Intro: A Healthy Mix of Genres
When I was given the chance to cover a game that mixes RPG systems, roguelike design, and the chaotic, gore-filled joy of stacking bodies like Killing Floor or Vermintide, I didn’t hesitate. At its core, this genre proves how simple gaming can sometimes be. Pushing through hundreds of enemies toward the next room, uncovering hidden loot in a maze of death, or just reveling in the cycle of hacking limbs has always drawn players in. The simplicity of mowing down hordes of enemies is a loop that never really dies.
Daimon Blades aims to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors while carving its own path. On the surface it feels like a medieval spin on Killing Floor with it’s brutal melee focused combat, but digging deeper reveals layered RPG and roguelike mechanics that feel perfect for the world presented. The real question is: does it have the depth to keep players hooked? Let’s find out.
Check out our Daimon Blades Beginner’s Guide to get you started!
The World: An Archaic Dive Into The Depths of Hell
If there’s one thing Daimon Blades excels at it’s the atmosphere. The game opens in a dimly lit hub filled with various NPCs offering different services to assist you on your journey. The Armorer outfits your gear, the Threshold Watcher sends you on missions, and every character speaks in harsh, guttural Latin that reinforces the grim setting of some twisted history of the Crusades. The hub sets the tone, but it’s just the gateway. The real descent begins when you step through its doors.
From there you’ll choose a mission with varying modifiers, each altering the difficulty, extra damage buffs, swarming hordes, or survival challenges. After that, your group votes on one of three maps. These range from decrepit prisons and winding mazes to set-pieces like a sewer climb with lava racing upward. Their proprietary tech generates unique levels for every expedition, with a vast set of objectives randomly selected with 9 distinct biomes at launch. Each expedition is meant to be truly unique, and the developers did a good job on that front.
The Early Access story is straightforward but fitting. Your goal is to stop your mentor, the Hermit, from completing a soul-harvesting ritual by any means necessary. Progress takes you deeper into Daimon’s realm, fighting a host of varied and unique bosses along the way. While the premise could be dismissed as “kill everything fast”, it actually hints at a richer narrative lurking beneath the blood-soaked loop. During your expeditions you will find new Books that unlock powerful new skills for your Daimon weapon, Sacred text to expand the storytelling, Scrolls that bestow corrupted effects, and Alchemy power to further expand your deadly arsenal.
Gameplay: A Satisfying Mix of Melee Slaughter
Combat is where Daimon Blades shines. It feels weighty, violent, and addictive, from shredding mobs to tackling diverse bosses. You have the option to attempt your run solo in an offline mode or join up to four friends online for joint carnage. There are no rigid classes or set heroes to limit your fun: just the freedom to build your own playstyle. The RPG mechanics let you level up with currency earned in each run, while roguelike elements drive replay ability. Procedural maps and randomized objectives across nine distinct biomes mean no two expeditions feel the same. Exploration is rewarded with treasure chests, power-up obelisks, and encounters with varied daimons.
Weapons steal the show. Each is bound to a Daimon, a sentient spirit that talks to you, reacts to your performance, and sometimes plays tricks depending on your bond with them. With six weapon families and endless upgrade paths in early access, customization feels limited to your own creativity. Weapons grow by feeding on enemy blood, unlocking buffs and elemental powers, while obelisks add mid-run skills to give you active or passive bonuses. The freedom of choice is Daimon Blades strongest feature, and it works brilliantly.
Worth Noting: A Word of Caution To This Tale
Here’s the catch: stability. I crashed more times than I’m willing to admit. It didn’t matter where I was. Map load ins, during NPC dialogue, mid-boss fights, you name it. Across just a few hours I had nearly a dozen crashes, always ending in the dreaded Unreal Engine 5 error screen. It’s frustrating because outside of the medley of crashes, performance is excellent. Visuals look sharp, character and enemy models are detailed, and the game runs smoothly even at the highest settings. But the instance-based design makes crashing worse, as all progress from that run is lost. The developers are patching issues as of the writing of this article, but for now it’s something you need to know going in.
Ending Thoughts: A Great Idea With A Bright Future
It’s no secret that I enjoyed my time in Daimon Blades. If I could sing it’s praises from the highest mountain I would, but the crashing issue are more than enough to nearly ruin what I thought was a great experience. The Daimon system feels new and intuitive in a genre plagued with similar mechanics, the world and the story attached to it are more than interesting enough to warrant endless hours of entertainment solo or with your friends, and the gameplay feels buttery smooth to execute. If they can iron out the crashing issues, I believe we have the foundations of a game that will be enjoyed for years to come.
