9th Dawn III

About

"9th Dawn III: Shadow of Erthil" is a 2D open-world RPG and dungeon crawler that takes you through the diverse regions of Cedaltia. Embark on a mission to investigate ghostly sightings, confront an untrustworthy king, and uncover a foreboding prophecy. Engage in battles, explore vast landscapes, and unlock the secrets of dungeons and ancient fortresses in this epic quest.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 660 reviews

gameplay38 positive mentions

grinding114 negative mentions

The game offers a vast open world with a lot of content, including crafting, monster taming, and a card game.
The combat is satisfying and allows for various playstyles, making it enjoyable for different types of players.
The developer is responsive to community feedback and actively works on updates and improvements.

The crafting system can be tedious and grindy, requiring a lot of time to level up skills and gather materials.
The user interface is often criticized for being too large and unorganized, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
Some players find the game repetitive and feel that the balance of difficulty can be inconsistent, especially in later stages.

gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay of "9th Dawn III" offers a mix of engaging mechanics, including crafting, monster taming, and card games, providing players with a wealth of activities to explore. However, it suffers from repetitive elements, floaty combat mechanics, and a lack of user interface options, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, many players find the core gameplay loop addictive and enjoyable, with the potential for hundreds of hours of playtime.
- “Incredibly in-depth game with tons of hours of gameplay.”
- “Pretty stinking fun and certainly worth 100+ hours of gameplay.”
- “The interface is very neat, and appealing to look at; the gameplay mechanics are solid, and there is a ton of content here.”
- “9th Dawn III is a fun action RPG experience that suffers from some user interface and mechanic issues.”
- “The game definitely suffers from a lack of basic user interface options and odd mechanic implementation decisions.”
- “Gameplay is repetitive and dungeons are 'varied' but in the end they all play out the same.”
grinding
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with players often feeling like they are stuck in a "hamster wheel" of farming for materials and crafting ingredients. While some players appreciate the depth and complexity of the crafting system, many find the low drop rates and high resource requirements frustrating, leading to a significant time investment that can detract from overall enjoyment. However, those who enjoy grind-heavy gameplay may still find it rewarding, as it offers numerous avenues for progression and achievement hunting.
- “I spent almost the entire time I owned this game before getting a refund grinding rats which have around a 10% chance of dropping an ingredient that goes into a soup with a 10% chance of success, and I need 10 of them for a quest.”
- “Crafting skills will ask you to roll 10-20% odds for crafting an item with items lost upon failure, even after significant progression, which results in a lot of pointless farming for ingredients including (without great luck) having to farm 5-10x the amount of materials necessary to craft a given item.”
- “In order to get anywhere in this game you have to do so much grinding that it just feels like running on a hamster wheel.”
story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
85%
3%
The story in "9th Dawn III" is generally considered minimal and clichéd, often revolving around generic quests and a "save the world" narrative. While the main storyline is short and lacks depth, players appreciate the freedom to explore and engage in various side activities, crafting, and dungeon crawling, which can significantly extend gameplay. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics and exploration over a compelling narrative, making it more suited for those who enjoy action and adventure rather than a rich story.
- “I enjoyed the storyline, even if it is a clichéd 'save the world from evil' scenario.”
- “It's clear that the dev has put a whole lot of love into this title; it's very well thought out, and the initial quests and interactions will give you a very easy and comfortable introduction into the world and its professions.”
- “While the game has a main storyline, you aren't forced to follow it; being able to explore locations beyond your skill and knowledge can be super exciting and a triumph when you are finally able to overcome that area.”
- “The story basically doesn't exist--I could summarize the story in one sentence, haha.”
- “Game's story seems kinda short and it's always 'it's dangerous but maybe you can do it' and 'I lost x in y can you get it back for me for some potions and 500 exp' quests.”
- “Bad AI, boring combat, no story.”
graphics
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and reminiscent of old-school pixel art, which some players appreciate for its charm and nostalgic value. However, many reviewers note that the visuals are not particularly impressive and can detract from the overall experience, especially in character customization. Despite the graphical limitations, the game compensates with rich gameplay features and a robust RPG experience, appealing to fans of the genre who prioritize content over high-end graphics.
- “I love the controls via Xbox controller and mouse and keyboard, and I no longer mind the art style as it's clear the developer put a lot of hard work and love into this game, and it shows. It really is evident to me even being just under two hours into the game.”
- “The graphics on the whole are a fun style and well done.”
- “I am also a huge fan of the 'old school' 2D pixel graphics of the game.”
- “The graphics may be the Achilles' heel of this game, but I love everything else about it.”
- “Graphics leave a lot to be desired.”
- “My only problems with this game are the character graphics; I can't even see the type of hair I am choosing in the character creation or if I am male or female. I've seen other similar games that have pixel graphics, at least I can tell the skin color or gender.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising the soundtrack as excellent and comparable to that of "9th Dawn 2." While some find the music enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay, others suggest it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the sound design, including music and sound effects, contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is on par with 9th Dawn 2.”
- “Amazing graphics, music, and sound effects; it's really dynamic and fun.”
- “Great game to queue up some music and grind away, really impressive considering it's mainly made by one person, I believe.”
- “And turn down that rock and roll music!”
- “The soundtrack is on par with 9th dawn 2.”
- “Mindless fun with simple gameplay mechanics, silly humor, and pretty decent music.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of silly and dark elements, with players enjoying humorous dialogue, quirky interactions with NPCs, and absurd gameplay mechanics, such as AFK mining and unexpected minecart physics. Many reviewers appreciate the lighthearted tone and engaging quest dialogues, making it a fun experience for RPG fans who enjoy pixel graphics and a comedic twist. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment to the game's simple mechanics and crafting systems.
- “I did find it funny that a controller and an elastic hair band became my best friends for mining in this game, as you can AFK mine while you go to the bathroom or make dinner and come back with a buttload of ore that you so desperately needed.”
- “The game also has a good amount of dead-beat humor which keeps questing dialogues fun and interesting; I really enjoy this.”
- “Funny thing is that there was no lever; by accident, I found out that when you enter a minecart, it magically propels itself to such insane speeds and momentum that it smashes through any and all obstacles in its way.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized for PC, delivering flawless performance without any bugs, which is particularly impressive given its pixel graphics. Players appreciate its smooth functionality, making it a fun experience reminiscent of old-school isometric ARPGs.
- “A fun old school iso-arpg mobile game but is optimized perfectly for PC.”
- “Performance is flawless as expected given the pixel graphics.”
- “The game works with good performance and I did not encounter any bugs.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game features charming pixel art and a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic gaming, complemented by an excellent soundtrack and engaging NPC dialogues. However, some players found the experience increasingly frustrating over time, leading to a decline in enjoyment despite the initial appeal.
- “Very nice pixel art and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is good, the soundtrack is excellent, the dialogues with NPCs are quite fun.”
- “The game atmosphere reminds me of the older days of gaming.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability has improved significantly since launch, with most major bugs and technical issues now resolved. While some users still report minor glitches, the developers are actively addressing these through frequent updates, demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing the game's performance.
- “It's a little buggy and rough in some areas, but the developer seems to be very dedicated to it, delivering updates and fixes on an almost daily basis.”
- “The game was buggy on launch, but most of the significant bugs and technical issues are fixed now.”
- “It's a little buggy and rough in some areas, but the developer seems to be very dedicated to it, delivering updates and fixes on an almost daily basis.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the solo developer's dedication and ongoing communication with the community, which many players find refreshing and wholesome. This connection fosters a sense of appreciation and emotional investment among players.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its value, with users noting that it requires no in-app purchases, making it a worthwhile investment.
- “This game is worth every penny, no in-app purchases.”