Of Ash and Steel is gaining major attention in the global gaming community as early reviews pour in, and most of them are strongly positive. The new RPG has been widely praised for bringing back the nostalgic thrill of classic open-world adventures without quest markers, shortcuts, or hand-holding. Set on a massive island filled with hidden stories and two warring factions, the game challenges players to craft their own journey through skill-based combat, crafting, exploration, and decision-making.
The story alone extends beyond 45 hours, but the appeal for many players lies in the difficulty curve, which rewards patience and perseverance rather than speed. Every win, every discovery, and every upgrade must be earned through experience and learning from mistakes. That old-school design philosophy has made Of Ash and Steel stand apart in an era dominated by simplified open-world games.
Players on Steam have already started sharing their feedback and most of them are highly impressed. Reviewer Alekian recommends the game and says it successfully revives the true Gothic atmosphere with a large open world and meaningful player progression. While he points out issues like confusing book inventory handling and slow NPC movement, he believes the game has a unique charm that makes it unforgettable.
Another reviewer, MrJenssen, calls Of Ash and Steel everything he wanted from a modern Gothic-inspired RPG. He praises the scale of the world, the sense of growth from weak to powerful, and the freedom of exploration. He adds that although graphics and animations are average, they are more than acceptable for an indie studio and the game performs well without frequent crashes.
Skippy789 is also enjoying the game for its old-school vibe and wide-ranging activities such as cooking, fishing, crafting, and blacksmithing. He highlights the strong story, voice acting, and variety of enemies while recommending it to anyone who loves stat-based third-person RPGs.
Reviewers also appreciate the emotional and nostalgic connection. Ojiisan notes that the music and world design remind them heavily of Elex and Risen, describing the experience as rough and atmospheric. They do mention that some character faces and eye animations look unusual, but not enough to break the immersion.
The strongest praise comes from lupu_blade18, who calls Of Ash and Steel a potential “new benchmark” in the RPG genre. They highlight world design, characters, dialogue, visuals, and overall quality while thanking the developers for creating what they describe as a future classic of the genre.
Even DeN_DarK acknowledges that while facial animations can look strange at times, the exploration and gameplay feel very satisfying and true to the Gothic spirit.
Based on the early reviews, Of Ash and Steel seems to have delivered exactly what it promised: a demanding, immersive, exploration-driven RPG that values player effort and curiosity over convenience. For fans of old-school role-playing games, this title is already shaping up to be one of the most memorable releases of the year.
