Recommended
A really pleasant surprise.
DragonSword: Awakening definitely has some Genshin-like vibes at first glance, but thankfully it doesn't come with all the usual gacha nonsense. No character pulls, no stamina system, no daily pressure ... you simply play the game and unlock the characters through progression. And honestly, that's incredibly refreshing.
The combat is probably my favorite part. The tag-team system makes switching between characters feel smooth and satisfying, and experimenting with different characters and status effects gives the combat more depth than I initially expected.
The exploration is also one of the game's strong points. The mounts deserve a special mention here: they're extremely responsive and genuinely pleasant to control. Movement feels smooth and intuitive, which makes exploring the world much more enjoyable. Being able to climb surfaces, glide, swim and move around the environment so freely makes traversal feel much less tedious than in many open-world games.
The open world itself is enjoyable to explore, with plenty of quests, collectibles and activities to keep you busy. The visuals are great, especially considering the price, and the game runs surprisingly well for a UE5 open-world RPG.
One thing I personally don't really like, though, is the voice acting. The game is fully voiced in Korean, which isn't really my cup of tea. I would have much preferred Japanese voice acting, especially considering the game's overall anime-inspired aesthetic. It's obviously a matter of personal preference, but it's worth mentioning if you're someone who usually prefers Japanese VA.
It's not perfect, of course. The story can feel pretty generic at times, the interface still has some obvious mobile-game DNA, and some activities can get repetitive once you've played for a while. But those are minor complaints compared to what the game gets right.
For me, the biggest selling point is simply the philosophy behind the game: you buy the game once, then you play it to unlock things instead of constantly being encouraged to spend money.
If you enjoy anime-style open-world RPGs but are tired of gachas, daily chores and gambling for characters, DragonSword: Awakening is absolutely worth a look.
Recommended.
