NetEase has been putting out quality mobile games for a long time now, but you’d be forgiven for skipping over them due to their generic naming conventions and questionable choices of screenshots. Their latest, Dawn of Isles (Free), falls into the same trap. But it’s a game any fantasy MMO fan really should check out.
I could be incredibly shortsighted in saying this, but Dawn of Isles feels it leans on the teachings of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Its soft cartoon art style, long, swishing grass, and addictingly simplistic gathering and cooking have me wondering if NetEase would ever consider porting it to the Nintendo Switch. I was entranced as soon as the game fired up, throwing me into one of the most unique and charming character select screens I’ve come across in close to two decades of bouncing between MMOs.
That being said, those into the freedom of character creation tools will be let down here. There are no race and class customization options here, you instead pick one of the four pre-determined characters; the bulky warrior tank, cute and nimble archer, tall and graceful dancer/healer, or the well-rounded Mage. You can tweak their face and add tattoos, but that’s about it. It’ll be doppelganger city out in the wild.
Dawn of Isles takes its time to get going. Things kick off on your own private island where you’ll learn how to gather materials, craft items, and build/upgrade your island’s facilities. Before l...