Unexplored

Unexplored is a series of two roguelike video games developed and published by Ludomotion. The first game, Unexplored, was released in 2017. The second game, Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy, was released in 2022.

Unexplored
Original Steam store art for the first game
Developer(s)Ludomotion
Publisher(s)Ludomotion
Platform(s)Windows, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
ReleaseUnexplored
February 22, 2017 (Win)
August 9, 2018 (Switch)
February 19, 2019 (PS4)
February 22, 2019 (Xbox One)
Unexplored 2
May 27, 2022 (Win)
June 3, 2022 (Xbox One, Series X/S)
September 14, 2022 (PS4)
Genre(s)Roguelike, action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Unexplored games are roguelike action role-playing games.[1][2] The first game's objective is to reach the deepest floor of the dungeon and retrieve the Amulet of Yendor.[3] The second game's objective is to destroy the Staff of Yendor.[4] The second game features 3D graphics as opposed to the first game's top-down 2D graphics.[5][6]

Release

After six months of early access, Unexplored was released for Windows on February 22, 2017.[7] Linux and macOS versions were planned to be released in the first quarter of 2018,[8] but as of November 2019, Linux and macOS versions were still unreleased.[9] Three downloadable content (DLC) packs were released for the game.[10] A Nintendo Switch port was released on August 9, 2018, in Europe and North America.[11][12] PlayStation 4 port was released in North America and Europe in February 2019,[13] along with Xbox One port.[13] Switch and Xbox One ports were published by Digerati.[14]

Unexplored 2 was announced at E3 2019's PC Gaming Show.[15] A Fig crowdfunding campaign was launched at the same time.[15][16] The game was launched in early access on June 21, 2021,[17] followed by its full release in 2022 for Windows on May 27, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on June 3, and for PlayStation 4 on September 14.[18]

Reception

Both Unexplored games received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[19][20][22]

Unexplored

Waypoint wrote: "Unexplored's procedurally generated levels are dense with meaning, memory, and connection in a way that most other RL's [roguelikes] aren't".[26] Rock Paper Shotgun also praised the procedural level design.[27] Nintendo Life said that unlike Unexplored's "overly simplistic" artstyle, the "unusual approach to balancing combat and map generation" is its most memorable element.[21] Nintendo World Report didn't like the game's combat and how the dungeon was procedurally generated.[3] PC Gamer wrote that the game's randomly generated worldbuilding was "quietly revolutionary".[28] PC Gamer nominated Unexplored for the best strategy game of 2017.[29] Waypoint included the game among its best games of 2017.[30] Dominic Tarason of Rock Paper Shotgun listed the game as one of the top three games of 2017, calling the procedural generation "a borderline-magical piece of code".[10]

Unexplored 2

CD-Action called Unexplored 2 ambitious and beautiful but criticized the story and lack of polish.[24] Eurogamer complimented the graphics and soundtrack but did not appreciate the procedurally generated story.[23] PC Gamer criticised the amount of bugs, calling the full release "too broken to interact with as intended".[4] Rock Paper Shotgun liked the game's barter and permadeath systems, and artstyle though disliked the story and camera system.[31]

References
  1. "UnExplored - Unlocked Edition: Action-Rollenspiel für PS4 und Xbox One im Anmarsch". 4Players. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  2. Vitale, Adam (2 May 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy launches for PC on May 27". RPG Site. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. Lloyd, David (7 August 2018). "Unexplored (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. Brunskill, Kerry (26 May 2022). "Unexplored 2 review". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. Donlan, Christian (10 June 2019). "Unexplored 2 is in open access today". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. Sykes, Tom (1 May 2017). "Unexplored: a real-time roguelike with advanced dungeon design". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  7. Ludomotion (17 February 2017). "Launch trailer & date!". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. Ludomotion (4 January 2018). "Unexplored in 2018: Mac, Linux, DLC, bug fixes". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. Ludomotion (26 November 2019). "Unexplored 2 update trailer". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  10. Tarason, Dominic (27 December 2017). "Dominic Tarason's favourite games of 2017". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. Calvert, Darren (9 August 2018). "Nintendo Download: 9th August (Europe)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. Calvert, Darren (9 August 2018). "Nintendo Download: 9th August (North America)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  13. Romano, Sal (31 January 2019). "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition launches February 19 for PS4, February 22 for Xbox One". Gematsu. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  14. "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition". Digerati. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  15. "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy Announced at The PC Gaming Show". DualShockers. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  16. Fuller, Alex (14 June 2020). "Unexplored 2 Gets Trailer, Releasing on Epic Games Store". RPGamer. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  17. Morton, Lauren (21 June 2021). "Rogue-lite adventure Unexplored 2 has launched in early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  18. Romano, Sal (8 September 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy coming to PS4 on September 14". Gematsu. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  19. "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  20. "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  21. Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (10 August 2018). "Unexplored Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  22. "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  23. Murianni, Ivana (5 June 2022). "Unexplored 2 The Wayfarer's Legacy recensione, un RPG al sapor di Dungeons & Dragons". Eurogamer (in Italian). Gamer Network. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  24. Biel, Dawid (30 July 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy – recenzja. Ambitna, piękna gra". CD-Action (in Polish). Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  25. Scattarella, Gianluca (26 May 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy, la recensione del seguito di un ottimo roguelike". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). NetAddiction Srl. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  26. Walker, Austin (6 May 2017). "'Unexplored' Is a Roguelike With a Satisfying Ending". Waypoint. Vice Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  27. Smith, Adam (23 February 2017). "Wot I Think: Unexplored". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  28. Fenlon, Wes (18 December 2017). "Unexplored weaves personal roguelike stories with clever random generation". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  29. "Games of the Year 2017: The nominees". PC Gamer. Future plc. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  30. de Quidt, Jack (25 December 2017). "The Best Games of 2017: Day 1". Waypoint. Vice Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  31. Caldwell, Brendan (26 May 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy review: a special, chunky roguesomething". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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