Dawn of the Ashen Queen

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 25 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • atmosphere
Dawn of the Ashen Queen Game Cover
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"Dawn of the Ashen Queen" is a classic grid-based, first-person dungeon crawler reminiscent of 90s RPG games. Set out with your party to reveal the legacy of a millennia-old curse in a narrative-rich experience. Explore the colorful world of Eshavon, unearth its many secrets and fight dangerous foes sent out to stop you on your mission. Explore your Fate Three years have passed since…

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews
graphics6 positive mentions
replayability2 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a charming atmosphere, reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers.
  • The character development system is engaging, with a variety of skills and classes that allow for customization.
  • The writing is well done, with an interesting story and enjoyable dialogue that adds depth to the game.
  • Combat is overly simplistic and can feel unbalanced, making the game too easy for experienced players.
  • The skill system is limiting, with only two active slots for skills or weapons, which can hinder gameplay variety.
  • There are several bugs and UI issues, including unresponsive keys and problems with the quicksave feature.
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and variety, featuring well-designed environments and character customization options. While the visuals contribute to an immersive atmosphere, some players note that attention to detail is crucial for discovering rare items. Overall, the graphics enhance the gameplay experience, complementing the engaging story and exploration elements.

    • “It has quite a few aspects going for it: yes, the graphics are very nice, but if you don't pay attention to the details, you might miss quite a few items. This is important as, so far in 3 hours of gameplay, equipment and objects are rare to come by, even weapons and armor.”
    • “Great immersive graphics and artwork.”
    • “Graphic-wise, it looks pretty decent, and the places are nicely decorated and quite varied.”
    • “Though, despite its simplicity, it can be fun to evaporate the monsters with some of the more 'graphic' spells.”
    • “Visuals”
  • story9 mentions

    The story is generally praised for its engaging narrative and atmospheric presentation, with players appreciating the character development and the intriguing plot that unfolds through well-crafted dialogue. While some elements, like combat mechanics and inventory management, can detract from the experience, the overall storytelling is described as compelling and enriched by beautiful art. The game successfully balances humor and depth, creating a captivating adventure that resonates with fans of similar titles.

    • “The story was great, the atmosphere superb.”
    • “It paints a nice atmosphere and the story is kind of engaging.”
    • “Your mileage may vary but the game is funny at times (though not the focus) and there is a compelling story at the heart of it all with sensible writing that hints at much more going on beneath the surface.”
    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the plot.”
    • “Character development is shallow, leaving many protagonists feeling one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
    • “The dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, detracting from the overall immersion in the story.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for being engaging and enjoyable, with many reviewers highlighting its superb graphics and storytelling that contribute to a pleasant, immersive experience. Overall, it creates a captivating environment that enhances the gameplay.

    • “The story was great, the atmosphere superb.”
    • “It paints a nice atmosphere and the story is kind of engaging.”
    • “A pleasant non-hardcore adventure, with a wonderful story and atmosphere.”
  • gameplay4 mentions

    The gameplay is reminiscent of titles like Grimrock and Heroes X, featuring excellent art and a compelling story, though combat can be cumbersome due to inventory management. The game successfully combines RPG elements with thoughtful puzzles that enhance rather than detract from the experience, all set in a well-designed world that feels immersive and engaging. Overall, players appreciate the balance of aesthetics and gameplay mechanics, rating it positively.

    • “The aesthetic design of the characters and world, the music which at parts sounds like it would fit well into a remastered Lands of Lore 1 (for me that's a good thing), and the subtle thoughtfulness to the implementation of the world makes it feel like it could be a real lived place while still fitting good level design for an enjoyable gameplay experience - that's not as easy to achieve as you might think.”
    • “There are puzzles, and while I'm not a puzzle fan myself, these are both simple enough (though thoughtful) and interesting enough to add to the gameplay rather than distract or take away from it.”
    • “It's similar to other games like Grimrock or Heroes of Might and Magic, both of which I liked. The art for the story is excellent, as is the gameplay. The story itself is good so far.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its uniqueness and engagement, featuring a variety of skills and RPG elements that encourage exploration and reward players with secrets. While the story and graphics are well-received, some players note that the combat can feel simplistic and fast-paced, with occasional backtracking in less interesting areas. Overall, the character development system adds depth to the gameplay experience.

    • “A unique character development system, a variety of locations, puzzles, and secrets await you.”
    • “Excellent map, monsters, gear variety, good story, graphics, and character development.”
    • “The character development, skills, and RPG elements are all very engaging; you need to pay attention when exploring, and there are plenty of secrets that are rewarding when you find them.”
    • “Excellent map, monsters, gear variety, good story (no voiceovers), graphics, and character development, but simplistic fast-paced combat and some level backtracking in empty corridors.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers a fair amount of content for its price, but its linear design significantly limits replayability, making it less appealing for players seeking varied experiences.

    • “Fairly priced for the amount of content, but there is little replayability.”
    • “The only downside is that there is not much replayability because the game is very linear.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is well-received, with users noting its pleasant quality and suitability for the game's aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like "Lands of Lore 1." While there is no voice acting, the sound effects and thoughtful integration of music contribute to an immersive gameplay experience that enhances the overall world design.

    • “The aesthetic design of the characters and world, the music which at parts sounds like it would fit well into a remastered Lands of Lore 1 (for me that's a good thing), and the subtle thoughtfulness to the implementation of the world make it feel like a real lived place while still fitting good level design for an enjoyable gameplay experience - that's not as easy to achieve as you might think.”
    • “The music is nice, complementing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
    • “While the sound effects are decent, the background music feels generic and uninspired.”
    • “The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, often feeling out of place and detracting from the overall experience.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with reports of smooth performance even on older hardware. However, some users have noted glitches related to item physics, causing items to behave unexpectedly or end up in unusual locations.

    • “Also runs great on my old setup (i7-8700, GTX 1080, 16GB, SSD).”
    • “There are also some glitches with items, which have weird physics and might end up in strange places.”
    • “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with only minor UI and performance issues reported, alongside a few bugs that do not significantly impact gameplay.

    • “The game runs smoothly with minimal lag, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “I appreciate the attention to detail in the optimization, making the gameplay experience seamless.”
    • “The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game for various hardware configurations.”
    • “There are some UI and performance issues in a few areas, along with a couple of bugs, but nothing major.”
    • “The game suffers from significant optimization problems, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
    • “Despite its potential, the game is plagued by poor optimization, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly due to the cumbersome inventory management that can obstruct combat visibility. However, the overall gameplay and story are well-received, drawing favorable comparisons to similar titles.

    • “The combat is a little tedious, having to open the inventory which blocks the view while trying to fight can get tricky.”
    • “Grinding feels repetitive and takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “The amount of time required to level up is excessive, making the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on performance and settings preferences. Therefore, no conclusions about monetization can be drawn from the provided text.

  • humor1 mentions

    The game's humor is hit-or-miss, with some players finding it amusing at times, though it is not the primary focus. The dialogue is well-written and feels authentic, contributing to a compelling story that hints at deeper themes, all set in a fantastical world populated by magical creatures.

    • “The game is funny at times, though not the main focus, and features a compelling story with sensible writing that hints at much more going on beneath the surface. The dialogue feels authentic, coming from real characters, even in a world filled with magic, talking werewolves, and pandas.”
    • “The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the narrative, making the experience enjoyable without overshadowing the deeper themes.”
    • “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and absurd situations, which added a delightful layer to the overall gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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