Dragonkin: The Banished

I was worried that this would be hellishly overwhelming and time-consuming. Thankfully, I was wrong. Although there is plenty to learn, everything feels achievable. Additionally, working through every element doesn’t feel like a slog. Therefore, you can experiment and try out new characters without feeling like you are wasting your time. Accordingly, it is a great game, and I recommend grabbing a copy from the Xbox store!

Dragonkin makes a mild attempt to walk among giants. With moments of great potential and elements of great design but poor implementation and lacklustre performances, this game only manages to be 'okay'

Priced at just $24.99, there’s no doubt that Dragonkin: The Banished delivers a lot of interesting ideas and a fun hack-and-slash experience.

A decent enough story and great visuals with solid combat unfortunately isn't enough to overcome the myriad bland systems and mechanics that make up the rest of the action. If this was the first ARPG that someone gets into, I can imagine they’d have a blast for a few hours, but when you’ve played a fair few in the genre, you may end up feeling like there are too many facets of the game that lack charisma and subtlety to make this a recommended purchase, and in a game such as this, that can really be make or break.

If you like action RPGs and enjoy fine-tuning your own builds, Dragonkin has something to offer you. Just don't expect a game that will dethrone the king of the genre. It's more of an interesting experiment with a few great ideas that could use a little more polish.

Dragonkin: The Banished is no Path of Exile or Grim Dawn, and it doesn’t need to be. Instead, it stands as a clear improvement over the studio’s previous effort. The combat feels solid, and there’s a substantial amount of content to dive into for its $24.99 price point. With the foundation in place, Eko Software seems poised to only improve further from here.

With its terrible voice acting and some minor gameplay issues, Dragonkin: The Banished isn't a faultless experience. As far as action RPGs in the vein of Diablo go though, it's one of the best there is, with a fantastic skill system and enjoyable city development.

Eko Software's new project is an action RPG that aims to carve out a niche for itself among the giants of the genre through the strength of its ideas. Unfortunately, however, its excellent systemic design and superb soundtrack are ultimately undermined by a technically and structurally flawed execution. Combat mechanics that become repetitive over time, sloppy balancing, and a clunky user interface prevent it from making the leap to the next level. It’s a title recommended for die-hard fans of the genre looking for a complex build-crafting system, but it’s bound to frustrate those seeking a smooth, modern, and polished experience.

Dragonkin: The Banished is an action RPG that is genuinely enjoyable, for a time. Slaying countless dragons whilst constantly upgrading your gear is a satisfying gameplay loop. A less-than-engaging narrative and lack of customisation do dampen the experience somewhat, but this won’t be the next game you’ll be spending months playing. As it stands, Dragonkin is a title I would recommend, but perhaps wait for a sale. However, if you have a readily available co-op partner, then this is a fun fantasy romp that is infinitely more enjoyable with a friend. A Thumb Culture Silver Award is handed to Dragonkin: The Banished.

Dragonkin: The Banished is a solid title. With satisfying combat, solid visuals, and intriguing ways to optimize your builds, it provides hours of enjoyment. It’s not flawless, yet it unquestionably deserves more recognition than it has received so far.