Lords of the Fallen Review Roundup

Lords of the Fallen, a role-playing game from Polish developer CI Games, launches today for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Prior to its release, the game was often referred to as being similar in nature to From Software's acclaimed Souls series. But now that reviewers have had a chance to play, what are their thoughts?

Below you'll find a collection of scores and opinions about Lords of the Fallen from a handful of publications. For more on the game's critical reception, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Lords of the Fallen
• Developer: CI Games
• Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
• Release Date: October 28
• Price: $59.99

GameSpot -- 8/10

"Superficially, you could call Lords of the Fallen a Souls game for the meek and the uninitiated. But it earns more respect than such a flippant description. Lords of the Fallen isn't about the game that it isn't, but the game that it is. It's about the ghoulish blacksmith, his glowing eyes, and the long tufts of stiff hair that rise from his scalp. It's about the crunches of iron against bone when your hammer finds its mark. It's about taking in new sights and sounds, and about finding new ways to travel to old ones. It's about that suspended bridge, the monuments that guard it, and the creatures waiting within. Harkyn may have no use for these places, but there are riches inside nonetheless." - Kevin VanOrd [Full review]

VideoGamer -- 6/10

"I know a million people will say this is nothing like Dark Souls. I agree, and Dark Souls is a better game, but they both offer a similar experience. Sluggish and unforgiving, in my opinion, isn't a good combination. If you didn't enjoy Dark Souls I can't see this being for you either." - Brett Phipps [Full review]

The Sixth Axis -- 6/10

"Lords of the Fallen has a good core that is being let down by too many other things. The combat is pretty much on point and really does provide a great challenge. If you're looking for a game that has punishing fights, but is a bit easier than Souls then this is it. However the story and lore just aren't that interesting, despite a good premise, and Harkyn doesn't have much personality. There's also quite few bugs that really need addressing, like clipping through the environment and objects, or the enemies that just stop moving completely, yet can still deal damage, or suddenly develop the ability to fly. Those problems take Lords of the Fallen from a potentially great game to something just above average." - Aran Suddi [Full review]

Digital Spy -- 3/5

"If you're hankering for a bit more Souls-shaped entertainment in your life, Lords of the Fallen can fill a gap. It can kill some time, provide some entertainment for a few hours. But its lack of subtlety in its mechanics, its rather clunky nature, and its somewhat dull, basic setting mean it will never be more than a decent distraction: a game to play in between other games, or while you wait until Bloodborne early next year." - Ian Dransfield [Full review]

Polygon -- 7.5/10

"If Lords of the Fallen had a thesis, it would be that 'derivative' doesn't need to be a bad word. For the past five years, we've witnessed a resurgence in punishingly difficult fantasy action games, led by Japanese developer From Software and its Souls series. Many titles have gravitated toward lessons learned from games like Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, but no one has so brashly and blatantly copied From's successful formula until now." - Philip Kollar [Full review]

IGN -- 7.4/10

"Lords of the Fallen delivers entertaining hack-and-slash combat centered on combos and spells, but its risk-based reward system seems slightly out of place in a world where its hero so easily achieves great power and defense and makes risk obsolete. It achieves its goal of creating a more accessible Dark Souls-style experience, but unfortunately it goes a step or two too far." - Leif Johnson [Full review]

GamesRadar -- 3/5

"In a game that aims for the epic, every facet needs to sing--the level design, the bosses, the story, the weapons. Add to that a wealth of technical issues (see 'Glitch in the System') and you have an RPG that, although perfectly playable, doesn't successfully establish itself against supreme opposition. Taken on its own this is a sophisticated fantasy RPG executed with consideration and thought, but Lords of the Fallen never really escapes the spectre of Souls, and it can only blame itself." - Ben Griffin [Full review]

Game Informer -- 8.5/10

"Lords of the Fallen is a surprisingly solid title that wasn't even on my radar. While it borrows heavily from the Souls franchise, it's done well and with its own signature flair. I highly recommend this game to anyone that enjoys that series, and if you haven’t gone down that road before, it might be a more forgiving entry point into the action RPG." - Daniel Tack [Full review]

Eurogamer -- 7/10

"I kind of hate having to so continually compare one game to another, but Lords of the Fallen offers little alternative. As tribute acts go, it's a passable riff on a much better game, and with no more new downloadable content for Dark Souls 2 coming up and Bloodborne still a few months distant, it's hard to deny its appeal as a temporary replacement for the winter months. For all its rough edges, if an easier, less obtuse variation on From Software's combat RPG is all you crave, then it will certainly reward you with a lot of game for your money." - Dan Whitehead [Full review]