Graven
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Graven Trailers
GRAVEN Launch Trailer - Full Release OUT NOW
Graven - Official PC Launch Trailer
GRAVEN Reveal Trailer
Critic Reviews for Graven
Graven has enough puzzles, secrets, weapons, and spells to keep it engrossing and compelling throughout.
Despite three years in Early Access, it's hard to recommend Graven at launch. From odd design choices to bugs and progression issues, the unfortunate conclusion is that Graven is a real missed opportunity.
Graven had some problems during its early access periodo and sadly the 1.0 version doesn't solve all of them, nor does it make it a really compelling game.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It feels like there were some very specific ideas the creators of Graven wanted to communicate. But while those ideas sometimes weave together with the game’s dark fantasy, old-school shooter style to form some immaculate vibes, that’s about as deep as it gets. The game seems confused about whether or not it wants to be an awesome action game, a thoughtful explorative puzzler, or some kind of mutant Soulslike gimmick. It sputters across the finish line not really achieving anything but a cool look, undermined constantly by boredom. It’s a shame, because Graven has a hell of a vibe. But there’s simply too much bonkin’ and not enough bangin’.
Time-machine nostalgia and a pixel-perfect retro vibe can only carry Graven so far. Combat, exploration, and level design have to ferry the player to the end. Unfortunately, Graven has enough issues in these areas that its very promising premise isn’t quite fulfilled. Players who grew up with mid-90s shooters will appreciate what Graven has to offer, at least for a while. Ultimately, it might make them appreciate how far we’ve come.
Graven feels like it's a game with a identity crisis. Along with being a boomer shooter, it also feels like it's trying to be an RPG, a dungeon crawler, and an immersive sim. Sadly, none of these ideas really feel like they come together well enough, and even the core combat feels incredibly unsatisfying owing to a lack of hit reactions from enemies. This is a shame, considering how interesting its world actually ends up being.
GRAVEN's shortcomings will hold you back from really enjoying it. Although the design and atmosphere are great, it's not enough to overcome the frustrating gameplay loop. Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy, but for most, the overall experience is likely to tip more into the frustrating than the exciting.
Graven is an intriguing mix of genres, but it doesn't manage to express its full potential.
Review in Italian | Read full review
