Dawn of Man

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,234 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
Dawn of Man Game Cover
<em>Dawn of Man</em> has a couple of small issues, but it's otherwise a solid game that's sure to be enjoyed by fans of city builders and real-time strategy alike.
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Dawn of Man is a survival strategy game set in the Stone Age. You lead a group of early humans, helping them develop tools, establish settlements, and ward off threats like wildlife and rival tribes. Over time, your group will progress from nomadic hunter-gatherers to established farmers and city-builders.

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Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,234 reviews
gameplay330 positive mentions
grinding291 negative mentions
  • Unique setting and engaging gameplay that takes players from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
  • Relaxing and enjoyable experience with a satisfying progression system.
  • Beautiful graphics and a charming atmosphere that immerses players in prehistoric life.
  • AI behavior is often frustrating, leading to villagers starving or failing to prioritize important tasks.
  • Limited content and replayability, with many players feeling the game becomes repetitive after a few playthroughs.
  • The game has been abandoned by the developers, leaving it feeling unfinished and lacking in updates.
  • gameplay1,002 mentions

    The gameplay of "Dawn of Man" is characterized by its blend of city-building and survival mechanics, offering a straightforward yet engaging experience that evolves as players progress through different historical ages. While many players appreciate the intuitive mechanics and the satisfying gameplay loop, some criticize the game for its repetitive nature, lack of depth in later stages, and issues with AI behavior and combat mechanics. Overall, the game provides a solid foundation with potential for future updates and expansions to enhance its gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is addictive.”
    • “The mechanics and gameplay are easy enough to figure out, but also filled with plenty of challenges with each setting and step through the progress of time.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent and very engaging, and building up your settlement is satisfying and rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay and progression are just too shallow and simple.”
    • “The gameplay is sluggish, progression is slow, and the content is quite sparse all things considered.”
    • “The mechanics are simple and easy to master, there are some difficult aspects of the game later down the road, but i'm sure they will have future ideas to even expand this game for more ideas and new challenges.”
  • graphics584 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their beauty and detail, particularly in environmental elements and animations. However, some users criticize the visuals as mediocre or outdated, suggesting that they lack depth and variety. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for a city-building game, there are calls for improvements and updates to enhance the visual experience further.

    • “Beautiful graphics and just very easy to get into, for either a casual game or if you're in it for the long haul.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the details amazing.”
    • “Absolutely amazing graphics and great gameplay for all levels and paces just as with Planetbase.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre at best.”
    • “Graphics are exactly as on screenshots - so-so quality and average design, nothing stands out and would probably look outdated in a year or two.”
    • “The graphics remind me of games from 2005 or something, a bit dated.”
  • grinding304 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting that while the slow pace allows for thoughtful planning and strategy, it can also lead to tedious gameplay, especially in the later stages. Players often find themselves overwhelmed by micromanagement tasks, particularly related to farming and resource gathering, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these frustrations, some players appreciate the sense of progression and the satisfaction of building a thriving settlement, though they caution that the game may require a significant time investment to overcome its grindy nature.

    • “It's mellow, not grindy, fully automatable, so you can either intervene and direct individual actions, or just sit back and watch people and animals go about their business of hunting, gathering, farming, mining, and crafting.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “If you try to get a population of over 80 it starts to get very tedious, which sucks the fun out of it.”
    • “The game feels empty, bland, and grindy.”
    • “The biggest issue, however, is the farming system.”
  • replayability220 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a lack of depth and variety that limits their desire to replay after completing initial scenarios. While some appreciate the community content and different maps that enhance replay value, others find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in challenge, leading to a consensus that it may not sustain long-term interest. Overall, the game shows potential for replayability, especially with future updates and mod support, but currently falls short for many players.

    • “High replayability: different locations/random beasts change the experience significantly.”
    • “The gameplay and its many, many features make this game insanely immersive and adds infinite replay value.”
    • “Wonderful game with great replay value, as there are half a dozen unique maps to play on.”
    • “Not replayable, just annoying.”
    • “Overall good game however becomes monotonous and subsequently loses replayability as it feels like it's missing something.”
    • “The game as it stands now has very little replay value.”
  • story147 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players noting that it primarily consists of a few missions and sandbox gameplay without a cohesive narrative. While some appreciate the organic storytelling through gameplay mechanics, the absence of a structured campaign or character-driven plot leaves many feeling that the game lacks a compelling story. Overall, players express a desire for more narrative elements and missions to enhance the experience.

    • “The most wonderful relaxing experience, and most importantly the game flows and tells the story of humankind.”
    • “Beautifully atmospheric, relaxed (with the speed settings and ability to pause), Dawn of Man builds a gripping story of your people and their fledgling settlement from the very beginning of collecting sticks, progressing through the ages into a large bustling village full of hundreds of people.”
    • “It's almost the perfect city builder game which is trying to tell the story of how humans evolved over multiple prehistorical eras.”
    • “The mechanics look solid, but I was unpleasantly surprised to find there is no kind of campaign or story at all - just a sandbox mode.”
    • “This game really needs a narrative introduced to it - or something that makes each villager special and have a story.”
    • “With time, it gets really a bit tedious because not much content shows up and no story-driven events occur.”
  • music136 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its soothing and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the gameplay and setting. While many players find the soundtrack relaxing and immersive, some note that it can become repetitive over time, leading them to prefer their own music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, though there are calls for more variety and additional tracks to enhance the experience further.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal with how well it was composed, and I would say it is on par with the Minecraft soundtrack with how peaceful and calming it is.”
    • “The music is soothing, the scenery and overall detail is great, and it just makes me happy to watch the battle against nature and raiders take place.”
    • “The music is calming and unobtrusive, and fitting to the setting.”
    • “Audio is not the game's strong side - the music and sounds are mediocre, neither bad nor good.”
    • “The sound effects and music are lackluster and can become annoying after a while.”
    • “The soundtrack is very limited, and within two gaming sessions, I had already replaced it with my own music.”
  • stability97 mentions

    The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with some players reporting it as largely bug-free and running smoothly, while others experience significant glitches, particularly in late-game scenarios. Many users note issues with AI behavior and gameplay mechanics that can lead to frustrating experiences, especially when managing larger populations or settlements. Overall, while some find it enjoyable and stable, others feel it remains unfinished and plagued by bugs, particularly due to a lack of recent developer support.

    • “A four year old game with no glitches and well balanced.”
    • “Just brilliant, really enjoying this bug free, polished game.”
    • “Well coded, bug free and solid game.”
    • “The game is corrupted and in my opinion - despite the amount of work invested in its creation, should be removed from public access until it can be played without continuous glitches and crashes.”
    • “The buggy AI and lack of content is the only thing holding this game back, but of course it's just getting started.”
    • “The game is far too buggy and unfinished at the moment.”
  • optimization66 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance even on lower-end hardware. However, some users have noted issues with AI task management and graphical optimization, particularly in larger towns or during intense gameplay moments. While the game runs well for most, there are still areas that require further fine-tuning and optimization to enhance the overall experience.

    • “It's a great podcast game though and is pretty well balanced, just difficult enough on normal that it's worth it to think about optimization without feeling like you have to stress over spreadsheets or commit crimes against humanity to survive the winter.”
    • “The game runs smoothly and delivers an immersive experience.”
    • “Launched in better shape than 65% of triple-A titles and is optimized very well.”
    • “Madruga works games have some optimization issues on startup that make them slow a system to a crawl for a good bit while launching the games.”
    • “The game is not supported by devs anymore and still lacks a lot of development/optimization and content.”
    • “My only criticism would be that the task optimization starts to fray in the later ages as your population becomes large.”
  • atmosphere63 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully crafted environment, effectively capturing the essence of prehistoric life. Players appreciate the combination of stunning graphics, soothing music, and engaging details that create a relaxing yet captivating experience. While some note a lack of depth in gameplay, the overall ambiance remains a standout feature, making it enjoyable for those seeking a chill gaming experience.

    • “The atmosphere is great, the music is pretty good and the theme overall works really well.”
    • “Beautifully atmospheric, relaxed (with the speed settings and ability to pause), intuitive and polished, this game builds a gripping story of your people and their fledgling settlement.”
    • “Second point, you have done a really magnificent work on recreating the atmosphere and the environment of ancient times; however, I have noticed a worrying lack of social profundity in the game.”
    • “The attention to details and the atmosphere it evokes have glued me to the screen for hours.”
    • “Blizzards, the start of each season, everything has been drawn and presented perfectly, giving the game a realistic beauty and atmosphere.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of their characters' actions and the unexpected outcomes of gameplay, such as villagers dying in comical ways or engaging in illogical behaviors. While some reviews note a lack of traditional humor or social interaction among characters, many players appreciate the game's ability to create funny moments through its mechanics and scenarios, making it an enjoyable experience overall. Despite minor criticisms regarding the pacing and graphics, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm and entertainment value.

    • “I don't know why, but I found it funny watching one guy slowly move a giant boulder across the map.”
    • “(dies of starvation and the rest of the camp must bury this clown and pretend they cry for him, but what they really do is laughing their asses off)”
    • “Great game, 10/10 would recommend for the sheer amusement of watching my villagers die in hilarious & suicidal ways.”
  • emotional15 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of wholesome moments and deeper connections, particularly through the portrayal of villagers and their relationships, which can lead to genuine feelings of attachment and loss. However, some players feel that the emotional engagement is limited, resulting in a lack of depth that diminishes the potential for repeated playthroughs. Overall, while the game can evoke strong feelings at times, it may not sustain those emotions consistently throughout the experience.

    • “When an old settler died and his wife (in my eyes at least) carried his body up to the burial mound and mourned his passing, I was quite emotional.”
    • “It's a challenge to manage all the resources, but you become emotionally involved in the people of your village.”
    • “I guarantee, if you play this game, you will be on an emotional roller coaster.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players feeling it leans towards a cash grab due to a lack of updates and support. While there are no intrusive ads or microtransactions that disrupt gameplay, the overall sentiment suggests that the game is primarily designed to promote future projects rather than provide substantial content. Players recommend caution, suggesting it may only be worth purchasing if offered at a significant discount.

    • “It felt like a quick cash grab.”
    • “Bare minimum cash grab.”
    • “Only recommended if you get a good deal; otherwise, this game is a cash grab into their next project.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is noted for its simplicity and limited design variation, yet it effectively conveys realism, allowing players to enjoy watching their characters interact in a satisfying manner. This stands in contrast to other titles from Ubisoft in 2020, which are criticized for exaggerated character designs and unrealistic expressions.

    • “Even though character design variation is small and simple, they're strong enough, and it's very satisfying watching all your little people walk around doing their thing.”
    • “I call it realism compared to other pieces of Ubisoft's 2020 so-called 'AAA masterpieces' for not having a gross color filter and ridiculous idolized character designs with self-justice angry expressions and overly aggressive poses.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on any meaningful level.”
    • “There is a noticeable absence of character growth throughout the game, leaving the characters feeling static and uninteresting.”
    • “The limited character customization options make it difficult to create a unique identity for your character, resulting in a generic experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Dawn of Man

Play time

22hMedian play time
45hAverage play time
9-51hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 126 analyzed playthroughs

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