Of Ash and Steel is an immersive third-person open-world RPG created by a passionate team that values both classic old-school RPGs and modern design. Explore the lands of a once-prosperous island, hone your combat skills, and survive in the unforgiving realm of the Kingdom of the Seven.
How long is the game? The main story takes around 40 hours, while full completion can take up to 100 hours.
The intro feels too slow — I want to fight sooner! The early game is meant to start small and grounded, since Tristan, the main character, begins as a cartographer, not a warrior. The slow beginning gives contrast and weight to the moment when everything goes wrong and he’s forced to fight.
If you want early combat, you can challenge Fish in the prologue to try out the basics.
Combat feels clunky, and stamina drains too fast! Tristan is not a trained fighter at the start, so his attacks are slower and his stamina is intentionally limited. Learning to manage timing, stance, stamina, and parries is part of his growth. As you and Tristan improve, combat becomes more fluid and powerful.
There’s not much crafting at the beginning. Your first crafting recipe can be found at Nerest’s hut, where you can upgrade your starting shirt. Helping a wounded hunter nearby unlocks a potion recipe as well, and more options open as you level up. Crafting stations are available early, such as the alchemy table in the graveyard keeper’s shack.
I got lost! There’s no map or quest markers. The game encourages navigation through NPC hints, journals, and observation rather than relying on map markers. Reading notes, talking to people, and exploring naturally lead you where you need to go.
A map becomes available after Chapter 1, and you can mark notes on it yourself.
The enemies are too strong! The game follows a classic old-school RPG philosophy where the world doesn’t scale to your level. Early enemies can be dangerous until you improve your gear and skills. Sometimes, the best strategy is to return later when you are better prepared.
The game feels slower than I expected. Of Ash and Steel focuses on a slower, more immersive style where exploration and player choices matter more than speed. The world is meant to be discovered on foot through curiosity and attention rather than fast travel. Every discovery is earned, and progress reflects your personal journey.
Are there different factions to join? Yes — several factions and guilds become available as you progress. Your preferred playstyle (combat, stealth, exploration, etc.) determines which ones will suit you best.
Are there mini-games or activities? Yes. Activities like regional challenges, optional fights, crafting, and in-world mini-games can be discovered naturally as you explore.
Will you continue to support the game after launch? Definitely — we are planning on rolling out patches and updates to improve the game. More content or DLC? We are also happy to consider it at some point.
Does the game have controller support? Playing with a controller works if you manually switch the input to “Controller,” but full support isn’t in yet and improvements are on the way.
Will it arrive on consoles in the future? Our team will definitely consider this possibility after the PC launch.
Will more languages be added to the game? Translating the game to more languages is something we are always happy to consider, especially if we see demand for a specific language. However, it is more likely for us to add subtitles rather than a full voiceover for potential new languages.