Hey friends! Here today with my cozy-but-nerdy take on Dawn of the Ashen Queen, the new grid-based dungeon crawler from indie developer Shattered Moon Games. I dove in expecting a solid throwback to 90s RPGs, and for the most part, I found a friendly, colorful world with enough quirks to keep me poking around its dungeons for a good 20–30 hours. Let’s break it all down:
Overall Impressions
The game leans into its retro roots with a clean grid system, real-time combat, and old-school map exploration. I loved the sense of nostalgia—reminds me of Legend of Grimrock, Lands of Lore, and Eye of the Beholder. The story is engaging enough to keep you reading dialogue and hunting down every hidden corner. All-time reviews aren’t out yet, but recent feedback is positive, and I echo that: it’s a solid, cozy dungeon crawl with plenty of charm.
It doesn’t reinvent the wheel. If you’re looking for brand-new mechanics, you might feel something’s missing. A few QoL features common in modern RPGs—like quick-swap item buttons or auto-mapping options—are absent.
If you loved Grimrock but wished for a bit more story and less puzzle lockdown, this might be your sweet spot. It’s lighter on brain-twisting puzzles but heavier on dialogue and exploration.
Gameplay Mechanics
The real-time grid-based combat system delivers a responsive and snappy experience, with spells like Fireball feeling especially satisfying to cast. Watching skeleton enemies disintegrate in a flash of fiery magic never gets old. Beyond battle, the game excels in exploration—secret doors, cleverly hidden chests, and a wealth of collectible books and letters reward curious players at every turn. Each corridor invites discovery, making dungeon crawling both rewarding and immersive. Add in robust character customization through multiple skill trees and portrait options, and role-playing enthusiasts have plenty to sink their teeth into.
Despite its strengths, the game stumbles when it comes to skill system balance. Many spells and buffs feel noticeably weaker compared to straightforward melee attacks, making strength-based combat the dominant choice. The two-slot limit for equipping skills or weapons can also feel restrictive, especially when trying to diversify your strategy. Technical issues are minimal but present—occasional floating objects and odd clipping in dungeon environments may cause a chuckle, but they don’t impact gameplay stability. Still, these quirks can slightly detract from the otherwise polished experience.
Standout moment: I unlocked a secret library in an ancient ruin, found a lore book hinting at the Ashen Queen’s motives, and then got ambushed by fire imps. Casting “Flame Burst” as they surrounded me felt so satisfying—one of my favorite combat highlights.
Story and Characters
The plot hooks you with a millennia-old curse on Eshavon, and you build a party of four explorers to unravel it. Dialogue is surprisingly extensive, with party banter that adds warmth. You’ll meet shopkeepers, fellow adventurers, and shady figures—all with their little quirks. I won’t spoil too much, but I grew fond of Halya the herbalist and her dry humor, and I wanted to learn more about the Queen’s tragic past. The world-building feels lovingly crafted, even if the overall arc is fairly linear.
Visuals and Graphics
Art style is bright and varied. Every dungeon theme—icy caverns, overgrown temples, lava-flooded halls—has its own palette and decorative flair. Character portraits are crisp, and the pixel-perfect grid tiles never felt muddy. I’ve seen some say it “looks and runs nice,” and I agree. Animations are modest but effective: a skeleton clatters convincingly, a healing spell glows softly, and the UI is clean. No two levels felt the same, which kept me eager to see what fresh color scheme was around the next bend.
Sound and Music
No voice acting here, which might disappoint some, but the text is well written enough that you don’t miss it. Sound effects are light but do their job—clinks of swords, eerie dungeon creaks, spell whooshes. The music is pleasant and atmospheric, leaning toward ambient piano and soft strings. It never overstays its welcome and helps maintain that cozy tone even when you’re swarmed by ghouls.
Difficulty and Replayability
On the easy-to-moderate scale, this game sits on “relaxing.” If you’ve played real-time griders before, it won’t push your skills to the limit. That said, hunting every secret and chasing side lore books boosted my playtime. I clocked in around 25 hours before the closing credits. Want more? You can start a new party build—perhaps an all-mage squad this time—and go on another gentle crawl. A few players note the skill system needs balance testing, so a re-roll might feel similar, but the world’s charm still shines through.
Trivia & Behind-the-Scenes
Dawn of the Ashen Queen began as a modestly crowdfunded project in early 2023, with passionate backers influencing its rich lore and refined puzzle design. Developed by the two-person indie team at Shattered Moon Games during their off-hours while juggling day jobs, the game’s early concept art—especially that of the Ashen Queen—was warmly received by classic RPG fans at PAX East 2024. Following its launch, the developers committed to a quality-of-life patch scheduled for December 2024, aiming to fix minor bugs and potentially introduce a quick-swap item slot feature.
Final Thoughts
Dawn of the Ashen Queen doesn’t reinvent dungeon crawling, but it polishes the classics into a cozy, narrative-rich package. If you’ve been craving a friendly, laid-back grid adventure with vibrant art, likable characters, and just enough challenge to stay engaged, this one’s for you. Bring a warm drink, settle in, and lose yourself in Eshavon’s secrets.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A solid, enjoyable crawl that delivers nostalgia, charm, and comfort. Even if it leaves you wanting a few more modern conveniences.
