Of Ash and Steel Review : An Old-school-inspired RPG That Offers A Rich, Character-driven Journey

Of Ash and Steel is a third-person, open-world action RPG developed by the indie gamedev Fire & Frost and published by tinyBuild. Set to release on November 24, 2025, the game invites players to explore a rugged, low-fantasy island with a strong nod to classic 2000s RPGs. You play as Tristian, a cartographer thrust into a life of adventure and survival, navigating political factions, brutal combat, and a world that rewards curiosity over hand-holding.

Let’s follow us at Indie Games Tavern to dive in this indie game review to see what makes this indie title good, and where does it need to improve.

Gameplay & Core Loop

Exploration Without Markers: One of the standout design philosophies is no marker system — quests don’t guide you by a waypoint. Players must listen, read, observe, and chart their own course across the island of Grayshaft.
Combat System: Combat is methodical and stamina-based. You can choose between three distinct combat stances, each suited for different weapons: heavy two-handed weapons, agile rapiers, or one-handed weapons. Timing, parrying, and managing stamina are key to surviving. To us at Indie Games Tavern, the combat system in RPG games is the hardest part for any indie gamedevs to master it, it’d take years of failing and improving, we just want to say that we always support the ones who try to create something better for us as the gamers.
Character Progression: There are three main skill branches — Survival, Craftsmanship, and War. As you evolve your character, NPCs in the world react to you differently.
Professions & Crafting: Beyond just combat, you can master professions like fishing, alchemy, blacksmithing, hunting, and more. You can even craft your own sword, making truly unique gear.
Open-World Immersion: The world features dynamic day-night cycles, weather, NPCs with daily routines, and natural environments designed to be explored at a slower, contemplative pace.
Arena Master Mode: The demo includes an Arena Master mode — a gladiatorial-style challenge where you fight waves of enemies, earn gold, fame, and upgrade your equipment.
Dialogue & Choice: Your decisions, alliances (between two major factions), and actions affect how the world unfolds around you, influencing both story outcomes and NPC behavior.

What Works Really Well

Nostalgic, Classic RPG Feel
The game strongly evokes the spirit of classic open-world RPGs — players who grew up on Gothic, early Witcher, or other 2000s-era games will feel at home.

Freedom & Exploration
Removing quest markers is a bold choice that encourages real exploration. The world feels more “alive” and mysterious, rewarding players who take the time to listen, read, and navigate themselves.

Deep Combat Variety
With three combat stances and a variety of weapons, combat feels customizable and meaningful. Switching between styles allows for fluid and adaptive fighting.

Rich Character Progression
The three skill trees and professions system give players meaningful agency in building their character. The world reacting to your growth (NPCs treating you differently) adds depth.

Immersive World Design
Dynamic weather, NPC routines, natural environments, and no hand-holding contribute to a deeply immersive and atmospheric world.

Side Activities & Professions
Not only do you fight — you can craft, fish, hunt, and practice alchemy. These systems give the world more life and make exploration feel rewarding in non-combat ways.

Arena Mode Adds Replay Value
The Arena Master mode provides a structured combat challenge apart from the main story, giving players a reason to test builds, fight repeatedly, and improve. This indie game doesn’t just follow the drawn-path, it tries to deliver new things as well.

Passionate Indie Development
The indie gamedev Fire & Frost seems committed to a vision rooted in classic RPG values, while also incorporating modern design. Community feedback has already shaped parts of the demo.

Areas for Improvement & Considerations

Technical / Performance Issues
Some players report bugs, camera issues, and stability problems. In particular, ultra-wide resolution support and FOV settings are lacking, which frustrates some players.

Combat Jank
While combat is deep, several users feel it’s sluggish or underpowered early on: low damage, slow stamina recovery, and challenging stamina management make fights feel risky. Some even say you can be stunlocked or overwhelmed when facing multiple enemies.

Navigation Challenges
The lack of quest markers is philosophically appealing, but in practice some players have reported getting lost or frustrated, especially when objectives are unclear.

Survival Mechanics
There are survival elements (e.g., hunger, thirst) mentioned by players. Some feel these mechanics add realism, but others worry they may detract from exploration or combat if they are too punishing.

Polish & Presentation
Critics have noted that certain visual or narrative elements still feel rough: some cutscenes, dialogue, and animations reportedly lack polish. Voice-overs are mixed; while generally good, there are occasional sync and line-repetition issues.

Control / UI Limitations
Some users note missing or inconvenient UI features, like problematic dialog navigation, non-intuitive shortcuts, or inconsistent keybindings.

Jankiness & Euro-Jank Style
Some critics and players describe the game as “Eurojank” — earnest and ambitious, but rough around the edges.

Final Thoughts

Of Ash and Steel is a bold, old-school-inspired RPG that wears its inspirations on its sleeve — but it tries to do more than just imitate. By combining deep combat stances, open-world exploration without hand-holding, and meaningful professions, it offers a rich, character-driven journey with real stakes.

To us at Indie Games Tavern, its ambition comes with drawbacks. The lack of polish, some janky systems, and technical roughness could turn off players who expect “AAA-level” smoothness. But for those who cherish the spirit of classic RPGs — the exploration, the freedom, the challenge — this is one of the most promising indie entries in 2025.

Who Should Play It?

Gothic / Risen / Classic RPG Fans: If you loved those old Piranha Bytes titles, you’ll likely appreciate the design philosophy here.
Explorers & Immersion Seekers: Players who enjoy charting their own course, reading books, talking to NPCs, and piecing together lore.
Strategic Fighters: If you like thoughtful combat (stance-based, stamina management), this will appeal.
Crafting / Survival RPG Players: For players who want more than just combat — professions, crafting, and survival elements give extra depth.
Indie RPG Supporters: If you’re into supporting passionate smaller teams with ambitious “retro-modern” visions.

Who Might Wait or Skip It?

Casual Gamers: If you prefer guided experiences or hand-holding, the no-marker design might frustrate you.
Performance-Sensitive Players: Those playing on less powerful machines or who demand polished visuals may want to wait for patches.
Action-Only Players: If you want fast-paced, flashy combat without stamina management, this might feel slow.
Completionists Who Fear Jank: If bugs or rough edges bother you more than charm, waiting for updates may be wise.
Players Who Prefer High Production Values: If “polished AAA graphics and cutscenes” are a must, this indie title might feel rough around the edges.

Of Ash and Steel Review by Indie Games Tavern.

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