Ancient Kingdoms

If you grew up with games in the 2000 you will like this game. Ive only played about 65 hours atm but I can see myself spending a 100 or so more hours with just how the game is right now, with more content it will only increase.

Fun game for MMO players who don't have the time to play online anymore.

等待中文，等的花儿都谢了

I don't mind the grind as long as I can feel the progression. But sadly this game isn't. For example you encounter this elite/boss, you see all these possible drops thinking to yourself "oh good I can have something good". But no the elite/boss can have a dozen of possible drops yet there still chances it drop nothing (the chance is pretty high too). I can't tell you how many times I have kill an elite or boss they drop nothing and have to wait for however long they respawn again and kill them again just to be disappointed again and again and again.

等一个汉化

你好，我现在非常迫切的想要知道1.0能什么时候上线，还有中文汉化什么时候上线。我和我的朋友都购买了这款游戏，但是大部分内容没有汉化，导致现在体验很差。我的朋友都不准备陪我一起玩这款游戏了，但是我非常喜欢这种游戏

Perfect so far, I've been looking for something like this for awhile. Simple, 2D mmo that will run on any potato. Dev is responsive and pushing updates. Ignore the review complaining about time gates, that's not really an issue. Will update once I actually get somewhere. Edit 1: okay I love this. There are a few things that I'm not sure how they work but the world feels alive.

Here's a revised and more original version of the review following your requested format. Ancient Kingdoms is a retro-inspired action RPG developed and published by Ancient Pixels that successfully captures the appeal of classic online role-playing adventures while introducing enough modern conveniences to remain enjoyable for today's audience. Built around pixel-art visuals, cooperative gameplay, exploration, and character progression, the game is clearly designed for players who appreciate the slower, more methodical style of old-school RPGs. Rather than relying on cinematic storytelling or flashy presentation, it focuses on rewarding exploration, meaningful progression, and the satisfaction of gradually becoming stronger through persistent adventure. The game's biggest strength lies in its progression system, which constantly rewards players for investing time into their characters. Multiple playable classes provide distinct combat styles that encourage experimentation and replayability, whether players prefer fighting enemies at close range, attacking from afar, or utilizing magical abilities. As characters level up, they unlock new opportunities to customize their builds through improved equipment, upgraded skills, and increasingly powerful loot. Finding rare weapons and armor becomes an addictive part of the experience, giving players a continuous incentive to explore every dungeon and complete every available quest. Exploration is another major highlight. Ancient Kingdoms presents a diverse fantasy world filled with towns, forests, caves, ruins, and dangerous underground areas waiting to be discovered. The environments reward curiosity by hiding valuable treasures, stronger enemies, and optional encounters beyond the main objectives. Quests naturally encourage players to revisit earlier locations with improved abilities, creating a satisfying sense of growth as previously difficult challenges become manageable. This structure gives the world a feeling of persistence instead of simply serving as a backdrop for combat. Combat follows a straightforward but engaging design philosophy that emphasizes positioning, timing, and proper character development over fast-paced spectacle. Enemies gradually become more dangerous as players venture into new regions, requiring better equipment and smarter tactics rather than reckless attacks. Boss battles provide memorable moments by demanding preparation and strategic use of each class's strengths. While the combat mechanics remain accessible, they avoid feeling overly simplistic thanks to the steady increase in difficulty and the importance of managing equipment and character progression. One of the game's most appealing features is its flexibility regarding multiplayer. Ancient Kingdoms supports cooperative online play, allowing friends to tackle quests, explore dungeons, and defeat powerful bosses together. However, players who enjoy solo adventures are equally well accommodated, as the game can be experienced alone without feeling incomplete. This balance makes the adventure welcoming for both social players and those who prefer progressing at their own pace, significantly increasing its long-term appeal. The pixel-art presentation embraces nostalgia without sacrificing visual clarity. Character animations are smooth, monster designs are varied, and each environment possesses its own distinct atmosphere that keeps exploration interesting. The soundtrack complements the gameplay with appropriately adventurous and atmospheric music that enhances both peaceful exploration and intense combat encounters. Although the visuals intentionally avoid modern graphical complexity, their consistency and charm effectively reinforce the game's classic identity. Not everything is perfect, however. Players unfamiliar with traditional RPG design may find the pacing slower than expected, and certain interface elements can feel somewhat dated compared to contemporary action RPGs. Inventory management and navigation occasionally require additional patience, while some gameplay systems favor deliberate progression over immediate gratification. Fortunately, these shortcomings are balanced by ongoing developer support, with updates continuing to refine gameplay, improve quality-of-life features, and expand the overall experience. Overall, Ancient Kingdoms succeeds by remaining faithful to the design principles that inspired it while making enough improvements to appeal to modern players. Its rewarding progression, enjoyable exploration, flexible multiplayer, satisfying loot system, and charming pixel-art presentation combine to create an adventure that grows more engaging the longer it is played. Although it may not appeal to players seeking fast-paced action or cutting-edge graphics, it delivers an authentic and enjoyable old-school RPG experience that rewards patience, exploration, and character development. Fans of classic online RPGs and retro fantasy adventures will find plenty to appreciate in this carefully crafted journey. Rating: 9/10

Unfortunately, as for the current state of the game, I can't recommend it - gamepad support is abysmal and the game itself looks blurry as hell on a steam deck.

Great game that combines a classic MMORPG feel with pixel graphics. Cool gear and dungeons and very fun to play with others. The devs really impress me with the frequent and solid updates. However, I am not a fan of using mercenaries. I'd rather play my own single character with a group of players, but it's not easy to do that since you need a 5-man group to run all dungeons, and the server population is often too low to run a 5-man for the content you want to play for your level. Still a good game overall, I just wouldn't recommend it if you don't want to make use of mercenaries.