Crimson Dawn

About

"Crimson Dawn" is a roguelite horde survival game, inspired by Vampire Survivors, where you automatically attack enemies while dodging their attacks. Each run with unique characters earns experience to level up and upgrade weapons, with the freedom to choose quests for better loot. Rest in the hub to visit the inn, blacksmith, or market, and develop your character during fights. The game features satisfying gameplay, with the goal to survive all 5 stages using your own build.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 145 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game has a fun and addictive gameplay loop, making it enjoyable for short sessions.
It features a variety of upgrades and character classes, providing some depth to the gameplay.
The art style and animations are well done, contributing to an engaging visual experience.

The game feels unfinished and lacks significant content, with many promised features missing or abandoned.
There are numerous bugs and balancing issues that detract from the overall experience.
The developers have ceased communication and updates, leading to disappointment among players who expected more development.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and unique ideas, offering a fun and addictive experience, particularly in short bursts. While it shows promise with engaging roguelite elements and a focus on challenges, many players find it lacking in depth and polish compared to other titles in the genre, leading to a perception of it being somewhat bare-bones and repetitive. Overall, it has potential but requires further development to reach its full capabilities.
- “More enjoyable mechanically than other horde games I've played.”
- “As for gameplay, it has unique ideas.”
- “A rare gem that takes the survivor genre to the next level, complex mechanics, engaging gameplay, great meta progression (almost unparalleled).”
- “While the gameplay is simple and repetitive, I've had a lot of fun playing this.”
- “It feels cheap, half-baked, not cared for, and lacks in everything in its foundation from hitboxes to movement to map object borders being way too big (not aligning with their visuals) to balancing and descriptions of core mechanics in general.”
- “It is a very bare-bones vampire survivor with pretty slow progression mechanics.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
71%
18%
The game's story aspect is largely underdeveloped, with many players noting that it is either non-existent or only partially implemented, as indicated by its early access status. The mission system, while offering discrete goals, primarily serves a metaprogression grind rather than enhancing the narrative experience, leading to a sense of underwhelming engagement with the story. Overall, the lack of a cohesive narrative and numerous gameplay bugs detract from the potential storytelling elements.
- “The hub and quest system actually looks interesting, but other than that, it just felt underwhelming in general to be honest.”
- “The game is in early access and currently has no story yet.”
- “The game is in early access and features only a partial story.”
- “There is no story present in the game.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its relaxing vibe for casual play, while others criticize it for being repetitive and annoying over extended sessions. Many users express a desire for more engaging and varied tracks, suggesting that the current looping music detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the music can enhance the chill atmosphere, it often falls short for those seeking a more dynamic auditory experience.
- “It's perfect for when you just want to chill and listen to some music or a podcast.”
- “It's very easy and relaxing to play; I enjoy the music and the different level mechanics, even though it gets really tough later on.”
- “Slapper game, the music is great, and as barebones as it is, I got 8 good hours of playtime (and I haven't finished everything yet).”
- “It feels very janky, the animations look unfinished, no exciting synergies and the generic looping music can drive someone to insanity.”
- “But right now, there is a super annoying 5-second long music track that just loops over and over and becomes super annoying.”
- “The best solution for this game is for the developer to change that out for some real music, as in a real song that fits the game.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The graphics are generally praised for their appeal, contributing to an addictive gameplay experience, but many users feel they appear cheap and poorly executed, with significant issues in alignment, hitboxes, and overall polish. While there are notable differences from similar titles, the overall presentation is seen as lacking in care and attention to detail.
- “The graphics are nice and contribute to the addictive gameplay.”
- “The game features a lot of subtle differences in the gameplay, sound, and graphics compared to similar titles.”
- “The visuals are well-crafted and enhance the overall experience of the game.”
- “It feels cheap, half-baked, not cared for, and lacks in everything in its foundation from hitboxes to movement to map object borders that are way too big (not aligning with their visuals) to balancing and descriptions of core mechanics in general.”
- “It does not look or play exactly like Vampire Survivor; there are a lot of subtle differences in the gameplay, sound, and graphics, and the meta is quite different.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, noting that while it is a standard feature in ARPGs, it can feel overly linear and mandatory for unlocking and powering up content. However, some users mention that grinding is optional, allowing for a more flexible gameplay experience.
- “Grinding is optional, allowing players to engage at their own pace.”
- “The grinding experience is reminiscent of standard ARPG mechanics, providing a familiar yet enjoyable challenge.”
- “A solid vs-like game, although a bit too grindy, since you have to unlock and power-up a lot of things to reach the end.”
- “But it feels incredibly grindy and overtly linear.”
- “Standard ARPG grinding.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Crimson Dawn offers high replayability through its easy-to-learn yet challenging gameplay mechanics, similar to Vampire Survivors, ensuring players remain engaged and entertained over multiple playthroughs.
- “Crimson Dawn, like Vampire Survivors, focuses on easy-to-learn but hard-to-master rules, providing fun gameplay and high replayability.”
- “The variety of characters and strategies keeps each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and unlockable content, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a sense of emotional detachment, indicating that while they may complete the game for achievements, they do not feel compelled to engage with it further. This suggests a lack of lasting emotional impact or connection to the game's narrative or characters.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users express skepticism about the monetization of the game, comparing it to other titles in the "vampire survivor" genre and suggesting it may be a cash grab.
- “I don't know, it feels the same as other 'Vampire Survivor' games, and a lot of it seems like a cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy is frustrating and makes the game feel more like a money-making scheme than a fun experience.”
- “It's disappointing to see so many paywalls and microtransactions that hinder gameplay.”