While Blizzard (Microsoft) continues to support the Diablo IP, some of the franchise’s veterans are trying to build something new that still feels familiar.

Darkhaven is a dark fantasy, isometric action RPG set in the aftermath of the collapse of civilization. Ancient empires have fallen, and their ruins have been reclaimed by the wilderness, monsters, and predatory supernatural forces. Players are heirs to a legacy of power and represent the last hope for this dying world. As eldritch evil worms its way into the world to feed on its remains, these few must bring the land back from the brink of death. Designed for solo play, cooperative adventures, and high-stakes player-versus-player realms, Darkhaven is set in a procedurally generated, fully dynamic, persistent world. Players can deform and build terrain and structures, allowing them to dig through earth, tunnel through dungeon walls, drain lakes to uncover buried ruins, redirect lava flows to reshape battlefields, and rebuild shattered fortresses. Seasons change, weather alters combat and traversal, and world-altering events leave permanent scars. Every action contributes to a shared, evolving history.

Darkhaven’s combat system strikes a balance between stat progression, build choice, and player skill. Heroes can jump, climb, swim, dash, and traverse the world freely, adding a new dimension of action and skill rarely seen in the genre. Success depends not only on stats but also on movement, timing, and terrain awareness, which dramatically expands the “action” at the heart of action RPGs. The game’s itemization and progression philosophy draws heavily from the originators of the action RPG genre: Diablo and Diablo II. Unlike many modern titles, Darkhaven rejects incrementalism and embraces bold, expressive loot – powerful items that can redefine builds rather than merely optimize them.

“From the beginning, our goal was to make Darkhaven fun to play. Movement is fun. The ability to jump over attacks, climb cliffs, dash out of danger, and swim across a potentially riverfang-infested lake changes how combat feels in this kind of game. It’s not just about numbers fighting numbers anymore. It’s much more engaging. For me, it becomes more about skill, finding flow, and making smart decisions in the moment. I’ve never had more fun making and playing an action RPG,” wrote Erich Schaefer, co-founder and chief creative officer of Moon Beast Productions, in the press release. “Great itemization is about possibility. In Darkhaven, we want items that open doors and gear that makes you stop and rethink your build, strategy, or even how you play the game. Finding something powerful should be exciting and inspiring, not something that gets smoothed out into tiny percentage gains,” added Peter Hu, Moon Beast Productions co-founder and president.

“We’re incredibly excited to finally reveal Darkhaven and open its Steam page. This project represents everything we’ve learned about ARPGs over the last two decades and what becomes possible when those ideas are combined with modern technology. We’re building a world that remembers what you’ve done, bears the scars of your victories and failures, and tells stories that only your playthrough can create. With the community’s support, we’re ready to bring Darkhaven to Early Access, which will allow us to continue building the game into the incredible experience we all want it to be,” said Moon Beast Productions co-founder and CEO Philip Shenk.

Darkhaven is being developed for PC and will first be released in Early Access, though the release date is unknown. The game will also appear on Kickstarter soon. At first glance, it looks like a true retro Diablo game. It’s going to be a hit.

Source: Gematsu