Portal Knights might remind you of other popular sandbox crafting games, but that’s OK.
While the game features impressively vast, transformable worlds and deep crafting systems, it also boasts frantic third-person combat, different character classes, the ability to level up, as well as unlockable talents, quests, boss battles, and more.
The result is a game that plays much more like a light RPG than a traditional crafting title, and one that, however you approach it, packs in plenty of action and enjoyment.
To begin, you create a character and choose your class. In melee battles, warriors wield swords, rangers rock bows and arrows, and mages cast powerful spells with their wands. Once your character is ready, it’s time to explore and create.
As you discover rich portal worlds, from lush forests to dusty deserts, you’ll encounter many missions and lots of enemies – and that means lots of action. The ensuing fights unfold via unique weaponry, lock-on targeting, and evasive manoeuvres like rolls.
Maintaining a fluid flow during these skirmishes is key to your overall success, but that's not as easy as it looks.
Away from the scuffles, like all the best crafting games, there’s old-fashioned mining to be had, too. Grab your pickaxe and dig through soil, rock, and more as you harness materials for upgrades and quests.
In some cases, you’ll craft a better weapon. In others, you’ll deliver a coveted keepsake to one of the world’s many non-playable characters. And tapping to mine or navigating your inventory with quick swipes feels even more intuitive than with a mouse or controller.
Portal Knights also includes a multiplayer mode in which up to four players can quest, battle and mine together on the same Wi-Fi network. Clan members, assemble.