Developed by Airship Syndicate and published by Riot Forge, Ruined King: A League of Legends Story features a fresh RPG. Highly anticipated by the community, it saw a surprise release last week, and fans have reacted rather well.
Alongside the extensive depth which covers League of Legends' lore with respect, Ruined King also features a western turn-based combat mechanics, which can be extremely fun and challenging depending on the difficulty level.
With that out of the way, let’s dive in and check out what makes Ruined King such a special experience for everyone.
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Prior LoL Knowledge Isn't Required
I've been playing Ruined King since release, and with around 50% progress made on Normal difficulty, I can admit it's been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. While I'm well-versed with Runeterra's lore, Ruined King's in-game visuals and storytelling make it standout as one of the best turn-based RPGs in recent history.
Considering Ruined King features six different champions from LoL as playable characters, it's likely that some players might develop a curiosity about the MOBA afterwards. Additionally, Ruined King features 10 further champions from LoL, appearing as NPCs that the player interacts with.
All of these factors ensure that players without prior knowledge about Runeterra's lore can enjoy Ruined King. If anything, this RPG has a high chance of directing players towards LoL, based on the lore that's included here.
In-Game Mechanics Work Like They Should
Though Ruined King features turn-based combat as your main form of interaction, there's countless tiny mechanics within that make the champions’ journey even more exciting to play through, such as the Ability Upgrade and Dungeon Ability systems.
From using right-clicks for sprinting across locations to using hotkeys to walk over to an NPC, the player control mechanics are extremely satisfying. Furthermore, players can freely explore the map, collecting additional resources from hidden crates and chests.
Elsewhere, Ruined King's been extremely well designed with some stunning visuals, especially during combat and cut-scenes. The visual approach is absolutely mesmerising and provides players with an opportunity to gain some insight on Runeterra’s lore.
Fulfilling Lore-Related Promises
Since the Sentinels of Light event in League of Legends, various questions have been asked regarding Runeterra's wider story. Ruined King had plenty riding on it here, but it's safe to say the game hit all story expectations.
There's an original story within, though Airship Syndicate has done well to ensure every champion’s story is linked to their original lore. Accordingly, it's a given that Ruined King's story is canonical with the wider League of Legends lore.
Be it about Braum’s origins or Illaoi’s pledge, Ruined King presents League of Legends players with the ultimate visual experience towards the lore. Players who simply wish to enjoy the story and aren't interested in turn-based combat can do so by playing on the Story difficulty, turning off battles. However, you'll still earn the designated rewards from them.
The Ideal Experience For Casual Gamers
While the Veteran and Heroic levels are reserved for players who have prior experience in turn-based combat RPGs, the Story and Normal difficulty levels are for casual gamers to enjoy. These two modes are ideal for players who wish to run through the game’s story without facing any tough challenges.
Players will have to go through combat in Normal mode, but opponents are notably weaker and can be defeated rather quickly. There's four assorted difficulty levels for players seeking various levels of challenge.
These factors make Ruined King an extremely inviting and exciting game for players across every genre. After all, considering the game has a great story to tell, it’s worth going through a few tough challenges.
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story - Is It Worth It?
Ruined King: A League of Legends story is one of the best turn-based RPGs released this year. Featuring extremely smooth mechanics and exquisite visuals, Ruined King can keep players glued to their gaming chairs for hours at a time.
How much League of Legends lore Ruined King reveals is easily the cherry on top, too. There's a thrilling story within for everyone who chooses to give the game a try, one that comes highly recommended.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Reviewed on PC (Steam)
Review code provided by publisher
Grab the game now on Steam!