Introduction
If you’re craving a deep, old-school action RPG experience on mobile—with modern polish and loads of extras—9th Dawn Remake is a title worth checking out. Developed by Valorware, this game is a ground-up remake of the original 9th Dawn, rebuilt with expanded content, a refined combat system, and fresh systems that add replay value and surprise. On Android (and other platforms), it delivers a sprawling, loot-driven world full of dungeons, pets, crafting, and mini-games.
The story begins with a mysterious disappearance (of the local lighthouse keeper), which gradually unravels into a larger threat looming over the continent of Montelorne, centering on the ominous Castle of Maltyr. From there, you’ll explore, fight, collect, and build your way toward uncovering the secrets behind the dark forces stirring in the land. The narrative is more of a framework than the main draw—the real heart lies in exploration, customization, and systems interactions.
Features
Below are some of the standout features and systems that define 9th Dawn Remake:
1. Massive Open World & Dungeons
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The game boasts 45+ handcrafted dungeons to explore, each with its own layout, enemies, and loot.
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Outside the dungeons, the overworld offers side quests, hidden secrets, and points of interest to reward exploration.
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Areas track completion percentages, giving you clear goals if you want to hunt down “100%” status.
2. Flexible Combat & Build System
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The combat uses a twin-stick style input (move with left, aim/attack with right) that becomes intuitive over time.
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You can unlock spells, abilities, invest attribute points, and upgrade gear to shape your character’s build.
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Pets play a major role: you hatch eggs that evolve into companion creatures, each with their own skill tree. They fight alongside you and contribute meaningfully to battles.
3. Mini-Games Embedded in the World
One of the most intriguing design choices is embedding full mini-games within the core RPG:
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Deck Rock (Card Game / Deck Building): In various towns or locations, you encounter NPCs who challenge you to a card duel. This card game has its own progression, unlockable cards, and mechanics reminiscent of “Slay the Spire” style deck building.
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Fishing / “Survivor” Mode: The fishing minigame is more than a passive activity. You control a worm (or worm-like entity) in an arena, fending off waves of fish in a Vampire Survivors–style survival mode. The rewards from this mode feed back into your main progression (loot, crafting materials, etc.).
These mini-games aren’t just throwaways; many reviewers note they can be deeply absorbing on their own.
4. Perspective Options & Multiplayer Modes
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9th Dawn Remake allows toggling between third-person (2.5D) and first-person views, giving a fresh perspective on exploration and immersion.
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You can play solo or team up with a friend via online co-op or local co-op (on the same device/split or via network).
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For co-op, developers have engineered pet identification (colored rings) so you know which creatures belong to which player. However, in busy combat scenes the screen can become chaotic.
5. Deep Loot, Crafting & Progression
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The loot system is expansive: weapons, armor, relics, rings, etc., each with stats and bonuses.
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Crafting is a core part: you’ll find recipes, gather materials, forge gear, brew potions, and upgrade existing items.
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Skills and usage-based progression: by using particular weapons, spells, or mechanics, you improve proficiency in that domain.
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There is a “respect” option: if you wish to reassign points, you can do so and experiment with new builds.
6. Polished Presentation & Quality-of-Life Features
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The graphics are retro-modern: 2.5D pixel art with smooth animations and upgraded visuals compared to the original.
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UI scaling, adjustable GUI, pet HP bars, and field-of-view sliders make the experience more comfortable.
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Save-anytime capability is built in; multiple save slots help manage progress.
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Options such as enemy density (classic vs modern) and treasure randomization help tailor your experience.
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Fog-of-war effect in the map: unexplored areas remain hidden until you traverse them.
What Works Well
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The depth of systems (pets, crafting, skills, loot) gives real replay ability and meaningful customization.
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Mini-games feel like full games in themselves and provide a refreshing change of pace.
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Online/local co-op expands the appeal, letting you experience the game with a friend.
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The ability to switch perspectives (2.5D / first person) is a nice optional twist that some players will appreciate.
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Presentation is solid: the art, effects, and optimization are generally praised.
Conclusion
9th Dawn Remake is a compelling blend of old-school RPG sensibilities and modern enhancements. It’s a game that trusts the player to explore, experiment, and dig deep into its systems. While the story serves as a framework, the joys come from loot hunts, pet-building, deck duels, and mini-game detours. For fans of action RPGs, dungeon crawlers, or even card-based roguelikes, there’s a lot of value here.
On Android, it strikes a fine balance: ambitious in scope, yet playable on mobile hardware (though UI challenges exist). If you’re willing to accept occasional visual clutter or a bit of grind, you’ll find an experience that’s rich, rewarding, and long-lasting.
Verdict: Highly recommended for RPG who want more than just a casual mobile adventure. It’s not perfect, but its strengths strongly outweigh its flaws.
