There’s no shortage of Souls-inspired action RPGs in modern gaming, but very few attempt to reinterpret the formula rather than simply imitate it. Sands of Aura, developed by Chashu Entertainment and published by indie.io, has quietly evolved over several years — beginning life in Early Access in 2021 before reaching full release on PC in 2023. Now, with its long-awaited console debut on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, the game finally arrives as a complete vision.
And what a strange, compelling vision it is.
Blending isometric dungeon crawling with melancholic world-building and one of the most original traversal systems in recent memory, Sands of Aura doesn’t just borrow from Souls-likes — it filters those ideas through exploration, atmosphere, and experimentation to create something uniquely its own.
It’s imperfect, occasionally punishing, but undeniably memorable.
A World Drowned in Sand
The setting of Talamhel immediately sets Sands of Aura apart. Instead of kingdoms or forests, the world has been consumed by a catastrophic event that shattered time itself, transforming oceans into vast deserts known as the Sandsea.
You play as a Remnant Knight, one of the last defenders of humanity, tasked with investigating a spreading corruption known as the Night Plague. Civilization exists only in fragments — broken islands scattered across endless dunes.
Rather than walking between locations, you traverse this world aboard a grainwake, a sand-sailing vessel that glides across shifting terrain.
The comparison to The Wind Waker is unavoidable, but where Nintendo’s seas felt adventurous and bright, the Sandsea feels lonely and mournful. Ruined cities jut from dunes like tombstones. Music fades into haunting ambience. Even moments of calm feel uneasy.
Exploration isn’t guided by markers or handholding. You chart your own course, discovering islands organically — and often accidentally — which reinforces the game’s themes of isolation and rediscovery.
A Souls-Like Viewed From Above
At its core, Sands of Aura is a Souls-like — just viewed from an isometric perspective.
Combat revolves around:
- stamina management
- animation commitment
- precise dodging and positioning
- enemy pattern recognition
Death carries familiar consequences: fall in battle and you drop your gathered currency, forcing a risky return trip to reclaim it.
However, the game softens some genre frustrations. Movement feels slightly more forgiving, stamina recovery is generous, and encounters emphasize rhythm rather than punishing precision.
Combat is deliberate rather than fast. Each swing matters. Overextending often leads to disaster, especially against elite enemies or bosses that demand patience.
The top-down viewpoint creates an interesting dynamic: situational awareness becomes critical. Enemies can flank from off-screen angles, forcing constant spatial awareness rather than tunnel vision.
It feels less like Dark Souls and more like a hybrid of Souls mechanics and classic action RPG structure — a risky blend that mostly succeeds.
Weapons Built, Not Found
One of the game’s strongest systems is weapon forging.
Instead of discovering fully formed weapons, you collect individual components:
- blades
- pommels
- shafts
- magical runes
These pieces can be combined to create entirely new weapons tailored to your playstyle. Want a slow, devastating glaive? Possible. Prefer agile dual blades with status effects? Also viable.
This modular design transforms progression. Improvement isn’t about leveling up a character — there are no traditional levels — but about experimenting with equipment builds.
It encourages creativity and adaptation. If a boss feels impossible, the solution may not be skill alone but rethinking your gear entirely.
Few RPGs make crafting feel this central to identity, and it’s easily one of Sands of Aura’s defining successes.
Starspire: A Beacon in the Dark
Between expeditions, players return to Starspire, a hub that evolves throughout the game.
Here, rescued NPCs establish shops, offer lore, and unlock new gameplay systems. Watching the hub slowly come alive provides emotional grounding amid the bleak world.
Each new arrival deepens understanding of Talamhel’s downfall. Dialogue rarely overwhelms players with exposition; instead, stories unfold gradually through conversations and environmental clues.
This quiet storytelling works beautifully. The world feels ancient, wounded, and layered with forgotten histories.
Islands as Dungeons
Every island functions as a handcrafted dungeon, often featuring vertical layouts, environmental hazards, and tightly designed combat encounters.
Some highlights include:
- collapsing temples buried beneath sandstorms
- corrupted fortresses filled with undead warriors
- surreal dreamlike zones warped by divine influence
Level design consistently rewards curiosity. Hidden paths, shortcuts, and secret loot encourage careful exploration rather than rushing toward objectives.
The absence of quest markers reinforces immersion — though occasionally at the cost of clarity. Players may sometimes wander unsure of progression, which will divide audiences between those who love discovery and those who prefer direction.
Style Over Realism
Visually, Sands of Aura leans into stylization rather than realism.
Character designs and environments carry a slightly gothic, almost Tim Burton-like aesthetic. Jagged silhouettes, exaggerated architecture, and dramatic lighting create a world that feels like a dying fairy tale.
On PS5 and Xbox Series X, HDR lighting enhances glowing sandstorms and eerie nighttime environments. Performance remains stable, with smooth combat responsiveness crucial to the gameplay loop.
The Switch version inevitably sacrifices visual fidelity but retains the atmosphere surprisingly well in handheld mode.
The soundtrack deserves special praise. Somber orchestral pieces blend with ambient soundscapes, reinforcing the feeling of sailing through a world long past salvation.
Where the Sands Shift Unevenly
Despite its ambition, Sands of Aura isn’t flawless.
Combat, while satisfying, can occasionally feel stiff, particularly during crowded encounters where enemy readability suffers. Camera perspective sometimes obscures hazards, leading to avoidable deaths.
Navigation can also frustrate. Without strong guidance systems, players may struggle to identify the intended next destination — especially later in the game.
Additionally, pacing fluctuates. Some islands feel densely crafted, while others appear shorter or less memorable.
Yet these issues rarely overshadow the experience’s uniqueness.
A Souls-Like About Discovery, Not Punishment
What ultimately separates Sands of Aura from many Souls-inspired games is tone.
This isn’t a game obsessed with brutality. Instead, it’s about exploration through hardship — rebuilding hope in a broken world one discovery at a time.
The journey feels personal because progress comes from curiosity rather than checklists.
It respects player agency, even when that means letting them feel lost.
Final Verdict
Sands of Aura is a bold and atmospheric action RPG that successfully blends Souls-like combat with open-ended exploration and deeply customizable progression systems. Its Sandsea traversal, modular weapon forging, and haunting world design give it an identity few genre peers can match.
While occasional pacing issues and navigational ambiguity hold it back from true greatness, the experience remains deeply rewarding for players willing to embrace its slower, more contemplative rhythm.
It’s not just another Souls-like — it’s a melancholic voyage worth taking.
