Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
An action RPG set in the Amalur universe.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, an action role-playing game, hit Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2012. Big Huge Games handled development, while 38 Studios and Electronic Arts shared publishing duties. The player character is the Fateless One, a resurrected individual who has broken free from the predetermined doom that hangs over everyone in Amalur. The game was meant to serve as a primer for the Amalur setting before the planned MMORPG Project Copernicus, though it was built as a self-contained experience. Production kicked off in 2009, using a reworked prototype from before 38 Studios bought Big Huge Games. The world was created by 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling and writer R. A. Salvatore for their MMO. Several well-known names contributed, including artist Todd McFarlane, designer Ken Rolston, and composer Grant Kirkhope.
Critics praised the combat and visuals, but the story and a perceived lack of depth or originality drew some criticism. The game sold about 1.3 million copies, falling below 38 Studios' expectations and contributing to the company's financial troubles. Two downloadable content packs—The Legend of Dead Kel and The Teeth of Naros—came out, but a planned sequel was scrapped when 38 Studios shut down. A remastered version, subtitled *Re-Reckoning*, arrived in 2020 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch port and a third expansion, *Fatesworn*, followed in 2021, though the expansion was released for the remaster, not the original game. Kaiko developed the remaster and expansion, with THQ Nordic publishing after acquiring the Amalur intellectual property. *Re-Reckoning* rebalanced gameplay and included all prior DLC. It received mixed reviews due to technical glitches, later patched, and because its once-innovative mechanics had aged.
**Gameplay**
In *Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning*, players control the Fateless One, exploring the fantasy Faelands. At the start, they customize the character’s gender, appearance, and race—choosing from the human Almain and Varani groups, or the Alfar Ljosalfar and Dokkalfar tribes. Each race grants different attribute boosts, and picking a patron deity adds further passive perks. Movement is limited to walking or running through open areas and dungeons, with specific spots for contextual jumps down and the ability to swim in deep water.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
- Developer
- Big Huge Games
- Publisher
- 38 Studios · Electronic Arts
- Producer
- Sean Bean
- Director
- Mark Nelson
- Designer
- Ian Frazier · Ken Rolston
- Programmer
- Bryant Freitag
- Composer
- Grant Kirkhope · Mark Cromer
- Artist
- Tim Coman · Todd McFarlane
- Writer
- Erik J. Caponi · Andrew Auseon · Tom Murphy
- Released
- NA · February 7, 2012 · AU · February 9, 2012 · EU · February 10, 2012
- Genre
- Action role-playing
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was produced beginning in 2009, based on the Amalur setting created by 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling and writer R. A. Salvatore. Using a reworked game prototype created prior to 38 Studios acquiring Big Huge Games, the game was intended to introduce the Amalur universe before Project Copernicus. Notable contributors included artist Todd McFarlane, designer Ken Rolston, and composer Grant Kirkhope.
The game's story follows the Fateless One, a resurrected person severed from the Fate Weave and suffering from amnesia. The Fateless One allies with the gnome Fomorous Hugues, the Fateweaver Agarth, the Dokkalfar Fateweaver and Warsworn member Alyn Shir, and the Ljosalfar general Tilera ap Gwydion to resist the Tuatha Deohn, a hostile faction of Winter Fae destined to wipe out all life in the Faelands. The plot involves participating in the defense of the besieged city of Rathir, where Tilera dies.
Reader's Guide
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was praised by critics for its combat design and graphics, but the story and lack of gameplay depth or original features saw criticism. While selling above expectations for a new intellectual property and contributing to Electronic Arts' fiscal profits, it commercially underperformed for 38 Studios and Big Huge Games. Two downloadable content expansions were released, but a planned sequel was canceled with the closure of 38 Studios.
A remastered version subtitled Re-Reckoning was released in 2020 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with a Nintendo Switch port and a third expansion Fatesworn released in 2021. The remaster and expansion were developed by Kaiko and published by THQ Nordic, which had acquired the Amalur intellectual property. Re-Reckoning featured adjustments to gameplay balance and incorporated all previous DLC features. The release saw mixed reviews due to technical issues which were addressed in patches, and the ageing of mechanics considered innovative at release.
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