Children of Morta Reviews
There’s no shortage of top down, pixel art, fantasy roguelike’s out there vying for your attention and many of them are enjoyable. It’s a genre I’ve spent far too much time with over the past few years so the thought of playing another was daunting when I first got my hands on Children of Morta. The thought of re-treading the same ground for hours, something of a staple for this genre, had put me off. I couldn’t have been more wrong about this game though. It’s visuals, narrative originality, the vast array of content and the sheer amount of polish that’s on display here has shown me that Dead Mage and 11 Bit Studios have created the roguelike to end all roguelikes, combining the best of the genre in a package which feels familiar yet refreshingly fast moving.
"Roguelikes can have good stories?"
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Despite the randomly generated dungeons, there is not much in the way of replay value to be had in Children of Morta. The storyline is linear and it is a somewhat short game. That being said, the journey through that first time is delightful, due in large part to fantastic visuals and also the interesting family dynamics found in both the gameplay and the narrative. The rogue-lite elements work well here, encouraging progress without being terribly punitive. Fans of the action-RPG genre should definitely give Children of Morta a look.
While Children of Morta stays pretty solidly in the tradition of recent RPG/roguelikes, its packaging — graphics, design, story and characters — elevate it above the pack and players who have grown weary of the genre will find it refreshing. It’s challenging without (usually) being unfair and while there is plenty of varied combat, there is a story with some heart and soul for any player looking for a break from constant hack and slash.
However, even with these technical issues, I enjoyed my time with Children of Morta. The constant narration depicts the bonds of family with a kind-hearted pathos, which is a welcome palate cleanser between the bouts of monster slaying. Even failed runs are rewarded with new tidbits, tying us to the Bergsons’ struggle.
Children of Morta offers a unique twist on roguelike formula and wraps it up in a warm and engrossing story that will have you genuinely caring for its family of characters. Unfortunately, whilst the gameplay starts off strong, the dungeon crawling eventually becomes a chore due to repetitive combat and long load times.
Children of Morta is a demanding game that is victorious in the mix of RPG, roguelike and hack and slash fights. Its high difficulty in the bosses can make us give up repeating the same phases over and over again but as we can change characters, the player's fatigue is reduced in this regard.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Children of Morta is a huge surprise. Not only is it an outstanding rogue-like game, filled with quality all around. It’s an experience that is probably my favorite in the genre at this point. Combining fantastic story telling elements, engaging gameplay, and a rogue-like loop that actually has me excited to do another run each time. Add on local co-op and I don’t see how it could get any better sans an online update later. What the Bergson’s family endures in combat is only half the excitement as I couldn’t wait to see what story beat hit next. I was concerned, I cared. Admittedly once the game is over, there is no huge reason to replay other than starting the story over, or perhaps leveling up some of the other family members, but that’s so minor. Children of Morta is top notch in the genre, a rogue-like fairy tale nightmare everyone should experience.
With unique graphics and a story you will fall in love with, action RPG fans looking for a new game to play should look no further than Children Of Morta.
Children of Morta is exceptional game in many ways and it is pushing whole rogue-like genre to its modern take on original game-design. You can expect touching story line, great audio-visual quality and also well designed gameplay. But as it is typical in the genre, you should expect repetitive enviroment and some balancing issues too.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Anyone looking for the biggest roguelike of 2019 should probably look no further than Children of Morta. This is an excellent release that just works on so many different levels, with very few minor annoyances in the end. There’s practically something for everyone to enjoy with the many different gameplay styles and ways you can tackle a problem in the dungeons. I didn’t want the game to end when it did, and I’m truly holding out hope that Dead Mage will expand upon the story with some DLC releases in the future, as I feel like my time with the Bergson family just hasn’t fully concluded yet.
Children of Morta is an absolute gem. Fans of action RPGs and rogue-like games should have this on their wishlist if it’s not in their library already. This is a contender for one of my most favorite games in 2019 so far!
I can easily say that, Childeren of Morta is one of the most enjoyable games I played this year. If you like the Roguelike genre, and a game focusing family relations seems a nice theme for you, you absolutely should play this one.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Even at its lowest, Children of Morta encapsulates the struggles, challenges and joys of family. It beautifully reminds us about acceptance, loss, and to support the ones you love.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
When I began playing, I was not expecting anything different from other games of the genre. As the story progressed, however, both the gameplay and the smooth style of the game surprised me, ultimately leaving me considering it one of the best experiences released in the last few years.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It has charm, polish, heart, and a whole lot of promise - Children of Morta is the child who subconsciously wants to meet everyone’s expectations, and is slightly tearing herself apart doing so.
Unlike most Iranian video games, Children of Morta targets a universal audience, which has immensely contributed to its success. Although this is the case, the developers have made a concerted effort to incorporate Iranian elements into the game in any way they can. Children of Morta is probably the first Iranian game to elevate the game industry of Iran to the global level by utilizing a befitting art style, addictive gameplay, and professional voice acting. It is my sincere hope that other Iranian gaming studios will follow in the footsteps of Fan Afzar in order to promote the international growth of the Iranian gaming industry.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Despite some repetition, uneven visuals, and derivative mechanics, Children of Morta is an absolute joy to play from start to finish. A smooth progression system, randomly generated elements, and a ton of different abilities to play with were more than enough for us to look past some of the game’s shortcomings. We highly recommend this one whether you’re a seasoned vet of the dungeon crawler genre, or just looking for a new and charming rouge-like experience.
Children of Morta is strong in its apparent simplicity. By the end game the player is juggling multiple additional powers, temporary buffs, held items, and a vast array of enemy types, but since everything is introduced so smoothly and cleanly it never feels overwhelming. The game is brutal without being cruel, as each failure shows some granular hint of progress—it serves as a great introduction to the genre for newcomers, as everything is explained so well, and is also appealing for veteran players, showing a different approach to a well-known classic. A bit Rogue, a bit Diablo, and all class, Children of Morta will be remembered as the gold standard for years to come.