The RPG landscape continues expanding, fueled by both large-scale successes like Baldur’s Gate 3 and indie passion projects such as Tainted Grail: Lost Avalon, which channels nostalgia for classic titles like The Elder Scrolls. Now, Fire & Frost’s debut title Of Ash and Steel aims to carve its niche, blending homage to revered franchises with contemporary design—though its current playtest reveals significant hurdles to overcome.

Drawing clear inspiration from Gothic and early Witcher entries, Of Ash and Steel introduces protagonist Tristan in a reactive open world. The prologue and opening chapter showcase NPCs with dynamic routines and environmental storytelling, promising an immersive sandbox. However, technical shortcomings and dated mechanics disrupt the experience: imprecise movement, erratic combat rhythm, and rudimentary controller implementation clash with modern expectations. A lack of interaction cues compounds frustration, exemplified by quests requiring players to hunt nearly invisible insects or decipher vague objectives—issues exacerbated by ambiguous journal entries and an absence of guidance systems.

Visually, the game struggles with inconsistent fidelity—environments often appear flat, while character models exhibit stiff animations and jarring facial expressions. Despite these flaws, traces of potential emerge through branching narrative choices and systems like stamina-driven combat blending Souls-like tension with environmental exploits. Yet these elements remain underdeveloped, echoing Piranha Bytes’ trademark jank without the charm that made those titles cult classics.

While foundational concepts show promise—simulation-style NPC behaviors, survival-lite mechanics, and faction dynamics—the current build feels paradoxically overambitious and underpolished. Fire & Frost faces an uphill battle refining core gameplay loops, implementing accessibility features, and elevating its storytelling to match peers. For now, Of Ash and Steel remains a curiosity for genre purists rather than a must-play, though its trajectory could shift dramatically with iterative development.

Players exploring the Steam playtest will encounter these warts firsthand, from unintuitive inventory management to clunky climbing sequences. The studio’s vision for consequential decision-making and living ecosystems requires tighter execution to avoid becoming mere bullet points. As development progresses, addressing responsiveness in combat, enhancing environmental interactivity, and sharpening narrative hooks will prove critical to elevating Of Ash and Steel beyond its rough-hewn origins.

Of Ash and Steel is currently in development for PC, with no announced release window.

Playtest access provided by the publisher for evaluation.