23
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
Verdict
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.
- Controls – Mouse/Keyboard or Controller. Flying feels like an arcade jet fighter; brake to turn tight, dive to gain speed.
- Progression – Earn XP to hatch and raise baby dragons into rideable mounts. The ‘bestiary’ collection is the main hook.
- Combat/Mechanics – Lock-on fireballs are standard, but leading your flame breath manually deals massive damage. Shield management is key.
- 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.