What are the pros of Half Sword?

Extremely fun and unique physics-based fighting mechanics.. Developers are actively engaged with the community and responsive to feedback.. High replayability potential for players who enjoyed the demo and playtests.. Switching to DX12 can resolve performance issues for some users..

What are the cons of Half Sword?

Severe optimization issues and low frame rates even on high-end hardware like the RTX 4070 Super.. Perceived regression in physics and gameplay stability compared to the earlier demo version.. Frequent crashes and technical bugs, including broken UI sliders and stuttering.. The Slums map is particularly unoptimized and prone to extreme performance drops..

Half Sword

Half Sword is a physics-based medieval combat simulator featuring historically accurate XV-century arms and armor. We are not afraid to show the brutal nature of medieval combat with in-depth blood and gore features.

72%

Mostly Positive

DeveloperHalf Sword Games

PublisherGame Seer Publishing

Release DateJan 30, 2026

$24.99

Peak Players21.5K

PlatformsWindows

Early Access

AI Review Summary

Half Sword is a physics-based medieval combat simulator that has faced a polarizing Early Access launch due to significant technical hurdles. While the core combat remains uniquely engaging for fans of the genre, many players report that this version feels like a step backward from the demo in terms of stability and performance.

Pros

Extremely fun and unique physics-based fighting mechanics.90%
Developers are actively engaged with the community and responsive to feedback.70%
High replayability potential for players who enjoyed the demo and playtests.60%
Switching to DX12 can resolve performance issues for some users.40%

Cons

Severe optimization issues and low frame rates even on high-end hardware like the RTX 4070 Super.95%
Perceived regression in physics and gameplay stability compared to the earlier demo version.85%
Frequent crashes and technical bugs, including broken UI sliders and stuttering.80%
The Slums map is particularly unoptimized and prone to extreme performance drops.70%

Notable Mentions

Many reviewers recommend waiting for a performance patch before purchasing.
The game features a progression mode culminating in a boss fight against the Baron.
Long-time fans of the demo with over 100 hours of playtime are among the most vocal critics of the current build.

Confidence: 90%

Based on the 199 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Aug 28, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

2.1K

Peak · last 90 days

4.4K

All-time peak

21.5K

Price

Current price

$24.99

Lowest tracked

$19.99since Jan 31, 2026

Review Sentiment

Launch week

40%

Last 30 days

83%

All-time positive

72%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews29.1K

Positive: 21.0K (72%)Negative: 8.1K (28%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

11%

Dev Response Rate

Avg Playtime at Review

56%

Credible Reviews