The trailer for the new open-world survival game Dawnlands (PC) looks promising, if you can overlook the similarities to Genshin Impact and Valheim. However, despite the good trailer and the anticipation of many players, there has been a lot of criticism, especially after the beta.
What kind of game is it? Dawnlands is an open-world survival game with role-playing elements that was released on August 9, 2023, for PC on Steam.
In addition, Dawnlands is available on the official game website (via dawnlands.amazingseasun.com) or for download.
What is the trailer about? Right at the beginning of the trailer, we get a first impression of the story of Dawnlands, which feels like a very classic journey through a fantasy world, at least for now.
A demon lord has invaded the world with his monsters and beasts, and the goddess urges her warriors to bravely fight them. You take on the role of such a hero and travel the world together or in a group to assist the goddess.
However, it gets interesting when you take a closer look at the graphics and mechanics of the game. At first glance, SEASUN GAMES seems to have created a promising fantasy world. The various biomes of the world lead you through colorful fields with luminous flora, snowy expanses, or gloomy forests, promising forgotten relics and interesting puzzles to discover.
You encounter various monsters, including giant luminous beings or dragons, and face them in battle to defend your land. Meanwhile, you gather resources and build your dream house by yourself.
Genshin Impact meets Valheim
Why is there criticism? The criticism of the trailer primarily targets the graphic design of the game and its game mechanics. From the trailer, many players have noticed the similarity to other popular games.
A user named “agunabanana3422” refers to the game on YouTube in his comment as “a Valheim with a Genshin Impact skin”, and this opinion seems widespread.
It becomes particularly noticeable towards the end of the trailer when the building mechanics are shown, and our hero stands in front of a goddess statue that should be familiar to Genshin players.
There are also some similarities to the latest Zelda titles, such as surfing on the shield or a monster that could be the little brother of Iwarok.
Now, after the beta test, the first reviews on Steam are merely “mixed”. The reviews primarily criticize the game’s performance, the decision to include many quests with long wait times, and that it is not very rewarding for free-to-play players.
While you wait for the download, why not take a look around here:
What is well received? Of course, alongside the criticism, there are also some positive aspects that the beta testers noticed.
The game seems to be particularly recommended for players who enjoy looting and building. Here, the trailer already gives hope for a lot of creative freedom in constructing one’s own house.
For those who like to dive into fantasy worlds with different areas and battles and want to build their own little home on the side, Dawnlands might just be the right game.
If you are interested in more survival games, check this out:
The 25 best survival games 2023 for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox
