We have no shortage of new soulslike games, but what about looking to FromSoftware’s pre-Dark Souls past for inspiration? A few indie teams have walked into those menacing waters, and it appears Freshly Baked Games wants to follow that route with Queen’s Domain.
The first-person action-RPG, which comes after the indie studio’s (co-developed) free “ambient exploration experience” The New Flesh, takes place on a single island, the Isle of Neasied, where the protagonist seeks their father (we admit this does feel too familiar) and tries to reach the heart of the land.
Of course, expect all sorts of monstrosities and other strange enemies to block your way. With a healthy mix of outdoor environments and deep dungeons, this is the exact sort of take on the King’s Field series we’d been hoping for after a handful of titles that landed quite close to the target.
Its inspirations aren’t limiting the gameplay though, as there’s a heavy focus on traversal mechanics and deep exploration which will take “dozens of hours” to fully discover:
“Wield the Legendary Holy Sword Endu to take flight from platform to platform, and discover an interconnected, labyrinthine world where secrets and dangers lurk around every corner. Fight action-oriented battles with a classic stamina meter, powerful charge attacks, weapon specific special attacks, and secondary throwing weapons. Level up, accessorize, and choose from a huge catalogue of melee weapons on your quest to fight your way through the hordes of monsters and powerful bosses awaiting you in the darkest depths of the isle.”
If you’re not sold on the pitch yet, you can play the demo right now on Steam and watch the announcement trailer below:
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