Ascent of Ashes

Ascent of Ashes is an ambitious colony simulation game in early access, heavily inspired by Rimworld and developed by the Combat Extended mod team. Players appreciate the game's 3D graphics, multi-layer building system, and tactical combat mechanics, which offer a fresh take on the genre. However, the game is currently very rough around the edges, with many bugs, performance issues, and missing quality-of-life features. Players report frequent stuttering after extended play, lack of tutorials, and cumbersome UI elements that hinder the learning curve for newcomers. The absence of clear objectives and limited research options contribute to a feeling of incompleteness. Despite these issues, the community acknowledges the developers' responsiveness and ongoing updates, expressing hope for future improvements. The game is considered a solid foundation with significant potential, but it is recommended mainly for fans willing to support the devs and tolerate the current early access state. Overall, it is a promising but unfinished title requiring patience and faith in its development trajectory.

Highlights

Players praise Ascent of Ashes for its innovative 3D multi-layer building system and detailed tactical combat inspired by the Combat Extended mod. The graphics and art style receive consistent commendation for being polished and visually appealing. The foundation of the gameplay, including expeditions and resource management, shows promise. The developers' active communication and frequent updates are also positively noted, suggesting a committed team behind the project. Fans of Rimworld appreciate the familiar mechanics adapted into a new dimension, and the game's design encourages modding, which is seen as a strong plus for longevity and customization.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's lack of tutorials and guidance, making it difficult for new players to grasp mechanics without prior experience in similar games. The UI is often described as clunky, with missing features like drag-and-select, task prioritization, and colonist selection bars. Performance issues, including severe stuttering after several in-game days, significantly impact playability. Numerous bugs are reported, such as frozen characters, save file corruption, and expedition glitches. The research tree and progression systems are sparse and underdeveloped, and some gameplay elements like mood effects and food consumption lack depth. Overall, players find the game barebones and incomplete, requiring substantial polish and content additions.