Gord review (PS5)

In a world teetering on the edge of darkness, Covenant.dev and Team17 have conjured up an unsettling rough dark fantasy gem known as Gord. A single-player adventure strategy game for Xbox, PC and the PlayStation 5, Gord immerses players into a dark fantasy realm, where the very survival of your Tribe of the Dawn hinges upon your resourceful strategies, leadership, and courage. The game’s narrative draws inspiration from Slavic folklore, crafting an atmosphere that is equal parts captivating and grim. We were impressed with it when we first saw it a year ago, so couldn’t wait to get going with it on a PS5.

Gord thrusts players into a bleak fantasy version of Dark Age Europe, where you serve as the Steward of the Tribe of the Dawn. Your kingdom is threatened by encroaching darkness and menacing forces, and your choices dictate the fate of your tribe. The narrative unfolds through scenarios, each with distinct objectives. While the game doesn’t shy away from shocking and gruesome moments, the emotional impact can feel compromised by the game’s dark and grim aesthetic. However, this darkness also quickly becomes the foundation for the addictive gameplay, with a world that always invites you to peer into the darkness just a little bit further.

Your journey as a steward involves both city-building and resource management. Erecting structures, assigning villagers to various tasks, and carefully managing resources is crucial for survival. As you expand, you must navigate the constant threats from enemy tribes, monstrous creatures, and sinister powers lurking in the shadows just beyond the borders of your village. While the campaign structure might feel odd at times, it effectively propels players forward, ensuring each scenario contributes to your growth.

Navigating Gord’s unsettling world is facilitated by controls that, despite requiring a bit of a learning curve, capture the essence of the gameplay well on a gamepad. Covenant.dev’s dedication to optimizing the control scheme for PS5 is evident, and even though the inherent complexities of city-building on consoles do surface they’ve done a good job at minimizing the usual hassle.

Visually, Gord stands as a testament to the developers’ artistry – many of them veterans of studios like CD Projekt Red. A grim atmosphere envelops the game, with skeletal trees swaying in the ominous breeze and eerie fireflies punctuating the darkness. The character animations capture the essence of survival, from wood-chopping to confronting wolves. Despite some frame-rate hiccups that we hope will be ironed out post-launch, the game’s dark beauty remains a highlight.

Gord’s strengths lie in its immersive and unique atmosphere, simple controls that largely align with the console setup, and an engaging campaign structure that takes players through the unforgiving landscape. The gameplay is bolstered by the constant tension between resource scarcity and the relentless threats that underscore the narrative. The strategic depth shines through at times as well, especially in scenarios that challenge your decisions and force you into difficult choices, though for some the grim and bleak nature of things in Gord is maybe a bit overdone.

And while visually captivating with a gorgeous sense of atmosphere, Gord can sometimes feel stacked against the player as things quickly spiral out of control, leading to minor pacing issues at times. But despite that, Covenant.dev and Team17 have conjured up an experience that’s both captivating and grim in this shadowy realm. The fusion of city-building, resource management, and strategic survival creates a unique symphony of gameplay styles and mechanics. While the extreme darkness of the narrative might be a double-edged sword, it serves as the backdrop for an experience that keeps players perennially on edge. The immersive atmosphere, simple controls, and engaging campaign structure are definite highlights, though the game’s challenging nature and grim aesthetic might not resonate with everyone. In Gord, darkness becomes your ally and your enemy – an embodiment of the survival at the heart of this dark fantasy adventure strategy, which is captivating despite its rougher edges.

Score: 7.5/10