Grim Dawn
Release Date: February 25, 2016
RPG, fantasy, hack'and'slash, isometric view, crowdfunding, action RPG, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
A dark fantasy action RPG. Grim Dawn was developed by Crate Entertainment, a studio established by the former employees of Iron Lore, the creators of Titan Quest. The action takes place in the dark world of Cairn where a war fought between two mighty powers has driven the mankind to almost total extinction. The few remaining survivors inhabit small enclaves.
Grim Dawn for PC is a dark mix of action with elements of role-playing game, developed by the Crate Entertainment studio, which includes veterans of Iron Lore, who had previously worked on action role-playing game – Titan Quest.
Story
The story of Grim Dawn throws the player into the middle of a dark, war-torn world of Cairn. This once proud empire has been brought to collapse as a result of the struggle between two powerful forces. Although each of them has different objectives, the rivalry between them proved to be fatal for the human race which has been driven to the verge of extinction.
The underlying conflict between the invaders became a struggle for the human bodies which one of the side use as a resource to grow stronger. The second, in order to prevent this from happening, exterminates the human race so their enemies cannot use the bodies of Cairn residents. The war between the invaders proved to be disastrous for the entire region. The bitter rivalry distorted the structure of reality, bringing to life terrifying monsters. Those who managed to survive the slaughter created small enclaves scattered around. Some of the survivors possessed extraordinary abilities and these give hope to people that with the help of a brave hero they will manage to organize a resistance movement and save what is left of the old Cairn.
Gameplay
The first task faced by the player wanting to face in the fight against the powerful forces of the enemy, is to create a hero. Five character classes are given to our disposal which can be combined to form a hybrid. Each has access to a number of skill trees. During the development of the character, it is possible to reach up to 200 levels of experience, and up to 75 in each class. Each of the general levels provides three points to spend on character improvement that can be assigned to either class levels or to raise the issue of values based on skills. It is a quite interesting solution, because it requires to choose between development of the class, which provides higher attributes, more health and mana, and unique combat skills without which the chances of winning battles considerably decrease.
Each character is described using three attributes: cunning, body, and spirit. This is a classic division of a higher chance to hit / critical hit, a larger number of points of life / chance to dodge, and a greater amount of magical energy / higher magic damage. In addition to the previously mentioned attributes rising by advancing in character classes, each general level provides the opportunity to raise one of them by a few points. This system, although simplified, works pretty well and is intuitive.
Collecting items is also an important part of the game, some of which can be modified and combined (crafting) to create new ones. There are four types of objects: ordinary, very common (yellow), readily available (green), and rare (blue). Of course, the more difficult to find or acquire the item, the better statistics and a greater number of special abilities it has. What is interesting, at the very beginning of the game a lot of enemies drop yellow items and not just tons of metal junk worth next to nothing.
Technology
Graphics-wise Grim Dawn on PC looks similar to its predecessor, as it uses an improved Iron Lore engine, the same one that was used to create Titan Quest. The developers have perfected the looks of the areas, however, and made it possible for the players to use the camera rotation function which increases the feeling of spaciousness and three-dimensionality of the world.
Game modes
In addition to single player mode with expanded storyline, the game also features a multiplayer mode in which the emphasis is put on teamwork.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
March 2, 2016
Grim Dawn Review – worthy heir to Titan Quest
The creators of the magnificent Titan Quest certainly didn’t rush their next project, but after years of hard work, we have finally got it. Grim Down is a surprisingly good hack’n’slash, and a solid base for further growth.
October 16, 2020
Grim Dawn: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Grind
Video game developers can make us into doing things we don't want to do. They have much better tools than parents, school and workplaces combined. I was hoodwinked by a game and I never saw it coming. Also: I regret nothing.
Videos and Screens
[0:48] Grim Dawn Crucible Mode
[3:00] Grim Dawn It's Listening to Us
Gamepressure Review
Grim Dawn
The creators of the magnificent Titan Quest certainly didn’t rush their next project, but after years of hard work, we have finally got it. Grim Down is a surprisingly good hack’n’slash, and a solid base for further growth.
Gregory Bobrek PC / WindowsGod is a Geek: 8.5 / 10 by Mick Fraser
With varied enemies and locales, and tons of loot, gear and skills, Grim Dawn: Definitive Edition has something to please any genre fan.
MMORPG.com: 9.2 / 10 by Suzie Ford
There is no question that Grim Dawn moves along familiar lines: Base classes, a tragic world inhabited by monsters in a wide variety of flavors, nearly constant loot drops, action-oriented combat, somewhat "lite" yet interesting story, etc. Somehow, though, Grim Dawn just does it better than any other ARPG in recent memory.
GameSpot: 8 / 10 by Brett Todd
Hack and slash your way through the brilliantly realized horror-fantasy world of Grim Dawn, an instant classic in the action RPG genre.
The main pros of the game
- Deep Character Customization: Players appreciate the extensive build variety, thanks to the dual-class system and numerous skills and itemization options that allow for unique character builds.
- Engaging Gameplay: The combat is described as fast-paced and satisfying, with a rewarding loot system that encourages exploration and experimentation.
- Rich Lore and Storytelling: The game features a well-developed world with a compelling narrative, delivered through quests and environmental storytelling.
- Atmospheric Visuals and Sound: The dark and gritty art style, combined with a solid soundtrack, enhances the immersive experience.
- Continued Support and Community Engagement: Ongoing updates and expansions from the developers, along with strong community involvement, keep the game fresh and engaging.
- Performance on Low-End PCs: The game runs well even on less powerful hardware, making it accessible to a wider audience.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Gameplay: Some players mention that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, especially with the loot grind.
- Technical Issues: Reports of performance drops during high-density mob encounters and issues with cloud saves affecting character progress.
- Graphics Limitations: While the visuals are appreciated, some players feel they are not as polished as newer titles.
- Inventory Management: The loot system can lead to inventory clutter, with players expressing frustration over the frequent drops and limited storage space.
- Difficulty Scaling: Some players find the level scaling frustrating, feeling that it undermines the sense of progress.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Narrative Depth: Some players desire a more impactful narrative with meaningful side quests and consequences.
- Improved Inventory System: Suggestions for a better loot management system that balances drop rates and storage capacity.
- Enhanced Visuals: A call for improved graphics and more varied environments to break the monotony of the world design.
- Simplified Mechanics: While many enjoy the complexity, some players would prefer a more streamlined approach to character builds and skill systems.
- More Unique Boss Encounters: A desire for bosses that feel more impactful and distinctive compared to regular enemies.
Summary
- Overall, Grim Dawn is praised as one of the best ARPGs available, especially for fans of the genre, with a few areas highlighted for improvement based on user experiences.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 1193 votes. 694 players anticipated the game.
Grim Dawn Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows February 25, 2016
Xbox One December 3, 2021
Developer: Crate Entertainment
Publisher: Crate Entertainment
Age restrictions: 16+
Grim Dawn System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i3-2350M 2.3 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 512 MB GeForce 6800 / Radeon X800 or better, 5 GB HDD, Windows Vista/7/8/10
Recommended: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2 GHz, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 1.5 GB GeForce GTX 570 / Radeon HD 6870 or better, 5 GB HDD, Windows 7/10
Diablo Competitor Grim Dawn With 93% Rating on Steam; Ton of New Features in Update 1.2.0.0
The highly popular action RPG Grim Dawn will receive a massive update in just a few days. The patch, numbered 1.2.0.0, is expected to „usher in a new era” for the game ahead of the release of the Fangs of Asterkarn expansion.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
November 12, 2023
Grim Dawn's New Expansion Will Add New Land and Mastery
Grim Dawn will get another major expansion. It will introduce, among other things, a new land, mastery or items.
video games
Adam Adamczyk
August 30, 2023
Grim Dawn Sales Exceed 2.5 Million Copies (5 Million With DLCs)
In a recently published job announcement, Crate Entertainment representatives revealed the sales results of Grim Dawn. They show that the title and its DLCs sold over 5 million copies.
video games
Agnes Adamus
January 12, 2021
Grim Dawn Forgotten Gods Official Release Date
Crate Entertainment the official release date of Forgotten Gods, a DLC for the 2016 hack'n'slash Grim Dawn. The DLC, announced more than a year ago, will debut on March 27, this year.
video games
Agnes Adamus
March 11, 2019
Grim Dawn: Ashes of Malmouth DLC revealed and dated
Grim Dawn: Ashes of Malmouth DLC is coming out next month. The next expansion to the dark-themed hack-and-slash will introduce new character classes, locations and more.
video games
September 19, 2017
Grim Dawn will be out of Steam Early Access this Thursday
Titan Quest developers are finishing up their new action-RPG. Grim Dawn will be fully out on Steam on February 2015.
video games
February 23, 2016