Gray Dawn
- June 7, 2018
- Interactive Stone
- 4h median play time
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.
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.
Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and detailed environments that create a captivating atmosphere.
- The story is intriguing and explores deep themes related to religion and morality, keeping players engaged.
- The unique blend of Romanian culture and religious symbolism adds a fresh perspective to the horror genre.
- The voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances lacking emotion and depth, detracting from the overall experience.
- The puzzles can be overly simplistic, and some players may find the lack of clear objectives frustrating.
- The narrative can feel disjointed and confusing at times, leaving players with unanswered questions by the end.
- story312 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Gray Dawn" is a complex and atmospheric narrative that intertwines themes of religion, guilt, and psychological horror, often presented in a non-linear fashion that can be both engaging and confusing for players. While many praise its intriguing premise and emotional depth, criticisms arise regarding its convoluted execution, inconsistent voice acting, and a lack of coherent storytelling, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the narrative. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven experiences, despite its flaws.
“The captivating storytelling keeps you engaged throughout, constantly urging you to uncover the truth lurking beneath the surface.”
“Gray dawn is a well-crafted game with breathtaking visuals and a story that, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired.”
“The story is unexpected.”
“It seemed to me like a compromised collaboration of ideas that were mashed together instead of one strong coherent story from start to finish.”
“The story seemed all over the place and confusing.”
“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.”
- graphics129 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and detailed art style, often described as breathtaking and immersive. Players appreciate the unique aesthetic that incorporates Eastern European motifs and religious imagery, creating a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character models and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that while the environments are beautifully crafted, certain aspects could benefit from further refinement.
“The graphics are absolutely amazing, the setting is well-chosen, and the story is more than enough to keep you interested.”
“The game's stunning graphics and atmospheric design create an immersive experience that draws you into a world teeming with terror.”
“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.”
“Despite some puzzles being a bit on the nose and the graphic department deserving more detail and budget, this is an interesting game, more walking simulator or visual escape room than a fancy AAA game.”
- atmosphere71 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and a unique blend of eerie and beautiful environments that enhance the storytelling. Players appreciate the rich, creepy ambiance that evokes a sense of psychological horror without relying on cheap jump scares, creating a captivating experience that draws them into its surreal world. While some critiques mention the game's brevity and abstract narrative, the overall consensus highlights the atmosphere as a standout feature that effectively engages players throughout their journey.
“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.”
“The graphics are beautiful and scenic with a nice soundtrack and a very atmospheric and gothic aesthetic.”
“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.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with light puzzle-solving elements, often described as linear and simplistic, focusing on exploration and item collection. While some players appreciate the seasonal mechanics and beautiful environments, many criticize the gameplay for being dull, confusing, and lacking challenge, with a few noting technical issues and a weak story. Overall, the experience is visually appealing but may leave players wanting more depth and engagement in gameplay.
“The season-changing mechanic was particularly cool.”
“The gameplay is simple, but it really doesn't require to be anything more.”
“What I can say at this point is that the game looks amazing, the story is interesting, the set pieces are awesome, and the gameplay is smooth and unsettling.”
“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.”
- music38 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric qualities, enhancing the immersive experience with beautiful and moody soundscapes that complement the stunning environments. While some tracks are described as repetitive or not particularly memorable, the overall soundtrack is considered well-curated and effective in conveying the game's themes. However, there are occasional issues with sound mixing that detract from the experience.
“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.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some finding it deeply touching and reflective, particularly in relation to personal experiences and the beauty of its setting. However, others criticize the execution, noting that poor animation and inconsistent character emotions can undermine the intended impact. Overall, while there are moments of genuine heart and emotional depth, the game's 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.”
“The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
“I felt no connection to the characters, making the emotional moments fall flat.”
“The attempts at emotional depth felt forced and unconvincing.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs well on various systems and offers beautiful landscapes, some players report stuttering and performance issues, particularly in outdoor areas. Additionally, the audio quality and voice acting detract from the overall experience, with some users experiencing motion sickness and immersion-breaking performances. Overall, the optimization is generally solid, but certain elements need improvement to enhance player experience.
“Excellently optimized, but the audio recording needs some editing.”
“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 enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the game.”
“There was some stuttering and I did experience a little motion sickness at times, though.”
“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.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a prevalent sentiment of tedium associated with grinding in the game, particularly in the quest for hidden items necessary for achieving the good ending. Players found the process of searching for clickable objects and collecting tablets to be monotonous and frustrating, detracting from their overall enjoyment.
“In order to get the good ending, you have to collect hidden tablets through the chapters, which is very tedious.”
“Got tedious very quickly for me.”
“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.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players note the potential for multiple endings, many express that the effort required to experience them makes replaying the game unappealing. Several users report a lack of motivation to revisit the game, leading to a general consensus of low replay value.
“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.”
“Replay value is a zero for me; I truly don't care to endure all that again to see the other ending.”
“The game has 0 replayability.”
“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).”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with no major crashes reported. While players have encountered some minor movement and graphical glitches, these do not significantly detract from the experience and are expected to 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.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game often arises from its juxtaposition of serious moments with fast-paced gameplay, leading to unintended comedic effects that can elicit laughter, even in emotionally charged scenes. Players find themselves amused by the absurdity of certain situations, sometimes feeling guilty for laughing at inappropriate moments.
“Some moments are so bad they made me laugh.”
“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.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is hindered by poor animations and clunky designs, leading to a lack of immersion and depth in the characters. Reviewers suggest that the game could have benefited from additional refinement before its release.
“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.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers indicate that while many new games appear to be cash grabs with little effort, this particular game stands out due to the evident care and quality invested in its development, suggesting a more thoughtful approach to monetization.
“The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It seems like the developers are more focused on making money than providing a quality game.”
“I was really disappointed to see that so many features are locked behind paywalls.”
Critic Reviews
Gray Dawn Review – Fall From Grace
A short and mystical experience marred by several flaws, Gray Dawn falls short of its great potential.
55%Gray Dawn Review (PC)
To say Gray Dawn is a weird game would be an understatement. If you want to play a game that draws inspiration from exorcism, pagan rituals, and God worshiping, Gray Dawn definitely fits the formula. Supported by an enticing story and shocking, gory scenes, Gray Dawn ticks all the right boxes to be categorized as a true psychological thriller. The feeling of anxiety and dread is masterfully instilled throughout the game without making use of any elements of the horror genre. The only downside to the formula adopted by Interactive Stone is that they have clearly exaggerated with the religious iconography. Apart from that, and a few design issues, Gray Dawn is a short but deep immersion into the human subconscious, an exposition of the endless battle between good and evil.
70%Gray Dawn Review
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.
70%