Trials of Mana
Give it 20 hours
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 4 reviews are negative (26%); after 35h it's 1 in 30 (3%).
- Fully opens up by hour 35.
- 43% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “Fateful Stirrings” (Complete Chapter 1): only 78% of starters get there.
- 86% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 5,836 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 298 reviews: 25.2h for positive, 18h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (85.8% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Fateful Stirrings Complete Chapter 1. Most players quit here 78% −22
- Adventurous Exploration Complete Chapter 2. 67% −10
- Elemental Wrangler Complete Chapter 3. 61% −6
- Wicked Schemes Complete Chapter 4. 60% −1
- Benevodons' Return Complete Chapter 5. 56% −4
- Adventure's End Complete Chapter 6. 54% −2
- Heroes of Mana Stop the end of the world. 43% −11
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (44)
story milestone ending side
- Gardener First time planting a seed. 100%
- Power Awakened First time learning an ability. 97%
- Power of Bonds First time learning a chain ability from an unexpected acquaintance. 94%
- Bonds of Allies First time learning a companion's chain ability. 92%
- Cactus Colleague First encounter with Li'l Cactus. 88%
- Inventive Invention First cannon ride. 82%
- Fateful Stirrings Complete Chapter 1. 78%
- Power Hungry First class switch. 74%
- Ruler of the Seas First ride on Vuscav. 68%
- Adventurous Exploration Complete Chapter 2. 67%
- Treasure Seeker Open 100 treasure boxes. 64%
- Elemental Wrangler Complete Chapter 3. 61%
- Winged Defender First ride on Flammie. 61%
- Wicked Schemes Complete Chapter 4. 60%
- Benevodons' Return Complete Chapter 5. 56%
- Saver Accumulate at least 100,000 lucre. 56%
- Adventure's End Complete Chapter 6. 54%
- Altenish Magician Complete Angela's story. 46%
- Laurentian Guard Complete Riesz's story. 44%
- Heroes of Mana Stop the end of the world. 43%
- Ultimate Magician Become a master magician. 40%
- Treasure Hunter Open 200 treasure boxes. 40%
- Ultimate Guard Become a master guard. 39%
- Horticulturist Max out magic pot level. 38%
- Valsenan Swordsman Complete Duran's story. 38%
- Glorious One Defeat Mondoragon. 37%
- Wendellan Cleric Complete Charlotte's story. 35%
- Ultimate Swordsman Become a master swordsman. 34%
- Robust Power Learn 20 abilities as any character. 32%
- Ultimate Cleric Become a master cleric. 31%
- Throw Money at It Purchase nitromyte for the listed price. 30%
- Cactus Companion Find Li'l Cactus in all possible areas. 30%
- Nevarlan Thief Complete Hawkeye's story. 29%
- Overcoming Reality Defeat Archdemon. 29%
- Wealthy Accumulate at least 500,000 lucre. 29%
- Ferolian Fighter Complete Kevin's story. 28%
- Chosen One Defeat Anise on hard. 28%
- Ultimate Thief Become a master thief. 27%
- Ultimate Fighter Become a master fighter. 26%
- Rabite Trapper Defeat Black Rabite. 24%
- Extreme Power Learn all abilities as any character. 21%
- Immortal One Defeat Dark Lich. 20%
- Mana Sword's Chosen Play with all six main characters. 17%
- Trials of Mana Obtain all achievements. 11%