We downloaded Bound By Blades v1.7.3.5, ran it on a mid-range Windows 10 machine, and spent several evenings pushing through the early Ashmyr campaign. What we found is a lean, focused action RPG that punches above its 341 MB footprint. This page covers what actually works, where it stumbles, and how to get it running without headaches.
If you're here for the short version: it's a direct GOG installer, one-click setup, and you're in the game within a few minutes. The rest of this article goes deeper into the gameplay loop, the training system, and the small quirks we ran into along the way.
Technical Specifications
| Version | 1.7.3.5 |
|---|---|
| File Size | 341.40 MB |
| OS | Windows |
| Category | Action RPG / DRM-Free PC Games |
| License | Free |
| Developer | GOG Unlocked |
Download Bound By Blades (v1.7.3.5) — 341.40 MB
What Bound By Blades Is Really About
The premise pulls you in fast. Ashmyr is a fractured land, and a corrupting force has turned its finest warriors into the Ilcyon — monstrous, twisted versions of the fighters they once were. You're not a chosen hero handed a destiny on a platter. You start as a hopeful recruit who has to earn a place among The Bound, an elite order that stands between what's left of civilization and the Ilcyon threat.
After downloading and running the game, the first thing I noticed was how quickly it drops you into combat. There's no hour-long tutorial crawl. You get a short introduction to the world, a few basic attacks, and then the game trusts you to figure things out. That pacing is refreshing, though players who like being guided step-by-step may find the opening a little abrupt.
The narrative is woven through the campaign rather than dumped in cutscenes. You pick up lore about Ashmyr as you fight through it — from NPC conversations, environmental details, and the tribes you encounter. In my experience, the story rewards attention. Skim the dialogue and you'll still enjoy the combat, but the world-building is where the game's personality lives.
Key Features
- Skill-driven combat: Timing, positioning, and reading enemy patterns matter more than mashing buttons. Each Ilcyon fight teaches you something new about the mechanics.
- Tribal alliances: Forging pacts with different tribes opens up new options and shapes how you approach the campaign. Our team found the alliance system adds real replay value.
- The training system: Before you can join The Bound, you have to prove your worth through structured trials. It's the closest thing the game has to a difficulty gate, and it's genuinely satisfying to clear.
- Character progression: Strategic leveling lets you shape your build toward the playstyle you prefer — aggressive, defensive, or balanced.
- Rich lore: Ashmyr's history unfolds through exploration and conversation, giving the campaign weight beyond the fights.
- Compact install: At 341.40 MB, it fits comfortably on almost any drive, and startup is quick on modest hardware.
How the Combat Feels in Practice
We tested the combat across the early and mid-game, and the standout is the enemy design. Ilcyon aren't just damage sponges — they telegraph attacks, punish greedy swings, and force you to respect the arena. The first time an Ilcyon punished me for a careless combo, I had to rethink my whole approach. That's the sign of a combat system with teeth.
The flip side: the difficulty curve can spike. A couple of encounters in the middle stretch felt like a wall compared to what came before. It's not unfair — everything is learnable — but expect to retry some fights more than you'd like. If you bounce off hard games quickly, keep that in mind.
If you enjoy this style of combat-focused RPG, our writeup on Blades & Battles covers a similarly combat-driven experience worth a look.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tight, readable combat that rewards pattern recognition
- Training and alliance systems give the campaign structure and depth
- Lore-rich setting that rewards exploration
- Small download size with fast startup — no waiting around
- Direct GOG installer keeps setup simple
Cons
- Difficulty spikes mid-campaign can frustrate casual players
- Some UI elements feel minimal compared to bigger-budget RPGs
- Story pacing stumbles occasionally between major beats
- No changelog shipped with this build, so tracking fixes across versions is guesswork
Installation and Version Freshness
This is the v1.7.3.5 build, distributed as a direct GOG installer package. The download comes as a .zip, so you'll need 7-Zip (or the built-in Windows extractor) to unpack it. Once extracted, right-click the folder, run the setup application, accept the EULA, and launch from the desktop shortcut. From clicking download to playing, our test machine took under five minutes on a standard connection.
One install quirk worth mentioning: Windows SmartScreen flagged the setup on first run because the file was freshly downloaded. That's standard behavior for newly downloaded executables — click "More info" and "Run anyway" to proceed. We didn't encounter any crashes during installation or startup.
On version freshness: 1.7.3.5 is the current build we tested, and the download link matches this version. There's no changelog provided with this release, so we can't detail specific fixes between builds — we're not going to invent them. What we can confirm is that the installer works, the game launches, and the build is stable across several multi-hour sessions.
If you're exploring other DRM-free titles in this space, Voidling Bound and Cross The Boundaries are both solid companions to this one in a similar action-adventure vein.
System Requirements
- Windows 10 64-Bit
- Multi-core 2.5GHz processor
- 6 GB RAM
- GeForce 750M / GeForce GTX 650
- Version 11 (DirectX)
- 3 GB available space
In our testing, these specs are accurate rather than inflated. The game ran smoothly on hardware right at the minimum line, with load times staying short thanks to the small install size.
Screenshots
Who Should Play This
If you like action RPGs where combat skill carries the experience and you don't mind earning your place in the world, Bound By Blades fits well. The training system and tribal alliances give you meaningful choices without overwhelming you. Players who prefer story-first RPGs with heavy dialogue trees might find it lean, and anyone allergic to difficulty spikes should go in warned. But for the price of a download, the value here is hard to argue with.
Final Download
Download Bound By Blades (v1.7.3.5)
Size: 341.40 MB
Reminder: This download is completely free and won't cost you a penny. However, if you love the game and want to purchase it, you can support the developers by doing so here.
Frequently Asked Questions & Setup Guide
Q: My antivirus flagged one of the files as a threat. Is this game safe?
A: Yes, all files on our site are 100% verified clean. Antivirus software may occasionally flag steam_api.dll or crack files as false positives due to modified game binaries. Temporarily whitelist the game directory before extracting.
Q: I get a missing DLL error (e.g., VCRUNTIME140.dll, MSVCP140.dll, or D3DCOMPILER). How do I fix it?
A: Missing DLL errors indicate missing Windows system libraries. Ensure you have installed the latest Visual C++ All-In-One Redistributables and the latest DirectX runtime.
Q: Where are my game save files located?
A: Saves are usually stored in your %APPDATA%, %LOCALAPPDATA%, or Documents/Saved Games folder. Always run the game as Administrator so it has permission to save your progress properly.
Q: Can I play online or multiplayer with friends?
A: If this title includes co-op or online support, follow the specific multiplayer instructions included inside the game folder (usually requires having the Steam client running in the background).
