Evoland
Evoland is an indie adventure video game that mimics the evolution of action role-playing video games, starting in 2D monochrome graphics and gradually adding advanced graphics, gameplay mechanics, and a storyline as the player progresses through the game.
retro
pixel-art
parody
Evoland: Indie Adventure Game with Evolutionary Graphics
Evoland is an indie adventure video game that mimics the evolution of action role-playing video games, starting in 2D monochrome graphics and gradually adding advanced graphics, gameplay mechanics, and a storyline as the player progresses through the game.
What is Evoland?
Evoland is an indie adventure RPG video game developed by Shiro Games. It was first released in 2013 for Microsoft Windows and OS X. An enhanced version titled Evoland 2 was later released in 2015 for multiple platforms including PC, iOS, and Android.
The key feature of Evoland is that it mimics the evolution of 2D and 3D RPGs, spanning the history of action RPG video games. It starts out as a very basic 2D action RPG with monochrome graphics. As the player progresses through the game, it gradually improves the graphics, adds color, sound, save game functionality, NPC interactions, and other RPG gameplay mechanics and features that have become standard over time.
The graphics and gameplay evolve through various eras from 2D monochrome to full 3D environments. It incorporates elements of many classic action RPGs and fantasy games like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Diablo. The story follows the journey of a time-traveling hero as he explores the history of the video game world of Evoland and uncovers an evil plot threatening its existence.
Overall, Evoland provides a unique meta experience by serving as an interactive museum showcasing landmark moments in RPG history while still providing a solid and entertaining gameplay experience. It received generally positive reception for its innovative concept and implementation.
Evoland Features
Features
- Combines gameplay and graphics from multiple eras of gaming
- Starts as a basic 2D action RPG and evolves into a 3D open world game
- Includes gameplay styles and graphics reminiscent of early Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Diablo games
- Has a humorous, self-referential storyline about the evolution of the in-game world
- Includes boss battles, puzzles, and a card battling mini-game
Pricing
- One-time Purchase
Pros
Nostalgic for fans of classic games
Interesting concept and meta-narrative
Entertaining evolution from simple to complex gameplay
Great music and sound design
Humorous story and characters
Cons
Fairly short gameplay time
Limited character/equipment options
Occasional bugs
Plot is thin outside the core concept
Can feel repetitive at times
Official Links
The Best Evoland Alternatives
Top Games and Action Role-Playing and other similar apps like Evoland
Here are some alternatives to Evoland:
Suggest an alternative ❐
Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is an upcoming science fiction role-playing video game being developed by Canadian indie studio Sabotage Studio. It is expected to release in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox One.The game features a unique hand-drawn 2D art style with anime inspirations. It tells...
Oceanhorn
Oceanhorn is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Finnish indie development studio Cornfox & Bros. First released in 2013 for iOS, the game has since been ported to many other platforms including Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.In Oceanhorn, players control a young boy...
GRANDIA HD
Grandia HD is an upgraded version of the classic Japanese role-playing game Grandia, originally developed by Game Arts and released in 1997 for the Sega Saturn. This HD remaster was released in 2015 for modern platforms such as PC and PlayStation 3.The game follows the story of Justin, a young...
Chained Echoes
Chained Echoes is an upcoming fantasy role-playing game developed by Matthias Linda and heavily inspired by 16-bit era classics like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI. It incorporates many elements and tropes reminiscent of those legendary JRPGs while aiming to modernize them for a new generation.The game takes place in...
Ittle Dew
Ittle Dew is an action-adventure and puzzle video game developed by the Swedish video game developer Ludosity and originally released in 2013. It stars Ittle, a young adventurer who mysteriously washes ashore on a strange island inhabited by a raving fox priest named Tippsie. Ittle must explore the island's dungeons,...
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo Switch. First released in Japan in 2018, it was later released worldwide in July 2018. The game features a unique 'HD-2D' graphics style which combines 16-bit sprite character models with richly detailed three-dimensional environments.The...
Zelda Classic
Zelda Classic is an open source engine and editor for creating 2D top-down adventure games in the style of the classic Legend of Zelda games for the NES and SNES. It gives users a simple visual map editor to design overworld and dungeon areas along with powerful event scripting to...
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV is an epic action role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix in 2016. It is the fifteenth main installment in the popular Final Fantasy series. The game features an open world environment and real-time action-based battle system.You play as Noctis Lucis Caelum, crown prince and...
Zelda Mystery of Solarus DX
Zelda Mystery of Solarus DX is an open-source, fan-made 2D top-down action role-playing game inspired by classic Zelda titles like A Link to the Past. It was created using the Solarus game engine and features original gameplay, puzzles, dungeons, boss battles and more set in the iconic Zelda universe.As the...
Warrior Dragon
Warrior Dragon is a powerful 2D game creation software tailored specifically for fantasy RPGs. With an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, users can quickly build expansive fantasy worlds complete with customizable terrains, buildings, characters, items, quests, and more.Key features include:Huge library of 2D fantasy sprites and assetsVisual scripting system to create events,...
Battleheart Legacy
Battleheart Legacy is an action role-playing game for iOS and Android developed and published in 2014 by American indie studio Mika Mobile. It is the sequel to their highly acclaimed 2011 mobile game Battleheart.Players explore an expansive fantasy world as one of many unique hero character classes such as barbarian,...
The Binding of Isaac (Series)
The Binding of Isaac is an indie roguelike video game series developed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl. The first game was initially released in 2011 for PC and Mac. The series features top-down 2D graphics and dungeon crawler gameplay with randomly generated levels and items.In the games, players control...
Exit Fate
Exit Fate is an indie role-playing game developed as freeware by Australian developer Daniel Hodges using the Enterbrain RPG Maker 2000 software. Inspired by cult classic JRPGs like Suikoden and Final Fantasy Tactics, it was designed to recapture the magic of classic 32-bit era RPGs.Spanning over 100 hours of gameplay,...
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Family Computer in 1990. It is the third installment in the Final Fantasy series. The story focuses on four orphaned youths who are granted magical powers of the Warriors of Light by an ominous crystal....
Anodyne
Anodyne is an indie 2D top-down action role-playing video game developed by Analgesic Productions and originally released in 2013. It features a retro pixel art style and soundtrack reminiscent of classic 2D games from the 16-bit era.In Anodyne, the player takes on the role of Young, a nano-cleaner sent into...
CHRONO TRIGGER
Chrono Trigger is widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time. Originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995, it's a Japanese role-playing game developed by Square (now Square Enix) with a dream team of creators including Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, and Akira Toriyama.The game...
Dink Smallwood
Dink Smallwood is a 2D action role-playing game originally released in 1997 by RTsoft. You play as Dink, a young, unlikely hero who starts out on a quest to help save his village, but ends up on an epic journey to save the world.The game features a large, open world...
Ardentryst
Ardentryst is a free and open-source worldbuilding and writing software designed specifically for fantasy authors, game masters, and content creators. It provides tools to organize, connect, and visualize elements of an original fictional world with custom lore and history.Key features of Ardentryst include:Character profiles detailing biographies, relationships, items, abilities, etc.Interactive...
Utilizer Deluxe
Utilizer Deluxe is a comprehensive PC optimization suite designed to enhance computer performance, protect user privacy, securely delete sensitive data, recover lost files, organize media libraries, identify hardware issues, and keep systems maintained. It goes beyond basic tuning to provide robust utilities that both novice and expert users can benefit...
Enter the Gungeon
Enter the Gungeon is a bullet hell dungeon crawler video game developed by Dodge Roll and published by Devolver Digital in 2016. In Enter the Gungeon, players control a character who explores a constantly changing gun-themed dungeon while battling enemies and collecting new weapons and items.The gameplay involves traversing through...
Heroine Iysayana Trilogy
The Heroine Iysayana Trilogy by P.N. Elrod is an epic fantasy series comprising three novels: The Gem of Iysayana, Iysayana's Quest, and Destiny of the Chosen. The story follows the journey of Iysayana, an ordinary girl who discovers she has a great destiny ahead of her.In the first book, Iysayana...
The Promised Land RPG
The Promised Land RPG is a tabletop roleplaying game designed by Matthew Snyder and published by his company, Troll Lord Games. It is set in a fantasy version of the ancient Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean region during the Bronze Age.In The Promised Land, players take on the roles of...
Adventures of Mana
Adventures of Mana is a full 3D remake of the 1991 Game Boy game Final Fantasy Adventure, which was the first entry in the Mana video game series. Originally released in Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (which translates to Final Fantasy Adventure), the game was one of the...
Eternal Concord
Eternal Concord is a free, open-source desktop note-taking and task management app. It has an intuitive yet fully-featured interface that allows users to quickly capture notes, thoughts, web links, files, and images and organize them however they like.Key features include:Flexible notebooks and notes system for organizing your informationBasic task and...
Zelda Mystery of Solarus XD
Zelda Mystery of Solarus XD is an ambitious fan-made Zelda fangame built on the open-source Solarus engine. It aims to recreate the classic top-down 2D Zelda gameplay and atmosphere from games like A Link to the Past or the Oracle series, while also introducing brand new content.The game features a...
Heroes of Umbra
Heroes of Umbra is a free-to-play online multiplayer game developed and published by Cryolian Entertainment. Released in 2018, Heroes of Umbra falls into the action RPG genre and features skill-based, hack-and-slash combat.In Heroes of Umbra, players assemble a party of up to four heroes, each with unique abilities, to battle...
The Griffon Legend
The Griffon Legend is an open world fantasy role-playing game developed by Griffon Studios. As the last surviving griffon rider in the world, you set out on a quest to uncover the mysterious circumstances behind the disappearance of the griffons and their riders.The game features a vast open world full...
Last Scenario
Last Scenario is a powerful yet easy-to-use visual novel creator that enables anyone to make their own text-based interactive games and stories, even with no prior coding experience. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can visually design branching storylines, write engaging dialogue, integrate multimedia, and bring your imagined worlds to...
Guardian of Paradise
Guardian of Paradise is a third-person fantasy action-adventure game set in a lush, vibrant world filled with magic and wonder. As the guardian, players must defend the land from an encroaching darkness that threatens to consume everything.Throughout their journey, players will explore sprawling environments filled with puzzles to solve, enemies...
Immortal Fantasy
Immortal Fantasy is a fantasy-themed massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Mythic Entertainment. The game takes place in a fictional world filled with magic, monsters, and medieval architecture.Players start by creating a customized character from one of several fantasy races and classes. Common races include humans,...
Monster RPG 2
Monster RPG 2 is an open-source, free-to-play 2D role-playing game developed by Nooskewl. It features classic RPG mechanics and gameplay, with a top-down perspective, detailed pixel art graphics with a retro style, character customization through races and classes, stat assignment, and skill trees.The core gameplay loop involves taking quests in...
Unleash the Light
Unleash the Light is a mobile role-playing video game based on the Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe. Developed by Cartoon Network Games and Rebecca Sugar, the creator of Steven Universe, it was released in 2019 for iOS and Android devices.In Unleash the Light, players control heroes from the show...
Final Fantasy VII The Dark Cloud
Final Fantasy VII The Dark Cloud is an expansive fan-made mod for Final Fantasy VII on PC. It greatly expands upon the original game by adding a huge amount of new content including new playable characters, locations, quests, equipment, materia, summons, and more.The mod features an entirely new storyline that...
Ark 22
Ark 22 is an open-source, cross-platform notetaking application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It allows you to create Markdown-formatted notes organized into notebooks with custom covers and icons.Some key features of Ark 22 include:Markdown formatting for easily creating formatted documentsNote backlinks to connect related notes togetherTags and saved searches for...
Heroes of Loot
Heroes of Loot is a dungeon crawler action RPG developed by OrangePixel and released in 2013 for Android and iOS. The game features retro-inspired pixel art graphics and gameplay reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers.In Heroes of Loot, players take control of daring adventurers raiding underground crypts and temples in search...
The Aetherlights
The Aetherlights is an action-adventure episodic MMO based around steampunk themes. Players take on the role of recruits for an agency called The Resistance, who are fighting against the cruel and oppressive rule of an evil empire within a fantastical Steampunk world.As recruits, players run missions, engage in combat with...
Dubloon
Dubloon is a free, open-source personal finance manager designed to help users take control of their money and achieve financial goals. With an intuitive interface and powerful features, Dubloon makes it easy to visualize spending, create event-based budgets, track investments, and stay on top of bills.Key features of Dubloon include:Spending...
