Portal Knights Reviews
...this is the first to commit the most cardinal sin of gaming: I was bored to tears. The game several hours in is fundamentally the same as the game five minutes in, and there’s not even the spectacle of new discovery to entice me onward.
Portal Knights deserves credit for attempting to blend two distinct genres… it just does so little to distinguish itself, resulting in an unrewarding title that doesn't draw you in.
If you're into building games, Portal Knights may disappoint you. It offers much less than similar titles and does a bad job of figuring out what kind of game it truly is
Portal Knights is a Minecraft-alike with a lot of personality and a lot of promise, but in its current state, I just couldn't enjoy it. It feels bloated in places, empty in others, and just can't compare to other games in the block-placing, creation “genre”. Fun for a while, but outstays its welcome too quickly.
If you're looking to entertain a kid who's into Minecraft, get onto Portal Knights, because it offers a lot of the same. It's better for youngsters who have a lot of time on their hands, of course - adults will have a tough time getting a satisfactory experience when playing in short bursts. At £24.99 on the eShop, it's overpriced - hopefully the pricing isn't too silly by the time the physical release arrives.
It’s a shame because beneath such striking flaws beats a game with bold ambition that never manages to realise its own potential. There are clear lessons to be learned, then, and it could be said that Portal Knights has tried to achieve far too much at once, rather than nailing the basics and iterating on them. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its own successes, but some poor design decisions result in a game that will require you to work everything out for yourself before you can become lost in it.
While it starts on a refreshing feeling that mixes Minecraft with an RPG, it eventually wears out the welcome and becomes a game that I beat, but I could have given up halfway through.
Portal Knights is a fun experiment in genre combination - but one that doesn't exactly open any new doors.
While the attempt to encourage exploration is appreciated, the skin of Portal Knights isn't distinct enough to keep me interested
Portal Knights could be a great game, but its controls, clunky interface and frequent bugs can be discouraging. You can play with your friends, but framerate drops on split-screen can spoil it. If you ignore these issues, you will have fun, especially in co-op.
Review in Polish | Read full review
There is a lot for you to do in Portal Knights. Exploring the well-designed and colorful worlds while taking on groups of challenging and unique enemies is consistently fun but the shallow and repetitive quests and almost unnecessary crafting system make the game frequently tedious to play.
While it seemed like it tried hard to be Minecraft but "with a twist," it still held a unique charm with its biomes, portals and eventful stories, as well as the class and custom character system. With the craft system lacking in favor for grinding combat, the game could use some balancing and tweaking to be what it advertises to the public.
The Minecraft's heritage here is inescapable. A good experiencie, and a really adictive game that allows us to improve our character through procedural environments.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ultimately, Portal Knights aims to put RPG elements and Zelda-style combat into a Minecraft-like game. Minecraft works because everything is systemic. It's huge, but everything you can find conforms to particular conditions – diamond only appears below a certain height, sugar cane is found on sand next to water, etc. – so you know where to look. When you remove these systems, you have a Portal Knights island; the resources are all over the place, at any height, and if you can't see them, you want you need another island. It removes the incentive to explore, because there is nothing to find.
Portal Knights uses Nintendo Switch to cover some of its failiures and become a better game than the original one. A videogame that, without been perfect, it entertains the player for a lot of hours. [Víctor Rodríguez separately reviewed the PS4 (5.5) and Switch (7) versions. Their scores have been averaged]
Review in Spanish | Read full review
505 Games brings us Portal Knights, an action title and cooperative role in 3D. Our journey in Portal Knights begins by choosing our character. We can choose between Guerrero, Ranger or Wizard. We find a game that is based on exploration and the search for resources. Portal Knights looks very colorful, with a very attractive visual finish. The sound is quite cheerful although it ends up being a bit repetitive.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Portal Knights is a breath of fresh air on the crafting genre.
Cooperative and family-friendly sandbox adventure with light RPG-elements and entertaining construction mode, but without strategic depth.
Review in German | Read full review
Portal Knights is the kind of game that must be played with a specific goal in mind in order to truly enjoy. Perhaps patience is the key to unlocking the fun – you just have to get there first.
Unlike most Minecraft clones, Portal Knights delivers an experience wholly its own and for the most part it succeeds. Playing through the main story is a highly enjoyable experience and for those who are looking for a new sandbox to build in. The home worlds allow the freedom to craft to your heart's content. It's even better with friends, too. The inclusion of co-op was a very wise choice and gives yet another element to elevate it above its competitors.