Dawn of Man

<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.

Starting at $12.49Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 18,469 reviews

gameplay660 positive mentions

grinding582 negative mentions

gameplay
2,004 mentions
33 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dawn of Man" is characterized by a blend of city-building and survival mechanics, offering a unique experience set in a prehistoric context. While many players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and the engaging progression through different ages, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in the late game. Overall, the game provides a satisfying, albeit sometimes simplistic, experience that can be enjoyable for fans of the genre, but it also leaves room for improvement in terms of complexity and content.
- “The gameplay is addictive.”
- “Dawn of man lives up to my expectations, and gameplay is challenging at times (raiders, predators, etc.), but somewhat relaxing during the in-between periods.”
- “The mechanics are simple enough that you can play the game while chilling, but they don't get dull; I just started the copper age and it's been fun so far.”
- “The gameplay and progression are just too shallow and simple.”
- “A significant downside for me is the raid mechanics, which often feel repetitive and occasionally unfair.”
- “The gameplay is sluggish, progression is slow, and the content is quite sparse all things considered.”
graphics
1,168 mentions
56 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the beautiful and detailed visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques highlight that the graphics can feel dated or mediocre, lacking in variety and depth, especially when compared to more modern titles. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for an indie game, there are calls for improvements and updates to keep them fresh and engaging.
- “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 amazing, and the in-depth details of the map and the structures are very aesthetically pleasing.”
- “Absolutely amazing graphics and great gameplay for all levels and paces just as with Planetbase.”
- “The graphics are mediocre at best.”
- “Lack of camera controls, poor graphics, and building placement in 45-degree angles makes this game seem much older than a 2019 release.”
- “The graphics remind me of games from 2005 or something, a bit dated.”
grinding
608 mentions
0 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while the slow pace allows for thoughtful planning, 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 appreciate the sense of progression and the satisfaction of building a thriving settlement, though many agree that improvements to AI and task management are needed to alleviate the grind.
- “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.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “People starving while there is a plethora of grain available and them not grinding it into flour despite setting those builds on 'priority'.”
- “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.”
replayability
440 mentions
24 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
18 % negative 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 mods and different game modes that enhance replay value, others find the gameplay repetitive and monotonous, leading to a consensus that it lacks significant long-term engagement. Overall, the game may offer some replayability, but it is often seen as insufficient compared to other titles in the genre.
- “High replayability: different locations/random beasts change the experience significantly.”
- “Fun colony survival game with several different scenarios that give it great replayability.”
- “The game is fun and well-balanced and has a lot of replayability with multiple maps, challenges, etc. This one is definitely a thumbs-up and I hope the developers continue working on this title.”
- “Not replayable, just annoying.”
- “Overall good game; however, it 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.”
story
294 mentions
14 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
10 % negative 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), intuitive and polished, 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.”
- “The story is you managing a small tribe from a hunting-gathering era into the iron age, overcoming the harsh environment, scarce resources, and random raider attacks.”
- “There's only 3 missions to play and all have pretty much the same map.”
- “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.”
music
272 mentions
55 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its soothing and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with relaxing and immersive soundtracks that fit the prehistoric theme. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive over time, leading them to turn it off or replace it with their own music. While many appreciate the unique instruments used, there are calls for more variety and additional tracks to keep the audio experience fresh.
- “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 just makes me happy to watch the battle against nature and raiders take place.”
- “Whether your villagers are off hunting or mining, the music really sets the tone for the game, making everything worthwhile.”
- “Audio is not the game's strong side - it's there and that's all; both music and sounds are mediocre, neither bad nor good.”
- “The sound effects and music are also 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.”
stability
194 mentions
28 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
68 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting it as largely bug-free and running smoothly, while others highlight significant issues such as graphical glitches, buggy AI, and gameplay freezes, particularly in late-game scenarios. Many users express frustration over the lack of updates and support from developers, leading to a perception of the game being unfinished or abandoned. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable experience, others encounter persistent bugs that detract from gameplay.
- “Just brilliant, really enjoying this bug-free, polished game.”
- “It's stable; as far as I can tell, it's major glitch and bug-free, looks good, has an uncluttered and user-friendly UI, meaningful tutorial, and intuitive gameplay mechanics.”
- “For an early access game, this is surprisingly bug-free, which is always a good thing.”
- “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 game is far too buggy and unfinished at the moment.”
- “Its very rough on the edges, buggy and even on easier difficulties 'end game' will turn into an extremely frustrating mess of unpleasant micro and macro management.”
optimization
132 mentions
47 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance on lower-end hardware and stable frame rates, there are notable issues with AI task management and startup times that can hinder gameplay. Some users experienced performance fluctuations and inefficiencies in larger populations, indicating that further optimization is needed, particularly in later game stages. Despite these concerns, the game generally runs well without major bugs, making it a solid choice for casual play.
- “Incredibly satisfying, yet contained, complex yet well optimized.”
- “Very well optimized, it runs perfectly without bugs.”
- “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.”
- “If all you're looking for is a prehistoric city builder without any hardships or difficulties... go for it, there's no crashes, but prepare yourself to buy a good graphics card and some fans because you're going to be spending a lot of time in the x8 speed which apparently strains the computer, because this game is seriously poorly optimized.”
atmosphere
126 mentions
71 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully crafted prehistoric setting, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack and detailed graphics. Players appreciate the relaxing and engaging environment that allows for a chill gaming experience, although some note a lack of depth in gameplay elements. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively capturing the essence of ancient times and providing a captivating backdrop for the colony-building mechanics.
- “Beautifully atmospheric, relaxed (with the speed settings and ability to pause), intuitive and polished, 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.”
- “The attention to details and the atmosphere it evokes have glued me to the screen for hours.”
- “Simply stunning, the atmosphere this game puts inside of your body; you actually feel like a caveman surviving the ages with the ones you love.”
- “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: not that much in the Stone Ages (Paleolithic, Mesolithic firstly) but starting from the Neolithic and much more in the metallurgy era (copper, bronze, and iron) were present in those tribes and then in the first settlements a real difference between social classes.”
- “I understand it's a game, not real life, but it ruins the atmosphere.”
- “With that being said, I can definitely resonate with the 'relaxed' kind of atmosphere of the game, but I wish for more flexibility.”
humor
52 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of their characters' actions, 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 some minor criticisms, 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.”
emotional
30 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses from players; some find it wholesome and engaging, particularly appreciating moments of loss and community connection, while others criticize the lack of depth and emotional attachment to characters, leading to a less impactful experience. Players report feeling a range of emotions, from nostalgia and joy to frustration and anger, but many agree that the emotional involvement may not sustain interest for repeated playthroughs. Overall, the game offers a unique emotional journey, though its effectiveness varies significantly among players.
- “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.”
monetization
20 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for feeling like a cash grab, with players noting a lack of updates and support, as well as in-game advertisements for a new title. While there are no intrusive ads or pay-to-win mechanics, many reviewers feel that the game offers minimal content and is primarily a vehicle for promoting future projects. Overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment regarding the game's value for money.
- “It felt like a quick cash grab.”
- “Only recommended if you get a good deal; otherwise, this game is a cash grab into their next project.”
- “Bare minimum cash grab.”
character development
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its simplicity and limited variation, yet it effectively conveys a sense of realism that enhances player satisfaction as characters interact in their environment. This approach is praised in contrast to other titles that feature exaggerated and unrealistic character designs.
- “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 comparing other pieces of Ubisoft 2020 so-called 'AAA masterpiece' for not having a gross color filter and ridiculous idolized character design like self-justice angry expressions and self-strong aggressive poses.”