Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

How to Raise a Dragon places you directly in the dragon’s claw from the moment it hatches, giving you hands-on control of every developmental milestone. As a hatchling, you choose foods that not only affect your dragon’s color palette but also set the stage for the abilities it will master later on. This initial feeding mechanic feels intuitive and meaningful, as the choices you make lead to tangible visual feedback that carries through the rest of the game.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

Transitioning into the young adult phase, the game transforms into a clever escape-puzzle wrapped in RPG-style exploration. Trapped within the wizard’s castle, you’ll navigate winding corridors, solve environmental riddles, and subtly experiment with different breath abilities—fire, healing, plant growth, or none—by consuming special items. The pacing here hits a sweet spot between tension and discovery, keeping you invested in uncovering both the castle’s secrets and your own growing power.

Once adulthood arrives, the gameplay opens up into a semi–open world where interaction with human settlements and the choice of lair become pivotal. Your dragon’s behavior—aggressive, benevolent, or neutral—shapes villagers’ reactions and available side activities, such as helping farmers or testing your might on wandering knights. Finally, the climactic stage introduces a hero whose fate intertwines with yours, delivering a branching narrative that hinges on whether you slay, befriend, or demand tribute, each decision unlocking one of five distinct endings. This layered structure ensures strong replayability, as every playthrough can reveal new mechanics and story beats.

Graphics

The visual design of How to Raise a Dragon is a striking blend of painterly backgrounds and crisp character animations. From the warm, golden hues of the hatchling’s nest to the stormy gothic spires of the wizard’s castle, each environment boasts rich detail that immerses you in its world. Subtle weather effects and dynamic lighting help enhance the mood during tense escapes or peaceful countryside flights.

Character art shines when showcasing the dragon’s evolving appearance. Your dietary choices as a hatchling manifest in unique skin patterns, scales, and wing shapes, while breath-ability effects—fiery bursts, verdant vines, or soothing glows—look spectacular in motion. Animations are fluid, whether your dragon is taking its first clumsy flaps or performing full aerial loops over a medieval village, giving a satisfying sense of growth and power.

Interiors and NPC design receive equal attention. Wizard’s castle halls feel cold and ominous, with flickering torches casting dancing shadows, whereas village markets bustle with colorful stalls and expressive vendors. Even minor visual cues, like villagers’ changing facial expressions based on your dragon’s reputation, reinforce the game’s core mechanic of choice and consequence, making every corner of the world feel thoughtfully crafted.

Story

How to Raise a Dragon weaves a deceptively simple premise into a multi-act saga filled with emotional highs and moral quandaries. The journey begins with the vulnerable hatchling stage, where nurturing decisions form a subtle bond between player and creature. This early bonding makes the later stages feel deeply personal, as you’re not just controlling a beast—you’re guiding a life.

During the young adult phase, the narrative tension heightens. The wizard’s motives remain murky, and the castle’s history unfolds through environmental storytelling rather than heavy-handed exposition. Finding hidden journals or overhearing cryptic wizard experiments adds layers of intrigue without stalling the gameplay, maintaining momentum while enriching the lore.

The final act brings the story full circle with the arrival of a hero whose own backstory intersects with your dragon’s path. As you decide whether to forge an alliance, demand tribute, or enter mortal combat, the game delivers meaningful closure. Five unique endings ensure that the dragon’s tale feels tailored to your decisions, encouraging multiple playthroughs to experience every narrative branch.

Overall Experience

How to Raise a Dragon strikes an impressive balance between player agency and narrative structure. The four life stages each introduce distinct mechanics—feeding, escaping, exploring, and choosing moral outcomes—yet they all contribute cohesively to the overarching tale of growth and destiny. This well-paced progression keeps players engaged from the first egg crack to the final confrontation.

Replay value is one of the game’s strongest suits. With different color schemes, breath abilities, behavior archetypes, and heroic outcomes, you’ll discover fresh combinations of visuals and storylines on subsequent runs. The choices rarely feel superficial; instead, they ripple through gameplay and dialogue, offering genuine variations in how NPCs interact with your dragon.

While some players might wish for more depth in side quests or expanded co-op possibilities, the core experience remains compelling and polished. If you’re drawn to character-driven progression, atmospheric worlds, and moral choice mechanics, How to Raise a Dragon delivers an enchanting adventure that will leave you eager to embark on a new hatchling-to-legend journey time and again.

Retro Replay Score

null/10