It’s a classic, no-nonsense action RPG from the past that many people may not remember anymore.

Before action RPGs relied on seasonal leaderboards and endless DLC, there was Darkstone. This 1999 hack-and-slash game was simple: you clicked on things until they died, and you enjoyed it. It had interesting features, such as a co-op mode that allowed you to switch between two characters, one of which was controlled by the CPU while you controlled the protagonist. However, the game remained true to the fundamentals of the genre. We loved it at the dawn of the new millennium for its simplicity.

Now, it’s back with an Early Access remaster that improves the user interface, controls, and graphics. You can now move characters with WASD or a controller. There’s also a demo where you can create a character from one of eight classes, explore the initial dungeons, and complete three randomly selected quests each time you start a new game.

It feels good to jump into an action RPG without worrying about which character build to choose or sifting through a massive skill tree full of future unlocks. You won’t wonder whether you should start a seasonal character or if you’ll miss out on something if you don’t buy the latest DLC. Darkstone is simply Darkstone: a game where you click on skeletons and goblins until they die.

We want an action RPG that recognizes that we play these games to take a break from thought-provoking, puzzle-filled games and crave something lighter and more action-packed. The only notable omission in the Early Access version is online multiplayer, though local co-op is still available. A permadeath mode is also in development to make Darkstone Restoration appealing to hardcore players.

The demo is available for download on Steam. Darkstone Restoration was released on Steam Early Access on June 23.

Source: PCGamer, Steam