Want Real Exploration? Of Ash and Steel’s Demo Delivers

tinyBuild and Fire & Frost have unleashed a free Steam Next Fest demo for Of Ash and Steel, their retro-inspired open-world RPG now live on PC, ahead of its full release on Steam and GOG on Nov. 6, 2025. The demo ditches conventional quest markers in favor of handwritten directions, offers a taste of its combat-focused Arena Master mode and early crafting systems, but details on price, console versions and demo save carryover are still under wraps.

Key Takeaways

• Explore the opening hours on Grayshaft with handwritten clues, side quests and professions.
• Ditch quest markers: navigation relies on NPC directions, signposts and an annotatable map.
• Combat emphasizes weapon stances (axes, rapiers, maces) with unlockable abilities in Arena Master mode.
• Crafted gear often has lower stat requirements, encouraging early immersion in crafting.
• Demo available PC-only; price, console ports and save transfer remain unconfirmed.

No Quest Markers, Genuine Discovery

“No quest markers” is often code for “we forgot the UI,” but Of Ash and Steel leans into the diegesis: you’re Tristian, the island’s cartographer, scribbling notes and piecing together NPC hints (“Head past the mill, follow the cliff to the old watchtower”). If you grew up getting lost in Morrowind or Gothic—and enjoyed piecing together your own path—this demo is worth your time. Early feedback suggests Fire & Frost’s intention isn’t busywork but real exploration, with environmental signposts and a map you actively annotate replacing on-screen waypoints.

Combat & Arena Master Mode

The demo unlocks Arena Master mode, essentially a gladiatorial gauntlet where you grind experience, gold and fame to upgrade weapons, armor and techniques. Combat revolves around three core stances—two-handed axes for sweeping burst attacks, rapiers for nimble bleeding strikes and maces for balanced bashes. Each weapon class has unique stances and unlockable abilities, and the Arena pressures you to swap tactics, manage stamina and exploit openings. If you can brute-force every encounter with a big axe, mastery rings hollow; true depth comes when each stance feels distinct and rewarding.

Crafting That Changes the Early Curve

One demo twist: crafted weapons often demand lower stats than equivalent loot. That smartly nudges players to gather resources, experiment with recipes and avoid long stretches of underpowered peasant syndrome. Success hinges on accessible crafting menus and sensible resource placement—miners’ camps for ore, apothecaries for reagents—so you’re outfitting yourself for an expedition, not drowning in nested screens and obscure drop tables.

tinyBuild’s Double-Edged Sword

tinyBuild’s track record spans quirky hits like SpeedRunners and Graveyard Keeper, often shipping ambitious indies with rough edges that improve post-launch. Their runway can give Fire & Frost space to craft a distinct, exploration-first experience. But open worlds can bloat without strict scope control. The demo will show whether Grayshaft feels dense and authored or broad and thin—an early signal of whether the full release will deliver on its promise.

Demo Checklist: What to Test

• Navigation vibe: Can you find key locations using NPC clues and landmarks, or do you long for a minimap?
• Combat distinction: Do stances and weapon types dramatically alter your approach, especially under Arena pressure?
• Performance & controls: How responsive are keyboard/mouse and controller for melee encounters?
• Crafting flow: Can you craft a meaningful upgrade within an hour, and does it shift your next fight?
• Progression balance: If Arena rewards feed back into story quests, does it trivialize early exploration?

Looking Ahead

PC players know the date—Nov. 6, 2025 on Steam and GOG—but we’re still waiting on price, console versions and whether demo progress carries over to the full game. A console release would be welcome; a couch-friendly, exploration-led RPG could stand out among AA titles. For now, the Steam Next Fest demo is the best way to gauge whether Of Ash and Steel sticks its landing on readable exploration and meaningful combat choices.

TL;DR

The free demo for Of Ash and Steel proves that ditching quest markers can unlock genuine discovery, with a pilot glimpse at its combat depth and early crafting edge. If you miss getting lost for the right reasons, this Next Fest trial is one to explore.