'Not Nearly Gay Enough': The Bizarre Backlash Plaguing Medieval Game 1348 Ex Voto
If you've been anywhere near gaming circles this week, you've likely caught wind of the chatter surrounding 1348 Ex Voto. This medieval adventure, set during the Black Death, promised a gritty, narrative-driven experience. Instead, it's sparked one of the most bizarre backlashes in recent memory, turning Steam reviews into an absolute circus. Players aren't just disappointed; they're genuinely ticked off, and for reasons that'll make you do a double-take.
The gripes from players are all over the map, but they generally boil down to a few core issues:
- Clunky combat: One player described it as "like fighting with a wet noodle."
- A plot drier than a Canadian winter: For a game set during a pandemic that wiped out half of Europe, it's strangely devoid of any real tension or emotional punch.
- The real kicker: it's "not gay enough." A surprising chunk of the criticism is aimed at the game for failing to deliver on what many perceived as promised LGBTQ+ themes.
This last point is where things get properly strange. Word on the street is that the game originally leaned heavily into its queer narratives – speculation is rampant that this was done to tick boxes for funding or tax breaks. But the final product? Nothing doing. One reviewer summed it up perfectly: "I was promised medieval gays, and all I got was this lousy plague." Another simply posted, "Where's the darn homosexuality?" and it's become one of the top-rated comments. It's a rare instance of a game getting review-bombed not for being too 'woke', but for not being woke enough. The irony is just thick enough to cut with a knife.
The critical reception has been just as brutal, with reviewers pointing to disjointed gameplay and a setting that feels utterly wasted. The general consensus is that 1348 Ex Voto is a textbook case of a game that tried to please everyone and ended up pleasing no one. It's a shame, because the bones of a solid game are there. With a tighter script and less clunky combat, it could have been a cult classic. Instead, it's become a cautionary tale.
Will a Golden Edition or Limited Edition re-release save the day? Stranger things have happened, but the devs have got some serious explaining to do first. For now, if you're after a medieval game that actually delivers on its promises, you might want to give this one a pass. But if you're in the mood for a laugh and want to witness one of 2026's most baffling gaming controversies firsthand, crack open a cold one and dive into those Steam reviews. The comments section is an absolute goldmine.