1348 Ex Voto Review: Stunning Medieval Misery in the Style of Kingdom Come
With a bowl cut of terrifying precision and a vow that defies 14th-century gender roles, can 1348 Ex Voto beat Kingdom Come: Deliverance at its own game? When news broke of an upcoming third-person action adventure set in 14th-century Italy, my interest was immediately piqued. As an Italian and a devoted fan of the Kingdom Come franchise, 1348 Ex Voto seemed tailor-made for me.
A Noble Quest in a Dark Era
You step into the shoes of Aeta, a young noble and aspiring knight with a passion for chivalric deeds. Raised on her father's lessons of honesty and respect, and her mother's encouragement to be herself, Aeta claims the title of knight despite the rigid gender roles of the era. However, it is 1348, and Italy is ravaged by the deadliest wave of the Black Death, along with brigands and religious extremists filling the power vacuum.
Early promotional material from indie developer Sedleo promised a dark setting, a striking haircut, and a mysterious pledge tied to the Latin phrase 'Ex Voto,' meaning 'according to a vow.' In practice, the premise is more intimate. After your town is attacked by brigands, you discover that Bianca—a young servant at your castle and the person you love most—is in danger, and you must rescue her. This sets off a desperate quest to bring her to safety and fulfill your oath: 'Bianca, you are all that is left to me… I shall save you. This, I vow.'
Gameplay Frustrations and Technical Hurdles
Unfortunately, my excitement quickly faded. One major issue is a claustrophobic, offset camera angle that sticks too close to Aeta's shoulder. On multiple occasions, I died cornered in a bush before even understanding what was happening. The combat system, built around timing and guard breaking, adds to the frustration. Whether facing a lowly bandit or a major boss, the loop remains the same: block or dodge until an opening appears, making it repetitive and tedious.
I nearly gave up during a key fight against a relentless enemy with flails. The lack of flexibility in the lock-on system results in clumsy scrambles, where perfectly timed attacks abruptly pivot toward secondary enemies, resetting combos and leaving you vulnerable. Sedleo collaborated with industry experts to ground combat in Historical European Martial Arts, using performance capture actors, but the execution falters. Animations feel stiff and unresponsive, exacerbated by poor technical performance on PC.
Despite meeting recommended specs, I experienced frequent stutters and frame rate drops. While no hard crashes occurred, the sluggish performance makes parrying—a skill acquired later—feel like guesswork. Questionable facial animations further detract from the experience, a disappointing outcome given the cancellation of the Xbox version to focus on 'the best experience' for PC and PlayStation.
Visual Splendor and Narrative Strengths
Medieval Italy looks fantastic, despite the grim backdrop of dead bodies. Built in Unreal Engine 5, 1348 Ex Voto offers a stunningly detailed rendition of the 14th century, featuring quaint chapels, towering ruins in the Apennine Mountains, and charming villages at dusk. At its best, the visuals resemble A Plague Tale: Requiem, but overall, the experience is closer to Kingdom Come: Deliverance pre-next-gen update.
The developer isn't aiming for strict historical simulation, but there's a clear love for the era's aesthetic. I enjoyed the costume design and Aeta's travelling attire, viewing the game as a stylised medieval drama that prioritises 'vibes' over rigorous accuracy. However, as a linear action adventure, you're often funnelled through 'look but don't touch' environments that feel more like a high-end museum exhibit than a lived-in world.
The voice talent is genuinely top-tier. Alby Baldwin, known for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, brings soulful grit to Aeta, and Baldur's Gate 3 star Jennifer English excels as Bianca. They do heavy lifting for the script, but even the best performances struggle to shine when the gameplay is unpolished.
Linear Design and Hollow World-Building
In its Steam description, 1348 Ex Voto is characterised as a 'cinematic' game, an apt term for a world on well-defined rails. The focus is entirely on the central narrative and cut scenes at each chapter's end, making exploration feel empty. There are no side quests and minimal optional lore, beyond surface-level background on the bubonic plague and Catholic saints.
Some players may appreciate this streamlined approach, but for me, it contributed to a rescue quest that overstays its welcome. While poking around is required to find scrolls for unlocking skills, trinkets for special effects, or sword parts for upgrades, the world feels strikingly hollow. The absence of world-building or ambient storytelling makes it hard to fully buy into Aeta's plight, despite blaming the plague or bandits for the lack of other people.
Summary and Final Thoughts
In Short: 1348 Ex Voto is a missed opportunity for an exciting take on medieval history, inferior to Kingdom Come: Deliverance in every respect.
Pros: An interesting tale set in a beautiful, dark environment. Attractive graphics, when the frame rate is stable, and relatively historically accurate elements.
Cons: The combat system is a huge part of the game and is not enjoyable. Overly linear design with no proper side quests. Performance issues need urgent addressing.
Score: 5/10
Formats: PC (reviewed) and PlayStation 5
Price: £21.99
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Developer: Sedleo
Release Date: 12th March 2026
Age Rating: 16
