Since Dark Souls' release in 2011, the third-person action RPG genre has only continued to grow more and more popular. But while Dark Souls and Demon's Souls before it contained a range of mechanics from other third-person action games, FromSoftware's unique blend of slow-paced combat, brutal difficulty, and a foreboding setting and atmosphere stood out from the crowd, giving the game a distinct identity. In the years that followed Dark Souls' release, other titles, both Indie and AAA, would attempt to adopt the same style of gameplay and storytelling that was present in FromSoftware's most popular series, and critics and fans quickly coined a new term to describe them: the Soulslike. Now, 11 years after Dark Souls' release, Soulslikes have become more popular than ever, with titles like Thymesia being one of the most anticipated games of the year.

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Thymesia's Kingdom of Hermes

thymesia game screenshot
thymesia game screenshot

Though it took a while for the developer to confirm it, OverBorder Studio has recently announced that Thymesia's gothic setting is named the Kingdom of Hermes. Much like Bloodborne's Yarnham, the Kingdom of Hermes has recently fallen into a state of utter chaos, all due to the hubris of the nation's ruling class and scholars, who believed that a mysterious new science could bring about the end of illness and death.

The Kingdom of Hermes used to be one of the most prosperous realms around, with excellent infrastructure, commerce, and housing. The Kingdom of Hermes was also home to some of the brightest minds in the world, most of which hailed from the medical profession. Eventually, these talented scientists soon discovered alchemy and believed it to be the cure to the kingdom's ailments. As such, they began using it across the realm without truly understanding the risks that it posed. Soon, alchemy became widespread, with just about every citizen using it in one form or another in their daily life.

Though alchemy had become incredibly popular, there were some that warned against the dangers of overusing it. Those against alchemy attempted to stop its use, but in the fighting, an unknown cataclysmic event occurred, sending shockwaves across the kingdom. Within days, the Kingdom of Hermes had fallen into disarray and panic, with most of its population being turned into bloodthirsty monsters. Now, any non-infected citizens, if they still exist, hide in their homes, doors shuttered. Many believe all hope for the Kingdom of Hermes has been lost.

However, that's not quite true. In Thymesia, players assume the role of Corvus, a plague doctor who has just awoken in the Kingdom of Hermes with no memories of where he was going, or what his goal was. If the Kingdom of Hermes stands any chance of surviving the infection, Corvus needs to use his supernatural abilities to recover his memories, slaying any monsters in his way.

Thymesia launches August 9, 2022, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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