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Play OverviewPlay Overview

From Dust (2011) is a strategy game. You play as an all powerful God of a primitive people. The land is ancient but devoid of humans. Unusually, you control the landscape rather than the people, moving land and water and lava to give villagers pathways to reach totem poles and build villages. The villages create vegetation and attract animals and provide tribal magic so you can protect them from natural disasters like tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

Gameplay involves clicking and holding buttons to absorb land, water or lava into a ball, this can then be placed down wherever you need it. Villagers can only walk where there is land so you need to make pathways by moving land or removing water so they can get to the useful totems and artefacts. Other times you need to create barriers to tidal waves or lava flows.

As you progress you send a villager to gather a kite that protects the village from natural phenomena, like tsunami waves, which frequently destroy the islands. Speed is important during these tasks, as the kite bearer needs enough time to get back to the village before the tsunami hits. Other challenges involve limited land resources, exploding plants and difficult terrain.

The language used by the villagers in From Dust is Bahasa Indonesian from Malay, and the music is inspired by tribal drums and chants. This gives the game a unique feel, and emphasises the idea that you are helping an ancient tribe with special powers lost to time.

Our examiner, Andrea Walney, first checked From Dust 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 2 years ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to From Dust. Here are some similar younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is a Simulation and Strategy game with Adventure and Narrative elements. This is a single-player game.

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 6 hours and 7 hours to complete. This includes the story mode only. Completing all 30 Challenges will double that time.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Rated PEGI 12 for Violence.

Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB EVERYONE 10+ for Mild Violence. From a top-down perspective, players can manipulate soil, water, trees, etc. to help villagers migrate between islands, create villages, and defend against natural disasters. If players wish to, they can also set villages on fire or create giant tidal waves; villagers cry out when washed into the sea and collapse to the ground when overcome by fire.
There is no consensus between the various national classification boards as to the appropriate age range for this game. This is perhaps due to the fact that the game if played as intended does not encourage violent acts, you are playing as a saviour of people, however, the power to save also comes with the power to destroy, and players can be quite violent to their charges (drowning or burning them) if they wish, even if this will prevent them from progressing in the game.

Skill Level

10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. The game requires strategic planning and spatial awareness. It also develops an understanding of the elements and the land.

CostsCosts

From Dust usually costs £8.59.
 

From Dust

Steam Store PC £8.59
There are no additional in-game purchases, loot boxes, adverts or subscription costs.

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 27/07/2011, updated in 2011

Out Now: PC, PS3 and Xbox 360

Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Simulation, Strategy (Adventure and Narrative)

Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer )

Components: 3D Third-Person, Day and Night and Weather

Developer: Ubisoft (@Ubisoft)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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