Gray Dawn

Gray Dawn is a religious psychological thriller that offers an intriguing story with some breathtaking visuals that is sold a little short by some tedious gameplay and subpar voice acting.

67%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

optimization, grinding

81% User Score Based on 731 reviews

Critic Score 61%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $19.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$19.99

About

Gray Dawn is a psychological thriller adventure game that follows the story of a priest accused of murder. Players must search for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the dark secrets of the priest's past to prove his innocence. Set in a beautifully rendered and atmospheric world, the game features intense storytelling, deep symbolism, and thought-provoking themes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 738 reviews

story229 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and detailed environments that create a captivating atmosphere.
Unique and intriguing story that weaves in religious and Romanian cultural elements.
Engaging gameplay with simple puzzles that enhance exploration rather than hinder it.

Voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances lacking emotion and depth.
The story can be confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow at times.
Short gameplay length, which may leave players wanting more from the experience.

story
630 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
6%
The story of "Gray Dawn" is a complex and often convoluted narrative that intertwines themes of religion, guilt, and psychological horror, set against a backdrop of stunning visuals. While some players appreciate its intriguing elements and emotional depth, many criticize the storytelling for being muddled, poorly executed, and lacking coherence, often leaving them confused about the plot's direction. Overall, the game is seen as a walking simulator that prioritizes atmosphere and story over gameplay, with mixed reviews on its effectiveness in delivering a compelling narrative.
- “The captivating storytelling keeps you engaged throughout, constantly urging you to uncover the truth lurking beneath the surface.”
- “There's a beautiful and haunting storyline here to enjoy so take it in.”
- “The story is well constructed and the way the narrative is presented is very well done.”
- “It seemed to me like a compromised collaboration of ideas that were mashed together instead of one strong coherent story from start to finish.”
- “Graphics are serviceable, some locations are nice but apart from that: terrible story, convoluted at best, makes no sense at all most of the time.”
- “The plot turns into a mess of ideas dumped into one plate - which not only do not look together in any way, but also have no plot explanations.”
graphics
259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and atmospheric design, with many players praising the intricate details and unique art style that evoke a strong sense of place, particularly in relation to Eastern European culture. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character models and technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a major highlight, often described as breathtaking and immersive, making the game worth playing for the graphics alone.
- “The game's stunning graphics and atmospheric design create an immersive experience that draws you into a world teeming with terror.”
- “The graphics are absolutely amazing, the setting is well-chosen, and the story is more than enough to keep you interested.”
- “Starting with the best of the game... the graphics, atmosphere, and locations are amazingly created, detailed, inspired, and worthy to be explored.”
- “Weird story, dull mechanics, bad voice actors, and low-level graphics.”
- “Graphics were not great in the sense that a lot of people have claimed them to be; I found it (running on the best settings) still to look clunky and more early 2000s rather than from 2018, and while on the subject of graphics, several times the game crashed out with Unreal Engine asking for reports to be sent so they could look into the issues.”
- “Maybe I also disliked the graphics a little and the simple quests.”
atmosphere
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
31%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, eerie sound design, and immersive environments that evoke a sense of psychological horror and surrealism. Players appreciate the blend of beautiful and unsettling locations, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack that deepens the experience. While some critiques mention a lack of gameplay depth, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to create a captivating and atmospheric journey that keeps players engaged.
- “The game excels in creating a visually stunning environment that perfectly captures the eerie atmosphere of a world teetering on the edge of darkness.”
- “The atmosphere is unique with moments of meditative introspection broken by unnerving revelations and heightened by the surreal elements that follow Father Abraham as you explore the changing world through his eyes.”
- “I enjoyed this game quite a lot, it doesn't rely on jump scares and instead tries to build a consistently creepy atmosphere by having you explore environments like an empty manor, a gloomy graveyard, and a bizarre underground crypt.”
- “While Gray Dawn is heavy on the atmosphere and story, it is sadly light on the gameplay itself, and I would have liked to have more puzzles to solve.”
- “And that’s all that will happen on that dull atmosphere, full of creepy environments, unpleasant events, and mysterious stuff happening around you.”
- “It has a very dark atmosphere, and some of the things I saw are really twisted, and I'm starting to question the sanity of the designer.”
gameplay
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with simple mechanics focused on exploration, item collection, and puzzle-solving, often described as linear and lacking challenge. While the season-changing mechanic adds some depth, many players find the gameplay drawn-out and frustrating, with clunky controls and a lack of engaging content. Overall, the game is visually appealing but suffers from technical issues and a weak narrative that detracts from the overall experience.
- “The season-changing mechanic was particularly cool.”
- “Every new area felt fresh and felt like it evolved the game's story and gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but it really doesn't require to be anything more.”
- “There's some beautiful scenery and music throughout, but the gameplay and story are both drawn-out, confusing, and nonsensical.”
- “Awful gameplay which consists 90% of pathetic treasure hunts where you have to find items and interact with objects using such items to progress (in specific orders a lot of the time too).”
- “Really the story was non-existent, the gameplay was very linear, it was not scary at all (and I am a self-proclaimed wimp), no challenge whatsoever-- it was a step above Town of Light and a step below Lake Ridden.”
music
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric qualities, enhancing the immersive experience with beautiful and moody soundscapes that fit the game's themes. While some tracks are described as repetitive or not particularly memorable, the overall soundtrack is considered touching and well-curated, effectively complementing the stunning visuals and diverse environments. However, issues with sound mixing and occasional awkwardness in track transitions detract from the experience for some players.
- “The music and environmental sound help build an atmosphere which is at times almost hypnotic.”
- “There are a variety of wonderful beautiful magical environments with amazing music that make you feel as if you are in heaven, as well as some horrific grotesque environments.”
- “The music is spectacular, making me want to go listen to some classical and holiday music with its relaxing sense of welcome.”
- “Furthermore, some of the sound mixing is dodgy as heck, with voices being semi-submerged amidst sound effects or music, or two voices in a single conversation being heard at startlingly different volumes.”
- “I give it 7.5/10 mainly due to the bad voice acting and the repetitive music.”
- “The music doesn’t help the overall experience.”
emotional
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some finding it deeply touching and reflective, particularly in moments that resonate with personal experiences, while others criticize the execution, noting issues like poor animation and a lack of emotional depth in character responses. The soundtrack and voice acting are often highlighted as strengths that enhance the emotional experience, but inconsistencies in storytelling and character development can undermine the intended impact. Overall, while the game has the potential for emotional engagement, its effectiveness varies significantly among players.
- “So the happy ending made me cry a bit because it reminded me of my dad's funeral.”
- “The game plays out like a fever dream, reflecting states of mind during these events and their emotional effect on the characters vs being strict historical accounts of the real events themselves.”
- “Voice acting is incredible, giving everything that is going on a real and palpable presence spoken in a believable, emotionally moving manner which spurs me on to continue playing past my bedtime.”
- “Incredibly boring story”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
29%
57%
The game's optimization is generally praised, with reports of it running well on various systems and having no significant bugs. However, some players experienced stuttering and performance issues, particularly in outdoor areas, which affected immersion. Additionally, the audio quality, especially the voice acting, was criticized for being lifeless, detracting from the overall experience.
- “I rank this game 10/10 for originality, landscape, voice acting, story, symbolism, and ideas. The gameplay has no bugs at all; it's well tested and has no performance issues. It can run well on any system, but I recommend playing on ultra to truly appreciate the beautiful landscapes of the game.”
- “I had to play with 20 fps in order to be able to read and see everything important clearly, and the fact that the majority of the maps are badly optimized does not help.”
- “Performance when outside is all over the place.”
- “There was some stuttering and I did experience a little motion sickness at times though.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and boring, with players expressing frustration over the necessity to collect hidden items for better endings. Many reviewers noted that the gameplay often devolves into monotonous tasks, detracting from the overall experience despite some redeeming qualities in the story and visuals. Overall, the grinding elements seem to overshadow the game's potential, leading to a lack of engagement.
- “In order to get the good ending, you have to collect hidden tablets through the chapters, which is very tedious.”
- “I usually love things like this, which is why it's so frustrating to see a game that obviously had so much time and effort put into it, ending up being ultimately unsavory and tedious.”
- “Gray Dawn is a religious psychological thriller that offers an intriguing story with some breathtaking visuals that is sold a little short by some tedious gameplay and subpar voice acting.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many players expressing that it offers minimal incentive to replay due to the need to experience the entire game again for different endings. While some acknowledge a slight replay value for those interested in exploring multiple endings, the overwhelming sentiment is that the effort required outweighs the benefits.
- “Seems to have some replay value to get different endings if you so wish.”
- “Some replay value in that you can achieve multiple endings, but to do so you have to pretty much play the game again in its entirety.”
- “The game has 0 replayability.”
- “Replay value is a zero for me; I truly don't care to endure all that again to see the other ending.”
- “Some replay value in that you can achieve multiple endings, but to do so you have to pretty much play the game again in its entirety (I chose not to).”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates good stability with no major crashes or glitches reported. However, players have noted some minor movement and graphical glitches, particularly when exploring extensively, though these are not game-breaking and may be addressed in future updates.
- “Some movement glitches, but not broken.”
- “Aside from various graphical glitches you come across (will possibly be fixed soon), if you search in every corner of the game for hidden stuff, it's a very nice game.”
- “Minor graphical glitches.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game often arises from the juxtaposition of serious moments with the fast-paced gameplay, leading to unintended comedic effects that can elicit laughter, even when the intent is emotional. Players find themselves laughing at moments that are meant to be poignant, creating a complex emotional experience that can feel both amusing and guilt-inducing.
- “Since it is a game, and they never slow your movement speed down, sometimes the serious scenes can take on a slightly humorous edge.”
- “And then you feel bad for laughing.”
- “Emotional punches it tried to hit; some moments are so bad they made me laugh.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its poor animations and character designs, leading to a clunky and awkward experience. Reviewers suggest that the game would have benefited from more time in development to enhance these aspects.
- “The game has some really poor animations and character designs, and at times it felt clunky and weird. Personally, if I were the game's director, I would have let it simmer a bit before releasing.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a clear distinction between games that feel like cash grabs and those that demonstrate genuine effort and quality. This particular game stands out for its apparent dedication and craftsmanship, suggesting a more thoughtful approach to monetization rather than exploiting players.