Reviewers credited the game for its story, complex interaction with other in-game characters, and graphics, but criticized it for having many bugs,[1] an unusual control scheme and high system requirements.

In 2020, THQ Nordic, who owns the series after the acquisition and subsequent dissolution of Piranha Bytes, greenlit a Gothic remake for production.

The major difference between the three fractions in terms of character development is that Swamp Camp members cannot become mages, because they are limited to four magic circles (out of six).

The game takes place in a open world medieval fantasy realm in which humans are fighting a losing war against the Orcs, a humanoid race.

In order to fight back, the king needs to extract magical ore from mines, which can be used to forge more powerful weapons and armor.

[5] To prevent the convicts from escaping he orders his 12 most powerful magicians to erect a magical dome over the mining colony, which will later be called the Barrier.

Before being sent in, the player receives a letter which he is tasked to deliver to the Order of the Magicians of Fire, which is stationed inside of the Old Camp.

After getting the chance to talk with the magicians, the protagonist learns that Xardas, the head of the Fire Mages who is supposed to receive the letter, deserted in order to study black magic.

The guru then goes insane and starts accusing the hero that it is because of him that the Sleeper refuses to reveal himself, and attempts to kill the protagonist.

[12] After defeating the mad guru, the hero returns to the camp of the Brotherhood where he finds Y'Berion still weakened after the ritual.

According to GameStar, Gothic failed to make an "international breakthrough" into sales markets beyond Germany, a characteristic it shared with Anno 1602.

[2] GameSpot gave the game a slightly less positive review saying that despite Gothic's achievements in terms of story and dialog, players might still be disappointed by its shallow character development and poor combat mechanics.

[3] GameLive PC named Gothic the third-best role-playing game of 2001–2002 behind Dungeon Siege and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

However, it won in the publication's "Surprise of the Year" category; the editors called it "a very solid, enjoyable debut effort".