That being said, through all the grime and relatively medieval way of life, there is something here. It’s reflected in some of the writing, whether you’re dealing with an NPC who’s injured by wolves and needs healing or double-crossed during a quest. Even the combat, slow and plodding it may be at first, has some appeal (not a lot but still). Is any of this enough to elevate Of Ash and Steel beyond its means, much less cater to those seeking a Gothic-like? Sort of, but there are plenty of other problems that need addressing before it can reach its full potential.

The story takes place in the Kingdom of the Seven, a set of islands enjoying an era of peace and sea trade. Things take a turn, however, when rumors spread about islands seemingly going independent. None of that really initially, your character, Tristan, a cartographer who embarks on a mission with soldiers of the Order to chart Greyshaft. Shortly after landing, however, things quickly take a turn when brigands assault the camp, slaughtering everyone in sight. Tristan is the only one left alive, but is also assailed and left for dead.

"It also doesn’t help that a good chunk of the island’s hostiles can easily take you down, especially when facing more than two at a time (most bandits are a no-no in the early going). For the first 90 minutes or so, I found the best way to survive was to simply kite enemies towards NPCs that were capable of killing them."

Discovered by one of the locals and nursed (somewhat) back to health, he begins exploring the island, and from here, things get a little more loosey-goosey. Of Ash and Steel doesn’t really confine you to a single path, instead encouraging you to explore and get a feel for the world, but without any actual tools to really chart a path (at least initially). You’re basically blind, which makes sense lore-wise, and there are no markers to indicate where you should go next. If you’ve been duped and a quest step involves finding the perpetrator, a waypoint won’t magically lead you to their location. Getting down in the dirt and exploring the island’s caves, abandoned mines, farms, and more is the key, and you’d better have the good sense to remember where things are.

In that sense, Of Ash and Steel is reminiscent of Hell is Us, but with way fewer clues. It’s also a lot more unforgiving. Tristan, despite his prominent abs, isn’t skilled at fighting whatsoever and has the lung capacity of a newborn kitten. He also lacks many survival skills, not that you unlock them by simply leveling up. Instead, you have to talk to various NPCs and learn from them, which requires gold, the required skill points, and the correct stat. Stat requirements also apply to weapons, so even if you find a cool claymore, good luck wielding it without the required 15 Strength.

Other immersive mechanics abound, such as managing hunger and thirst, which means cooking ingredients to sustain yourself with meals and drinking liquids to remain refreshed. Cooking some random meat won’t always agree with Tristan, leading to debuffs which can reduce melee damage. In the same vein, you can accrue injuries which become worse if not tended to. Want to make a campfire out in the wilderness? Better have some supplies on hand. In that sense, the starting hours can feel like a slog.

It also doesn’t help that a good chunk of the island’s hostiles can easily take you down, especially when facing more than two at a time (most bandits are a no-no in the early going). For the first 90 minutes or so, I found the best way to survive was to simply kite enemies towards NPCs that were capable of killing them. If it works, it works, but as Tristan’s strength and stamina grew (those two rings that boost the latter also help), I became that much more sure of his capabilities.

"And while I mentioned that some of the conversations can be quite endearing, a lot of them aren’t, and it all loops back to Tristan as a character, who feels exceedingly bland. Maybe it’s because he’s meant to be more of a self-insert, but the charm wears off after the first few hours…"

If you’re expecting something akin to Dark Souls or even Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Of Ash and Steel isn’t that, even given the importance of stamina. Attacks are more deliberate – even following up with another strike feels like Tristan is stuck in molasses. And while it can make for some initially tense encounters, especially against other human enemies as you parry their blows and look for openings, hit registration can be iffy on both sides. The same goes for targetting, as some of the quicker enemies can easily evade your blows before Tristan is even done executing them.

Don’t even get me started on the annoying AI – one battle against a clearly stronger spider saw them simply escaping before I could kill them, with no sign of their location. Later, it returned to its cave, fully healed and suffice to say that I’m not suffering that tedium again. I’m also not a fan of Tristan’s uncanny ability to slip in puddles. Once in a while, but every single time, even twice in a row during life-or-death fights? No thanks.

Also, while I’m fine with the old-school approach to exploration, the world itself can sometimes feel overtly barren. Towns and the like are an exception with different NPCs to chat up and requests to take on, but the wilderness is far from compelling. Some areas are laden with food and materials, while others, like the abandoned cave with the killer spider, offer nothing. Is it realistic? Sure, but with how generic some of the environments can feel, it doesn’t exactly reward my urge to explore.

And while I mentioned that some of the conversations can be quite endearing, a lot of them aren’t, and it all loops back to Tristan as a character, who feels exceedingly bland. Maybe it’s because he’s meant to be more of a self-insert, but the charm wears off after the first few hours, and he just doesn’t have much substance. Thus, even after he suffered traumatic events and was left to fend for himself, any sympathy is simply replaced by an ever-present feeling of “Sucks to be you,” especially after he trips in a puddle for the umpteenth time.

"Maybe it can shine if its various weaknesses are addressed, but even then, its storytelling, protagonist, world design, and gameplay feel ever-so slightly above average."

If you don’t really care about what happens to him and simply favor a brutal adventure that won’t hold your hand on a large scale, Of Ash and Steel might be of interest. However, the lack of polish is still problematic, whether it’s sleeping bodies floating in the air or the previously mentioned hit registration. There are also several bugs, including Tristan’s voicelines overlapping if you spam a command numerous times, and a campfire that just wouldn’t let me cook, even though a similar one did.

Presentation-wise, it doesn’t look too bad at all, but the facial animations take away from the immersion quite extensively, which is all the more problematic given the number of dialogue exchanges. The music is acceptable – again, nothing too special for the genre, but it’s serviceable enough, even if I don’t think some of the epic tones match the plodding action.

Of Ash and Steel is geared primarily for those who enjoy the likes of Gothic, where carefully considering your build and skill unlocks is as important as deciding whether to tackle a group of seemingly harmless enemies. Maybe it can shine if its various weaknesses are addressed, but even then, its storytelling, protagonist, world design, and gameplay feel ever-so slightly above average.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Of Ash and Steel

An open-world third-person action RPG developed on Unreal Engine 4, that too from a relatively unknown studio? That’s Of Ash and Steel, set in the Kingdom of the Seven, and promising an old-school approach to exploration. Essentially, you need to find your own footing in the world with no markers or quest guidance, and there are plenty of secrets to discover alongside enemies to smack around. Of Ash and Steel is available on November 24th, exclusively for PC.

Lumines Arise

Lumines but somehow even trippier, from the team that brought you surrealist and trippy Tetris. Launching on November 11th for PS5 and PC (with VR support for both), Lumines Arise offers its own Journey Mode, complete with a gorgeous soundscape and visuals, before shuffling you into the real game: Survival. And that’s before creating playlists of stages, completing challenges and playing online, all while ascending to a brand new plane.

Possessor(s)

After the underwhelming Hyper Light Breaker, Heart Machine returns to its 2D roots with Possessor(s), a side-scroller with fighting game-like combos. Players venture through the remains of Sanzu City as Luca, possessed by the mysterious Rhem, using anything and everything to fight off monstrosities. With non-linear exploration, other tragic characters to unravel, and a gorgeous art style, it’s one to keep an eye on ahead of its November 11th release on PS5 and PC.

Where Winds Meet

Everstone Studios’ stunning open-world action RPG has made some seriously strong impressions in China. Its global release is slated for November 14th on PS5 and PC, and thus far, the Wuxia fantasy and depiction of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms still looks as stunning as the combat and traversal. With more than 150 hours of gameplay and co-op-exclusive activities, we can’t wait to unpack it all.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

Announced in 2016, renamed several times, and delayed several times more, Inazuma Eleven is seemingly set to launch, at last, on November 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Level-5 Games boasts more than 5,400 characters in a brand new story with, of all things, time-travelling, and anime cutscenes by none other than MAPPA. Whether it lives up to expectations or not, the sheer scope and spectacle are intriguing enough.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Something something Raul Menendez is alive, and only David Mason and his team can stop the spread of fear, something. The story of Black Ops 7 doesn’t inspire much hope, but the prospect of four-player campaign co-op is intriguing, especially the 32-player end-game. But except for new maps and modes in multiplayer, a new Wall-Bounce mechanic, and a fresh Zombies experience, this is about as Call of Duty as you’d expect in this day and age. It’s out on November 14th for Xbox and PlayStation consoles alongside PC.

Escape from Tarkov

Numerous years and controversies later, Battlestate Games’ Escape from Tarkov Version 1.0 is finally launching on November 15th for PC. As a hardcore extraction shooter experience, it’s received extensive praise for its survival elements (including a realistic injury and treatment system) and realistic gunplay. It’s no Escape From Duckov, but with 11 maps and a PvE mode, its official launch could either be game-changing or grounds for even more controversies.

Syberia Remastered

A full remaster of the title that started it all, Syberia Remastered offers improved visuals, transforming classic locations while retaining their atmosphere. It also offers more refined puzzles, better controls, and an updated UI to make experiencing Kate Walker’s journey through the real and fantastical that much smoother. Syberia Remastered launches on November 6th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Kirby Air Riders

If more than 105 minutes of footage meticulously laying out features across two Directs wasn’t enough to sell you on Kirby Air Riders before its November 20th release, then nothing will. Between a new Story Mode featuring the Fountain of Dreams and Nova, the return of Top Ride, all the classic tracks from the original, and everything in between, Kirby could once again be a dark horse among Switch 2 releases this year.

Project Motor Racing

It’s not quite Project CARS 4, but with some of the talent from Slightly Made and the backing of Giants Software, Project Motor Racing could be the next best thing. It packs more than 70 cars and 27 meticulously recreated tracks with dynamic weather, a day/night cycle, a Career Mode, multiplayer and events. All this, complete with realistic physics and sound design. What more could you want? We’ll find out when Motor Racing launches on November 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Terminator 2D: No Fate

Bitmap Bureau revisits the legendary action film, but through the lens of a retro-style 2D side-scrolling shooter. After several delays, Terminator 2D: No Fate is finally launching on November 26th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and if its visuals and action weren’t enough, you can also explore alternate scenarios based on decisions, resulting in completely different endings.

Football Manager 26

After cancelling last year’s edition, Sports Interactive is set to deliver Football Manager 26 on November 4th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. While numerous leagues and tons of players are a given, it’s all the other changes that have us excited, including an overhauled manager creation system, extensively reworked UI, and – for the first time – a partnership with FIFA.

Rennsport

What if RoboCop: Rogue City developer Teyon offered a racing sim? You get Rennsport, which releases out of early access on November 13th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Developed alongside Competition Company, it offers a range of different vehicle classes, iconic tracks like Daytona and Spa-Francorchamps, and multiplayer. Early access impressions aren’t the most positive, but maybe Version 1.0 will turn things around.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PS5)

Exactly one year later, GSC Game World’s survival sandbox has grown a lot, not to mention improved by leaps and bounds on a technical level. On PS5, it offers even more, from DualSense support to gyroscope aiming on top of PS5 Pro support. And while it may sound gimmicky, hearing the radio through the microphone or playing the guitar with the touchpad feels right. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl arrives on PS5 just in time to celebrate its first anniversary – November 20th.

Constance

Looking for a less strenuous side-scroller after Silksong? Constance could very well be it with a beautiful hand-drawn style and surreal mindscape created by its protagonist. Even if several of the basics look familiar, combat offers unique mechanics, from dispelling darkness to transforming into paint to climb up walls. Launching on November 24th, Constance will be available on PC, with console releases to follow in 2026.