Combining the otherworldly environments and storytelling of Diablo with the addictive mechanics and familiar gameplay of The Elder Scrolls, solo developer Manthos Lappas' Asthenia introduces audiences to a new dark fantasy adventure set in an ancient dying world ruled by powerful entities waging an endless war of loss, grief, and fate. Current in development for PC via Steam and eyeing a 2027 release window, Asthenia blends exploration, combat, and "no hand-holding" progression to push players to the limit, as they face off against horrific creatures and fight through an oppressive atmosphere in an attempt to find the origin of the rotting disease that has consumed the lands and left the unfeeling gods to rule in absolute desolation.
A number of dark fantasy action games have risen to prominence over the years, with the likes of the Diablo and Dark Souls franchises among the most beloved of the genre. While Asthenia certainly takes inspiration from its predecessors, it also introduces unique features that set it aside from those that came before it.
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Asthenia Blends FPS Gameplay with Dark Fantasy World-building
In Asthenia, players take on the role of lone protagonist Adam, an ordinary man cast into a decaying realm ravaged by a mysterious corrupting disease and controlled by ancient gods. Adam must fight for survival against distorted foes, utilizing tainted artifacts and a primordial Ancient Gauntlet that will grant him special abilities to not only defeat inhuman enemies but to interact with the world around him. Through environmental details, fragmented letters, auditory revelations, and visual symbolism, the tale of Asthenia will unravel before Adam, bringing him closer to understanding his own faith and his unexpected fate. Combat focuses on deliberate close-range encounters while resources remain scarce, forcing players to overcome the constant dangers with quick-thinking. They will want to be careful, though, as the choices made in Asthenia will lead players along multiple split paths and result in one of three distinct endings for Adam.
Similar to games like The Elder Scrolls, Adam's upgradable Ancient Gauntlet will allow him to fight enemies in close-quarters combat while also granting him access to a secondary secret weapon to dual wield. Common enemies, along with tougher hidden foes and bosses, will test players' skills while providing both rewards and penalties, encouraging Adam to not only use his Gauntlet but also utilize traps and destructible environmental objects to defeat foes. Adam will also be able to awaken ancient guardians to fight alongside him, making for epic-scale battles and introducing the potential to unveil new clues to the true reason behind the ongoing war, the devastating disease, and the fate of Adam's journey.
Some of the more intriguing gameplay features of Asthenia besides the Ancient Gauntlet include limited resources, a la games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, and a complete lack of in-game maps or quest markers, forcing players to experience the challenges of Asthenia just as Adam does. Interested players can now wishlist Asthenia on Steam and can look forward to a playable demo launching soon.
The popularity of high fantasy games with Gothic tones has continued to rise, with mega-hits like Bloodborne and Elden Ring proving that dark storytelling remains one of the most beloved elements of action-focused gaming. With its use of a first-person perspective, Asthenia looks to add even greater immersion into its oppressive atmosphere and corrupted world, which could make it a standout within the already impressive lineup of otherworldly entries. Players can follow along for more updates on dark fantasy games like Asthenia, Diablo, Dark Souls, as well as news on other indie games coming to PC via Steam.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- October 28, 2016
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
