80
Its story makes us sleepy, but the hack-and-slash fighting has us hooked. Highly recommended.
80
Happily, the gameplay avoids the trap of many dungeon-set games, which is that combat becomes repetitive and not very challenging.
70
Its simple elements are well-blended in an adventure that only lasts about eight hours but still manages to fill its time with great fighting, fun puzzles and a general nostalgic atmosphere.
10
Just open to take a Quick Look but stay until the end. 10h passes so fast but after that I realized that I lived a great retro adventure.
7
Fun game that I replayed a lot as a teen. Was my replacement for the original dungeon crawlers of the genre.
9
Orcs and elves is a first person turnbased fantasy rpg with strategic elements from developer id software. The game received mostly positive reviews upon release but many wanted it to be more like id’s normal violent fast paced games. It starts with a letter bringing the silent protagonist and his talking wand to the mountain kingdom of their friend king braam. Upon arrival however, they learn from dwarven ghosts that dark elves and orcs stormed the mountain 2 days ago and killed everyone. Ellon(the wand) and the protagonist then go through the mountain trying to find the king and vanquish the evil that overtook the mountain. Along the way they meet many characters involving gaya the dragon who is this games shop keeper and many dwarven ghosts along the way, some of which are now some of my favourite characters in gaming. Gameplay wise it’s a-bit like chess. If chess was first person. And was one vs anywhere from one to 30 enemies at once most of whom have unique behaviour. And if chess had potions. And a decent amount of ranged and melee weapons ranging from ancient spells to swords to magic hammers to dragon egg grenades. So not much like chess but you’ll understand when you play it. At the start, the art and aesthetic are good but a tad generic. But soon enough you’ll see so much personality leaking out. Frightened enemies have huge bulging cartoonish eyes(there is one of these for almost all enemies and there are a lot of them), you can find amazing artwork of parts of the game that they just put in there as secrets, the writing is hilarious at some points of the game and there are so many more things like this I haven’t mentioned.I got this relatively cheaply(£15) and I would have paid four times the amount for this game considering how good it is even though it isn’t that long. I would urge anyone with a ds to buy this game.
Orcs & Elves
DS
Released On:
Nov 13, 2007
Metascore
Mixed or Average
68
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
68
47% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
44% Mixed
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
8% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
84
A superb blend of dungeon exploration and turn-based battle. It feels old-fashioned, but in a good way. [Issue#18, p.83]
80
One of the biggest surprises in Orcs and Elves is the clever game design, which keeps the game engaging and fresh.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
67% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
27% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
7% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Mar 8, 2026
10
Just open to take a Quick Look but stay until the end. 10h passes so fast but after that I realized that I lived a great retro adventure.
Dec 3, 2016
10
Quite enjoyable game and one of the hidden gems in Nintendo DS. I have put 10/10 because I have seen critics of 0/10. I have finished the game and I could put a note of 8/10. However it is a rare and not-for-all-public genre... but therefore valuable for your colecction.
79
If anything, Orcs and Elves will remind you of the old school classic PC RPGs like Lands of Lore and Eye of the Beholder--which is to say that there’s not a lot of originality here. But given the restrictions, id’s first DS game is a success.
70
Orcs & Elves' simplicity doesn't do much to hide its roots as a mobile phone game, but it's also what makes this dungeon crawler accessible, fast, and fun.
70
Its simple elements are well-blended in an adventure that only lasts about eight hours but still manages to fill its time with great fighting, fun puzzles and a general nostalgic atmosphere.
51
At a measly 5 hours, Orcs & Elves is a short game that is meant to be beaten through brief sittings on the commute to work, school, or back home. But at its core, this isn't a game that's actually worth anybody's money.
40
Playing it instils a completely neutral response, as though it were no more than a means of absorbing time. [Jan 2008, p.91]
Feb 17, 2025
9
Orcs and elves is a first person turnbased fantasy rpg with strategic elements from developer id software. The game received mostly positive reviews upon release but many wanted it to be more like id’s normal violent fast paced games. It starts with a letter bringing the silent protagonist and his talking wand to the mountain kingdom of their friend king braam. Upon arrival however, they learn from dwarven ghosts that dark elves and orcs stormed the mountain 2 days ago and killed everyone. Ellon(the wand) and the protagonist then go through the mountain trying to find the king and vanquish the evil that overtook the mountain. Along the way they meet many characters involving gaya the dragon who is this games shop keeper and many dwarven ghosts along the way, some of which are now some of my favourite characters in gaming. Gameplay wise it’s a-bit like chess. If chess was first person. And was one vs anywhere from one to 30 enemies at once most of whom have unique behaviour. And if chess had potions. And a decent amount of ranged and melee weapons ranging from ancient spells to swords to magic hammers to dragon egg grenades. So not much like chess but you’ll understand when you play it. At the start, the art and aesthetic are good but a tad generic. But soon enough you’ll see so much personality leaking out. Frightened enemies have huge bulging cartoonish eyes(there is one of these for almost all enemies and there are a lot of them), you can find amazing artwork of parts of the game that they just put in there as secrets, the writing is hilarious at some points of the game and there are so many more things like this I haven’t mentioned.I got this relatively cheaply(£15) and I would have paid four times the amount for this game considering how good it is even though it isn’t that long. I would urge anyone with a ds to buy this game.
May 23, 2025
7
Fun game that I replayed a lot as a teen. Was my replacement for the original dungeon crawlers of the genre.
Aug 12, 2020
0
This may be one of the worst games ever made. A combination of horrible control, terrible graphics, annoying sounds, and broken gameplay combine to make a wholly unpleasant experience. Combined with a story that feels like it was written by a first time dungeons and dragons player who had had a few drinks, few people will make it through the first five minutes of this game. The story literally centers around a talking wand that is smarter than you but completely worthless. Great fun. This littersly makes modern copy paste mobile games look like a blast. Do not play if you value your freetime
Summaryid Software has crafted an entirely new version of Orcs & Elves that utilizes the Nintendo DS unique technology platform. Orcs & Elves features higher graphical fidelity, more levels, items and monsters as players explore a massive Dwarven kingdom riddled with ancient treasures and fierce enemies. The game features hybrid gameplay, combi... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
Platforms:
- DS
Initial Release Date:Nov 13, 2007
Developer:
- id Software
- Fountainhead Entertainment
Publisher:
