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Pillars of Dust

Pillars of Dust Game Cover
77%Game Brain Score
music, story
gameplay, grinding
97% User Score Based on 31 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCXboxWindows
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Pillars of Dust Game Cover

About

Pillars of Dust is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by chet_stead and was released on March 17, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Pillars of Dust" is a single-player, lighthearted retro RPG with good music and 8-bit style graphics. Choose the order of play for the two intertwining storylines of Prince Carlton and pauper Gregg, encountering recruitable companions, secrets, and snappy RPG combat. The game features fast-paced gameplay, a chicken nugget-based economy, and a streamlined inventory system, with no grinding necessary.

Genres & Tags
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Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
Pillars of Dust screenshot
+11
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews
music6 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • Pillars of Dust is a fun, lighthearted RPG that captures the charm of retro games with its humorous writing and engaging characters.
  • The combat system is fast-paced and accessible, allowing players to enjoy battles without excessive grinding, while also providing opportunities for strategic play.
  • The game features a catchy chiptune soundtrack and visually appealing graphics that evoke nostalgia for classic 8-bit and 16-bit RPGs.
  • The leveling system is simplified and may feel unsatisfying to players who prefer traditional XP-based progression, as stat increases are somewhat random.
  • Some players found the humor and self-aware tone to be hit or miss, with certain jokes not resonating well and the story lacking depth.
  • There are minor bugs and issues, such as sudden drops in music volume during sound effects, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • music
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy chiptune soundtrack, which evokes nostalgia and enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate how the music complements the gameplay, particularly during battles, although some noted issues with sudden volume drops due to sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with well-composed tracks that resonate with fans of retro gaming.

    • “Perhaps my favorite element of the game, though, is the soundtrack in all its chiptune glory.”
    • “The music was really catchy; there were two of the songs that reminded me of Mega Man songs that I found myself singing along with.”
    • “The chiptune music is excellently composed and some of the catchiest I've heard in a very long time.”
    • “Decently interesting story/design, okay gameplay with a shallow level of depth, and rather amateur sound, art & music.”
    • “There is a very annoying, sudden decrease in music volume every time a sound effect occurs, which can be lessened by decreasing the music volume to ~20%.”
    • “The music tho.”
  • story
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is characterized by its humorous and self-aware tone, featuring quirky characters and silly interactions that provide an entertaining experience, albeit with a less serious narrative. While some players found the story to lack depth and gripping elements, the overall charm and comedic writing were praised, making it enjoyable for those seeking a lighthearted adventure. Despite minor bugs, the storytelling and nostalgic design elements contribute positively to the game's appeal.

    • “The story loves to poke fun at characters and is very self-aware, which just adds to the quirkiness of the story. Things like how one of the bosses has bad breath, and you can use an item during the fight to fix that, which ends up beating him and allowing you to progress—it's so hilarious!”
    • “But this isn't just a retro knock-off; features like anytime saves, chapter goals, and unique and humorous storytelling ensure that your time with this game will be as entertaining as it is nostalgic.”
    • “Just don't go in expecting a Final Fantasy story!”
    • “The story is kind of goofy and the game doesn't take itself seriously.”
    • “The story, despite my complaint above about irony, mostly works - it's sillier than I would like, but the writers at least know when it's appropriate to make jokes, and it generally comes across as more charming than insufferable.”
  • graphics
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are a charming blend of retro styles, reminiscent of NES and SNES aesthetics, with playful and humorous elements that enhance the overall experience. While some aspects may appear simple, the art effectively hides secrets and adds character, evoking nostalgia for classic gaming eras. Overall, the graphics are well-received for their unique mix and engaging design, contributing positively to the game's retro RPG feel.

    • “The graphics are charming and the music harks you back to the era.”
    • “The graphics are a lovely throwback to the NES/SNES era and the music is enjoyable.”
    • “The exploration graphics are typical NES style, which isn't anything really special, but the battles have an EGA PC shareware look from the 90s, which I found interesting because I played a ton of those games on those 5000 shareware game CD compilations you'd find at CompUSA.”
    • “The art style reminds me of old DOS games at times and old NES games at others.”
    • “The graphics are simple, but have a lot of character.”
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally described as straightforward and accessible, with a mix of simplicity and depth that allows for varied character builds and enjoyable combat mechanics. While some players prefer traditional leveling systems and find the early game too easy, the challenge increases with tougher bosses later on, providing a satisfying experience for those who appreciate a relaxed yet engaging RPG. Overall, the game balances unique mechanics with a cozy atmosphere, though some aspects like sound and art may feel underdeveloped.

    • “The mechanics were good and unique.”
    • “The combat is straightforward and balanced to be mostly breezy and smooth, with the exception of a few nasty boss fights where you can really flex your mastery over the game's mechanics.”
    • “Pillars of Dust is a near-perfect RPG; it nails the look and feel of classic games while infusing itself with modern humor and accessible mechanics.”
    • “I would've preferred it if they kept a normal XP-based leveling system instead of a simplified Final Fantasy 2-esque mechanic where your stats can randomly go up after a battle, but other than that it was pretty entertaining.”
    • “RPG mechanics are a bit undercooked (difficulty is pretty low) and the self-aware humor wasn’t my cup of tea, but if you want a nice, cozy and simple time, go ahead.”
    • “Early on, the gameplay is very simple and enemies die with no strategy, but as the game goes on it gets more challenging, with some later bosses being pretty tough.”
  • humor
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a humorous script filled with self-aware and quirky dialogue, particularly from its NPCs, which adds a lighthearted charm to the experience. While the combat mechanics are simplistic, the story's silly and cheesy elements, along with clever gags (like a boss with bad breath), contribute to its overall comedic appeal. Players can expect a nostalgic yet entertaining journey, enhanced by engaging visuals and music that complement the humor.

    • “Story-wise, the characters are hilarious - especially the NPCs.”
    • “The story loves to poke fun at characters and is very self-aware, which just adds to the quirkiness of the story. Things like how one of the bosses has bad breath, and you can use an item during the fight to fix that, which ends up beating him and allowing you to progress—it's so hilarious!”
    • “The music is great and appropriately 8-bit, the graphics are endearingly simple and often funny (a giant eyeball wearing a top hat and a monocle!), and the dialogue is engaging and humorous.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that grinding in this game is a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the reduced grinding through on-map encounters and simplified systems, others feel that certain achievements require excessive grinding, detracting from overall enjoyment. The balance between engaging gameplay and the need for grinding remains a point of contention, particularly for fans of classic JRPGs.

    • “Achievements, if you care about those, also actively discourage playing in interesting ways by requiring you to only use one side character for the entirety of one of the campaigns and to get an amount of money that's only really attainable through a huge amount of grinding or hardly ever spending money.”
    • “Growing up on NES and SNES, I absolutely loved JRPGs, but usually modern retro JRPGs like this one I dip out on quickly, because there's too much grinding and not enough enjoyment just playing the game.”
    • “They reduced grinding significantly by having on-map encounters and no XP, just a chance, significantly reduced after you get a few points in any chapter, of gaining a point in a stat after any battle.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers high replayability due to its free-form chapter progression, allowing players to explore the world and character interactions in various orders. Additionally, the abundance of collectibles and engaging character stories enhances the incentive to replay, appealing to fans of classic games.

    • “This game casually takes about 5+ hours to beat, but the replayability is high with how the two main characters can travel through the world in any way you choose, depending on the order you play the chapters, which is freeform!”
    • “Tons of collectibles and replayability in the way the character stories interact, along with all the right notes from the classics we love, with the correct amount of refinement that players of these old games come to expect.”
    • “This game casually takes about 5+ hours to beat, but the replayability is high due to the freedom of how the two main characters can travel through the world, depending on the order you play the chapters.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Pillars of Dust is a casual role playing game.

Pillars of Dust is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Windows and Xbox.

Pillars of Dust was released on March 17, 2020.

Pillars of Dust was developed by chet_stead.

Pillars of Dust has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

Pillars of Dust is a single player game.

Similar games include Octopath Traveler, Cosmic Star Heroine, Breath of Death VII, 8-Bit Adventures 2, Skyborn and others.