Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning vs Risen
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning delivers a vibrant open world filled with lore, quests, and a dynamic combat system that rewards skillful play. Players can shape their destiny through three distinct classes and a flexible skill tree, exploring diverse regions from bustling cities to wild wilderness. The game blends hack‑and‑slash action with RPG depth, offering extensive loot, crafting, and mount riding. Developed by 38 Studios and Big Huge Games, it launched in 2012 to solid critical reception and remains a beloved title for fans of fantasy action adventures.
Step into the shoes of the Nameless Hero and explore the mysterious island of Faranga, a world filled with ancient ruins, hostile creatures, and hidden secrets. Your choices shape the story, influencing factions, allies, and the ultimate fate of the island. The game blends hack‑and‑slash combat with deep role‑playing elements, offering skill trees, crafting, and a dynamic open world to roam. Fight the wrath of the Titan and uncover the truth behind the island’s cursed past in this single‑player fantasy adventure.
- Deep character customization with flexible skill trees.
- Engaging, fast-paced combat system.
- Vast open world with abundant content.
- High replay value through multiple class choices.
- Rich open‑world environment
- Meaningful choice system
- Robust combat mechanics
- Deep character customization
- Repetitive side quests can feel grindy.
- Technical performance issues on older consoles.
- Multiplayer is absent; strictly single‑player.
- Occasional performance hiccups on older PCs
- Limited enemy AI variety
- Linear main quest progression
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
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Alternatives to Risen
View all →A sprawling fantasy RPG where fast-paced combat meets deep character customization.
Lead the Inquisition to restore order to a fantasy world torn apart by cataclysmic chaos.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are single‑player fantasy RPGs at the same price, but Risen scores slightly higher with critics and offers more meaningful story choices, while Kingdoms of Amalur delivers a larger loot pool and faster combat.
Key differences
- •Risen features a decision‑driven narrative with faction reputation affecting outcomes; Kingdoms focuses on loot quantity and combat fluidity.
- •Kingdoms offers three distinct class paths and over 30,000 items; Risen provides extensive skill trees but fewer listed items.
- •Critic scores differ: Risen 81/100 vs Kingdoms 79/100, indicating marginally better reception for Risen.
- •Technical notes: Kingdoms reports performance issues on older consoles; Risen notes occasional hiccups on older PCs.
Gameplay & fun factor
Kingdoms emphasizes fast‑paced combos, dodges, and magical abilities, highlighted as a core strength.
Platform availability
Both are single‑player PC/console titles; no specific platform list provided.
Price & value
Both priced at $59.99 with one‑time purchase.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both are strictly single‑player.
Content & replayability
Kingdoms offers three classes and 30,000+ items, giving higher replay incentives.
Difficulty & accessibility
Risen’s skill trees and attribute points allow more granular difficulty tuning.
Graphics & performance
Risen only notes occasional PC hiccups; Kingdoms reports broader performance issues on older consoles.
Choose Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning if…
Players who prioritize fast combat, massive loot variety, and multiple class playstyles.
Choose Risen if…
Players who value story choices, faction reputation, and slightly higher critical acclaim.
Common questions
Do either games support multiplayer?
No; both are single‑player only.
Which game has better critical reception?
Risen has a higher critic score (81/100) than Kingdoms of Amalur (79/100).
Is there a significant performance difference on older hardware?
Kingdoms reports performance issues on older consoles, while Risen mentions occasional hiccups on older PCs.