Dustborn Reviews
Dustborn has solid ideas and phenomenal presentation but fails to do any of its many things well enough to be truly memorable.
Dustborn is an adventure game that offers a mix of genres, catering to a wide range of tastes. It seamlessly transitions from exploration phases in the style of classic graphic adventures with environmental puzzles, to more action-packed moments, and even includes many musical mini-games. The game features a cast of finely crafted characters that are impossible not to grow attached to. At the same time, it presents a wide variety of uniquely beautiful settings, all enhanced by the splendid comic book art style that defines the entire adventure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ultimately, Dustborn is an amazing tech demo. Red Thread Games could do amazing things if they took the mechanics of the game and applied it to something… ANYTHING else.
I admire a game that is willing to take a risk, and certainly trolling the people who believe that games should be mindless content that doesn’t challenge their intelligence with a “political idea,” is a creative risk I can admire. But beyond the initial amusement that I took from knowing that somewhere out there someone is absolutely fuming about this game on a forum or in a tweet, there’s actually very little intelligence in Dustborn. It’s also an experience that is so culturally specific that it probably shouldn’t have been a global release.
Dustborn grabs the generic modern day adventure game formula and adds a bunch of cliché and often annoying characters, a subpar story, some low-grade music, along with a heavy-handed dose of politics front and center, resulting in a middling and overlong road trip that's more concerned about its poorly delivered message than anything else.
Although Dustborn has dubious combat and some technical problems, the game has an excellent and flashy plot, a fact that will make you stay tuned until the last chapter of the story.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dustborn is a very intriguing and, in a way, innovative title in the adventure game market. The creators at Red Thread Games should be commended for their willingness to experiment and venture off the beaten path. They've crafted a solid hybrid of an adventure game, action RPG, and rhythm game. However, this mix might cause fans of classic adventure games to either skip Dustborn entirely or, after a few hours of gameplay, become so frustrated with the action elements that they might just set the game aside. But for those who give Dustborn a chance, there awaits more of a dozen hours of genuinely enjoyable gameplay.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Dustborn isn’t a game for everyone. Its slow pace, heavy focus on dialogue, and political themes might turn some players off. But for those who appreciate a well-crafted narrative with complex characters and a world that feels both familiar and strange, it’s a journey worth taking. Whether you’re a fan of more simple narrative-driven games or just looking for something different, Dustborn offers a unique experience that’s hard to forget.
Dustborn attempts to tackle a lot of genres, and it honours most of them very well. This emotional, political road trip reaches its destination, but suffers a few too many bumps along the way.
Some people might not enjoy Dustborn. Patience and a passion for storytelling are required due to the game’s slow pace and focus on narrative and intricate dialogue mechanics. Playing Dustborn will force you to interact with the characters on a deep emotional and intellectual level. But if you’re looking for a game with innovative gaming mechanics, a compelling story, and engaging characters, Dustborn isn’t that game.
Dustborn ultimately left me with mixed feelings. It’s excellent cast and voice acting mixed with a solid story is just what I hope for in an adventure game, however its ho-hum combat and annoying interruptions in the dialogue hold it back from being great.
While its combat system leaves much to be desired, Dustborn is filled with a variety of fun elements focused on opening up to the people around you that truly helps the game blossom into a powerful experience. Once your trip is over you will definitely miss those you got to know, but you will be thankful you got on the bus in the first place.
Dustborn offers a rich story with compelling characters that drew me in and kept me hooked over the 15-hour adventure. Pax and her gang are down-to-earth and relatable, brought to life through excellent voice acting.
Dustborn isn’t perfect, but its engaging storytelling, wonderful visuals, and variety of gameplay mechanics ensure that it still makes for one heck of a memorable road trip. You’ll constantly feel like you’re doing something different, and whilst it does miss the mark at times (most notably with its combat and lack of challenge), it has plenty of little surprises to keep a smile on your face when playing.
As an overall package “Dustborn” is an absolute delight. Believable and lovable characters are combined with an intriguing story and a wild mix of gameplay variation. While the combat is mediocre and gets stale quick, the variety of little vignettes is outstanding. The voice acting is stellar and the music might be more Pop-Punk than Punk-Rock which doesn’t make it any less awesome.
Review in German | Read full review
Dustborn is a good story, with good characters, but it completely lost its way trying to be more than it needed to be. Its best ideas end up being buried in a torrent of poorly developed elements that, at the same time, take up too much of the story's time. It would have been a perfect Life Is Strange-style game, if it didn't want to prove its own existence to people who will never be interested.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The excitement and interest I felt when I first started playing Dustborn never faded away. This is one of those games that you can't put down once you start, thanks to its very interesting story and everything connected to the narrative in general.
A risky bet by a little-known studio but supported by Quantic Dream cannot leave you indifferent. A very solid game, with many references to popular culture but with performance problems and bugs.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you are looking for a good narrative adventure that respects your ability to choose and explore, Dustborn is for you.
Dustborn’s narrative beats are also the most enjoyable part of the game, but there’s too much stopping it from reaching its full potential