Game review
DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders
5 / 10
- Developer
- Climax Studios Ltd.
- Publisher
- Outright Games Ltd.
- Released
- 15 February 2019
- Platforms
- Windows
- Genre
- Adventure
- Monetisation
- One-time purchase, no DLC or in-app purchases.
- Players
- Single-player only
The short version
DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders follows Scribbler and her dragon Patch through an island-hopping adventure of puzzles and light combat set in the How to Train Your Dragon universe. Steam's aggregate reads Very Positive at 83% of 120 English-language reviews, and this review read all 21 negative reviews plus a sample of the positive side.
The franchise faithfulness lands genuinely well — reviewers on both sides praise the art style and soundtrack as fitting the source material, and several call it a solid pick specifically for young How to Train Your Dragon fans. What unites this sample across both positive and negative reviews, unusually consistently, is length relative to price: reviewers repeatedly report finishing the game in 3 to 8 hours, and weigh that directly against its original NZ$40-plus launch price, with even many recommending reviewers adding an explicit "wait for a sale" caveat. A second, more specific complaint concerns accessibility: this review found reports of no control remapping option at all, including a specific complaint from a left-handed player unable to adjust the default controller scheme.
Biggest strengths
- A genuinely faithful art style and soundtrack that reviewers on both sides credit for capturing the How to Train Your Dragon franchise's tone
- Free-flight island-hopping sections singled out repeatedly as the game's most enjoyable moments, giving a real sense of the source material's dragon-riding fantasy
- Approachable puzzles and combat well-suited to its young target audience, with several reviewers specifically recommending it as a good fit for kids playing alongside a parent
Biggest weaknesses
- A near-universal complaint spanning both positive and negative reviews: a 3-to-8-hour runtime that reviewers repeatedly weigh against the game's original NZ$40-plus launch price, with even many recommending reviewers adding an explicit "wait for a sale" caveat
- No control remapping option, with one reviewer specifically unable to play comfortably as a left-handed player and unable to change the default control scheme
- Repetitive, formulaic level design several reviewers describe as structured in sets of three — three main islands, three puzzles, three-phase boss fights — reducing variety across the campaign
Who it's for: Young fans of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise and their parents, best enjoyed at a discounted price given its short runtime.
Our recommendation: A charming, faithful franchise game best bought on sale — both critics and fans agree the original full price doesn't match its 3-to-8-hour length.
5 / 10
Introduction
DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders follows Scribbler and her dragon Patch through an island-hopping adventure of puzzles and light combat set in the How to Train Your Dragon universe. Developed by Climax Studios Ltd. and published by Outright Games Ltd., it launched on Steam on 15 February 2019. Its 120 English-language reviews sit at 83% positive, Very Positive. This review read all 21 negative reviews in that sample alongside a range of the positive side.
Genuine franchise faithfulness
Reviewers on both sides of this sample agree the game captures its source material well. "Flying your dragon is cool, the puzzles are a little simple but they're fun, the artstyle and soundtrack really fit the HTTYD franchise, and it has some cute references to THW and RTTE," reads one positive review. Even a critical reviewer concedes the same ground: "graphics are solid for what it is and fits the style of the series," reads one detailed negative review, before pivoting to its actual complaints. A parent reviewer sums up the appeal plainly: "your kids will love it."
A near-universal length-versus-price complaint
What unites this sample unusually consistently, across both recommending and non-recommending reviews, is a single specific issue. "It is very repetitive... it's also a very very easy game and it could take you 4-6 hours to complete," reads one review. "I love that game so much... But why not recommended? Well reason is it Short Mission. You could finish it about 6-7 hours so... not worth for 40€ for short game but it might worth if sale," reads another — a review that recommends against the game purely on the length-to-price ratio while praising everything else about it. Even many positive reviews carry the identical caveat: "buy on sale, not full price... for the length of the game is not worth it," reads one, and another: "it's short, easy and not worth $30."
Real accessibility gaps
A more specific complaint concerns control options. "No way to change/keymap controls. Who the hell put [enter] to view map instead of [tab]?" reads one review, also flagging frustrating camera behaviour during flight sections. A separate reviewer raises a more serious accessibility gap: "I can't change it to work for left handed people. I really want to play but I can't." This review found no indication in later reviews that remapping was ever added.
Verdict
DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders is a genuinely charming, faithful adaptation that this review's full sample confirms lands well with its intended young-fan audience. But an unusually consistent complaint spans both sides of this sample: its 3-to-8-hour runtime doesn't match its original launch price, and real accessibility gaps, including no control remapping, are worth knowing before buying. A good pick for How to Train Your Dragon fans specifically, best bought on sale.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A genuinely faithful art style and soundtrack that reviewers on both sides credit for capturing the How to Train Your Dragon franchise's tone
- Free-flight island-hopping sections singled out repeatedly as the game's most enjoyable moments, giving a real sense of the source material's dragon-riding fantasy
- Approachable puzzles and combat well-suited to its young target audience, with several reviewers specifically recommending it as a good fit for kids playing alongside a parent
- Cute references to the wider How to Train Your Dragon animated series that longtime fans specifically call out and appreciate
Cons
- A near-universal complaint spanning both positive and negative reviews: a 3-to-8-hour runtime that reviewers repeatedly weigh against the game's original NZ$40-plus launch price, with even many recommending reviewers adding an explicit "wait for a sale" caveat
- No control remapping option, with one reviewer specifically unable to play comfortably as a left-handed player and unable to change the default control scheme
- Repetitive, formulaic level design several reviewers describe as structured in sets of three — three main islands, three puzzles, three-phase boss fights — reducing variety across the campaign
- Frustrating flight-section camera and lack of free-form flight controls reported by multiple reviewers as a specific rough edge
- No voice acting beyond character grunts, which at least one reviewer calls a notable gap for a licensed game built around a franchise's characters
Screenshots
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DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New RidersImage: Outright Games Ltd. via Steam -
DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New RidersImage: Outright Games Ltd. via Steam -
DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New RidersImage: Outright Games Ltd. via Steam -
How the review scores each part of the gameWanderer Editorial -
The essentials at a glanceWanderer Editorial -
The short versionWanderer Editorial