If you’re a fan of classic Western RPGs, specifically the era of BioWare and Obsidian’s greatest hits, The Shadow Sun by Ossian Studios is a title you cannot afford to overlook.
While it was built for mobile, don’t let the platform fool you. This isn’t your typical “mobile-first” experience filled with energy bars or gacha mechanics. Instead, it is a deep, narrative-driven RPG crafted by veterans who worked on a scrapped expansion pack to The Witcher 1 called The Witcher: Scars of Betrayal and premium modules for Neverwinter Nights.
Ossian Studios is well-known in the RPG community for their stellar work on the Neverwinter Nights series. It’s no exaggeration to say that The Shadow Sun is right up there with premium modules Mysteries of Westgate and Darkness over Daggerford in terms of quality. It captures that same magic:
- Atmospheric World-Building: The city of Shar is a grit-and-sand fantasy world that feels lived-in and dangerous, steering away from tired “high fantasy” tropes.
- Player Agency: The dialogue and quest design reflect the “BioWare style” of old, offering moral ambiguity and choices that actually impact the world around you.
- Character Depth: From the skill-based progression system to the companion characters who join your journey, the game feels like a full-scale PC RPG shrunk down for your pocket.
Gameplay and Mechanics
The game features a visceral real-time combat system and a highly customizable character creator. Whether you want to play as a stealthy rogue, a powerful mage, or a heavy-hitting warrior, the game supports diverse playstyles. The inventory system and quest logs are reminiscent of the golden age of PC gaming, offering a level of complexity rarely seen on the Play Store.
The Shadow Sun is a “hidden gem” in every sense of the phrase. It manages to deliver a 10–15 hour epic that honors its PC ancestors while proving that mobile devices can handle serious, lore-heavy adventures.
Get it on Google Play: The game is currently available for just $0.99 (around 1 dollar) on the Google Play Store—an absolute steal for this level of content.
