This retro King's Field successor is a free throwback to the golden age of RPGs

The magic and charm of the old-school RPGs has been somewhat lost over the years, with games like Fable (2027) and The Elder Scrolls VI being highly-anticipated games, but also more of the same.

Back in the day, games like FromSoftware’s King’s Field RPGs were glaringly different and all the better for it. This is why Queen’s Domain is worth raving about, and worth trying for yourself if you own a PC or Steam Deck.

Having tried it myself, Queen’s Domain is going to appeal to two demographics of gamers in my opinion.

If you’re a fan of FromSoftware (especially its earlier work), you’re going to love Queen’s Domain. It’s a spiritual successor in every sense of the word with “brutal combat and traversal-focused exploration”.

However, I think it’ll also find its place amongst the Elder Scrolls crowd. While it's teeming with dark-fantasy elements it also has that goofier, mystical, whimsical side that probably make you think of the earlier Elder Scrolls games, like Morrowind for example. Visually speaking, it's got a similar vibe.

Hell, you can even make the comparison to The Legend of Zelda with some of the bizarre gadgets and weapons you’ll find in your arsenal. You can briefly soar through the air by thrusting a sword with wings on it for crying out loud. What other game do you know of with something like that in?

Based on the demo I played, there was a moderate level of challenge to the combat. There’s less reliance on rolling around like an armadillo and more of an emphasis on good positioning and well-timed strikes. This should make it both approachable and engaging for the vast majority of gamers, so don’t let its promise of difficulty put you off.

Lastly, this feels like a game that’s really championed its sense of exploration. After only playing a bitesized portion of the full game, I was raring to go in search of more to see and do. I should also add that I played on a Steam Deck, and it ran fine.

Like I said earlier, I think some of the modern day RPGs have lost their touch when it comes to exploration. It’s probably due to how bloated the maps have actually become. Games like Crimson Desert are visually striking when you can see out across the map, but the idea of actually crossing it to see everything it has to offer can quickly become overwhelming.

Queen’s Domain feels like a portal to simpler times, and I’m looking forward to playing more.

Fortunately, I won’t have to wait for long. While the demo is live now on Steam, the full game is launching later this month on October 30.

I’m excited to see what people make of it. There’s been a wide-variety of these indie, retro throwbacks surfacing on Steam and it’s been great to see. Keep them coming.