The Sword of Rhivenia

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 218: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆☆ (6/10) This game has ambition, and you can feel it from the first chapter. [i]The Sword of Rhivenia[/i] is a political fantasy epic packed with palace intrigue, family drama, and the kind of power struggles that should be delicious. It has the scope of a multi-season fantasy show' there’s betrayal, war, romance, and thrones to claim. The characters are interesting, the plot is full of political drama, and it’s long enough to feel like a true fantasy saga. But while the ideas are solid and the story is genuinely engaging, the execution struggles to keep up. From stilted writing to dropped plot threads, this is a game that wants to be great but often gets in its own way. If there’s ever a sequel with a stronger editor and more responsive gameplay systems, this series could be something special. For now, it’s a diamond in the rough—very rough. 👑[b] Pros:[/b] [list] [*] The overarching plot is compelling. You’re dropped into a royal family torn apart by ambition and betrayal, and the stakes are immediately clear. Whether you're vying for power or trying to survive court politics, there’s always somet…

Decent Game favorite moments involved [spoiler] Marrying Richard off to steal his crush from him and killing his uncle [/spoiler]. 8/10 needs more sad Richard

One of the worst choice games which I have ever laid my eyes on. It reads if it was written by an 8-year-old. No cohesion, no consistent backstory or story building. “Give a beggar 1, 5 or 10 gold”; how can you know how much one gold piece is worth? Everan is named as a kingdom but ruled by a lord. You have no allies in the end, but throw a big party for your allies??? I strongly discourage you from ever purchasing this game. I only finished it in the hopes that it would get better. I was disappointed.

The Sword of Rhivenia completely hooked me from start to finish! As a newcomer to this story (I've never read the original version before the re-write), I started completely blind. The story is deeply engaging, and the characters are wonderfully fleshed out. Everyone feels like a real person with distinct personalities, believable motives, and genuine depth. What impressed me the most was the weight of the choices. The branching paths are incredibly well-done. Whether you're deciding to spare a life, snitch on someone, or keep a secret, you feel the impact of your decisions. It gives the game immense replay value. That being said, the choice system also brings my main critique. Occasionally, seemingly minor dialogue options carry massive, unexpected consequences. For instance, I suddenly found myself locked into a polyamorous relationship, even though my true intention was to commit to just one person. I spent a solid 7.4 hours on my first playthrough. Despite the occasional unpredictable outcome, it is a fantastic IF that I would recommend.

i enjoyed the premise and story a lot, even if it felt a bit off at times, but having played the revision demo and i gotta say im hyped as heck

This is an enjoyable read, though it certainly shares a flaw with many titles published by Hosted Games insofar as it was intended by the author to be the first in a series. A series is all well and good but the main conflict in the story, or the main plot arc, should at least be resolved in the first book. A war looms over most of this story but never actually comes; that was reserved for the next book. I think the author recognizes some of the shortcomings here, as they are in the midst of a rewrite. I've read the first four chapters of the rewrite and it's been significantly improved, I think. With that being said, I think in its current form it is still an excellent read, and enjoyable. I like all of the siblings here, and there were several characters who I liked quite a lot; [spoiler]I liked Leia from the first moment, and was hoping to get a scene with her and my future wife, Lena. Perhaps in the rewrite...[/spoiler] This is certainly in the top 10% of titles published by Hosted Games.