Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 87 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 59 | 17 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 78 | 268 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 28, 2026) · 242 reviews sampled · 268 total reviews in window · weighted 150.9 up / 27.6 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“DragonSword: Awakening is a prime example of how a radical change of direction can save a solid project from a saturated market that has lost its identity. Despite structural compromises inherited from the past and some artistic naivety, Hound13’s game manages to carve out its own niche in the genre thanks to an excellent structure that keeps players entertained for dozens of hours. In our opinion, this is a decidedly successful venture that will reward anyone looking for a thrilling action RPG packed with grinding and content.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“DragonSword: Awakening combines satisfying exploration, engaging team-based combat and solid PC performance, but an overcomplicated interface, slow opening hours and lingering mobile design elements keep it from becoming one of the genre's standouts.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Dragon Sword: Awakening is an open-world RPG that pushes QTEs and tag-team action to the limit. Exploration feels a bit repetitive, but the world is dense, while the outstanding combat and seamless design create a satisfying gameplay rhythm. With its classic fantasy charm and exceptional action, this is a game to watch.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“DragonSword: Awakening offers a surprisingly generous package. It may not be the best action RPG you play in a year, but it is a very enjoyable one, and the fact that you can experience its character collection and progression systems without spending hundreds of dollars makes it stand out. If Hound 13 builds on this foundation rather than abandoning it, the next DragonSword could be something special.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“DragonSword: Awakening is a pretty good open-world action RPG that uses the gacha formula without the genre's obvious drawbacks. While its gameplay elements and systems clash due to design flaws, its eye-catching visuals, interesting narrative, and great sound design certainly justify it as a full-fledged game. All in all, it’s a game that’s definitely worth it for the price it asks, but be sure to expect a bit of a grind in the form of gacha-like repetitive progression.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“DragonSword: Awakening lands at a strange moment for the hobby, between console makers acting like the villain of the story and physical media getting phased out one release at a time. It’s genuinely nice to see something take a normally predatory genre, strip out the predatory part, and sell the rest for thirty dollars. It’s not without its seams.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The choice to convert the project from gacha to a premium title paid off, and the final result fully showcases the game's qualities: it's no coincidence DragonSword: Awakening found immediate success.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“DragonSword: Awakening is not only impressive because of its combat or its generous progression system, but because all of its major features work together to respect the player’s time. The game rarely utilizes frustrating design choices to artificially slow down progression, whether you’re exploring the Open-World, trying out new party combinations, or facing increasingly difficult dungeons.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“DragonSword: Awakening is a satisfying open-world action RPG held back by progression scaffolding left over from its free-to-play gacha past.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you’re someone who enjoys gacha mechanics but hates the monetisation and the commitment they entail, DragonSword: Awakening is here to offer you the best of its combat and exploration systems without having to rely on microtransactions or battle passes”
read full review ↗ - 80
“DragonSword: Awakening successfully sheds its gacha origins to become an enjoyable premium single-player RPG. Its fast, intuitive character-switching combat, rewarding exploration, and generous progression systems make it easy to get invested, even if uneven storytelling, occasionally confusing systems, and localization issues keep it from reaching greater heights.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“DragonSword: Awakening is a gorgeous anime game that feels like they took Genshin Impact, stripped out the microtransaction garbage, and tied it together with a fun, interesting story. There’s still plenty of grinding and things to unlock, but nothing requires luck with a predatory gambling mechanic. The game has fun dungeons, solid characters, and big, flashy story moments you’ll have a good time with, all for less than half the price of a triple-A game. If you’re in the market for a fun game that’ll keep you entertained for a few dozen hours, you should definitely consider DragonSword: Awakening.”
read full review ↗
STWGames Italia
INVEN
GamesCreed
Game8
Niche Gamer
Side Project
NoobFeed
Rectify Gaming
EntreMandos
Noisy Pixel
GamingTrend…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- [Video] 1.0.11 Patch Preview Video Now AvailableAug 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 1.0.10Aug 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- [All Day Live 정리] 방송에서 답변드린 408개 Q&A 전체 공개Aug 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 1.0.9Aug 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 1.0.8Aug 7, 2026
- Update Notes 1.0.7Aug 6, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 1.0.6Jul 31, 2026
- Update Notes 1.0.5Jul 30, 2026
- Update Notes 1.0.4Jul 30, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update Notes 1.0.3Jul 25, 2026
- Update Notes 1.0.2Jul 24, 2026
- Update Notes 1.0.1Jul 23, 2026
- [Patch Notice] Regarding Partial Progression Data Reset (Pre-Launch Build Users)Jul 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update Notes 0.1.4Jun 24, 2026
- Demo Update Notes 0.1.3Jun 16, 2026
- Demo Update Notes 0.1.2Jun 16, 2026
- To Everyone Who Played the Demo — Feedback Response & Full Release UpdateJun 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Update Notes 0.1.1Jun 9, 2026
- DragonSword : Awakening – AMA Summary (May 2026)May 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window