Bite-sized Review:
Dawnfolk

By Chris Picone, 12 March, 2025

When I first played Dawnfolk, it was still an early, as-yet-unreleased game going by the name of Leuer.  Even then, when there were only a few levels to play, and none of the additional challenges and bonus features were available yet, I loved it.  I love the aesthetic and found the gameplay really engaging, 

Aesthetics

Dawnfolk is a square tile-based game with some really gorgeous, minimalist but very precise pixel art.  Each tile changes as you interact with it; animals disappear from forests after you hunt in them, for example. Forests turn into plains as you cut trees down, or buildings appear as you create them. It's really clear, intuitive, and really gives the impression of a living and breathing world.  Interestingly, Dawnfolk also includes minigames for each of these interactions; they're short enough not to interrupt the gameplay or feel intrusive, and though simple, are engaging.  

Gameplay

The primary game mode is story mode, which involves a series of levels, each set in a very different landscape, and with a range of different goals and challenges. To give you some idea, without spoiling too much, one level sees you trying to expand while facing food shortages in the desert. Another sees you trying to build across an archipelago while also facing off against pirates. Another level offers plenty of space and resources; the catch? The land's cursed, zombies roam freely, infecting your villagers. While there aren't usually any strict time limits to complete your tasks in, you will also find yourself attacked by dark forces every x turns, and these get bigger and harder every time they return, and can become overwhelming if left unchecked. So it pays to be efficient, and that means careful planning to make the most of adjacency bonuses and the resources available.  There are multiple difficulty levels and Dawnfolk also offers unlockable (by achieving in-game challenges) puzzle levels, so there's plenty on offer.

Verdict

Dawnfolk had me hooked on day one, and I was very happy to return to it when it released fully.  It's one of few games where I've actually gone back and replayed my way through on other difficulty levels, just because I just really wasn't ready to stop playing it yet.  One of my favourite kingdom managers for sure. 

Links: 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2308630/Dawnfolk/