If you need a break from Path of Exile 2, or fancy trying out a new ARPG instead of gravitating back to Diablo 4, the Dragonkin: The Banished demo is for you. The upcoming genre rival is about to drop into Steam Early Access, but not before a new trial comes to Valve’s platform. I’ve already taken Dragonkin for a spin, and it’s easily one of the most interesting games to come for Blizzard’s crown in quite some time.
At first, Dragonkin: The Banished presents itself as a clear homage to the biggest action RPGs around. You can feel the Diablo and Path of Exile inspirations in every frame, with chaotic combat and build maximization forming the central core of the gameplay. But this isn’t everything Eko Software’s competitor has planned, as it also introduces a unique new mechanic: the Ancestral Grid.
I talked about the Ancestral Grid in my recent Dragonkin: The Banished preview, and it’s a truly inventive system. As you play Dragonkin you pick up Fragments: small collections of hexagons that contain abilities and modifiers. You then place them on the Grid to act as skills, and can chain different abilities and modifiers together to create truly overpowered combinations. It’s kind of like a puzzle game hidden inside the ARPG, and I love it.
As for the demo itself, you’ll have a lot to do. You start with the prologue which gives you a look at the story and playable characters. Then you’ll have access to level 35 versions of the Knight, Oracle, and Barbarian, whose equipment, Ancestral Grid, and Wyrmlings you can modify. You’ll also be able to grind them to level 50, offering even more build potential.
You can explore two environments, the Perdition Sanctuary and Sunken Temple, and participate in the endgame activity, Dungeon Purification. The latter is great for grinding and finding loot, and will give you the perfect clue as to whether or not Dragonkin is for you.
Lastly, the demo also gives you access to parts of the city of Montescail. This is Dragonkin’s main hub, and you’ll be able to change up your wyrmling companion, sell unwanted items, craft potions, and even create rings.
You can play the new Dragonkin: The Banished demo until Monday March 3, with the game’s Steam Early Access launch scheduled for Thursday March 6. Get involved here.
If you want even more ARPGs to play, check out our breakdown of the best games like Diablo. Otherwise, the best fantasy games have all the biggest worlds to get lost in.
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