Armello Reviews
Armello is a solidly-constructed and enjoyable turn-based title that offers a unique setting and plenty of depth.
Back in 2015, League of Geeks launched a Kickstarter for a visceral, turn-based game full of anthropomorphized animals. Now, the Australian indie team brings Armello to the Nintendo Switch for those of us on the go. Join a range of animal characters as they fight, scheme, and scurry their way to the throne in a highly acclaimed table top interpretation. This is our review of Armello on Nintendo Switch.
The combination of RPG, 4X and board game really works, and with the exception of a tiny map size and some repetitive elements, it is an extremely promising debut for League of Geeks.
I enjoyed my time with Armello, as did the friends I played it with. While it doesn't quite compete with some of the compelling tabletop games I have played over the past couple of years—and it's marred by some confusing design choices that stand to stifle some of its more unique features—if you and a group of friends enjoy tabletop games but struggle to find the time to meet up and play them, then you'll likely find Armello worthy of your time.
Armello is worth a look for board game enthusiasts. For those looking for a party game to play with friends, its slow pace and lack of local multiplayer make it hard to recommend.
In the end, Armello does not strive for anything more than being a polished and well-rounded experience, and despite some lingering complaints on its lack of communication and interactivity, it is a worthwhile purchase for any board game fan.
Armello is a game that has a promising concept and a top-shelf presentation but falls far short of its potential. Despite its adept systems the game often proves a slow, monotonous affair that suffers from balancing issues. Tabletop enthusiasts and strategy game fans may glean some joy from this game. However, your time would still be better spent playing a myriad of other games that offer more entertainment than Armello.
Armello brings a set of strategy and RPG elements to the Nintendo Switch and while it does not feature a very compelling plot, it offers an interesting mix of gameplay mechanics, along with very attractive views to look at and a good level of challenge. Its tutorials and rules do feel excessive though and its local multiplayer could use some work but overall, Armello is a fun package that can be enjoyed by many players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Armello oozes charm, and its myriad gameplay systems keep you busy for hours, but it relies too much on luck to keep things interesting.
I believe that Armello has many of the pieces of an amazing game, but those pieces don't quite fit together just yet. I think that the development team, if given the chance, could iterate on this design to hit a perfect mix of computer mediation and boardgame excitement. While Armello misses the mark for me, I look forward to whatever they cook up next.
Armello makes a great first impression, but it has a bad habit of making you feel like you're playing alone.
A board game that's overly complicated, doesn't really teach itself fully, and heavily based on luck. That's three strikes and I'm out. Maybe people will like this, but there's far better.
Matches take a long time to complete - sometimes upwards of an hour and, for that reason, are best played against human competitors, where one's cruelty and wisdom takes on sharper significance. That said, the AI in the single-player game is able, and for players worried about entering games via Steam matchmaking, with all the attendant risk of having a human competitor who drifts away from their keyboard half an hour in, the single-player portion provides useful on-going training grounds.
Armello has almost as many versions as Skyrim, but if you don’t already own it, it’s an interesting take on the virtual board game. The cards you use are beautifully illustrated and the battle-chess animations as the characters do battle connect satisfyingly with your chosen actions.
This board game RPG has complex mechanics and smooth gameply, but it stumbles in one key department.
Armello doesn't completely replicate the feeling of tabletop games, but it's a nice alternative to play with friends who may be long distance. The spirit of tabletop gaming is there, even if all of the designs aren't.
In any case, Armello is a remarkable achievement. Instead of simply transferring a board game experience to the TV or computer screen, developer League of Geeks has managed to escape the boundaries of the board game format using modern innovation. Arthur C. Clarke suggested that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, and in that light, Armello is quite definitely magical.
Despite limited game modes, it is easy to learn while at the same time offers a deep, strategic, and satisfying experience.