DragonSword: Awakening begins an adventure across the world of Orbis

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DragonSword: Awakening, an anime-style open-world action RPG developed and published by Hound13 Inc., has officially launched on Steam. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game promises a vibrant continent of Orbis, featuring a unique tag-team combat system built around its signature Status Ailment mechanics.

Lute's journey across the continent of Orbis

The story follows Lute, a young boy traveling to Orbis, the first kingdom established by humanity. Along the way, he unexpectedly becomes involved with Johnny, a mercenary, and Castella, an Elf, drawing him into the turbulent world of mercenary life.

Lute's journey (Image source: Steam)
Lute's journey (Image source: Steam)

As Lute spends his days alongside a colorful cast of companions, a massive shadow gradually spreads across the once-peaceful continent, sending his destiny down an unexpected path. Can he become Dragon Sword, the hero chosen by fate to save Orbis?

A vibrant anime-style open world

The continent of Orbis is designed as a living open world where players can freely explore lush fields, hidden chambers beneath watchtowers, deep seas filled with treasure, mysterious caves, and dangerous dungeons.

Throughout the adventure, players will be joined by trusted allies and adorable Familiar companions that can be collected along the way. Beyond combat, the game also lets players gather ingredients from across the continent to prepare meals through the Cooking system while helping local residents solve their problems, gradually becoming a true part of life in Orbis.

The vibrant anime-style open world (Image source: Steam)
The vibrant anime-style open world (Image source: Steam)

Tag-team combat built around Status Ailment

DragonSword: Awakening's standout feature is its unique tag-team combat system. Each of the game's 19 Heroes possesses a distinct Status Ailment ability. Players can inflict status effects on enemies using Active Skills before chaining them into powerful combos with Signal Skills.

The Switching Signal system allows Heroes to swap in and out of battle seamlessly, creating endless combo opportunities. This gives players the freedom to build teams with a wide variety of character combinations and develop their own combat style.

Combat scene from the game (Image source: Steam)
Combat scene from the game (Image source: Steam)

Characters with stories of their own

From loyal companions to village guards, every character in Orbis has a story to tell. The game features multiple factions with intertwined interests, while each Hero hides a deeper personal narrative.

The diverse cast ranges from an eccentric Elf obsessed with archaeology to a mysterious young woman capable of traveling through space. As players strengthen their bonds with these characters, they will gradually uncover the truth behind the world of Orbis.

A dragon awakens after 60 years and the legacy of six heroes

A challenging boss battle (Image source: Steam)
A challenging boss battle (Image source: Steam)

According to the story, a fearsome dragon once pushed the continent to the brink of destruction before six legendary heroes rose to save the world. Sixty years later, the dragon returns to the peaceful land of Orbis once again.

Players must trace the footsteps of the legendary heroes to confront the returning dragon while uncovering the secrets hidden within their journey. Can Lute and his band of mercenaries truly become Dragon Sword, or will fate lead them down a different path?