Shadows: Awakening, a dark fantasy RPG from developer Games Farm and publisher Kalypso Media, is currently available on Steam with a massive 90% discount. The game is priced at $2.99 instead of its usual $29.99, making it a tempting pick for players looking for a budget-friendly RPG with tactical combat, puzzle-solving, and a distinctive dual-world mechanic.
Released on Steam on August 31, 2018, Shadows: Awakening places players in the role of the Devourer, a powerful demon capable of consuming the souls of fallen heroes. Rather than controlling a single protagonist, you can absorb and command the souls of up to 14 playable characters, each bringing different abilities, strengths, and combat styles to your party.
The game is set in the Heretic Kingdoms, a grim fantasy world filled with danger, mystery, and supernatural forces. Players can choose from three main heroes, each with their own storyline and unique powers. According to average completion data, the main campaign takes around 21 hours to finish, giving RPG fans a solid amount of content for the current sale price.
One of the standout features of Shadows: Awakening is its ability to let players switch between the Mortal Realm and the Shadow Realm at any time. This mechanic is more than just a visual trick. Moving between worlds can reveal hidden paths, expose enemies, unlock secrets, and help solve environmental puzzles. It also adds an extra layer of strategy during exploration and combat.
Combat plays out in tactical real time, encouraging players to combine the abilities of different characters to survive difficult encounters. Since the Devourer can make use of multiple souls, building the right team and switching between characters at the right moment becomes an important part of the experience. This system gives the game a party-based RPG feel while still keeping its darker, supernatural identity.
Puzzle-solving is another major part of the adventure. Many areas include challenges that require careful observation and clever use of the two-realm system. Solving these puzzles can lead to new locations, hidden rewards, and valuable loot. However, some players have noted that certain puzzles can be frustrating or overly difficult, so the game may appeal more to those who enjoy a bit of challenge while exploring.
On Steam, Shadows: Awakening currently holds a 74% positive user rating from more than 2,490 reviews. Players often praise its dark atmosphere, world design, character-swapping system, and the option to move between realms. Many also feel the game offers decent replay value thanks to its different heroes and character combinations.
That said, the RPG is not without criticism. Some players feel the story does not stand out as much as the setting or gameplay mechanics. The camera has also been mentioned as a weak point, especially during exploration and combat. Still, for fans of dark fantasy role-playing games, tactical battles, and supernatural world-shifting mechanics, Shadows: Awakening offers plenty to explore at its current low price.
The 90% Steam discount brings Shadows: Awakening down to $2.99, but the deal is expected to end on September 14, 2026. As always with digital game sales, pricing and availability may change, so interested players may want to check the offer before it disappears.
