Century: Age of Ashes

About

"Century: Age of Ashes is a free-to-play dragon battle game with intense online multiplayer modes. Season 2, 'The Fate of Dragons', has added a new rider class, dragon species, a dragon pass, a new map, and a ranked PvP season. Customize your dragon and fight for your survival in exciting game modes, solo or with friends."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,938 reviews

gameplay572 positive mentions

monetization59 negative mentions

gameplay
1,237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The gameplay of "Century: Age of Ashes" is characterized by its fast-paced aerial combat mechanics, which many players find engaging and fun, especially when flying dragons. While the flight mechanics are generally praised for their smoothness and intuitive controls, some players express concerns about the lack of depth in combat mechanics and the repetitive nature of gameplay over time. Additionally, issues with matchmaking and balance, particularly for new players, have been noted, alongside a monetization model that focuses heavily on cosmetics rather than gameplay advantages.
- “A thrilling aerial combat experience, Century: Age of Ashes excels where others falter, offering engaging mechanics and stunning graphics.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced, skill-intensive, and extremely fun.”
- “The flying mechanics are so fun and visually satisfying to look at.”
- “Excels in graphical prowess, lacks depth in combat mechanics compared to genre rivals.”
- “Queues are incredibly long and with all the animations after each fight it brings the fast pace of the gameplay to a complete halt.”
- “The gameplay itself is simplistic, the content is near non-existent and the matchmaking is atrocious.”
graphics
861 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The graphics in "Century: Age of Ashes" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and detailed dragon designs, creating an immersive experience that enhances the gameplay. Many players note that the game runs well even on lower-end systems, although some express frustration over the lack of advanced graphics settings and occasional performance issues. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal is a significant highlight, contributing to its enjoyment despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “A thrilling aerial combat experience, Century: Age of Ashes excels where others falter, offering engaging mechanics and stunning graphics.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking.”
- “The graphics are incredible, and it's certainly the best attempt at a game of this nature with flying mechanics so far!”
- “Your animations have lessened in quality, the game is horribly optimized (I can't even play it on my perfectly fine gaming laptop because it lags out so hard on lowest graphics; I've had to get my fix through YouTube gameplay, and even then it's still supremely dissatisfying).”
- “Game performance issues: quote: 'the performance of the game reliably gets worse with every patch; I used to be able to run the game at 60 fps on medium graphic settings.'”
- “The graphics settings will literally throttle any graphics card and the graphics optimizations are non-existent; you need to either change your Windows resolution or use third-party resolution-altering software to get even close to good performance in the game.”
story
307 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
79%
9%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players expressing a desire for a single-player campaign or more narrative depth. While there are numerous missions and some lore provided through seasonal content, the overall experience feels repetitive and lacks a cohesive storyline, leading to calls for a more engaging narrative structure. Players appreciate the dragon-themed gameplay but feel that the lack of a substantial story detracts from the overall enjoyment and potential of the game.
- “In a game like this, it's completely unnecessary, but you care enough about your game to write a full short story each season.”
- “If you like dragons and games filled with backstory or lore, as well as flying-based games, this game is surely one for you!”
- “The game is good, the graphics and controls are great, but it does lack a depth of characters as it could have utilized a story.”
- “The game is fairly one-dimensional and lacks anything resembling a story.”
- “There is no story mode.”
- “However, the game can be repetitive without a strong storyline.”
monetization
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
60%
32%
The monetization in this game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players labeling it as predatory and a cash grab, primarily due to the heavy reliance on overpriced microtransactions for cosmetic items. While some reviews note that the in-game purchases do not affect gameplay and are purely cosmetic, the aggressive marketing tactics and lack of meaningful rewards for free players have left many feeling frustrated and disillusioned. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as a significant detractor from an otherwise enjoyable gaming experience.
- “The game is really cool, I enjoy playing a lot, I like their monetization policies, the modes are really fun and I feel it's got a lot of future ahead of it.”
- “The cosmetic monetization system is quite generous even to free players, which means that you really don't need to pay anything to get the full experience, unless of course you just want to support the devs.”
- “It's free, it's good, the microtransactions are cosmetic only.”
- “However, all of this gets pretty much overshadowed by how predatory the monetization is in this game.”
- “The game itself would be fun but the devs clearly don't care about the actual product being fair and fun and just aim to make as many quick in-game purchases as possible.”
- “This game just seems like a cash grab.”
grinding
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
5%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. Many reviews highlight the frustratingly low rewards for the amount of effort required, particularly for cosmetics and upgrades, leading to a sense of hollow progression. While some players enjoy the gameplay, they express that the grind often overshadows the fun, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience.
- “But more rewards and unlockables from just grinding would be nice.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There is virtually no farming and nothing in this game to do besides shooting fireballs everywhere.”
- “The game requires too much grinding for very few coins, and it has repetitive game modes which after a few games becomes very boring.”
- “Grinding daily missions and meaningless events in exchange for no worthwhile rewards has made the game into a chore.”
- “The progression is comically grindy and unrewarding, the daily/weekly missions are comically unrewarding, and the weekly shop and general monetization are comically expensive, anti-consumer and just plain ball-busting.”
optimization
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
48%
13%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and attractive graphics, while others report significant issues such as lag, crashes, and poor performance on various hardware setups. Many users suggest that while the game has improved since its beta phase, it still requires further optimization to address ongoing performance problems and enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on the player's system, with some experiencing a well-optimized experience and others struggling with severe performance issues.
- “It's a very fun game, clean, very fluid and well optimized too plus the graphics are gorgeous.”
- “The gameplay is simple, refined and tasteful, and the optimization is excellent.”
- “Great game, great optimization for low-end PC.”
- “Game could have a lot of potential, but right now it is in a very raw state; it needs marketing and promotion, as well as a lot of optimizations.”
- “The game has never been remotely bug-free, constantly plagued by problems and performance issues on all platforms that are rarely addressed.”
- “Fun game but the performance is awful right now; it either crashes or feels very sluggish.”
stability
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
3%
87%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and server issues that significantly impact gameplay. Many users experience frequent crashes, unresponsive controls, and matchmaking problems, leading to frustration despite enjoying the core mechanics and design. While some players note occasional smooth performance, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it difficult to recommend without significant improvements.
- “Overall, it's amazing considering how new this is; no glitches, no bugs, no connection issues. I'm really impressed.”
- “Didn't come across many, if any, bugs, and it runs great.”
- “There are really no glitches or lagging.”
- “Servers are terrible and have only gotten worse over the years; the menu is buggy, the client is so much worse now, and launching for games sometimes causes crashes.”
- “However buggy at times, crashing during loading and game, load times can be short or extremely long, and the game doesn't start or transition into the next round when the countdown timer hits zero sometimes.”
- “I loved how they gave this the impression of a full game only to let it be so buggy you get dropped 1 out of 4 matches, then it punishes you for dropping.”
music
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during intense moments and cutscenes. However, some users note issues with sound cutting out during critical scenes and express a desire for more atmospheric background music, suggesting that the current soundtrack, while good, could be more memorable and varied. Overall, the music is generally seen as a positive aspect that complements the game's visuals and mechanics, but there is room for improvement in its implementation and variety.
- “The music is great as well, and is incorporated very well into the general gameplay loop.”
- “The intense music helps with the atmosphere.”
- “Not only is it actually focused on dragons, the graphics are stunning, the gameplay is intense and requires you to learn strategies and adapt to new challenges, and the music score fits spectacularly well.”
- “Many of the cut-scenes lose all sound; for example, the roars of the dragons don't work or the music cuts off halfway through the scene.”
- “Only thing is, why does the music sound like it's ripped straight out of Blood Bowl 2?”
- “I got sick of hearing the same battle music every match.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
9%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it amusing due to quirky mechanics, funny glitches, and the developers' engaging approach to the community. While some aspects, like the dragon-themed elements and unexpected gameplay moments, elicit laughter, others highlight frustrations that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the humor is often situational and can vary significantly based on individual player experiences.
- “PVE is a really funny mode, hope there is more in the future.”
- “Spent my entire first hour laughing if they added death animations of your character trying to fend off a fireball with your worthless weapons.”
- “The dragon egg system is cute and funny; a solid incentivization to complete challenges to get more unique and interesting dragons.”
- “So unbalanced it's not funny”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but it just missed the mark.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
12%
12%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive graphics, detailed environments, and engaging music, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the fantastical design of dragons and arenas, contributing to a vibrant and exciting world. However, some reviewers suggest that the atmosphere could benefit from additional content and features, such as a randomized weather system, to further enrich the gameplay experience.
- “Explosions of fire, the rush of wind, and the soaring landscapes contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
- “The dragons are intricately designed, and the fantastical arenas showcase a world rich in detail and atmosphere.”
- “Flying in stylized locations, fighting with others creates a wonderful atmosphere that really awakens a desire not to leave this world at all, as it is so awesome.”
- “It is unfortunate that less and less games are becoming less compassionate about making games that have the sense of continuity in the environment's atmosphere.”
- “No sense of energy management in maneuvers, strangely powerful brakes and acceleration, combined with extremely floaty and drifty turns... I did not get a sense of the mass of the creatures, maintaining energy in maneuvers, cutting through the wind, or experiencing g-force in any way. It feels more like an arcady space game to me, where you're largely drifting around and using bursts of acceleration to change direction, rather than carving through the air.”
- “I think there is definitely a 'pay to win' atmosphere at times, since buying dragons is expensive and character classes are expensive too, so you would have to play for a while in order to actually purchase these things, though the default classes and dragons are fine and it is a mainly skill-based game.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, particularly for PvP enthusiasts who can engage for extended periods. While some users express a desire for more playable options and quicker lobby formation, the diverse and innovative game modes contribute to a solid replay value, with many considering it nearly infinitely replayable.
- “Replayability: for a PvP game, it will have good replay value for that fact alone.”
- “Diverse modes make for some replayability too, and they're all well done and innovative.”
- “🔲 infinitely replayable (or almost)”
- “I wish it had been more playable, but I'll give it another year before reviewing it again and updating my commentary accordingly.”
- “I think the game could be reworked so it has a bit more replayability, but I don't see it happening.”
- “Also, it needs more playable options.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to character customization and the game's lore, highlighting the potential for deep engagement. However, frustrations with management decisions and gameplay balance detract from the overall experience, leading to feelings of disappointment and heartbreak. The emotional investment in the game is evident, but many feel that it is undermined by issues that could be addressed for a more fulfilling experience.
- “Character customization prompted meaningful emotional attachments to my account and how I played it, and the lore was intriguing and fun to immerse myself in.”
- “Maybe my first heartfelt review ever.”
- “Fair warning, this is an emotionally fueled rant, so prepare for a long review.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The game features impressive character design and graphics, with a strong emphasis on the role of angels in shaping the storyline and character arcs. Players appreciate the depth of customization options and the artistic detail, which enhances the overall experience despite some challenges with controls. Overall, the character development is enriched by the narrative impact of angels and the visually stunning designs.
- “Angels play a significant role in shaping the storyline and player experience in 'Angels with Scaly Wings.' The presence of angels in the game's world has a profound impact on the plot and narrative arcs, often serving as catalysts for important events and character development.”
- “So much went into the art and character designs here that, as frustrated as I get with sucking at this game, I still want to play more just to see what other items and dragons are available.”
- “★★★★☆ (excellent - gorgeous dragon and character designs and plenty of customization options; technically sound graphics; depth of effects can feel excessive and disorienting every now and then)”
- “So much went into the art and character designs here that, as frustrated as I get with sucking at this game, I still want to play more (thereby getting killed more) just to see what other items and dragons are available.”