'Not Gay Enough': The Chaotic Launch of Medieval Game 1348 Ex Voto
If you've been anywhere near gaming circles this week, you've probably caught wind of the chatter around 1348 Ex Voto. This medieval adventure, set during the Black Death, promised a gritty, immersive narrative. Instead, it's sparked one of the most bizarre backlashes in recent memory, with Steam reviews turning into an absolute circus. Players aren't just let down; they're flat-out furious, and for reasons that'll make you scratch your head.
The complaints from the player base are all over the place, but they generally boil down to a few core issues:
- Clunky combat: One player described it as "like fighting with a soggy roti."
- A plot drier than a Maharashtra summer: For a game set during a pandemic that wiped out half of Europe, it's strangely lacking in real tension or emotional weight.
- 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 saw as promised LGBTQ+ themes.
This last point is where things get properly weird. Word on the street is that the game originally leaned heavily into its queer narratives – there's rampant speculation that this was done to tick boxes for funding or tax breaks. But the final product? Nowhere to be seen. One review summed it up perfectly: "I was promised medieval gays, and all I got was this lousy plague." Another simply posted, "Where's the bloody homosexuality?" and it's become one of the top-rated comments. It's a rare case of a game being review-bombed not for being too 'woke', but for not being woke enough. The irony is thick enough to spread on toast.
The critical reception has been just as brutal, with reviewers pointing to disjointed gameplay and a setting that feels completely 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 some serious explaining to do first. For now, if you're after a medieval game that actually delivers on its promises, I'd give this a wide berth. But if you're in the mood for a laugh and want to witness one of 2026's most baffling gaming controversies firsthand, grab a chai and dive into those Steam reviews. The comments section is an absolute goldmine.