkle, very elegant, and trust them to be the developers to weave them in with stories of knights and chivalry in such a neat way. Inkle are still better at story than strategy, though. I’ll beat Mordred one day. I just suspect it will take me a long while, is the only thing.
Pendragon is a great introduction to the strategy genre and is easy to pick up and play without the fear of being overwhelmed by menus and options. Multiple characters, dialogue options and areas ensure no two playthroughs will be the same.
I’ve played Pendragon dozens of times. I’ve unlocked most of the characters (I still can’t see to get Branwen the archer to trust me) and I know there are stories I haven’t pursued to their conclusions (Excalibur is out there, and I will find it). So rather than a traditional RPG or strategy game, Pendragon plays like an impressionistic take on a classic Nintendo formula. You’ll tell your own stories and if you play them right, the dream of Camelot will live on.
Pendragon is a game of both strategy and story, offering a different kind of gameplay experience while digging into historical mythos.
Pendragon wants to help you tell a story of the last days of King Arthur, and how much that idea appeals to you is exactly how much you'll like it. Not every story works, but not every story has to.
After 80 Days and Heavens' Vault, Inkle shows again its talent with Pendragon, a narrative experiment set in the Arthurian legend
Review in Italian | Read full review
A delightful rogulike where you collect stories rather than powerups. Pendragon is a surprising look at the tales of King Arthur, but it's a little light on the strategic combat.
From Inkle, the creators of Heaven’s Vault and 80 Days, comes Pendragon, a rogue-like narrative strategy game. It hopes to blend writing and gameplay, to constantly have one influence the other. While it succeeds in some ways, it falls short in so many others.
Pendragon has me a bit conflicted; there’s nothing about it that’s bad, I just wish there was more of it. It’s a bit difficult for me to recommend, too. I feel like you really gotta be into the idea of a dynamic narrative and doing playthrough after playthrough to learn more about it. Had this been a more unique setting with unique characters, it might be a different story. It all being Arthurian mythology means that I have at least some familiarity with what happened and who everyone is. How long this game lasts is gonna vary wildly. You could be like me and luck out on your second playthrough and get to the end, and decide that’s enough, but that’s not really a full experience. You could spend a few hours or maybe upwards of 10 hours if you’re into the concept enough. $17 on Steam is a pretty reasonable price, if this sounds like your thing.
Pendragon is an extremely dynamic and adaptable narrative experience, and one which makes excellent use of the rich source material of Arthurian legend. Players looking for a highly replayable experience will thrive in this depiction of Britain, with its plethora of meaningful choices, stained-glass graphics and serene music.
Whether you know the stories of Arthur & the fall of Camelot or not, this game allows you to build your own Arthurian legends step by step. Pendragon is a near-seamless blend of procedurally generated narrative and a strategy game that could have carried itself alone. Combined, they make one of the most unique games of 2020 and while it’s not without its flaws, it’s a game I highly recommend you try.