Circus Electrique Reviews
Circus Electrique is a great example of how being a "clone" doesn't mean being boring or bad. You can trace the game's roots back to Darkest Dungeon, but it has enough of its own charm and style to make it a worthwhile experience on its own merits. It's more linear and less punishing, which has the potential to make it fair and more accessible than its darker predecessor. I was engaged from start to finish, so it's well worth your time if you're looking for something to scratch the classic Darkest Dungeon itch or if you really like the circus aesthetic.
Even though it doesn't feel like you are going to lose everything when you make mistakes in Circus Electrique, the Steampunk RPG continues to keep a firm grasp on the audience. Not only do you take a plunge into the crazy yet charming streets of dystopian London but you also experience tough encounters, which will not hold your hand. If you have been searching for a challenging yet forgiving alternative to Darkest Dungeon that will keep you immersed for hours, then Circus Electrique is the right game for you!
Whether players are looking for their next strategic obsession or just some steampunk circus fun, Circus Electrique offers an experience almost every type of tactical fan can enjoy.
At the end of the day, Circus Electrique is still a fun time. The RPG blend of character maintenance, challenging battles, and circus management has a lot here and it can sometimes be overwhelming, but if players take their time and keep up the performers’ devotion, they can explore the mean streets of London by the skin of their teeth. It’s not an easy game, but much like Darkest Dungeon, it can be rather rewarding.
Circus Electrique is complex and daunting at first glance. But when approached with an unhurried mindset, this RPG/management hybrid can be deeply rewarding. While the steampunk story elements are a bit light, the game more than makes up for it with strategic gameplay mechanics that I simply haven't encountered elsewhere. If you can settle in for the long haul, you will find yourself swept up in this rich and unique experience.
Circus Electrique has a unique vibe, inventive art, and a thoroughly detailed devotion to its steampunk setting. For patient gamers with a love for stats and carefully managed decisions, the engaging combat will be icing on the cake. For some players, Circus Electrique might feel overwhelming, with one or two (or more) mechanics too many. There can be a lot of information on screen, and even more behind the scenes. The presentation is generally fantastic, but players used to simpler games might be surprised at how much work goes into running a circus.
Circus Electrique combines strategy, resource management, and exploration to create an intriguing but demanding adventure with heart.
Circus Electrique combines tricky turn-based combat and circus management to create a wonderful game for those willing to learn all the mechanics.
Darkest Dungeon Circus Manager 2022.
It's hard not to wish that Circus Electrique had simply tried to whittle everything down to, say, half a dozen of its best ideas. If you’re after a dense game, this will deliver exactly that – but at a certain point, you kind of wonder whether it’s all worth it, and I don’t know that it is.
Neither of the two layers in Circus Electrique would satisfy on its own. Of course, neither needs to – Zen Studios have built a game where two connected sets of systems continually reinforce each other. The result is an engine which keeps generating new problems and possibilities, sustaining the fun for hours on end. The combination of management and tactical elements might appeal to a relatively niche audience, but for that crowd Circus Electrique may be just the ticket.