Dust: An Elysian Tail

It's the current highlight of the Summer of Arcade, plain and simple.

90%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

95% User Score Based on 12,363 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

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About

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a single player arcade hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Humble Hearts LLC and was released on May 24, 2013. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "Dust: An Elysian Tail," play as Dust, a mysterious warrior armed with a sentient blade, as you explore a richly detailed world full of mythical creatures and powerful enemies. Uncover the truth behind Dust's past and battle against the tyrannical General Gaius and his army. With fast-paced combat, beautiful animation, and an engaging story, this action RPG is a captivating experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 12,363 reviews

story4.1k positive mentions

grinding248 negative mentions

The hand-drawn art style and vibrant colors create a visually stunning experience that enhances both storytelling and gameplay.
The gameplay features fluid combat mechanics and engaging hack-and-slash elements, making it accessible and enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
The emotional depth of the narrative, combined with strong voice acting and a captivating soundtrack, resonates with players and adds to the overall experience.

The story is criticized for being predictable and cliché, with some players finding character development lacking and dialogue poorly executed.
Gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly in combat, leading to a sense of tedium for some players.
There are reports of various glitches and performance issues, which can detract from the overall experience despite the game's optimization.

story
8,088 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The story of "Dust: An Elysian Tail" is a blend of classic tropes, such as the amnesiac hero and themes of identity and redemption, presented through a beautifully crafted world and engaging characters. While some players find the narrative predictable or cliché, many appreciate its emotional depth and humor, particularly through the interactions between the protagonist, Dust, and his companion, Fidget. Overall, the storytelling is well-executed, with a mix of light-hearted moments and serious themes that resonate with players, making it a memorable experience despite some criticisms of pacing and character development.
- “The story starts simple but gradually matures into something far more complex, engaging with themes of identity, redemption, guilt, and the weight of past choices.”
- “It’s a narrative that surprises with its emotional depth, punctuated by strong voice acting and a soaring orchestral soundtrack that enhances each major story beat.”
- “Dust: an Elysian Tail is a charmingly fun game with beautiful artwork, soundtrack, voice-acting, and a good engaging story that lasts just long enough for the type of game and the premise it has to boot.”
- “The story is a bit weak, especially regarding the main villain's motivation for what he does.”
- “Add to that the excessive conversations between characters that kept interrupting the flow of the game to tell its story (a story that didn't seem particularly interesting or original, to be honest) and I basically had as much as I could bear.”
- “The story is poorly told, character development is not done very well even though it's really important to the story, and dialogue is badly written.”
gameplay
3,470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The gameplay of "Dust: An Elysian Tail" is widely praised for its fluid combat mechanics and engaging hack-and-slash style, combining elements of metroidvania exploration with RPG features. While many players appreciate the beautiful hand-drawn art and the satisfying combo system, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly in combat. Overall, the game is recognized for its accessibility, allowing both casual and experienced players to enjoy a rich and immersive experience.
- “Gameplay in Dust: An Elysian Tail revolves around fluid, fast-paced combat and a strong sense of momentum.”
- “The gameplay is tight and somewhat easy to master, while also offering a few satisfying endgame challenges.”
- “The gameplay seamlessly blends fast-paced combat with exploration and platforming, offering a satisfying experience for players of all skill levels.”
- “The problem is if you like a helping of story, you have 20 servings before you understand the combat mechanics if you are new to this type of movement to enjoy it, which is off-putting.”
- “However... the gameplay is kind of repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive, with slow progression in skills (that aren't very interesting either) and not-so-varied enemies.”
graphics
3,389 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The graphics of "Dust: An Elysian Tail" are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and fluid animations, creating a visually captivating experience reminiscent of classic animated films. While some players find the anthropomorphic character designs off-putting, many appreciate the cohesive aesthetic and the effort put into the visuals, especially considering the game was primarily developed by a single individual. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a significant highlight, enhancing both the storytelling and gameplay.
- “What truly sets it apart is its hand-drawn aesthetic and the sheer polish achieved by a mostly one-person development effort.”
- “The visuals are stunning and satisfyingly flashy during battle, giving a great sense of 'epicness' to even the smallest skirmishes.”
- “Dust: an elysian tail is a beautifully made game, control wise and graphically.”
- “The graphics, art style, and animations are just spectacular.”
- “The art style is very much in the time of its creation, same with the voice acting and various other things.”
- “The graphics are fine, but I want to play a game, not watch a comic book.”
music
2,245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in "Dust: An Elysian Tail" has been widely praised for its emotional depth and orchestral quality, enhancing the game's narrative and atmosphere. Composed primarily by Hyperduck Soundworks, the soundtrack features a blend of ambient melodies and dynamic battle themes that resonate with players long after the game ends. Many reviewers noted the impressive achievement of a single developer creating such a rich audio experience, alongside beautiful visuals and engaging gameplay.
- “The soundtrack, composed by Hyperduck Soundworks, blends orchestral swells, ambient melodies, and pulse-pounding battle themes that underscore the emotional beats of the game.”
- “It’s a narrative that surprises with its emotional depth, punctuated by strong voice acting and a soaring orchestral soundtrack that enhances each major story beat.”
- “The music is absolutely perfect, I could sit with the title screen alone open for hours to relax and reflect, but that's quite literally only scratching the surface.”
- “The music is mediocre at best and hardly original.”
- “The music didn't stand out one way or the other for me.”
- “The music is not iconic, but it does the job when matching the mood of the scenes in the game.”
humor
658 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Dust: An Elysian Tail" is a standout feature, characterized by witty dialogue, charming character interactions, and frequent fourth-wall breaks, particularly from the sidekick Fidget, who adds a playful dynamic to the narrative. While many players appreciate the lighthearted moments and clever references, some find the humor can occasionally feel forced or cringe-worthy, especially when juxtaposed with the game's more serious themes. Overall, the blend of humor and emotional depth contributes to a memorable gaming experience that resonates with a wide audience.
- “The dynamic between the characters is honestly great, and the banter between stoic Dust and emotional big-mouthed Fidget is just comedy gold that made me laugh out loud several times during my playthrough.”
- “The humor in some of the character dialogue is even better than the story.”
- “Fidget is a great side companion and adds great humor to the game.”
- “She is essentially Navi from Ocarina of Time, except every line she delivers is incredibly grating and unfunny, even if her character design is cute.”
- “It's a sword with a bad voice, talking to a confused kid who doesn't know why he has been chosen to wield the magical sword (damn originality...) and a 'comical' (intention only) character that flies around being unadventurous, unfunny, uncool, unsmart, uninteresting, and uneverythingthatwouldmakemewanaplay.”
emotional
427 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Dust: An Elysian Tail" is widely praised for its depth and resonance, with many players noting that the story evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears during key moments. The game effectively balances humor and heartache, featuring memorable characters and a compelling narrative that keeps players invested. The combination of stunning visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and well-executed voice acting enhances the emotional experience, making it a standout title in the indie gaming scene.
- “It's a narrative that surprises with its emotional depth, punctuated by strong voice acting and a soaring orchestral soundtrack that enhances each major story beat.”
- “Dust is one of the most beautiful, atmospheric, heart-wrenching indie games I've ever played, and it brings me so much joy.”
- “The story is well-written and, as I mentioned, can make you feel emotional.”
- “The art style is gorgeous and the gameplay flawless; however, this does not make up for a game that has, more or less, no difficulty curve, a boring story, and useless and tedious quests.”
- “There is too much focus on the boring story and the annoying characters like Fidget.”
- “Do you like easy combat, a boring story, and more furries than you can shake a stick at?”
grinding
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game. While some players find the grinding for materials and experience satisfying and integral to the gameplay, others describe it as tedious and repetitive, particularly due to enemy respawns and backtracking. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among players, with some enjoying the challenge and others feeling it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Even then, it seems like the drop rates are generous so that players aren't grinding 10-15 minutes just to get the materials that they need.”
- “You level at just the right pace that there is absolutely no grinding necessary.”
- “Nice story, great graphics, and surprisingly not grindy even on tough.”
- “It feels tedious, plain, and outright boring.”
- “The later stage enemies such as soldiers are especially difficult and grindy.”
- “Eventually it just got tedious and I started skipping enemies, because why do the same thing 100 more times if I don't have to?”
character development
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
56%
10%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the character designs are visually appealing or charming, they often lack depth and complexity. Some reviewers appreciated the engaging interactions and growth of main characters, while others criticized the writing and dialogue as clichéd or poorly executed, leading to a disconnect between the characters' potential and their actual development. Overall, the character development is seen as a significant aspect of the game, but it is often overshadowed by the inconsistent quality of the character designs and storytelling.
- “Character development is fantastic; every relevant character is likable and gets enough time to not be a meaningless NPC, and the writing is amazing as well; it is subjective, but I found it pretty funny.”
- “The gameplay, the visuals, and the story, oh my god, that story and the character development, it's perfection.”
- “Dust obviously has significant character development; Fidget is hilarious, and the story has a very conclusive, brilliant ending.”
- “The story is poorly told, character development is not done very well even though it's really important to the story, and dialogue is badly written.”
- “For a game with so many different characters, there is zero character development.”
- “Dust came off as an awfully generic reluctant hero, and what little character development he had seemed forced and out of nowhere.”
replayability
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
61%
16%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many players noting limited value after completing the main story. While some enjoy revisiting for achievements or higher difficulty challenges, others find that once fully completed, there is little incentive to replay. Nostalgia and exploration of hidden content can enhance the experience, but many agree that the game lacks substantial replayability features.
- “The story is pretty deep and has a decent replay value; the ending hints at future games as well.”
- “The different difficulty levels add a boatload of replay value; a fight you had no issue with on your first playthrough suddenly becomes more daunting on your next playthrough.”
- “There is plenty of replay value here and will be a game I will play through and beat at least once a year.”
- “Limited replayability once the main story is completed.”
- “Also, the game has a few to zero replayability value; exploring the map for secrets won't do much for your character skills or the story, no additional clues about the rest of the NPCs, no alternative or special scenes for the ending.”
- “Once you complete everything, however, there's not really a lot of replay value.”
atmosphere
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
28%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, unique art style, and immersive soundtrack, which together create a captivating and emotional experience. Players appreciate the distinct atmospheres of different areas, enhanced by well-composed music that complements the gameplay and story. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, enchanting, and integral to the overall enjoyment, making it a standout feature that resonates with many players.
- “Dust is one of the most beautiful, atmospheric, heart-wrenching indie games I've ever played, and it brings me so much joy.”
- “Every area of this game is very well done and is enriched with an amazing soundtrack that contributes so much to the atmosphere and overall feeling of the game world, leaving you no choice but to love it.”
- “The music in this game is nothing short of spectacular, with each area having its own theme that sets it apart from the others, whether it be a mountain pass that screams for adventure, or the haunted remains of an old estate with creeping terrors around every turn, the music sets the tone and atmosphere for each area very well.”
- “It lacks flavor, it lacks atmosphere, it is never memorable, and it never lends any of the areas a sense of identity.”
- “The music isn't very memorable but it was mostly ambient and subtle and added to the atmosphere of the stages.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is conveyed by the way of beautiful visuals, an awesome soundtrack, and an engaging storyline delivered with good voice acting (one character's Australian accent was stereotypically over the top, but in hindsight, it isn't out of place since many other accents were over the top as well).”
optimization
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
51%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance across a wide range of hardware, including older systems. While some minor stuttering and audio issues were noted, particularly in specific scenarios, the game generally runs well even at high settings. The extensive graphical options and responsive controls further enhance the experience, making it accessible for both low-end and high-end PCs.
- “Even for a game from 2012, it runs smoothly on almost any PC, even on technological potatoes!”
- “One of the most optimized games I've ever played; in fact, not once in 30 hours of 100% completion did I ever experience a frame drop.”
- “The game runs smoothly at all times, it never crashes or anything like that and there aren't any game-breaking bugs that I could find.”
- “And sadly the last part of the game isn't optimized and crashes, yes the very last bit.”
- “I have a rather high-end system, an 8700k and a 1080ti, but this game experiences stuttering in the form of dropping frames and audio every 10-30 seconds while playing.”
- “Now, the only problem I have with the graphics is that I've had some stuttering in the game.”
stability
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
3%
83%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with many players reporting smooth performance and minimal issues, particularly on platforms like Linux and Steam Deck. However, several users encountered various glitches, including freezing, minor graphical issues, and occasional game-breaking bugs, which can detract from the experience. While some players found the game largely bug-free, others noted that the presence of glitches, especially during cutscenes and map transitions, can be frustrating.
- “The gameplay (combat, maneuvering, etc.) is very smooth, and it is amazing how great and bug-free the game is, especially considering it had only one developer.”
- “As far as I'm aware, the game is largely bug-free, and the options menu is something to take note of, even compared to modern AAA titles.”
- “Well optimized and runs great.”
- “If you enjoy playing Sonic '06, you will enjoy playing this; a buggy mess that will have you falling through the map and laughing at the terrible AI.”
- “Every few seconds the game freezes and then continues as if nothing happened.”
- “Add to this occasional glitches that have forced me to reload, and I can't recommend this game, despite the excellent artwork.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some users initially perceiving it as a potential cash grab due to its simplistic art style and animation. However, upon playing, many found the game to offer more depth than expected, suggesting that the initial impressions of monetization may not fully reflect the game's quality and value.
- “Starting out, I thought it was just another cute, anime-themed cash grab, but my mind was changed as soon as I started playing.”
- “(this sounds like an advertisement.)”

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84%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

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15h Median play time

16h Average play time

10h Main story

18h Completionist

10-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 97 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a arcade hack and slash game with fantasy theme.

Dust: An Elysian Tail is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 10 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 18 hours to finish. On average players spend around 16 hours playing Dust: An Elysian Tail.

Dust: An Elysian Tail was released on May 24, 2013.

Dust: An Elysian Tail was developed by Humble Hearts LLC.

Dust: An Elysian Tail has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a single player game.

Similar games include Ori and the Blind Forest, Bastion, The Vagrant, Child of Light, Kena Bridge of Spirits and others.

Dust: An Elysian Tail

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