The MORPG Leafling is available on Steam in Early Access and is an indie project that can be played for free. It is developed by a small team and targets fans of nostalgic 2D visuals from old Nintendo and Sega RPGs.
What kind of game is this? Leafling is a free theme park MORPG in Early Access on Steam, developed by a small team. MORPG with an M, because the developers do not label it as “massive”. In it, you take on the role of explorers who have arrived on a new continent that emerged from the ocean one day.
Leafling provides its players with a 2D pixel art style reminiscent of old Nintendo RPGs like Secret of Evermore or RPG Maker titles such as Underway in Düsterburg and Vampire’s Dawn. Games that many of you will be familiar with from your youth and childhood.
Classic 2D RPG in Multiplayer
This is the world of Leafling: Artemia is divided into different areas that are somewhat reminiscent of Super Mario World in structure. You start on a beach map and then move across the world map to the next area, which is a city.
To enter new areas, you must first reach the appropriate level. Along the way, you will encounter other players, who can be found in the areas as well as on the world map.
In the areas, you will find cities, grasslands, beaches, mountains, deserts, and everything that a classic RPG typically offers in terms of terrains. This also includes dungeons, which you can tackle in normal and “challenging” difficulty. The first one can be completed as early as level 10.
This is how gameplay works: At the start of the game, you choose one of 4 base classes, customize your character a bit, and are thrown directly into the world of Artemia. You start on the beach and must slowly work your way through the various areas.
You do this by playing through the main quest of Leafling. It introduces you to the gameplay basics, explains individual mechanics, and also tells a story that is not too complex or exciting.
The gameplay is simple and offers all the fundamental mechanics of a classic RPG. You complete quests, beat up monsters, collect EXP for your levels and gear for your character. You are not stuck with your starter class, but can try out a whole range of different and sometimes unusual classes, including an “Aquamancer,” a “Miner,” and even a Time Weaver.
The combat system is action-oriented, and you need to aim to hit the enemies. The skills that you can bind to your hotbar are learned through the equipment you wear. Weapons give you attack abilities, while armor provides you with defensive skills.
For those who enjoy crafting, Leafling also offers a collecting and crafting system, where you can farm materials from which the local blacksmith creates useful items. These can be classic weapons and armor. Or you can cook food by the campfire that grants you various bonuses in battle.
Leafling also offers open-world PvP, which can only occur with mutual consent. So you don’t have to worry about being taken out by a griefer as a novice.
This is how Leafling finances itself: The game is also free-to-play in Early Access and can be tried by anyone at any time. However, it features a cash shop where you can buy premium currency called Crystals as well as the “Elite Status,” a one-time package with a title, an aura, and access to the VIP lounge.
The crystals can be used to purchase cosmetic items and “small conveniences.” The team emphasizes that they are strictly against pay-to-win and that their store will not offer gameplay advantages. The premium currency can also be purchased by other players for in-game currency.
Relaxed grind with poor server stability
This is what the previous reviews say: On Steam, this small MORPG seems to be doing quite well. Of the slightly more than 600 reviews, 72% are positive. The calm atmosphere of the game is praised, allowing for relaxed grinding. The visuals are also positively highlighted because they are inspired by classic RPGs from the Super Nintendo era.
However, it must still be considered that the game is still in Early Access. You will encounter bugs and issues, as well as content that is not yet finished. Some NPC dialogues will lead you into dead ends or certain features will not function properly.
Particularly problematic is the stability of the servers, which the positive Steam reviews also warn against. There are frequent crashes and “rubberbanding,” meaning the character suddenly teleports backward to a previous position. So if you want to try the game, prepare for things not to work perfectly.
According to reviews, there is also a problem that Leafling’s endgame content is designed for 20 players. Currently, according to Steam charts, it is actively played by only 14, which is not surprising for a small, lesser-known indie game. So fans of endgame content in MMORPGs will not get their money’s worth here.
How does Leafling sound to you so far? Will you give it a try, or is it not really your thing? Or have you perhaps already tested the game? Let us know in the comments.
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