Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues
Out Now
About the GameWHAT IS SHROUD OF THE AVATAR?
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is a multiplayer fantasy RPG and the spiritual successor to Richard Garriott’s wildly successful Ultima and Ultima Online games.
Shroud of the Avatar is about testing one’s character on a path filled with peril and tough decisions. Player actions carry meaningful consequences within the deep and persistent world of New Britannia by either upholding or breaking the Principles of Truth, Love, and Courage.
Shroud of the Avatar is developed by the veteran Portalarium team that includes Richard "Lord British" Garriott, the creator of the Ultima series, Starr Long, the original Director of Ultima Online, and Tracy Hickman, the author of the beloved Dragonlance Novels and Dungeons & Dragons modules.
KEY FEATURES
As a revival of the classical in-depth RPG, Shroud of the Avatar binds together many of the key features that made the Ultima series so popular:
- A far reaching story written in collaboration with celebrated fantasy author Tracy Hickman, where players are confronted with ethical choices based on Virtues and Principles.
- Multiple MMO gameplay features combined to offer a unique, shared online experience set within a persistent sandbox world.
- The ability to create a classless avatar allows for distinct play styles and uniquely specialized builds.
- Wide-reaching freedom to explore a living, breathing fantasy world enriched by a player-driven crafting and economic system.
- Players can opt to play solo or with friends, owning their own houses or even entire towns, and sign up and cooperate within various in-game guilds.
- Pay Once to Play with no subscription fees.
AVAILABLE PLAY MODES
- Single Player Offline: Enjoy the full game experience without the need for an internet connection. Recruit NPC companions to accompany you on your travels and aid you in times of need. Your online Avatar will not share the progress of your offline Avatar; you advance on different tracks through the story due to interacting differently with the world.
- Single Player Online: Play the game at your own pace while still being able to interact with the persistent works of other players, such as vendors, houses and player-owned towns.
- Party Mode Online: Explore New Britannia with your friends and tell new stories together. Interact with the persistent works of other players, such as vendors, houses, and player-owned towns.
- Multiplayer Online: Experience the vibrant world of Shroud of the Avatar and trade, fight, and converse with thousands of other players, all playing on the same server.
THE FUTURE
Portalarium is committed to roll out regular monthly content releases post-launch and will continue to collaborate with the players to further improve gameplay.
Game Discussion
Steam User 9
Another freemium MMORPG on Steam. There's not much to say here that hasn't already been said. This is a solid MMORPG experience, you don't need to pay any money to play through a bunch of content. Many hours of quests and combat with reasonable graphics and no need to spend a single cent.
As always, value for money is a prominent factor whenever I can put my hand on my heart and say, "Yes, you should play this game!".
If you're a fan of MMORPGs and don't want to pay for a World of Warcraft subscription, then this is one of many viable alternatives if you're looking to scratch that itch.
Steam User 6
Only yes because free..
Although I did enjoy my time with it, it appears it did not live up to the hype.
They promised the impossible and did not deliver on it.
Alhough I managed to get 924.2 hours out of it, so its not like its bad or anything- And that time was back at release where there was even less content than now.
Steam User 1
This is a truly distinctive MMORPG that draws heavily from the classic Ultima Online while introducing a wealth of its own innovative mechanics that make it stand out among modern titles.
One of the game’s biggest strengths is the complete freedom in character development. There are no predefined classes — players develop the skills they actually use, allowing for experimentation and the creation of unique builds. There is no traditional leveling system; instead, progression comes from leveling up individual skills, encouraging specialization and deeper engagement.
The crafting and trading systems are also impressively deep. Instead of a typical auction house, the game features a housing and vendor system. Every player can purchase a plot of land — in cities or villages — build a house, and place a vendor who sells goods crafted by the player. There’s even the option to establish your own town. Item browsing is handled exceptionally well — instead of manually visiting each vendor, players can use a centralized search tool.
The game’s economy is almost entirely player-driven, with most items being crafted by users. This creates a dynamic market that significantly impacts gameplay. While the community may seem small at first glance, it’s surprisingly active and helpful. Many players use a non-Steam version of the game, and according to API-based statistics, around 700 players are active each month — a number that is more than enough to maintain a functioning economy and a vibrant community. Many of the game’s more complex mechanics are explained by players through guides or even in-game books written by the community.
Combat is another standout feature — it’s based on building custom decks of abilities that players combine into combos during fast-paced encounters. PvP is not forced — it only takes place in designated areas where players can loot others’ gear after death or even steal from them.
Dungeons are reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers — filled with traps, hidden paths, and secret stashes. With no in-game maps, navigation becomes a real challenge, rewarding patience, caution, and a good sense of direction.
It’s worth noting that the game has faced criticism in the past due to controversial decisions by its developers. However, judging it in its current state, it offers a surprisingly deep and rewarding experience — especially for a free-to-play title. It’s an excellent choice for fans of old-school MMORPGs who are looking for something niche, detailed, and supported by an active community, with enough content to provide hours of immersive gameplay.
Steam User 3
Really liking this so far. Reminds me of other games I played in the past. I really enjoy gathering and crafting in games and so far this scratches that itch.
Steam User 2
Played for a few hours so far. Enjoyable, definitely has a more modern Ultima feel. Doesn't feel fully polished but no less playable and it seems it is still being updated. Definitely worth a try as a free game.
Steam User 4
So sad that this MASTERPIECE is not well played... Best mmo ever. It has in depth RPG mechanics, is not merely a gear farming, cooldown managing game.
Steam User 0
i have been playing this game since it was Beta Release. I have enjoyed being in this position as a play tester And a Consumer..This is A Free to Play Game unless you wan to own land and a Home..