Century: Age of Ashes – Skies on Fire

A visually stunning dragon dogfighter that soars with gameplay but struggles with long-term content depth. Rated 6.5/10 for niche appeal.

Game Info

Developer
Playwing Bordeaux
Publisher
Playwing
Release Date
December 2, 2021
Genre
Action, Free to Play, Simulation
Platforms
PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Verdict

6.5 /10

Visually spectacular and mechanically sound, but suffers from a lack of content variety and a dwindling player population.

Pros

  • Incredible graphics and dragon designs
  • exhilarating flight mechanics
  • unique dogfighting gameplay
  • fair cosmetic-only monetization
  • raising baby dragons is satisfying

Cons

  • Very steep learning curve
  • low player count leads to bad matchmaking
  • repetitive game modes
  • slow update cycle

Performance Notes

Runs surprisingly well on older hardware. 60fps is essential for tracking fast targets, so lower settings if needed. Cross-play creates a healthy pool but controller vs KBM balance is debated.

Century: Age of Ashes fills a unique void in the multiplayer market: high-fidelity dragon dogfighting. Developed by Playwing, it offers a visceral aerial combat experience where players drift, boost, and incinerate rivals atop majestic beasts. While the flight mechanics are intuitive and exhilarating, the game currently exists as a polished gem with a small, dedicated player base. For those seeking an alternative to vehicular shooters or flight sims, this delivers arcade thrills with breathtaking graphical fidelity.

How to Play Century: Age of Ashes

You pilot a dragon in third-person, using momentum and tight turns to outmaneuver opponents. Combat is class-based, with dragons acting as fighter jets equipped with fireballs and special abilities.

  1. Controls – Mouse/Keyboard or Controller. Flying feels like an arcade jet fighter; brake to turn tight, dive to gain speed.
  2. Progression – Earn XP to hatch and raise baby dragons into rideable mounts. The ‘bestiary’ collection is the main hook.
  3. Combat/Mechanics – Lock-on fireballs are standard, but leading your flame breath manually deals massive damage. Shield management is key.
  4. Tips – Fly close to terrain (walls, water) to regenerate stamina. A dragon in the open sky is a dead dragon.

Who Should Play Century: Age of Ashes

This is strictly for PvP enthusiasts who love the fantasy of dragon riding but want the pacing of an arena shooter. It is not an open-world RPG.

  • Player 1 – Fans of ‘Star Wars: Squadrons’ or ‘Ace Combat’ looking for a fantasy skin.
  • Player 2 – Fantasy lovers who just want to collect and customize cool dragons.
  • Player 3 – Competitive gamers wanting a high-skill-ceiling dogfighter.
  • Skip if – You expect a story mode or PvE content; this is purely online PvP.

Century: Age of Ashes Platform Performance

The game is a visual powerhouse, utilizing Unreal Engine 4 to render detailed scales and environments. Consoles hold up well, but PC remains the best place for visual clarity.

Platform Resolution FPS Notes
PC (High) 4K 60+ Stunning motion blur and particle effects.
PS5 4K 60 Solid performance, minor drops in heavy 6v6 effects.
Xbox Series X 4K 60 Parity with PS5; quick resume supported.
Mobile 720p 30 Impressive port but touch controls are difficult.

Century: Age of Ashes System Requirements

Despite the high-quality visuals, the game is well-optimized for mid-range PCs. You don’t need a supercomputer to take flight, but a decent GPU helps.

Component Minimum Recommended
OS Windows 10 64-bit Windows 10/11 64-bit
CPU Intel Core i5 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 2.8 GHz
GPU NVIDIA GTX 760 NVIDIA GTX 970
RAM 6 GB 8 GB
Storage 10 GB SSD Recommended

Similar Games to Century: Age of Ashes

Dragon combat games are rare, so comparisons often draw from flight sims and vehicular shooters.

  • Panzer Dragoon – The classic rail-shooter aesthetic, though Century is free-flight.
  • War Thunder (Air Arcade) – Similar dogfighting logic but with WW2 planes instead of dragons.
  • Star Wars: Squadrons – Comparable energy management systems (shields/boost/weapons).
  • Crimson Skies – The arcade flight feel is very close to this classic title.

Century: Age of Ashes vs Competitors

It stands alone in its specific sub-genre, which is both a strength (no direct rival) and a weakness (niche audience).

Feature Century War Thunder Overwatch 2
Price Free-to-Play Free-to-Play Free-to-Play
Playtime 50+ Hours 1000+ Hours Infinite
Multiplayer Yes (3v3/6v6) Yes (16v16) Yes (5v5)
Metacritic 73 76 79

Century: Age of Ashes Story & World

There is very little narrative outside of flavor text. The world is a dark fantasy setting where dragoneers battle for supremacy. Seasons occasionally introduce lore through loading screens and skin descriptions, hinting at rival kingdoms and ancient dragon breeds, but don’t expect a campaign. The atmosphere is carried entirely by the stunning map art direction, ranging from lava-filled calderas to frozen northern castles.

Century: Age of Ashes Multiplayer & Online

The game features several modes, though the player population in 2026 often concentrates on the primary ‘Carnage’ mode to ensure faster queues.

  • Carnage – 6v6 Team Deathmatch with power-ups (the standard mode).
  • Gates of Fire – Capture the Flag variant where you fly through gates to score.
  • Spoils of War – Gold collection mode; attack AI carriers and steal from enemies.
  • Cross-Play – Enabled by default across all platforms, which is vital for matchmaking.

Century: Age of Ashes DLC & Expansions

Monetization is cosmetic-heavy. Dragon skins, armor, and rider gear are the primary purchases. New classes are released periodically.

  • Dragon Pass – The battle pass system offering eggs, skins, and currency.
  • Founder’s Packs – Various tiers offering exclusive legendary skins ($20-$60).
  • New Classes – Classes like the ‘Stormraiser’ added post-launch (earnable or paid).
  • Free Updates – Maps and balance changes are free for all players.

Century: Age of Ashes Community & Support

The community is small but passionate. New players should head to Discord to find groups, as solo queuing can be punishing against veteran squads.

  • Official Forums – Mostly inactive; Discord is the main hub.
  • Reddit/Discord – The best place to find tips on egg hatching and flight maneuvers.
  • Mod Support – None officially supported.
  • Updates – Slow cadence in 2025/2026; major content drops are rare.