Dustgrave: A Sandbox RPG

Very solid building blocks, but as it currently is, the game feels very shallow. The world is yet to be living and breathing. Most NPCs only have one line, and no other interactions. Definitely a game to keep your eyes on, but it's not quite there yet.

Not playable for regular players yet. I tried to make it through the beginning of the game until I finally realized I am most definitely not enjoying this, and it's not worth the pain. UI is abysmal and generates immediate UI fatigue. Movement is painful and clicks are unreliable -- I find my blood pressure raising just trying to walk my dudes around town. Difficulty is uneven and not necessarily playable. Both initial missions in the first town were unwinnable, consistently getting my guys and the mission-provided reinforcements killed by enemies that just wiped the floor with us. This game feels and looks like it is fairly early in its development, and so, while the description describes something I'd be interested in, I just can't see it for the jank and lack of basics (particularly UI) yet. Always, always, always, get your UI ♥♥♥♥ straight early on. I can forgive a lot in a game that is at least humanly-playable. Make me work hard just to get through menus, and make basic character movement tedious, and you lose me fast. Will check up on this game in a year or two and change review if warranted. For now, not worth the aggravation.

this game is genuinely so fun to play! i love the mix of sandbox and rpg elements, and its only getting better with every update. It has a really immersive vibe where you just want to explore (or occasionally get into trouble) its still in early access as i write my review but i am looking forward to the evolution of this game and i already highly recommend checking it out :D

Update I wish I could give Dustgrave a sideays thumb. Some QoL improvements, but combat and general play are still not great. Better quest management esp on the overland map would solve a lot of my issues. -------- Dustgrave is still raw and in EA, but I decided to pull the trigger. Much as I loved the idea of Kenshi, I never could get into it due to its combat which was as exciting as writing formulas for Excel. Dustgrave is a little more cozy but finally scratches an itch. Overall it is an okay game ATM, but it has a lot of promise. So far.... The Good Combat is interesting The combination of skills and items is an interesting mechanic Other than character models the world looks good Active and engaged devs Respec characters The Meh Still a very empty game Cannot rotate world map Classes could be more differentiated Randomness between play throughs is good, but a procedural world would be best Maps should be marked better Armor is very sack of potatoes in style The Bad No directional indicators in towns You have to walk to the edge of town to leave, just let us exit Character art is stylized poorly. Everyone is wedge shaped with stubby chubby legs. No fats travel, which entering a town would be nice Not a lot of variety of people / creatures to encounter, which is kinda boring Skill trees are sparse, there needs to be more.

Very solid game backbone especially if you like dungeon & dragons. When I first playing the game, I feel like there is many things that can be improved from the game. The character creation feels lacking in description and there are no clothes customization or clothes equipment showing us how it looks like before. Considering the game is still in early access, I feel like they plan on delivering a great game that have similar vibes to Baldur's Gate and Torchlight combined. Without me knowing, I already spend more than 10 hours in the game. There are many bugs when I first playing but with the constant update, the game getting more stable as it goes. I feel like finding a gem in the rough especially knowing that this game still in Early Access. Looking forward to future progress. Gotta play some more before hitting a reset when it fully release!

Good, solid game that could use more content but seems well on it's way.

Great concept. Love combat and character leveling. Experiencing a lot of crashing mostly when entering new maps. Some issues with characters as well as other items showing up on the map. Some skill trees don’t look to be configured right. Meaning some kinds don’t look to improve when high level them. A game that needs patching and then I see myself putting a lot of time into it

A Unique Blend of Tactical Combat and Emergent Faction Dynamics – Dustgrave is a Hidden Gem! Dustgrave is a fantastic mix of tactical combat and emergent storytelling that keeps you coming back for more. Set in a persistent, ever-evolving world, the game offers a unique sandbox experience where factions and settlements constantly shift control based on your actions and those of others. The unpredictability of this dynamic world creates endless opportunities for strategic gameplay. The combat is challenging and rewarding, offering deep tactical choices where positioning and resource management are key to victory. Whether you're leading a small group into battle or negotiating with factions, the stakes feel high and the decisions you make have real consequences. One of Dustgrave's standout features is its complex faction system. The relationships you build (or destroy) with various groups can drastically change the course of the game, with settlements changing hands and alliances constantly shifting. It’s a world where nothing stays the same for long, and you can never predict what will happen next. If you're a fan of games like Battle Brothers and Baldur's Gate, Dustgrave will absolutely satisfy your craving for deep strategy and rich world-building. The game rewards careful planning and clever diplomacy, while still offering the freedom to approach every situation in your own way. Whether you’re forging alliances or conquering territories, Dustgrave is an experience you won't soon forget.

Feels very kludgy and rough. Movement is jittery, abilities follow an invisible tile system (most of the time it's tolerable but targeting rays is infuriating). There should be a "leave town zone" button instead of having to walk to the border. Pathfinding is bad, I have to lead the character on a trail of breadcrumbs and even then they will just randomly decide a destination is inaccessible.

So, I bought this the moment it came out, played and got to the second randomized mission, which... didn't complete. "Okay, sure, early access, big dynamic world, I get it." Tried it again. New world, new character. Second randomized mission, couldn't complete. "Go kill these dudes", dudes are killed, but the quest was on "meet the dudes" even though they were infected. C'mon, guys - I know generated content requires some serious guardrails and stuff, but I feel like your QA process needs some... lots... of refinement. Maybe get it on sale if you're curious, but expect it to be a bit on the buggy side. Wait for release to see if they got stuff like this fixed.