A dark grim tone action-RPG
Drova – Forsaken Kin is a single-player action game that presents players with a dark, atmospheric RPG set in a gritty, mysterious, open world where every decision has weight. The game features pixel art graphics, reminiscent of classic action-RPGs. Developed by Deck13, it’s available on PCs and gaming consoles.
Drawing inspiration from games like Dark Souls: Remastered and Divinity: Original Sin, it blends elements of hardcore combat and meaningful story choices to create an immersive experience. From its haunting art direction to its morally complex world, it stands out in its ability to balance challenging gameplay with thoughtful narrative design.
Explore a society with restless spirits
One of the most striking aspects of Drova - Forsaken Kin is its atmospheric world. Set in a bleak, war-torn landscape, the game thrusts players into a morally gray setting where survival often requires hard choices. The lore is rich, and the various factions vying for power present opportunities for alliances or enmities. Your interactions with these factions don’t merely affect dialogue options; they change the entire landscape of the game.
Alliances might offer you resources or assistance, although they can also lead to enemies or betrayals. Whether you decide to help a struggling village or sabotage a rival faction, the consequences are tangible and can greatly influence future events. This level of narrative depth ensures that no two playthroughs are alike. Combat here demands precision, timing, and strategy. Blocking, dodging, and counterattacking are critical, and learning the patterns of your foes is essential for survival.
The magic system is another standout feature. You can draw power from ancient runes scattered across the world, and these runes unlock potent abilities. However, magic use comes with a cost, and over-reliance can lead to unforeseen consequences, forcing players to balance their skills wisely. However, while it offers some customization options through rune magic and combat styles, compared to other RPGs, the character development feels somewhat limited.
The Insane Patch update
The game enjoys an active development cycle, which pushes out updates and patches regularly to address reports of issues and bugs from players. Its most recent content push as of this writing is version 1.2, also referred to as The Insane Patch. It's a rather sizeable update that comes with plenty of changes for new and returning players to look forward to.
This update mainly revolves around the new Insane Difficulty, highlighted not just by more tanky enemies, but also brings new behaviors and attack patterns to be wary of. This is for players who have overcome the Explorer and Classic modes and are looking for a more challenging time with the game. There's also an additional Hardcore Save Mode, wherein you're not allowed to die, even once.
There's also a new Snaptor variant, which has red, green, and now blue versions, as well as an additional cave section for the North West Bandit Camp. For players currently engaged in Chapter 1 of the story, they will get a new Heavy Leather Armor and reworked food buffs that heal more every four seconds. Two new achievements for Hardcore and Insane modes round out the list of big changes.
Unravel the secrets of the past
If you’re into action-RPG games, Drova – Forsaken Kin is a must-try game. Its brutal combat and deeply layered world create an experience that challenges both your reflexes and your morals. It demands engagement on multiple levels, rewarding players who are willing to invest the time and effort. The game also offers a magic system, enhancing the player’s gameplay and combat.