There is a certain confidence to Darksiders that still feels refreshing. It arrived at a time when developers were willing to throw influences together without worrying whether they fit neatly into a marketing category. It borrowed the brutality of God of War and the dungeon structure of The Legend of Zelda, wrapped everything in comic-book aesthetics, then handed players the role of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. On paper, it sounds chaotic. In practice, it became something memorable.
Sixteen years after its original release, Darksiders Warmastered Edition returns with a native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade. Originally developed by Vigil Games and remastered by KAIKO, this current-generation version brings sharper visuals, smoother performance, and a handful of modern enhancements. More importantly, it gives players another opportunity to revisit a game that remains remarkably distinctive.
The surprise is not that Darksiders still works. The surprise is how comfortably it sits alongside modern releases despite carrying clear traces of its era.
Story & World Design
The opening hour still lands with incredible force. The apocalypse arrives early. Earth becomes the battlefield for a war between Heaven and Hell as angels fall from the sky and demons flood shattered cities. Amid the destruction stands War, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse, answering the call before the appointed time and inadvertently becoming the prime suspect in the end of the world itself.
Dragged before the Charred Council and stripped of his powers, War is offered a chance at redemption. Return to Earth, uncover the conspiracy behind the premature apocalypse, and punish those truly responsible.
It is grand fantasy storytelling delivered with comic-book flair, but what elevates it is the world it inhabits. Earth itself becomes a character. Highways curl around ruined skyscrapers while ash-covered streets disappear beneath demonic architecture. Abandoned cities feel less like empty levels and more like monuments to a civilisation caught in the crossfire of cosmic forces.
Joe Madureira’s artistic direction deserves enormous credit here. The exaggerated armour, oversized weapons, and bold character designs avoid realism entirely and instead embrace stylisation. That decision has helped Darksiders age beautifully, because it never aimed for photorealism in the first place. Even now, it remains visually distinctive.
Gameplay
Combat still forms the heart of the experience and thankfully remains deeply satisfying. War’s signature weapon, the Chaoseater sword, feels appropriately massive. Every swing lands with force, enemies stagger convincingly, and finishing moves retain the exaggerated spectacle that made them memorable in 2010. Combat sits comfortably between arcade action and deliberate timing, rewarding aggression while still encouraging players to think about positioning and counters.
As the adventure progresses, War regains abilities and expands his arsenal. Secondary weapons such as the Scythe add speed and variety, while Wrath abilities introduce devastating attacks capable of instantly turning difficult encounters around. The brilliance of Darksiders, however, lies beyond combat. This is fundamentally an adventure game built around exploration and dungeon design.
Each major area introduces puzzles, locked pathways, environmental mechanics, and traversal tools that gradually expand the world. The structure feels unmistakably inspired by classic Zelda design philosophy, and it remains one of the game’s strongest aspects.
The Twilight Cathedral continues to stand out as one of the best examples. Its layered rooms, interconnected paths, and clever use of environmental puzzles create a dungeon that feels rewarding to unravel. New tools constantly reshape exploration, opening previously inaccessible areas and encouraging backtracking that feels purposeful rather than repetitive. In today’s landscape of sprawling open worlds, there is something refreshing about this tightly focused approach. Every room matters. Every puzzle exists for a reason. Progress feels earned.
Progression & Exploration
The progression curve remains one of the game’s quiet strengths, never overwhelming the player. War steadily rebuilds his strength through weapon upgrades, Wrath powers, and exploration tools that meaningfully change both combat and traversal. The Crossblade becomes essential for puzzle-solving and crowd control, while later items dramatically expand movement options.
Chaos Form remains a particular highlight. Transformations in action games often lose impact over time, but activating Chaos Form still feels incredible. War becomes an unstoppable force, tearing through enemies with brutal efficiency and reminding players of the power hidden beneath his restrained exterior.
Exploration also benefits from subtle Metroid-style elements. Returning to earlier areas with new abilities reveals secrets and hidden paths that were previously inaccessible, adding extra value to revisiting older locations. It is classic design, but it works.
Graphics & Presentation
The PS5 upgrade does not reinvent Darksiders, but it absolutely enhances it. Native 4K presentation sharpens textures and environmental detail considerably, while the stable 60 FPS target makes combat feel smoother than ever. Earlier console issues, such as screen tearing, have been eliminated entirely, giving the game a cleaner, more polished feel.
Photo Mode is also a welcome addition, as this world still delivers striking imagery. War standing beneath collapsing skyscrapers against blood-red skies remains an iconic visual more than a decade later.
DualSense support adds subtle immersion as well. Heavy attacks carry extra weight through haptics, while Ruin’s gallop feels appropriately powerful beneath the controller.
None of these additions radically transform the experience, but together they create what is comfortably the best console version available.
Sound & Atmosphere
The soundtrack continues to support the game’s tone with excellent work. Quiet exploration sections allow ruined environments to breathe, while combat encounters explode into orchestral intensity. The music knows when to step back and when to elevate the scale of the apocalypse.
Voice acting remains strong, too. War himself still commands attention through sheer presence. His calm, deliberate delivery perfectly suits a character defined by duty, guilt, and unwavering resolve. Supporting characters vary in quality, with some memorable personalities and others serving more as narrative archetypes, but the central performance carries the story effectively. Most importantly, the atmosphere still works. This world feels devastated in a way that remains believable despite its fantasy setting.
Final Verdict
Revisiting Darksiders Warmastered Edition in 2026 feels almost nostalgic for a style of adventure game that has grown increasingly rare. It is focused without feeling small. It values progression over excess. It trusts dungeon design and player discovery more than objective markers and endless side content.
Yes, parts of it show their age. The late-game Armageddon Blade quest still slows momentum, and some platforming sections feel less refined by modern standards. Yet those issues never outweigh what the game gets right, because what it gets right is exceptional.
The combat remains satisfying. The world remains memorable. The structure remains refreshingly purposeful. Most importantly, War’s journey still feels worth taking. Sixteen years later, Darksiders remains one of the strongest action-adventure games of its generation, and this current-generation upgrade finally gives it the presentation it deserves.
