Skip to main content

Ashes of Oahu

57%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
optimization, stability
57% User Score Based on 74 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
Buy Nowfrom €16.79
Buy NowGet on Steam€16.79Buy NowGet on itch.io Store

About

"Ashes of Oahu" is an open-world, action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic Hawaii. The player must survive by scavenging for resources, crafting weapons and tools, and building a settlement. Along the way, they'll encounter factions vying for power and make choices that will shape the future of the island.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
Ashes of Oahu screenshot
+5

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews
story8 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • The game features a large, beautifully designed open world that is immersive and filled with interesting lore and quests.
  • The skill tree and weapon customization options provide depth and allow for varied gameplay experiences.
  • Despite its flaws, the game has a unique charm and offers rewarding gameplay once players get past the initial learning curve.
  • The combat mechanics are clunky and frustrating, with issues like poor hit detection and enemy AI that can lead to unfair encounters.
  • The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience.
  • The absence of voice acting and poor sound design make the game feel incomplete and can detract from immersion.
  • story
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story centers on a Hawaiian native resurrected through ancient magic to protect his son, incorporating rich cultural themes and respectful use of the Hawaiian language. While the narrative has potential and is supported by numerous quests and faction interactions, players have noted issues with confusing quest icons, lack of voice acting, and some bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, despite its flaws, the story is considered engaging and is complemented by a vast open world filled with lore and character development opportunities.

    • “The story is about a Hawaiian native who’s brought back to life with ancient magic after he died attempting to protect his son from being kidnapped.”
    • “Story and use of Hawaiian language and themes was done with the utmost respect, and they heavily consulted the proper folks in Hawaii to make sure they respected the language and culture to the fullest extent.”
    • “I recommend this game to anyone who loves open world RPG shooters and also loves a good story.”
    • “It is not really open world, as there are sometimes baffling invisible walls to keep you on the rails they want to keep you on; the RPG is okay but the controls are bad, the UI is bad, and the story is lacking in most every way.”
    • “The first thing that happens are a few story sequences and you get no voice overs and some really bad theatrics from the characters as they talk, and you'll start to think 'OMG, this is bad'... but if you push past this (it's the only bad aspect I have found so far), you'll find quite a good game, especially for the asking price.”
    • “While some of the quests are bugged, the graphics and storyline are great.”
  • graphics
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting that while the art style is appealing and well-designed, the overall performance is marred by lag, crashes, and optimization issues. Many users feel the graphics do not meet expectations set by promotional material, describing them as "barely passable" and not cutting-edge, despite some appreciating the cell-shaded aesthetic and detailed textures. Overall, improvements in optimization and technical stability are highly desired to enhance the visual experience.

    • “It's well designed, and other than some random graphical glitches here and there, it's amazingly well made for being a non-AAA title.”
    • “While some of the quests are bugged, the graphics and storyline are great.”
    • “The graphics are beautifully cell shaded with mostly very detailed textures. The characters have nice models, if lacking in some detailed animation. The animals feel good enough and like they belong in the world (until they run into a building and get stuck). The buildings look as you would expect in the post-apocalyptic world the game is set in; it feels like a well-defined game world.”
    • “Very upset at the fact that the graphics are not as advertised, there is only one sound bar for everything so you can't turn off the music.”
    • “Optimization overall would go a long way toward improving the experience, as I had to play on high settings instead of ultra, which lagged quite heavily for me even though the graphics are certainly not cutting edge.”
    • “The graphics are barely passable.”
  • optimization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, requiring players to lower settings to achieve playable performance, often resulting in stuttering and high GPU temperatures. While some users found that medium settings provided a satisfactory experience without sacrificing visual fidelity, the overall lack of polish and technical glitches detract from the enjoyment, leading to mixed recommendations. Improvements in optimization are anticipated post-launch, but current performance problems hinder the game's potential.

    • “But stick with it you must -- the game is rewarding once you get past some technical glitches. I only lost some major frustration once I dropped my settings to medium and saw no loss in fidelity, but major increases in performance.”
    • “Combat generally feels solid, though I believe that an overall optimization of the game would improve it as well.”
    • “Meaning, I had to put the settings on as low as they go and disable some settings altogether in order to even play without it constantly stuttering.”
    • “Optimization overall would go a long way toward improving the experience, as I had to play on high settings instead of ultra, which lagged quite heavily for me even though the graphics are certainly not cutting edge.”
    • “Despite having a unique setting and tons of awesome skills to use, I just can't recommend the game at this point due to the performance issues and how bad the polish is.”
  • gameplay
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay offers a mix of enjoyment and frustration, with players appreciating the vast content and engaging mechanics, despite encountering significant bugs and issues such as a lack of a field of view slider and unremappable keys. While the gameplay can be satisfying when executed well, it can quickly deteriorate if mismanaged, leading to a variable experience. Overall, the game is deemed finishable and enjoyable, but it requires attention to its gameplay flaws.

    • “No matter the glaring problems, to me the game is totally finishable, and again, amazing world, and gameplay, beautifully enjoyable.”
    • “Every other aspect of the game appears to be good and the gameplay mechanics are great.”
    • “There is a ton of content and I have barely scratched the surface of the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay slows and speeds up at a constant frequency on any setting above low.”
    • “No FOV slider, no remappable keys, and a bug that made my character stuck after 3 minutes of gameplay.”
    • “The game mechanics themselves are riddled with bugs that certainly need squashing, though the most egregious offenders seem to rarely show their faces.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find humor in the game's exaggerated inaccuracies, such as the poorly designed map and the absurd performance of certain weapons, like the MG40, which is so ineffective that using a shotgun is often more advantageous. This comedic element adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.

    • “As a born and raised resident of actual Oahu, the butchering of the map is actually pretty funny.”
    • “Some of the guns in the game (like the MG40) are hilariously inaccurate, to the point where you're better off using a shotgun, because the shotgun is better at ranged battles than the damn MG40.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game experiences some technical glitches and random graphical issues, but players find it rewarding once they adjust settings for better performance. Lowering graphics settings to medium can significantly enhance stability without sacrificing visual quality, making it a well-designed experience for a non-AAA title.

    • “But stick with it you must -- the game is rewarding once you get past some technical glitches (I only lost some major frustration once I dropped my settings to medium - and saw no loss in fidelity, but major increases in performance).”
    • “It's well designed, and other than some random graphical glitches here and there, it's amazingly well made for being a non-AAA title.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in this indie title is praised for its depth, featuring extensive skill trees, factions, and weapon customization, which contribute to a rich gameplay experience. However, some reviewers note that the limited budget and time constraints are evident, impacting the overall polish of the character development aspects.

    • “As I said, it’s not perfect and you should not head into the game expecting a huge AAA budgeted title. It is an indie title but feels like it’s sat between the two camps. The developers have lovingly crafted a large play world with deep skill trees, factions, weapon customization, character development, and a ton of missions to do.”
    • “The character design and mana abilities are enjoyable.”
    • “The developers have created a rich environment with extensive character development options.”
    • “The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “While the game offers a variety of skills and customization options, the overall character development is shallow and uninspired.”
    • “The potential for rich character arcs is there, but the execution falls flat, leaving players wanting more substance.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is noted as the standout element of the audio experience, with players becoming accustomed to the repetitive tracks, which neither enhanced nor detracted from their overall enjoyment. However, the lack of options to adjust or turn off the music due to a single sound bar has frustrated some users.

    • “The music was the most impressive part of the audio, and I would summarize that by saying that I got used to hearing the same tracks repeatedly, but they didn’t help or hinder my enjoyment of the game.”
    • “I am very upset at the fact that the graphics are not as advertised, and there is only one sound bar for everything, so you can't turn off the music.”

Buy Ashes of Oahu

Videos

Games Like Ashes of Oahu

Elex II Image
This game contains adult content
65%4.1kreviews

Elex II

2022Open World Role Playing
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+7
The Bard's Tale IV Image
62%2.1kreviews

The Bard's Tale IV

2018Role Playing
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+10
Encased Image
76%4.4kreviews

Encased

2021Tactical Role Playing
PCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux+1
ELEX Image
This game contains adult content
62%9.9kreviews

ELEX

2017Open World Role Playing
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+7
BIOMUTANT Image
67%22.6kreviews

BIOMUTANT

2021Open World Role Playing
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+8