Thenext game in theDarksidersfranchisehas been announced, though it’s unlike any previousDarksidersgame. IntroducingDarksiders Genesis, a spin-off prequel to the three main-seriesDarksidersgames that moves away from its usual play-style in favor ofDiablo-like dungeon crawling and looting. Players take on the role of Strife, the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse and the last to be aDarksidersprotagonist.Darksiders Genesiswill launch in 2019.
Going off of publisher THQ Nordic’s description ofDarksider: Genesis, the game will be an action-adventure dungeon crawler played from an isometric camera angle. Players will slaughter their way through demons and monsters, collecting loot as they go. However, it’s unclear how much of a balanceDarksiders Genesisfinds between a looter likeDiablo 3and say an adventure-puzzler like theLara Croftgames.
One big question left to be answered is with regards to multiplayer. Strife hints that he’s “not alone” in the Genesis announcement trailer, but no mention of co-op is brought up in the game’s description. Another of the four Horsemen is shown in the trailer’s gameplay, War, but whether he’s played by a human or is just a supportive NPC isn’t clear. There’s quite a meaningful difference between single-playerDiablo-like and a cooperative game like ARPGs are traditionally designed as.
Regarding story, whileDarksiders Genesismay be a spin-off, but it’s still building on the franchise’s overarching story. In theDarksiderstimeline,Genesiswill be a prequel to all the other games. The Horsemen have finished their task of genociding the Nephilim, their own kind, and are given a new task by The Council. War and Strife must upend a plot by demon king Lucifer to end the Balance. As such, War and Strife must hunt down Lucifer’s master demons and end the plot, protecting the Balance between Heaven and Hell.
THQ Nordic clearly sees a lot of value in theDarksidersfranchise. 2018 saw the release ofDarksiders 3and now a spin-off from another developer is being readied for release in 2019. Meanwhile, newDarksiders 3DLC,Keepers of the Void, will launch in July and a Switch version of the game may be in the works as well.Darksiders: Genesismay mark the beginning of a new, broader era for theDarksidersfranchise.Darksiders 4isn’t all fans need look forward to in the future, anymore.
Darksiders Genesisreleases in 2019 on Google Stadia, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
