9th Dawn Remake

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9th Dawn Remake is a single player and multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Valorware and was released on September 25, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

9th Dawn Remake is a massive open world RPG bursting with dungeon-crawling adventure. The game has been lovingly re-created based on the original 9th Dawn game released in 2012 … which spawned the 9th Dawn series you know and love! Play in single-player mode, or with a friend with Online or Local co-op modes! Experience a vast world filled with huge new dungeons, hordes of monsters, and ridiculous…

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 247 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

9th Dawn Remake captures the essence of classic dungeon crawlers with its engaging gameplay, extensive exploration, and a variety of systems that enhance the experience.
The game features a deep pet system that allows players to capture, raise, and evolve creatures, adding a strategic layer to combat and exploration.
The inclusion of fun mini-games, such as a Slay the Spire-inspired card game and a unique fishing mini-game, provides additional content and variety beyond the main gameplay.

The game suffers from a lack of clear guidance and information, making it difficult for players to understand mechanics, abilities, and the crafting system.
Some players find the mini-games, particularly the fishing and card game, to be overly long and tedious, detracting from the overall experience.
The interface and inventory management can feel cumbersome, with issues like accidental sorting and a lack of intuitive navigation.

gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The gameplay is a mix of engaging mechanics, including a card mini-game and pet-raising features, which provide a refreshing change of pace and depth to the RPG experience. While some players find the combat repetitive and the graphics lacking, the variety of mini-games and exploration elements keep the gameplay enjoyable for many. However, issues like bugs and unclear mechanics have been noted, leading to mixed feelings about the overall execution.
- “The card mini-game, reminiscent of classic fantasy tavern games, is fully fleshed out with its own collectible cards and competitive mechanics, providing a pleasant change of pace between battles.”
- “Every few hours, the game reveals another layer, whether through a new mechanic, an unexpected dungeon twist, or a previously inaccessible area that leads to a trove of rewards.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the new card game, taming, and fishing mini-games are an absolutely great addition to the main game.”
- “The gameplay loop is mindless given how you basically kite around enemies for minutes straight when they almost all behave in the same way, wandering towards you in a sort of hesitating manner, and then maybe sort-of-retreating when their health is low, but still being able to get aggro'd back towards you.”
- “This is a total mess of mechanics just haphazardly thrown together 'just because'.”
- “The switching to first-person option is cute, and the graphics style has an appeal to it, but the gameplay itself just isn't there unfortunately, at least with a controller.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The graphics of 9th Dawn Remake are characterized by a refined pixel-art style that balances nostalgic charm with modern clarity, creating a cohesive and immersive world. While the visuals are praised for their charm and significant upgrade from previous installments, they are not considered groundbreaking, and some players feel that the gameplay does not fully capitalize on the aesthetic appeal. Overall, the graphics receive a mixed reception, with many appreciating the art style but noting that gameplay quality is ultimately more important.
- “Visually, 9th Dawn Remake embraces a refined pixel-art style that walks a fine line between nostalgic charm and modern clarity.”
- “The blocky pixelated graphics make the game endlessly charming for me, and the ambiance and soundtrack really take me back.”
- “The visuals are nice to look at and are a massive upgrade from the previous installments.”
- “Sorry, I really wanted to like this game, but the enemies really shouldn't be so absurdly spongy, and there ought to be way more variety in the landscape beyond visuals.”
- “Terrible graphics out of the 80's but totally forgiven for that elusive feature so many games miss - gameplay.”
- “The graphics 2.5D addition, while neat, wasn't necessary in my opinion.”
grinding
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall enjoyment. Many reviews highlight the excessive time required for monster evolution and resource gathering, leading to a sense of frustration, especially in harder modes. While some players appreciate the grind as a way to engage with the game, others feel it overshadows the positive elements, suggesting a need for more customization options to tailor the grinding experience.
- “Dungeons are not tedious at all, and you actually feel compelled to explore them.”
- “The grinding mechanics are rewarding, making each session feel meaningful.”
- “I love how the game balances grinding with engaging content that keeps me coming back.”
- “Everything feels very tedious, the progression of evolving monsters is terrible and you're stuck with your decisions from the start, because you cannot easily retrain a monster, as it just requires so many materials.”
- “That kind of thing can wipe everything positive and leave you with the feeling that the game is repetitive and tedious... bad achievement design here, in my opinion.”
- “I'm just abhorred by grinding and having to search through a location I already was for one missed collectible in a corner.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The story in the game is described as minimalistic and serves primarily as a backdrop for exploration rather than a central focus, which may disappoint players seeking deep narrative or character development. While the world is rich with lore and content, including side quests and hidden treasures, the overall narrative is considered bland and unexciting, with repetitive humor. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the steady progression and immersive gameplay, making it suitable for a laid-back RPG experience.
- “The sense of progression is steady and satisfying, with each dungeon cleared unlocking new routes, gear, and story tidbits that deepen your understanding of the world.”
- “Valorware has managed to fill its world with a staggering amount of content—from side quests and boss encounters to hidden treasures and secret events—that gives the impression of a massive RPG packed into a deceptively compact frame.”
- “I've finished the main story and enjoyed myself the whole time.”
- “The story is very bland and unexciting, and the humor is like the demo, copy-pasting the same joke.”
- “The story also plays a secondary role to the gameplay; while there are intriguing world-building elements and bits of lore scattered throughout, the narrative serves more as a backdrop for exploration than as a driving force.”
- “For players seeking deep characterization or cinematic storytelling, this minimalist approach might feel underwhelming, but for those who value freedom and immersion, it’s a tradeoff worth accepting.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for being charming and genuinely funny without being overbearing, striking a balance that many RPGs fail to achieve. Players appreciate the clever dialogue and the absurdity of certain NPCs, as well as the humorous design choices that often feel like intentional jokes. Overall, the game successfully incorporates subtle humor that enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The humor in this game is actually great-- not overbearing, but genuinely charming and fun.”
- “It still has plenty of crafting and skilling up; the various task minigames are charming homages to other games, such as the horde-survival minigame for fishing; and the characters still have that tongue-in-cheek humor to them.”
- “Fun gameplay, funny dialogue that acknowledges that it's dumb and funny, and having a good dev.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance, especially on certain devices like the Steam Deck, others experience stutters and crashes, particularly in the overworld. Some users have successfully optimized their controls, but there are still significant performance issues that need addressing, especially for those with higher-end hardware.
- “I've optimized my controls, and it's feeling pretty tight now.”
- “The performance is butter smooth now!”
- “The performance, for the most part, is smooth, though occasional stutters and interface quirks remind players of its indie origins.”
- “Only issue is the performance on the overworld, even if my laptop has an RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, and an i5 13th gen.”
- “The performance is simply poor at the moment.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with a perfect blend of ambient music and dynamic battle themes that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's fantastic atmosphere, graphics, and engaging gameplay, noting that it creates a unique and enjoyable environment for players.
- “The music complements the tone perfectly—a mix of ambient melodies and driving battle themes that lend the game both atmosphere and momentum.”
- “Love the grind and amazing atmosphere.”
- “OST and atmosphere are excellent, and more importantly, fun to play.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The replayability of 9th Dawn Remake is mixed; while some players appreciate its depth and freedom, others find many systems and mini-games lacking, leading to a low replay value. However, features like default and randomized settings offer some potential for revisiting the game, with one reviewer rating its replay value as 8/10. Overall, it appeals to retro RPG fans but may not satisfy those seeking extensive replayability.
- “For fans of retro-inspired RPGs who crave freedom, depth, and replayability, 9th Dawn Remake is a gem worth uncovering, a reminder that passion and ambition can sometimes achieve what polish alone cannot.”
- “Replay value 8/10, this one is gonna be revisited.”
- “Replay value zero.”
- “Have default settings or randomized settings in several areas to give some sort of replayability.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, featuring a blend of ambient melodies and dynamic battle themes that create both charm and momentum. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the pixelated graphics, immersing them in the game's world and keeping them engaged for extended periods.
- “The music complements the tone perfectly—a mix of ambient melodies and driving battle themes that lend the game both atmosphere and momentum.”
- “The blocky pixelated graphics make the game endlessly charming for me, and the ambiance and soundtrack really take me back.”
- “Give it a chance, and the world and music will pull you in for a long time.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck and offers an enjoyable experience, some users report bugs and issues, particularly on the ROG Ally X. Despite these problems, many find the remake to be a significant improvement over the original.
- “It runs great on the Steam Deck; the combat is satisfying, and the creature collection system adds a unique twist.”
- “Fantastic, but I'm playing on the ROG Ally X, and while it runs great.”
- “It's a bit broken and buggy trying to remake the original on a new engine.”
- “I never played the first 9th Dawn (bought it on Google Play Store, found it too buggy at that time, refunded), but this remake is surely way better than the old version, especially the first-person view... love it so far.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a heartfelt emotional experience that emphasizes the themes of exploration, challenge, and discovery, resonating deeply with players.
- “Instead, it delivers a heartfelt experience that celebrates the essence of exploration, challenge, and discovery.”