Dragon of Steelthorne

About

Rule a mighty city, fight battles, and embark on quests in a steampunk-fantasy land. As the Ardent or Ardessa of Lake Steelthorne, find love, power and a secret which could change the world. Dragon of Steelthorne is a 170,000-word interactive novel by Vance Chance, weaving together story, city management and combat in a unique take on choice-based Interactive Fiction. Customize the level of chall…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

story1 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of adventure, civic construction, and military confrontations, making it enjoyable even for those who are not typically fans of management games.
Choices in the game feel impactful, with the ability to save at critical moments allowing for exploration of different paths without starting over.
The world-building is attractive, featuring a steampunk setting with Victorian-era influences, and the game provides opportunities for friendships and role-playing.

The game is very short, consisting of only three real chapters, and ends abruptly, leaving players wanting more.
Despite claiming to have a substantial word count, the game feels rushed and lacks depth in character development and relationship incentives.
The city management aspect becomes less engaging in the late game, as players may find themselves with nothing left to do after optimizing their buildings and missions.

story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The story aspect is criticized for lacking depth, as players feel there is no substantial narrative or motivation for developing relationships with companions, especially after completing all missions and building tasks.
- “When you spend time with these companions, there is neither a compelling story nor an incentive for relationship development.”