Portal Knights
A sandbox RPG blending crafting, combat, and cooperative exploration.
Portal Knights is an action role-playing game from 2017, created by German studio Keen Games and released by 505 Games. It blends exploration and construction with RPG mechanics, letting up to four players explore, fight creatures, and build structures together in a shared sandbox world. The game launched on Windows via Steam on 18 May 2017, with simultaneous releases for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It later arrived on the Nintendo Switch eShop on 23 November 2017, followed by a physical retail version on 13 February 2018. Mobile versions for Android and iOS appeared on 6 December 2017. In January 2019, it was offered free to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
The game’s development was first announced by 505 Games on 4 February 2016, and it entered Steam Early Access on 25 February 2016, leaving that phase on 18 May 2017. Players can craft tools like pickaxes and swords, break blocks, fight monsters, and build armor, weapons, and elaborate structures. Its visual style and crafting system draw comparisons to Minecraft, while its art direction takes inspiration from JRPGs such as the Legend of Zelda series. The game features three major bosses: the Worm Boss, the Dragon Queen, and the Hollow King.
Critical reception varied by platform. Reviews for the Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch versions were described as mixed or average, while the Xbox One version received generally favorable scores. Nintendo World Report’s David Keremes praised the vibrant worlds, accessible RPG elements, content volume, and multiplayer, but criticized constant item management and unclear crafting instructions. Nintendo Life’s Ryan Craddock liked the art style, crafting options, and cooperative play, though he noted finicky controls and long load times specific to the Switch port. Push Square’s Brandon Marlow commended the crafting, combat, and boss fights, but saw the stats system and reliance on random number generation as drawbacks.
In December 2016, the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis Awards named Portal Knights the Best Online Game 2016, and it was also nominated for Best Game Design, Best Technical Achievement, and Best German Game. TouchArcade awarded it Game of the Week in December 2017.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Portal Knights
- Developer
- Keen Games
- Publisher
- 505 Games
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · Android · iOS
- Released
- Microsoft Windows · WW · 18 May 2017 · PlayStation 4, Xbox One · EU · 19 May 2017 · NA · 23 May 2017 · Nintendo Switch · WW · 23 November 2017 · Android, iOS · WW · 6 December 2017
- Genre
- Action role-playing, survival
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Composer
- Blake Robinson
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Portal Knights was first announced by publisher 505 Games on 4 February 2016 and entered Steam Early Access on 25 February 2016. It left Early Access on 18 May 2017, the same day it launched for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Nintendo Switch version arrived via eShop on 23 November 2017, with a retail release on 13 February 2018. Mobile versions for Android and iOS were released on 6 December 2017. In January 2019, the game was featured as one of the free PlayStation 4 games for PlayStation Plus subscribers.
The gameplay combines exploration and building with role-playing elements, allowing players to craft items such as pickaxes, swords, and tools to smash blocks, fight monsters, and construct buildings, armor, and weapons. It shares many similarities with Minecraft in its crafting and construction elements, while its art style was inspired by JRPGs such as the Legend of Zelda series. The game supports online play with up to four players simultaneously in the same world, and features three major bosses: the Worm Boss, the Dragon Queen, and the Hollow King.
Reader's Guide
Portal Knights received mixed or average reviews for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, and generally favorable reviews for Xbox One. Critics praised its vibrant worlds, accessible RPG mechanics, amount of content, and multiplayer, while noting issues such as constant item management and unexplained crafting mechanics. The Nintendo Switch port was criticized for finicky controls and long load times. The game's crafting mechanics, combat, and boss battles were highlighted as strengths, though the stats system and reliance on RNG were seen as hindrances. In December 2016, the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis Awards selected Portal Knights as Best Online Game 2016, and it was also nominated for Best Game Design, Best Technical Achievement, and Best German Game. In December 2017, TouchArcade awarded it Game of the Week. The game's significance lies in its successful blend of sandbox building and RPG progression, appealing to players who enjoy cooperative exploration and crafting in a fantasy setting.
Did You Know?
- It was awarded Best Online Game 2016 at the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis Awards.
- The Nintendo Switch version was released via eShop on 23 November 2017 and at retail on 13 February 2018.
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