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TheDawn is a third-person shooting game about the journey of Maya, with superpowers who can manipulate time, and Max, the hacker who helps her. Will they be able to save mankind and face a new dawn?

TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
TheDawn screenshot
+4

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,142 reviews
gameplay278 positive mentions
optimization12 negative mentions

  • Great graphics and engaging story for a free game.
  • Fun and smooth gameplay mechanics, especially with time manipulation.
  • Challenging boss fight that requires skill and strategy.
  • Very short game, can be completed in under an hour.
  • Lack of graphical settings and resolution options.
  • Some bugs and performance issues, especially during the boss fight.
  • gameplay
    486 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this game is generally praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging time manipulation abilities, and fast-paced combat, making it enjoyable despite its short duration of around 30 minutes to an hour. While many players appreciate the fun and unique mechanics, some note that the game feels somewhat repetitive and could benefit from additional content and polish. Overall, it is seen as a solid, free-to-play experience with potential for further development.

    • “The gameplay is crisp.”
    • “For the most part the gunplay is responsive, the abilities are fun (watching projectiles get time stopped is always a treat) and it had just the right amount of difficulty to get you to engage with all the game's mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is very unique and refreshing, unlike every other game that just copies what sells, this one is doing its own thing.”
    • “The game is built well graphically; however, I feel like it is lacking substance when it comes to gameplay. It just seems like an all-out brawl against robots, which can be somewhat enjoyable, but it gets very repetitive very quickly.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, as expected from an inexperienced development team, there is not much variety and animations are average.”
    • “I found the gameplay to be way too tedious and repetitive to be worth anybody's time.”
  • story
    254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally described as short and simplistic, often lacking depth and character development, which is expected given its indie status and brief gameplay duration of around 30 minutes to an hour. While some players appreciate the intriguing premise of an AI takeover and find the narrative engaging enough for the game's length, many express a desire for a more fleshed-out storyline and character arcs. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, with potential for expansion in future updates or sequels.

    • “Despite the limitations typically associated with indie developers, it manages to deliver a captivating and well-constructed story.”
    • “The theme, although pretty typical, is fitting for the scenario and the short character backstory is rather touching and gave this game that much more soul to it.”
    • “The story was short but sweet, with one heck of a climactic and very difficult boss fight at the end.”
    • “The game is too short for there to really be any story.”
    • “Because it is such a short game you don't really attach yourself to Maya or Max (which are the only primary characters) and there isn't any depth to the story.”
    • “The story is incredibly simple.”
  • graphics
    235 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the art style and overall visual quality, often comparing it favorably to titles like Genshin Impact. However, a significant number of users express frustration over the lack of customizable graphics settings, which leads to performance issues on lower-end devices and limits the gaming experience. While the visuals are generally considered decent, the absence of options to adjust resolution and graphics quality is a common complaint that detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly good.”
    • “Graphics are great, can likely run on lower-end devices.”
    • “I really like the direction of where this game is going, but it really needs to have a graphics setting since I felt as if I was being presented a slideshow during my playthrough.”
    • “The game is not bad, but it lacks at least basic graphics settings through edit->project settings->quality in the unity.”
    • “Locking the game resolution, and offering no graphics tweaks means the game is a failure, as PC gamers understandably need to tailor their gaming experience to the hardware they have.”
    • “One big issue with this game is that it's heavily unoptimized (I suffer with 15fps on my first stage and this game is 6.5GB smaller than Genshin Impact), the game has no graphics or resolution control (the game stretched outside my monitor size) and the translation is perfect.”
  • optimization
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and Linux. Users noted a lack of configurable graphics settings, leading to significant frame drops and instability, which detracted from the overall experience. While some players experienced smooth performance under certain conditions, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to run effectively across a broader range of hardware.

    • “The game provides mostly solid 60 fps (minor frame drops when horde spawned) and stable performance without crashes or glitches in my playthrough.”
    • “Very well optimized.”
    • “Performance was baby smooth, shooting mechanics were on point, abilities while little looked and felt AAA levels of solid.”
    • “The performance/optimization on this game just doesn't exist.”
    • “I wouldn't recommend it because the optimization is terrible and I would drop down to frames in the single digits, so I stopped playing fairly soon.”
    • “Currently, I can't recommend it due to the bad performance.”
  • music
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay. While some noted that certain tracks can feel repetitive or generic, others highlighted standout pieces, particularly during boss fights. Overall, the sound design, including voice acting and music, contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “Cool game with a nice soundtrack.”
    • “Great soundtrack, great fight mechanic.”
    • “Spectacular game, wonderful animation, beautiful soundtrack with a fair but short story.”
    • “The music for fighting enemies could be better, but I like the boss theme.”
    • “Soundtrack: [6/10] It's average, nothing much to say about this one.”
    • “The music is okay; the designs are pretty solid for what appears to be an indie. My only problem is that the transition in-between the boss level and the first level is pretty rough in both combat and artistic choice.”
  • stability
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been widely reported as buggy, with players experiencing issues such as unresponsive controls, glitches during boss fights, and occasional frame drops. While some users noted stable performance and enjoyable gameplay, the prevalence of bugs, particularly in critical moments, detracted from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, many players appreciated the game's mechanics and the effort put in by its student developers.

    • “Well put together, bug-free in my experience.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never feels like it's going to fall apart.”
    • “The game is quite buggy.”
    • “I wanted to enjoy this, and I respect that it was made by students, but it was just too buggy.”
    • “Blender fight was a buggy mess but the game mechanics are good.”
  • character development
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted to be minimal, with players expressing a desire for deeper exploration of characters like Maya and Max. While the character designs are widely praised for their uniqueness and appeal, particularly with anime influences, the overall narrative and character growth are seen as lacking, leaving players hoping for future expansions that could enhance the story and character arcs.

    • “I loved the character design, the voice acting (although I may not understand it, the accent puts the world into setting). I hope that this project can expand into something greater, because this is the definition of a good example for an indie developed game: straight to the point with a beginning and a clear end.”
    • “Amazing arts and character designs alongside the amazing gameplay makes me want to have more out of this short game.”
    • “There's simple gunplay, interesting powers, story to expand, and character development to flesh out.”
    • “There’s not much room for world background and character development, especially for Maya and Max.”
    • “I personally like Maya’s cool-looking and hybrid outfit design; it somehow reminded me of the Honkai Impact vibe.”
    • “Pretty good and short game that is a good starting point to see the skills of the developer, but character development feels lacking.”
  • grinding
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game, particularly during the final boss fight, is perceived as tedious and lengthy, often requiring players to repeat sections due to a lack of checkpoints. While some players appreciate the challenge, many find the repetitive nature of the combat and the overall grind detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “The final boss was kind of neat at first, but it's just the most grindy kind of experience that's harmed by the combat being so lackluster.”
    • “The long duration makes the fight feel a bit tedious when one mistake means you have to start over from the beginning.”
    • “I found the gameplay to be way too tedious and repetitive to be worth anybody's time.”
  • replayability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many users noting that it is short and lacks significant incentives to replay beyond specific challenges, such as a zero damage run. However, some appreciate that it is free, which somewhat mitigates the lack of replay value.

    • “Great replay value.”
    • “The replay value is there.”
    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “The game doesn't have any replayability, but it's also free, like actually free, not 'free'.”
    • “There's a little replayability, but the dialogue kind of shoehorns you in the beginning, along with the tutorial, so there's only 2 chapters to play.”
    • “It does lack replay value, and it's short, but it is free.”
  • monetization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases in this free title. However, some users express frustration with the frequent ads, which they feel detract from the overall experience and make the game feel mediocre. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable mechanics, the reliance on ads for monetization is a point of contention among players.

    • “I did really enjoy playing, and for a small free game with no in-game purchases, it's really good.”
    • “Not good, not bad, not fun, just mediocre. It's one of those games that thinks throwing waves of ads at you is fun and makes the game more difficult. I'm not talking in the AAA area of games; Blood Spear is my favorite small team game, so I'm not expecting RDR2 here, but within the small indie area of games, this falls in the middle.”
    • “I really hope not to see much in-game purchases at the moment.”
    • “This game is nice for a short relax time, but one thing I don't like is that the bullet when aiming down sights (ADS) seems not correct at all. Hope the developers will fix that.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching character backstories and relatable themes, which add depth and soul to the experience. While the gameplay is engaging and exhilarating, some players found the narrative elements to evoke strong feelings, including moments of surprise and sadness. Overall, the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, though some players wished for a more polished experience.

    • “The theme, although pretty typical, is fitting for the scenario, and the short character backstory is rather touching and gave this game that much more soul to it.”
    • “I cried when Maya turned out to be a boy.”
    • “Wholesome game.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing moments, such as the character's antics during the credits and the realization of defeating the boss incorrectly, which adds a lighthearted touch to the experience. Overall, players find the game genuinely funny and entertaining.

    • “It was funny to see him go back and forth after his defeat and during the credits, though.”
    • “Funny enough, it did make me realize that I defeated the boss the first time wrong.”
    • “Very, very cool and made me laugh.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is generally praised for being immersive and delightful, effectively engaging players throughout their experience. However, some critiques suggest that improvements are needed, particularly in enhancing the overall ambiance, despite the appealing art style.

    • “The game's atmosphere is nothing short of delightful, creating an immersive world that draws players in from start to finish.”
    • “Five dashes give you plenty of movement, the ability cooldowns are comfortable, and the art, though grey, creates a nice atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
    • “There is a lack of immersion; the environment doesn't draw you in.”
    • “The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, making it hard to stay engaged.”

Buy TheDawn

2h Median play time
5h Average play time
1-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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