As The First Berserker: Khazan nears its release date, excitement for the upcoming soulslike is equally building up momentum. The game is set in the DNF universe and features an eye-catching cel-shaded art style. It follows the protagonist General Khazan, a hero of the Pell Los Empire, who is framed for treason and banished as he begins a bloody quest for revenge against his enemies. If that’s not enough to entice players, it features a world design and gameplay approach Soulslike fans will be familiar with.
In an interview with Game Rant, Nexon discussed how The First Berserker: Khazan approaches world design and how it sets itself up for moment-to-moment gameplay. The studio promises hard-hitting combat and rewarding boss fights for those willing to immerse themselves in the game, while also hinting at rewards for those who stray off the beaten path.
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The First Berserker: Khazan is Not an Open-World Soulslike Game
The 2022 Game of the Year winner Elden Ring demonstrated that an open world soulslike could work extremely well if done correctly. That being said, using Elden Ring as the barometer for success would be incredibly harsh on other soulslikes. Most have tended to avoid an open-world design anyway, instead opting for a more linear experience with varying degrees of player freedom. The First Berserker: Khazan has taken this approach, but Nexon explained that even though it can be classed as linear, there will be plenty of exploration elements. As explained,
”While we chose a linear structure, we made various efforts to incorporate the joy of adventure and exploration throughout the game. Speaking just about level and world play, we’ve placed various routes and hidden elements, and sometimes there are powerful enemies or traps. Through these elements, players can obtain important set items, crafting recipes, and various power sources for General Khazan.”
The First Berserker: Khazan Will Consistently Challenge Players Throughout its Runtime
The First Berserker: Khazan will heavily emphasize combat encounters, offering players numerous offensive and defensive options to overcome a wide range of challenging enemies. Fans of titles like Nioh and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice should feel right at home with this format. Replayability is also something that Nexon values highly, explaining that Khazan will offer plenty of that and constantly challenge players:
”While The First Berserker: Khazan prioritizes the enjoyment derived from action, we are also preparing various elements and content to provide a sense of adventure and exploration. The world of Khazan is designed as a space where players can repeatedly challenge themselves and collect valuable items, making each re-exploration process both enjoyable and seamless. The First Berserker: Khazan is not a game that offers fleeting, one-off enjoyment. It’s designed to remain engaging even after multiple battles and explorations.”
It’s clear that Nexon perfectly understands what it’s trying to accomplish with The First Berserker: Khazan. The game will offer a way for gamers unfamiliar with the DNF universe to immerse themselves in it while presenting a challenging, memorable action RPG for fans of the genre to enjoy. Should it strike the right balance, Khazan could prove to be one of 2025’s best soulslikes.
- Released
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March 27, 2025
- Developer(s)
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Neople