It’s not often that MMORPGs outlive the technology on which they are originally built, but that is indeed the case with Dragon Awaken. First taking flight in 2017, it was a Flash game when it launched, but has now transitioned …
It’s not often that MMORPGs outlive the technology on which they are originally built, but that is indeed the case with Dragon Awaken. First taking flight in 2017, it was a Flash game when it launched, but has now transitioned to a mini-client that can run on pretty much any current browser. Dragon Awaken takes place in a high fantasy setting with heroes inspired by all kinds of familiar legends and myths, and yes, lots of dragons.
Why has it had so much staying power? Probably because it’s found that elusive but desirable balance between being welcoming to new players and adding plenty of content to keep diehard fans engaged. Dragon Awaken definitely makes it simple to jump in and understand with a simple point and click interface to move around the world and interact. There’s also an active community on Discord, which is extremely helpful for anyone just starting out.
Developer Game Hollywood describes the battles you fight as “semi-turn-based,” which is accurate and keeps the action going at a quick pace. Like many modern MMORPGs, you can have the battles play out automatically if you wish — and probably will once you get a feel for which ones you are certain to win. There are no fixed classes for players, and dragons play a special role by buffing heroes on your side and ignoring enemies’ defense when they attack.
Though Dragon Awaken is perfectly playable solo, it also features an extensive set of multiplayer offerings. There are co-op dungeons that unlock once you reach a certain level, as well as a variety of PvP modes. Some of these features are also cross-server, which is nice as it reduces the wait time needed to jump into multiplayer content.
Anyone who has been playing Dragon Awaken for some time almost certainly has reached the upper limits of most of the game modes, which is why the developers add new elements to keep them coming back. The most recent feature is the Card system, which is only for high level players (as in level 50 and up). Gamezebo got an exclusive advance look at it, which can be accessed simply by clicking on the ‘Card’ icon in the main lower navigation section.
Cards come in different rarities ranging from B to SSS, and provide stat boosts of various types. Collecting multiples of the same card allows you to upgrade them, and activating more cards allows the buffs to stack while also increasing your overall card level. More cards can be acquired through prayers: Normal prayers use diamonds, while Advanced prayers with access to rarer cards use gold diamonds.
The card system appears to be a welcome addition to a game that already has a lot to offer, but if there’s a drawback to all that content, it’s that it starts to become a bit of a jumble after a while. The main UI for Dragon Awaken is a little busy at this point, with dozens of icons at both the top and bottom of the screen at most times. It’s calling out for a bit of a redesign at some point, or at least some streamlining for higher level players who can access everything.
Dragon Awaken has so far withstood the test of time, as it were, and appears poised to fly further into its post-Flash future. It’s free to play if you want to see why for yourself, and the mini-client can be downloaded by clicking here. There’s an official Discord channel too.
