Ruined King: A League of Legends Story Reviews
In the end, a terrific battle system and great art direction just aren't enough to save Ruined King: A League of Legends Story from its lackluster narrative, clunky UI, and a wide spectrum of bizarre technical issues on Nintendo Switch. Hardcore League of Legends fans and hardcore RPG mechanics enthusiasts will still enjoy the game, but everyone else is better off playing something else this holiday season.
It is clear that Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is a work of love, combining a well-written narrative, engaging characters, and a world worth exploring and experiencing. The combat elements add to a familiar formula, and the turn-based elements are not that hard for anyone to wrap their heads around. Save for a few yet annoying bugs and glitches, it is hard not to see Ruined King: A League of Legends Story as a bonafide breakout hit for Riot Forge and Airship Syndicate.
A turn-based RPG fans will enjoy, though League fans will love.
Ruined King is an imaginative and comfortable RPG, even for players unfamiliar with League of Legends, but a lack of polish drags down the experience.
With deep strategy elements found both inside and outside of combat, Ruined King: A League of Legends Story makes for an undeniably engaging and challenging adventure. Fans of League of Legends get to see the world of Ruenterra from a new lens and will be hooked by the endearing character moments found within the game’s story. Ruined King may not find the wide appeal that other League properties have managed, and some of the interactions found outside of combat are admittedly cumbersome, but it’s hard to deny the excitement and depth of content found within the turn-based battles of Ruined King.
I’m hoping that the sequel will get developed. I hope it’s equally pleasant and full of ideas, but more focused. Right now, Ruined King seems like a small game that was supposed to be big or a big game that turned out surprisingly small. Whatever the case, it’s still a good and great-looking RPG.
Review in Polish | Read full review
At the end of the day, Ruined King: A League of Legends story is great RPG for two sets of fans. League players (and those from other Riot games) get the opportunity to explore worlds they may have heard about, but never visited. For those unfamiliar with League, you get the opportunity to explore a land of pirates in an accessible story-driven RPG and expose yourself to Runeterra's universe. The story is compelling and beautifully told, and the lands of Bilgewater and Shadow Isles are full of secrets. While it's great you need not grind, the combat system feels like it was changed for the sake of change. Airship Syndicate knocked it out of the park in most ways (be it soundtrack, world design, storytelling, and gameplay), and I'm so excited to see more!
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is the best way to explore the story of Viego and the Shadow Isles.
Out of its comfort zone, Runeterra's world shines in this well-crafted and smart RPG, that feels just like a first step in a journey that is going to bring League of Legends up to new shores.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Riot's ambition to build the League of Legends universe is evident.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story surely will not enter the genre's hall of fame, but it definitely can captivate for a couple of evenings.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Ruined King is a game worth trying out, regardless of whether you're a League of Legends fan or not.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story offers users a 30-35 hour experience of the League of Legends world.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Ruined King is not only a spinoff game, it has managed to become an important example of its kind in its own right. If you're interested in the world of Runeterra, don't miss it.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
I want to say that Ruined King is great, because on a design level it is. It shows off the appeal of Runeterra while crafting a unique RPG battle system that is deep, engaging, and rewarding. But the presence of such an obvious and debilitating bug makes it difficult for me to recommend. Some may say that I’m making a mountain out of a molehill over having to take five minutes out of my time every couple of hours, and I have no doubt that many people will probably push past the bug and still love the game regardless.
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is a pleasant surprise, proving once again that the universe of the franchise is much bigger than we imagined. Very conscious of what it intends, the game brings solid gameplay, a typical story of the genre very well told and very nice art, resulting in one of the best games of the genre in recent times.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ruined King makes the characterization of the characters and the game world its workhorse to tell an authentic "League of Legends Story": the good narrative and aesthetic component joins the wonderful soundtrack and together they do great for this lore fragment of Runeterra; at the same time, the turn-based combat system manages to be elaborate and challenging, thanks to the curious lanes-based structure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Although I have never played League of Legends personally, it is famous and well-known enough that pretty much anyone who plays games is aware of its existence. Granted I am not the biggest player of MOBA games, so when I heard there was a traditional turn-based RPG based on League of Legends, I knew I wanted to play it to experience some of the League of Legends universe. The battle system is well-designed, the cut-scenes and hand-drawn like cinematics add depth to the story, and the music is pretty good. If you were ever curious about League of Legends and don't play online too much, this is a great place to start.
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story presented beautiful characters and worlds from LoL I enjoyed the story and the beautiful character style. Upgrading equipment and attacks was great and a nice addition to the game I really enjoyed it.
Review in Arabic | Read full review