(Image credit: Nexon)
Even after 15 years, Soulslikes continue to dominate the gaming scene, having emerged in popularity since Demon’s Souls first captivated audiences. This genre has even started overshadowing classic action games. Remember how Star Wars: The Force Unleashed drew inspiration from God of War? Fast forward a decade, and we see Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order adopting a milder intensity akin to Sekiro. Even games resembling the style of Devil May Cry or Platinum Games studios, like Stellar Blade, fall into this category. Now stepping up is The First Berserker: Khazan. Although the demo at the Steam Next Fest echoes soulslike vibes, the game’s creative mind, Junho Lee, insists it offers more.
In an exclusive discussion with GamesRadar+, Lee elaborated, “Khazan is often labeled as a soulslike, but our vision extends beyond that. It’s a distinct hardcore action RPG, enriched with the essence of Dungeon & Fighter.” For those less familiar, Dungeon & Fighter is a widely acclaimed MMO from 2005 that’s recently branched into other genres with titles like the 2022 fighter DNF Duel.
While Lee understands the soulslike comparison, he remarked, “It’s undeniable that Khazan shares certain traits with soulslikes — precise pattern recognition, strategic combat, and a fulfilling challenge. Yet, it distinguishes itself by combining thrilling, rapid action with a unique skill system, resulting in a bespoke combat experience.” Through my experience with the demo, the closest parallel I found was Team Ninja’s Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, due to its skill depth and combat flow, rather than any singular FromSoftware title.
Lee doesn’t take issue with the soulslike moniker, candidly expressing, “Soulslike conjures images of challenging combat and complex design, making it a strong identifier. From this viewpoint, it serves as an effective descriptor.” He expanded, “Players liken Khazan to soulslikes not just for similar mechanics but because it emphasizes challenge, immersive design, and complexity — all central to our philosophy. Such correlations resonate with the essence we’re committed to delivering.”
Moreover, Lee shared insights into The First Berserker: Khazan‘s difficulty strategy, emphasizing that “Games should engage, not exhaust players.” Enlightening weekly updates, narratives from beloved communities, and more await those who dare take the challenge.