Unexplored

Video game series

2017 video game

Unexplored

Original Steam store art for the first game

Developer(s)| Ludomotion
Publisher(s)| Ludomotion
Platform(s)| Windows, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Release| Unexplored
February 22, 2017 (Win)
August 9, 2018 (Switch)
February 19, 2019 (PS4)
February 22, 2019 (Xbox One)
Unexplored 2
May 27, 2022 (Win)
June 3, 2022 (Xbox One, Series X/S)
September 14, 2022 (PS4)
Genre(s)| Roguelike, action role-playing
Mode(s)| Single-player

Unexplored is a series of two roguelike video games developed and published by Ludomotion. The first game, Unexplored, was released in 2017. The second game, Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy, was released in 2022.

## Gameplay

[edit]

Unexplored games are roguelike action role-playing games.[1][2] The first game's objective is to reach the deepest floor of the dungeon and retrieve the Amulet of Yendor.[3] The second game's objective is to destroy the Staff of Yendor.[4] The second game features 3D graphics as opposed to the first game's top-down 2D graphics.[5][6]

## Release

[edit]

After six months of early access, Unexplored was released for Windows on February 22, 2017.[7] Linux and macOS versions were planned to be released in the first quarter of 2018,[8] but as of November 2019, Linux and macOS versions were still unreleased.[9] Three downloadable content (DLC) packs were released for the game.[10] A Nintendo Switch port was released on August 9, 2018, in Europe and North America.[11][12] PlayStation 4 port was released in North America and Europe in February 2019,[13] along with Xbox One port.[13] Switch and Xbox One ports were published by Digerati.[14]

Unexplored 2 was announced at E3 2019's PC Gaming Show.[15] A Fig crowdfunding campaign was launched at the same time.[15][16] The game was launched in early access on June 21, 2021,[17] followed by its full release in 2022 for Windows on May 27, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on June 3, and for PlayStation 4 on September 14.[18]

## Reception

[edit]

Unexplored

Aggregate scoreAggregator| Score

|

Metacritic| 64/100 (Switch)[19]
67/100 (PS4)[20]
Review scoresPublication| Score

|

Nintendo Life| 8/10[21]
Nintendo World Report| 6.5/10[3]

Unexplored 2

Aggregate scoreAggregator| Score

|

Metacritic| 69/100 (PC)[22]
Review scoresPublication| Score

|

Eurogamer| 7/10[23]
PC Gamer (US)| 59/100[4]
CD-Action| 7/10[24]
Multiplayer.it| 8.5/10[25]

Both Unexplored games received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[19][20][22]

### Unexplored

[edit]

Waypoint wrote: "Unexplored's procedurally generated levels are dense with meaning, memory, and connection in a way that most other RL's [roguelikes] aren't".[26] Rock Paper Shotgun also praised the procedural level design.[27] Nintendo Life said that unlike Unexplored's "overly simplistic" artstyle, the "unusual approach to balancing combat and map generation" is its most memorable element.[21] Nintendo World Report didn't like the game's combat and how the dungeon was procedurally generated.[3] PC Gamer wrote that the game's randomly generated worldbuilding was "quietly revolutionary".[28] PC Gamer nominated Unexplored for the best strategy game of 2017.[29] Waypoint included the game among its best games of 2017.[30] Dominic Tarason of Rock Paper Shotgun listed the game as one of the top three games of 2017, calling the procedural generation "a borderline-magical piece of code".[10]

### Unexplored 2

[edit]

CD-Action called Unexplored 2 ambitious and beautiful but criticized the story and lack of polish.[24] Eurogamer complimented the graphics and soundtrack but did not appreciate the procedurally generated story.[23] PC Gamer criticised the amount of bugs, calling the full release "too broken to interact with as intended".[4] Rock Paper Shotgun liked the game's barter and permadeath systems, and artstyle though disliked the story and camera system.[31]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "UnExplored - Unlocked Edition: Action-Rollenspiel für PS4 und Xbox One im Anmarsch". 4Players. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
2. ^ Vitale, Adam (2 May 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy launches for PC on May 27". RPG Site. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
3. ^ a b c Lloyd, David (7 August 2018). "Unexplored (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
4. ^ a b c Brunskill, Kerry (26 May 2022). "Unexplored 2 review". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
5. ^ Donlan, Christian (10 June 2019). "Unexplored 2 is in open access today". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
6. ^ Sykes, Tom (1 May 2017). "Unexplored: a real-time roguelike with advanced dungeon design". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
7. ^ Ludomotion (17 February 2017). "Launch trailer & date!". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
8. ^ Ludomotion (4 January 2018). "Unexplored in 2018: Mac, Linux, DLC, bug fixes". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
9. ^ Ludomotion (26 November 2019). "Unexplored 2 update trailer". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
10. ^ a b Tarason, Dominic (27 December 2017). "Dominic Tarason's favourite games of 2017". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
11. ^ Calvert, Darren (9 August 2018). "Nintendo Download: 9th August (Europe)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
12. ^ Calvert, Darren (9 August 2018). "Nintendo Download: 9th August (North America)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
13. ^ a b Romano, Sal (31 January 2019). "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition launches February 19 for PS4, February 22 for Xbox One". Gematsu. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
14. ^ "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition". Digerati. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
15. ^ a b "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy Announced at The PC Gaming Show". DualShockers. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
16. ^ Fuller, Alex (14 June 2020). "Unexplored 2 Gets Trailer, Releasing on Epic Games Store". RPGamer. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
17. ^ Morton, Lauren (21 June 2021). "Rogue-lite adventure Unexplored 2 has launched in early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
18. ^ Romano, Sal (8 September 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy coming to PS4 on September 14". Gematsu. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
19. ^ a b "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
20. ^ a b "Unexplored: Unlocked Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
21. ^ a b Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (10 August 2018). "Unexplored Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
22. ^ a b "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
23. ^ a b Murianni, Ivana (5 June 2022). "Unexplored 2 The Wayfarer's Legacy recensione, un RPG al sapor di Dungeons & Dragons". Eurogamer (in Italian). Gamer Network. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
24. ^ a b Biel, Dawid (30 July 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy – recenzja. Ambitna, piękna gra". CD-Action (in Polish). Retrieved 25 March 2023.
25. ^ Scattarella, Gianluca (26 May 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy, la recensione del seguito di un ottimo roguelike". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). NetAddiction Srl. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
26. ^ Walker, Austin (6 May 2017). "'Unexplored' Is a Roguelike With a Satisfying Ending". Waypoint. Vice Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
27. ^ Smith, Adam (23 February 2017). "Wot I Think: Unexplored". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
28. ^ Fenlon, Wes (18 December 2017). "Unexplored weaves personal roguelike stories with clever random generation". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
29. ^ "Games of the Year 2017: The nominees". PC Gamer. Future plc. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
30. ^ de Quidt, Jack (25 December 2017). "The Best Games of 2017: Day 1". Waypoint. Vice Media. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
31. ^ Caldwell, Brendan (26 May 2022). "Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy review: a special, chunky roguesomething". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.