Ashen is an action RPG set in a world without a sun, where the only light comes from a giant creature whose awakening means both hope and ruin for the land. Playing as a wanderer, you try to found a settlement, bring craftsmen into it, and gradually turn the ruins into a place worth coming back to. Building the community is exactly what sets the game apart from its otherwise obvious inspirations — every rescued character brings a new function to the village, whether upgrading weapons, cooking, or crafting protective items, and the village visibly changes before your eyes. The world is also one connected whole with no loading screens.
Combat-wise, it belongs to the so-called soulslike school: it depends on stamina, dodge timing, and reading the enemy, death means losing collected currency and having to return for it. The system is somewhat more forgiving than its models, though, and above all you're never truly alone — another character continuously accompanies you through the world, either controlled by artificial intelligence or, without warning, taken over by another player joining in their place. This quiet, understated cooperative connection was, at the time of release, one of the most interesting ideas the genre had brought forth. Weapons are divided into fast one-handed weapons, heavy two-handed weapons, and spear-and-shield combos, and each category changes the pace of combat enough that the game plays differently after a gear swap.
Visually the game leans on stylization with plain, smooth faces and strong use of light and shadow, which let it look striking even on a small budget. Ashen landscapes, underground passages, and glowing horizons form a bleak yet beautiful atmosphere, underscored by restrained music. Reception was good, with praise for the atmosphere and the co-op idea, while reservations targeted the technical state at launch and occasionally confusing navigation. Today, Ashen is a recommendation for anyone wanting a soulslike in a more intimate and less exhausting package. In the end, the settlement also serves as a measure of progress — the further you get, the more it lights up, talks, and works.
Game 62 of 204 for Xbox One
