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Dust: An Elysian Tail

Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, iOS, Mac, PlayStation 4 • 2013

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Quick resume

Immerse yourself in a gorgeous hand-painted world on a search for your true identity. As the mysterious warrior, Dust, your action-packed journey will take you from peaceful glades to snowy mountaintops and beyond.

Global score

95/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

Pros

  • Beautiful hand-drawn graphics
  • Engaging story and characters
  • Fluid and satisfying combat
  • Exploration and secrets
  • Well-crafted soundtrack

Cons

  • Combat can become repetitive
  • Some boss fights are easy
  • Limited combat combos
  • Short game length
  • Some players find voice acting uneven

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players have freedom to explore large interconnected zones and choose side quests, with some backtracking enabled by new abilities."

  • Competence
    3

    "Combat is accessible but requires skillful combos and timing, with some challenge on higher difficulties."

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus is on single-player experience without competitive or ranked modes."

  • Continuation
    3

    "Players report long play sessions and replaying for completion and challenges."

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity
    2

    "Players can craft items and customize character stats, though crafting is simple and limited."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No elements of dominating or controlling others; purely individual progression."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Players enjoy immersive fantasy world and story as a form of escape and emotional engagement."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and enjoyment."

  • Experimenting
    3

    "Players experiment with combat combos, abilities, and exploration of hidden areas."

  • Exploration
    4

    "Strong emphasis on discovering secrets, hidden chests, and revisiting areas with new skills."

  • Expression
    1

    "Some character stat customization and crafting, but limited visual customization."

  • Fantasy
    5

    "Set in a colorful anthropomorphic fantasy world with magical elements and a fictional narrative."

  • Fellowship
    -5

    "No social or community features; solo experience."

  • Growth
    4

    "Players level up, acquire new skills and gear, and improve character attributes."

  • Health
    -5

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience without physical activity."

  • Idle
    -3

    "Requires focused attention during combat and exploration; not a casual or background game."

  • Intimacy
    -4

    "Limited to in-game character interactions; no real social or emotional connections with others."

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression
    4

    "Clear progression through leveling, gear upgrades, and unlocking abilities."

  • Relaxation
    2

    "Generally enjoyable and flowing gameplay, though some sections can be repetitive or challenging."

  • Sensation
    3

    "Visually rich with satisfying combat effects and a memorable soundtrack."

  • Status
    -5

    "No social status or recognition systems."

  • Story
    4

    "Engaging narrative with character development and emotional moments."

  • Strategy
    2

    "Combat and exploration require some planning and skillful execution but are not deeply strategic."

  • Thrill
    2

    "Some tension in combat and boss fights, but overall accessible and not highly suspenseful."

  • Value
    4

    "Players find the game worth its price with substantial content and replayability."

  • Violence
    3

    "Combat involves defeating enemies with sword and magic, with satisfying visual effects."

  • Survival
    1

    "Some resource management and health considerations, but overall low risk of failure."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026