Dawn of the Ashen Queen

About

Dawn of the Ashen Queen is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Shattered Moon Games and was released on November 7, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"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…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

graphics10 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic grid-based dungeon crawlers like Eye of the Beholder and Legend of Grimrock, with engaging exploration and a decent story.
Graphics and sound design are praised for their quality, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
The character progression system allows for customization, and the game features a good balance of combat, puzzles, and secrets to discover.

The combat system can feel simplistic and clunky, particularly due to the limited ability slots for characters, which can hinder strategic gameplay.
There are several technical issues, including bugs, unresponsive controls, and UI inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience.
The game lacks depth in its RPG mechanics, with many skills and spells being underpowered, leading to a less engaging combat experience.

graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their beauty and variety, particularly in the context of a grid-based dungeon crawler. However, some users note inconsistencies and a reliance on asset store packs, suggesting a lack of originality. Overall, while the visuals are highlighted as a standout feature, there are calls for optimization to improve performance on high-end systems.
- “Great to see an indie RPG not using pixel or low-res blocky graphics for a change!”
- “The graphics are very beautiful for a grid-based dungeon crawler and are the outstanding feature of the game.”
- “Great immersive graphics and artwork.”
- “Writing is very average; visuals are inconsistent, it feels mostly like a patchwork of asset store packs (and possibly some undeclared AI, based on what many are saying in the forums).”
- “I play on a UHD+ monitor with a high-end graphics card, and I've still had to drop the resolution a full slot to get better frame rates – so there's room for optimization there.”
- “Graphic-wise, it looks pretty decent and the places are nicely decorated and quite varied.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
6%
13%
The game's story is generally well-received, described as interesting and engaging, with a compelling atmosphere and strong writing that hints at deeper narratives. Reviewers appreciate the character development and the integration of humor, while some note the simplistic combat mechanics. Overall, the story is considered a highlight, earning ratings around 8.5 out of 10 from several players.
- “The story was great, the atmosphere superb.”
- “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.”
- “It paints a nice atmosphere and the story is kind of engaging.”
- “But it’s been more than good enough for me for the type of game this is; I’d give the story an 8.5 out of 10 at least to halfway through the game.”
- “You have gorgeous screens with the story transition (as others already stated with a distinct feel of unclaimed AI art as evidenced by the hands/handshake, etc.), some others are not as refined, and some of the icons feel basic compared to the sometimes very detailed character portraits.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its engaging music, appealing graphics, and smooth progression, creating a pleasant and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the superb integration of story and atmosphere, contributing to an enjoyable non-hardcore adventure. Overall, the atmosphere is described as fun and captivating.
- “The story was great, the atmosphere superb.”
- “The music is nice and fits with the atmosphere of the game well.”
- “It paints a nice atmosphere and the story is kind of engaging.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players noting that it complements the atmosphere effectively and varies across different levels. While some find it pleasant and fitting, others feel it lacks standout qualities, and the absence of voice acting is mentioned. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's immersive experience, enhancing the aesthetic design and gameplay.
- “The music is nice and fits with the atmosphere of the game well.”
- “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 subtle thoughtfulness to the implementation of the world that 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.”
- “I like how the music changes on the various levels as well.”
- “The music changes on the various levels, but it often feels repetitive and uninspired.”
- “While the aesthetic design of the characters and world is impressive, the music at times sounds like it belongs in a remastered version of an older game, lacking originality and freshness.”
- “The implementation of music in the game feels disconnected from the gameplay, making it hard to immerse myself in the experience.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay is characterized by a rich array of items, spells, and abilities, contributing to a story-driven RPG experience reminiscent of titles like Grimrock and Heroes X. While the combat can be cumbersome due to inventory management, the overall design, including character aesthetics and world-building, enhances immersion and enjoyment. Additionally, the inclusion of thoughtful puzzles adds depth without detracting from the core gameplay.
- “It also has some reasonable gameplay and design features with lots of items, equipment, spells, and special abilities for your characters, and is very much a 'story-driven' RPG.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- “The combat mechanics are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt the gameplay, making it frustrating to progress.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players are motivated to replay it to unlock all content, the linear structure limits opportunities for varied experiences, resulting in generally low replay value.
- “The good news is that there are people who’ve played through multiple times looking to get them all, which speaks volumes about the game's replayability.”
- “Each playthrough offers new choices and outcomes, making it a fresh experience every time.”
- “The variety of paths and endings encourages you to dive back in and explore different strategies.”
- “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.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the frequent need to manage inventory during combat, which can obstruct visibility. While the passive abilities add meaningful depth to gameplay, the overall complexity and bloat of features can detract from the experience, making it feel laborious at times. Despite these issues, the game's art and story are well-received, contributing to a generally positive impression.
- “Today's games are so bloated with features it becomes tedious to play.”
- “The combat is a little tedious; having to open the inventory, which blocks the view while trying to fight, can get tricky.”
- “It's not that bad to open the inventory screen on occasion, but it would be tedious in every fight.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is highlighted as a unique and engaging aspect, 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 engaging environments. 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 (no voiceovers), graphics and character development, but simplistic fast-paced combat and some level backtracking in empty corridors.”
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with smooth performance even on older hardware. However, some users have reported 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 without losing progress.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted gameplay, causing me to restart levels multiple times.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game 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 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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game shows potential for optimization, as players with high-end hardware have reported needing to lower resolution for improved frame rates. Additionally, there are some UI and performance issues, along with minor bugs, indicating that further refinement is needed.
- “Some UI and performance issues in a few areas, a couple of bugs, but nothing major.”
- “I play on a UHD+ monitor with a high-end graphics card, and I've still had to drop the resolution a full notch to get better frame rates – so there's room for optimization there.”
- “Some UI and performance issues in a few areas, a couple of bugs but nothing major.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is not directly addressed in the provided text, which focuses more on performance settings rather than financial elements. Therefore, no specific insights on monetization can be drawn from this review.