The Vale:
Shadow of the Crown

The Vale: Shadow of the Crown (2021) is an audio-based role-play adventure where you play Alex, a blind princess. After your brother takes his place as king, you are made warden of a small castle on the outskirts of the kingdom. Without sight from birth and sheltered for much of your childhood, you want a chance for adventure. On the way to the castle, your convoy is attacked. You find yourself alone in hostile lands and must search out supplies and find allies if you are to survive the long journey home.
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Play involves exploring the world using only sound to guide you. You use the spatial audio of the world to make your way around, meet people, fight enemies and slowly learn new abilities. The game is fully voiced and offers an impressive sound stage. Combat and exploration is intuitive and in real-time.

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As you progress you collect gold to customise your character's equipment, play-style, magic abilities as well as choose companions and quests. Quests involve exploring villages, searching for lost items in dungeons and hunting animals.

The result is an emotionally engaging narrative with impressive performances. What starts as a quest to get home, soon grows into a dark and winding mystery. You enter a valley known simply as “The Vale” and discover the land's long-forgotten secrets and startling truths about your family’s past.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked The Vale: Shadow of the Crown 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 6 weeks ago.