Is there co-op multiplayer in Dawn of New Riders?

No. Despite having two main characters (Scribbler and the dragon Patch), the game is strictly single-player. One player toggles between both characters using a controller button.

Does the game require full reading skills?

Yes, unless a parent sits beside them. There is no full voice acting in story cutscenes, so puzzle hints, dialogue, and quest directions appear as written text boxes on screen.

How long does it take to beat the game?

Most kids finish the main story in six to eight hours. It is a relatively compact campaign without endless side quests or open-world filler.

Are there any microtransactions or DLC in this game?

None. The full game is included on the cartridge or download with no extra purchases, battle passes, or virtual currency.

Do kids need to watch the How to Train Your Dragon movies first to understand the story?

Not necessarily. Hiccup and Toothless make cameo appearances, but the game follows brand-new characters in a standalone story arc.

DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2019Role-playing (RPG), Adventure

72%

WISE Score

50%

IGDB

A simplified, top-down Zelda clone where kids swap between a sword-wielding hero and a hybrid dragon to solve dungeon puzzles.

DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders

game

2019, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure

72%

WISE Score

50%

IGDB

A simplified, top-down Zelda clone where kids swap between a sword-wielding hero and a hybrid dragon to solve dungeon puzzles.

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Where to Play

Screenwise Verdict

DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders is basically 'My First Zelda' dressed up in the How to Train Your Dragon setting. You control Scribbler, a guy who wakes up with no memories, and Patch, a hybrid 'Chimeragon' who unlocks different elemental breaths as he grows. Together, you wander top-down island maps, clear out dungeons, whack trappers with hammers, and solve light environmental puzzles.

It avoids the worst traps of movie tie-ins—it runs smoothly, looks decent, and has a clear gameplay loop. The catch is that it's short, simple, and totally unvoiced. If your kid can't comfortably read paragraphs of dialogue yet, prepare to be on narrative duty while they hit buttons.

For an 8-year-old looking for a solitary campaign on the Switch or PlayStation without online pressure or store pop-ups, this is a clean, competent afternoon distraction.

Age Fit

Best for kids ages 7 to 10 who love the How to Train Your Dragon universe and want a straightforward action game. Younger kids can play if an older player handles the reading.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Focuses on rescuing mind-controlled dragons, teamwork, and rebuilding trust, with clear heroic values and no cynical edge.

Imaginative

Leans on familiar top-down dungeon exploration mechanics where swapping between a human weapon-swapper and an elemental dragon solves environmental puzzles.

Safe

Single-player offline game with no in-game purchases, loot boxes, or open chat. Combat is cartoonish fantasy violence against grunts and brainwashed dragons.

Enriching

Offers basic spatial puzzle-solving and reading practice due to text-based dialogue, though its mechanics stay fairly shallow.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Accessible dungeon crawling gives younger gamers a taste of top-down action-adventure gameplay without punishing difficulty spikes.
Dual-character mechanics let players seamlessly switch between Scribbler for melee combat and Patch the dragon for elemental abilities like ice and lightning.
Zero microtransactions or online hazards mean it is a self-contained, offline single-player experience from start to finish.
Built-in reading practice happens naturally because story delivery relies entirely on written text boxes rather than full voice acting.

⚠

What to Watch For

No voice acting means early readers will need a parent sitting nearby to read story cutscenes and quest objective text aloud.
Repetitive combat and dungeon layouts can make the six-hour runtime feel draggy for kids older than ten who are used to deeper action RPGs.

Conversation Starters

"If you found a baby dragon with powers from three different dragon species, what would you name it?"
"Why do you think Eir chose to control the dragons instead of trying to make friends with them like Hiccup did?"
"Which elemental power did you use the most to solve puzzles in the dungeons, ice or electricity?"

Deep Dive

How it plays on the couch

tie-in video games usually fall into two traps: chaotic party games slapped together in six months or predatory free-to-play mobile ports. Dawn of New Riders avoids both by picking a single classic genre—the 90s top-down action RPG—and scaling it down for middle-grade players.

The game balances two core mechanics. Scribbler moves around on foot with a sword, axe, or hammer to fight dragon trappers. Patch flies across gaps, freezes water hazards, lights up dark paths, and powers generators. Switching between them is instantaneous, which gives dungeons a light puzzle flavor similar to classic Legend of Zelda titles.

"It serves as a gentle ramp into top-down action games, stripping away complicated inventory management in favor of clear, readable puzzle logic."

Reading level and difficulty floor

While the gameplay relies on simple two-button combos and dodging, the story relies entirely on text boxes. Characters make grunts and vocal noises, but nobody speaks full sentences. A second grader who reads independently will sail through fine, but a 6-year-old will get stuck on quest directions like finding specific keys or understanding where to backtrack on the island map.

If you want an entry-level single-player game that doesn't demand an internet connection or sell cosmetic skins, this fits the bill nicely—just don't expect deep lore or complex combat systems.

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