Toward Dawn

About

Toward Dawn is a single player role playing game with fantasy and romance themes. It was developed by DeviSerene and was released on May 8, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Support the game by wishlisting on Steam! Following an attack on her temple, Carys finds herself at the mercy of the Gwyllgi, Bleddyn. Though despite their differences, they find greater similarities in their stories and wishes. Experience a world inspired by Welsh Mythology, with a heartfelt fairytale story of love, recovery and hope. A multi-hour demo featuring the first three chapters.A sto…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

The game features a heartwarming love story between likable characters, Carys and Bleddyn, that evolves naturally without being overly melodramatic.
The combat system is engaging and rewarding, focusing on skill synergies and tactical options rather than traditional grinding, which keeps the gameplay fresh throughout its short length.
The game is a well-crafted indie effort with beautiful graphics, a charming Welsh setting, and a narrative that effectively explores deep themes and character development.

The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more in terms of content and exploration.
Some minor polish issues, such as dodgy scene art and a difficulty spike near the end, can detract from the overall experience.
The characters have specific roles that limit versatility in combat, which may not appeal to players looking for more freedom in character customization.

story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The story is a heartwarming and compact narrative centered on the romance between a cloistered priestess and a solitary beastman, set against a backdrop of vengeance and personal growth. While it may lack deep worldbuilding and complex plot twists, it excels in emotional depth and character development, drawing heavily from Welsh mythology. Overall, the storytelling is engaging and beautifully crafted, making it a standout aspect of this short-form JRPG.
- “A super entertaining story-rich RPG.”
- “The story is beautiful with plenty of twists and turns and solid characters, the main cast especially.”
- “Really, I just think the story is beautiful, and how it weaves in Welsh mythology makes it all the more unique and personal to me.”
- “If you're here for the deep grand worldbuilding and a novel plot arc full of twists and turns, this is not the game for you.”
- “The story is compact and well told, with a cozy, classical fantasy feel and a clearly deep appreciation for Welsh mythology.”
- “Challenging turn-based battles and a baleful story steeped in Welsh legend.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay is solid and engaging, featuring clever mechanics and a well-crafted story that keeps players invested throughout its 10-15 hour duration. While not groundbreaking, it offers addictive combat that emphasizes synergies and strategic planning, complemented by optional skits that enhance character development. Overall, the game showcases impressive design for a debut title, balancing fun gameplay with emotional depth.
- “It’s short but impactful, with clever mechanics and real emotional weight.”
- “Solid short (10-15 hour) JRPG with interesting battle and character progression mechanics and a solid story.”
- “The gameplay is tight; the game gives you all the tools you need to make fun and interesting synergies in combat, and then keeps handing you new ones that turn your strategies on their head. The open world makes good use of puzzles to aid in its narrative progression.”
- “The gameplay is serviceable, nothing revolutionary but some noteworthy ideas.”
- “It shows signs of this being the developers' first real game, but its mechanics, story, and characters are all solid enough to carry it.”
- “The gameplay is tight; the game gives you all the tools you need to create fun and interesting synergies in combat, and then keeps handing you new ones that turn your strategies on their head.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming relationships and impactful storytelling, effectively balancing lightheartedness with deeper themes. Players appreciate the concise narrative that allows for a meaningful connection to vibrant characters and intricate worldbuilding, resulting in a short yet emotionally resonant experience.
- “The narrow scope, snappy pace, and lack of filler allows the story to play to its strength: the heartwarming relationship between the two leads.”
- “It’s short but impactful, with clever mechanics and real emotional weight.”
- “Tl;dr: a well-crafted novel presented in video game form, with vibrant characters, intricate worldbuilding, and hard-hitting emotional themes.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music in the game is highly praised for its lovely soundtrack and effective sound design, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Players appreciate the integration of music into gameplay, such as unique interactions tied to musical themes, enhancing both immersion and enjoyment.
- “The music is lovely.”
- “Amazing worldbuilding, characters, music, feels, combat – the whole thing.”
- “Good music and sound design, and decent voice acting.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are generally praised for their beauty, with particularly striking backgrounds and detailed close-up portraits. Reviewers appreciate the blend of modern and retro styles, making the visuals appealing and engaging. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game.
- “The graphics are pretty, especially the backgrounds.”
- “The graphics are serviceable, and the close-up portraits are nicely detailed.”
- “Beautiful graphics, looking both modern and retro.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding in the game does not lead to natural stat increases or enhanced power for their party; instead, it primarily offers new tactical options, making the grinding experience feel less rewarding in terms of character progression.
- “This is especially important since neither grinding nor new gear will boost your stats naturally, meaning your party will rarely get more powerful, instead getting new tactical options.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game to be exceptionally funny, often describing it as hilarious.
- “That's hilarious.”