Lords of the Fallen follows on from the 2014 game of the same name, though this time the scope and scale is much larger - and it's out in the wild right now, having released on October 13, 2023.
Developer Hexworks has expanded upon not only the lore of the first game but the world of Lords of the Fallen as well, giving players a huge map to explore, filled with a diverse army of enemies and bosses. Lords of the Fallen features fast-paced yet heavy gameplay that helps to distinguish it from games like Elden Ring, which clearly inspired the team.
If you're after our full take on the game then check out our Lords of the Fallen review. However, we also had a great hands-on session with the game before it was released that demonstrated Lords of the Fallen’s polished combat and distinctive flavor set it apart from many of its soulsborne contemporaries.
But for some more quickfire key information on the game, as well as a look at what we had before it came out, read on below.
Lords of the Fallen - cut to the chase
- What is it? A sequel/soft reboot to the 2014 Souls-like of the same name
- When did it come out? October 13, 2023
- What can I play it on? PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Who makes it? HEXWORKS
Lords of the Fallen release date and platforms
Lords of the Fallen was released on October 13, 2023, and came to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It skipped last-get consoles with the aim of offering a fully-fledged next-gen experience.
Lords of the Fallen trailers
The latest trailer for Lords of the Fallen that we had before the game came out was part of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023. It's a story cinematic trailer that sets a seriously creepy vibe. Check it out below:
We've included other Lords of the Fallen trailers throughout this article. For more of them, head on over to the official CI Games YouTube channel. You'll find developer commentary, as well as lore breakdowns to study or revisit.
Lords of the Fallen gameplay
Lords of the Fallen is essentially a Souls-like RPG, with the core gameplay loop revolving around progressing from checkpoint to checkpoint, with resources lost upon death. It does have its own unique spin on the formula, however, because there are two worlds wrapped up in one in-game map. These two worlds are named 'Axiom' and 'Umbral'. These act as worlds of the living and the dead respectfully.
Through the use of a lantern, players can peer into the world of the dead, allowing them to solve puzzles, and traverse areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. The trade-off is that the world of the dead has powerful enemies that stalk the player, and death results in the loss of resources. Dying in the realm of the living will give the player a chance to cross over to the land of the dead, and another chance at enemies and boss encounters. It's this dual-realm concept that really gives Lords of the Fallen its distinctive gameplay loop.
While exploring Lords of the Fallen's large map, players can customize their hero with an assortment of weapons and armor. If you've played a Souls-like game before, particularly Elden Ring, you'll likely feel right at home. The combat is definitely faster than that found in the Dark Souls series, however, and as a result, the action is much faster and boss fights are more frenetic. There's uninterrupted multiplayer baked in as well, meaning you'll be able to team up with a friend to take on the horrors that await.
Lords of the Fallen story and setting
Lords of the Fallen is set after an age of dark tyranny. The demon God, Adyr, was finally defeated during this tumultuous era. Now, eons later, Adyr’s resurrection draws near. As one of the fabled Dark Crusaders, players will journey through both the realms of the living and the dead. The narrative is doled out by NPCs, cutscenes, and lore found throughout the world.
Lords of the Fallen - is it a reboot?
Lords of the Fallen is a reboot of the 2014 game of the same name. It has gone through a number of name changes, having been referred to as 'The Lords of the Fallen' when it was first announced.
After this, however, the developer hammered home that it intended this 2023 RPG to be a reboot that builds upon what was shown and achieved in the first game. The stories do continue on from each other, so Lords of the Fallen is best described as a reboot-sequel. Having said that, like all modern games, new players won't really need to have played the 2014 series entry to enjoy the 2023 game.
That's everything we know about Lords of the Fallen so far. For more on the biggest games yet to release this year, check out our upcoming games guide.
