Last updated on June 27, 2026
I never thought a game like Alabaster Dawn would end up being one of the more surprising experiences I’ve had this year. Action RPGs of this style simply never called out to me, not once across all the years I’ve spent gaming. And yet, after more than 20 hours in its world, I can honestly say my entire perspective on the genre has shifted.
The game is currently in Early Access, so a full verdict isn’t something I can deliver just yet. That said, what’s already here in terms of music, storytelling, and gameplay had me thinking immediately about the early Final Fantasy titles, reimagined as if they were built today. That’s not a comparison I throw around lightly.
An Impressive World Worth Getting Lost In
From the very first moments, Alabaster Dawn communicates something rare: a genuine sense of artistic purpose. The visual style is not trying to compete with photorealism. It doesn’t need to. The 2.5D aesthetic is handled with such care and intention that it ends up being one of the game’s strongest assets rather than a compromise. 2D and 2.5D games have historically fared better without drowning in ray-tracing and graphical excess, and Alabaster Dawn understands that completely.
The world of Tiran Sol feels alive in a way that bigger, more technically ambitious games sometimes fail to achieve. There’s a consistency to it, a coherence in design that makes every new area feel like it belongs to the same carefully constructed universe.
CrossCode, But Better
Fans of CrossCode will recognize the DNA here almost immediately. That game earned a devoted following among Action RPG enthusiasts for good reason, and Alabaster Dawn is operating in the same space while pushing things further in several meaningful directions.
The combat system is noticeably faster and more dynamic. Each weapon comes with its own dedicated skill tree, giving every loadout a distinct feel and encouraging genuine experimentation. The gem and upgrade systems that have become fixtures of the fantasy RPG genre are present here too, but they’re integrated in a way that complements rather than clutters the experience. It’s the kind of combat you can sink hours into without realizing time has passed.
A Soundtrack That Stays With You
The Final Fantasy influence is visible the moment you boot the game up. It’s audible from the very first notes of the soundtrack. The OST is genuinely excellent in a way that stops you mid-exploration to appreciate what you’re hearing. Several tracks are the kind you’d loop on repeat during a relaxed gaming session, something you’d put on while playing Animal Crossing or winding down after a long day.
Sound design beyond the music holds up just as well. Each weapon produces its own distinct audio signature, from metallic clashes to beam-based impacts with a satisfyingly cosmic quality. The audio as a whole delivers exactly what was promised during the game’s marketing, and then some.
A Story Worth Following
Discussing the narrative at length feels premature given that the current Early Access build doesn’t yet cover even half of the full story. What can be said is that the plot is solid and builds with genuine momentum. It knows how to pace itself and develops its characters with care.
You play as Juno, a young girl destined to save her world from ruin by confronting and dismantling the influence of an entity known as Nyx, which has been devastating Tiran Sol across generations. It’s a premise that could easily fall into cliche, but the writing handles it with enough personality and warmth that it earns your investment early on and keeps it.
Waiting for the Full Release
Alabaster Dawn is the kind of Early Access title that makes waiting for the complete version genuinely difficult. What’s already playable delivers on its promise across almost every front: the combat is rewarding, the world is beautiful, the music is memorable, and the story has enough pull to make you want to see where it goes.
The remaining question isn’t whether this game has potential. It clearly does, in abundance. The question is whether the development team can maintain this level of quality through to a full release, and based on everything already on the table, there’s real reason to believe they will.
Final Verdict: I Need More of This
With excellent combat, a beautiful art direction, a compelling story, and one of the better soundtracks in recent memory, Alabaster Dawn left me genuinely satisfied for a title that isn’t even finished yet. It reminded me that this genre, done right, can deliver experiences that stay with you long after the screen goes dark.
Final Score: 8.5 / 10
I’m passionate about books and video games. These two great passions represent, for me, a boundless universe where I can “escape” from reality whenever I need or want to. There are so many stories, worlds, and landscapes where I can instantly teleport that I don’t think a whole lifetime would be enough to explore them all (though it would be my greatest dream to be able to).
