Dragon Sword: Awakening Review – One Hour Is Shockingly Short for a Power‑Packed Action Game

Hound13 has unveiled a demo of its open‑world action RPG, Dragon Sword: Awakening, on Steam as of the 5th—over a week ahead of the originally planned release window during the Steam Next Fest (16‑24). The early launch follows a rocky development history, including a publishing dispute with Webzen that saw the studio terminate its contract on February 19 after Webzen failed to pay the final installment, only to re‑enter negotiations a day later with new investment demands. The conflict culminated in a legal injunction filed on April 21, underscoring the fraught relationship between the two parties.

Despite the turmoil, the demo offers a polished experience that highlights Hound13’s signature action mechanics. The game abandons gacha systems in favor of a broader roster of playable characters from the outset, including the newly introduced Terezia, whose dual‑chain weapon delivers swift, high‑tempo combos that synergize with stuns and bleeding effects.

Controller support has been added, providing a fresh layer of accessibility. While the layout initially feels unconventional—active skills mapped to LB+X/Y combos—the system gradually becomes intuitive, allowing players to execute QTEs without memorizing complex keybinds.

Gameplay pacing has been refined by consolidating repetitive farming dungeons into single, more engaging locations. This streamlines gear acquisition and reduces the grind, while treasure chests scattered across the world now yield higher experience and reward values, encouraging exploration over repetitive tasks.

The demo’s narrative centers on rookie mercenary Ruit joining Johnny’s band and embarking on a mission to retrieve a relic from the Orbis cult. The main quest concludes after roughly an hour, leaving players with a taste of the world while hinting at deeper content to come.

Hound13’s evolution from mobile action titles like Hundred Souls to a full‑blown PC RPG is evident in the game’s emphasis on state‑based QTE combos and strategic character pairing. The demo showcases these elements, offering a glimpse into the polished combat system that underpins the title.

While the demo is limited in scope, it demonstrates significant progress in UI refinement, controller integration, and content pacing—key factors that will shape the player experience once the full game launches.

While the next phase will focus on players who have already invested in the game, the developers are committed to refining the world based on the feedback gathered from the recent demo. By polishing the game’s overall quality and adding finer details, they aim to fully deliver on the promises that were left incomplete in the previous showcase and to continue expanding the experience through a series of DLCs.