A Gamer released a new title, Relicbound, which officially launched on Steam and Epic Games Store on August 1, 2025. The project has drawn attention within the gaming community for being developed by a Pakistani indie creator, but the early reception has been a mix of appreciation and critical feedback.
Some early players reported purchasing and trying the game within its first hours of release. While impressed by the effort, they shared a list of issues affecting their experience. One player remarked, “Foliage and hair absolutely look atrocious no matter what I do. Gunplay absolutely sucks. I get stun-locked if I get hit by a bullet and have to wait for the entire magazine to end. Gunfights are extremely tedious.” Others noted inconsistencies in enemy health, with non-playable characters sometimes requiring a full magazine to defeat and at other times falling after just a few bullets. Recoil and bullet trajectory were also described as “uncanny,” making combat feel less engaging.
In addition to gameplay balance concerns, certain mechanics have drawn frustration. One example cited was a key needed to exit a compound that was described as “the size of an ant” and placed in a random room without a marker or hint, causing some players to spend over 20 minutes searching for it. Climbing sequences occasionally failed to trigger until multiple jumps were attempted, and weapon pickups only worked from a precise distance. “The only time I enjoyed the game was when I got the silenced pistol,” one player shared, suggesting the developer focus on stealth-friendly level design rather than simplifying combat.
Visual presentation also came under scrutiny. Feedback included requests for better promotional screenshots, with one comment noting, “All I see are random scenes from a third-person view. Maybe include combat and other aspects of the game.” Lighting issues were raised, with reports of characters appearing to glow unnaturally in certain environments, and hair rendering that players described as distracting.
Despite the criticism, Relicbound has also received encouragement from the community. Several players praised the ambition behind the project, with one describing the visuals as reminiscent of Uncharted 4 and wishing the developer success. “Proud of you, mate, and hope this becomes big. InshaAllah, you’ll do well,” wrote another supporter. One potential player expressed interest in purchasing if a PlayStation 5 version is released.
Constructive advice also came from players familiar with how games evolve after launch. “Read all the comments providing important critique and prepare a patch soon. Games are rarely perfect at launch. Cyberpunk 2077 got massively review-trashed in the beginning, yet is still surviving,” said one gamer, encouraging the developer to see this as part of the process.
While Relicbound’s release marks an important milestone for Pakistani indie game development, its early reception highlights both its potential and the need for post-launch improvements. Players are calling for updates to core mechanics, visual polish, and expanded gameplay options, particularly in stealth. The launch has placed the developer in the spotlight, and many in the community will be watching to see how the title evolves in the coming months.
Source: Reddit
