The action RPG genre has never lacked dark fantasy adventures. From cursed kingdoms and fallen heroes to worlds consumed by ancient evils, players have explored countless landscapes filled with monsters, mysteries and forgotten histories. Yet every so often, a game arrives with a different perspective, one that recognises the appeal of a ruined world not just as a place to fight through, but as somewhere filled with stories waiting to be uncovered. The Relic: First Guardian is shaping up to be one of those experiences.
Developed by Project Cloud Games, this upcoming action RPG places players in the devastated remains of Arsilthus, a once-prosperous land destroyed after the collapse of a powerful relic. What remains is a haunting landscape of broken civilisations, corrupted creatures and fragments of memory left by those who came before. Rather than simply restoring a kingdom, players are tasked with understanding the emotions and sacrifices that shaped its downfall.
The result is an ambitious blend of challenging combat, emotional storytelling and a world built around discovery. While comparisons to other dark fantasy action RPGs are inevitable, The Relic: First Guardian appears determined to establish its own identity through a unique combat system, handcrafted equipment and a strong focus on the tragic stories hidden within its world.
A World Built From Memories
The foundation of The Relic: First Guardian is its compelling approach to storytelling. The destruction of the great relic transformed Arsilthus into an apocalyptic wasteland, yet the world is not merely empty ruins waiting to be explored. Scattered across the landscape are Relics, fragments that hold the memories, hopes and fears of those who lived before the catastrophe. These remnants are more than simple collectibles, offering glimpses into the lives lost and the emotions that still linger.
This immediately gives the world a sense of mystery. Rather than discovering another abandoned village or forgotten battlefield, players uncover pieces of personal history. Each memory offers another reason to care about the people who once called Arsilthus home.
That emotional focus could become one of the game’s greatest strengths. Many action RPGs use their worlds primarily as backdrops for combat, but The Relic: First Guardian seems intent on making every location feel as if it has endured something meaningful. The ruins are not merely obstacles to overcome. They are reminders of everything that was lost.
The pre-order bonus content, including The Night of the Unextinguished Flame event, appears to follow the same philosophy. The exclusive armour, weapon set and Sealstone are not presented as simple cosmetic rewards, but as artefacts with their own histories of perseverance and survival. That attention to detail suggests the developers understand that the smallest stories can often create the strongest emotional connections.
Combat That Refuses to Stand Still
What immediately sets The Relic: First Guardian apart from many traditional soulslike adventures is its approach to combat. The biggest change is its unusual stamina system. Unlike many games in the genre, attacking does not drain stamina. Players can unleash combos freely, focusing instead on managing stamina for defensive actions such as dodging, blocking and precise defensive manoeuvres.
This creates a much more aggressive rhythm. Rather than carefully waiting for openings while conserving energy, players are encouraged to stay close to enemies and maintain pressure. The challenge comes from knowing when to commit to an attack and when to preserve enough stamina to survive the incoming retaliation.
Skills operate on cooldowns rather than traditional resource management, adding another layer of tactical decision-making. Players must consider timing, positioning and ability usage instead of simply waiting for an energy bar to refill. The result is a combat system that feels faster and more fluid than many games in the genre.
This design choice could prove divisive among players expecting a slower, more methodical experience. However, it gives The Relic: First Guardian a clear identity. It is not trying to imitate the exact feeling of classic soulslikes. Instead, it appears to combine the challenge and precision of those games with a more aggressive, action-focused approach.
Becoming Your Own Guardian
Character progression is another area where the game feels refreshingly different. Instead of relying on traditional attribute upgrades, players develop their Guardian through Relics, fragments of memory that grant unique passive abilities. With more than 70 effects available, these systems let players customise their combat approach in meaningful ways.
A Relic might alter a skill’s behaviour, enhance a specific weapon style, or completely change how a particular ability functions. This encourages experimentation and lets players build around personal preference rather than simply following a predetermined path.
The equipment system continues that philosophy. Rather than flooding players with endless random loot drops, The Relic: First Guardian treats every weapon and piece of armour as a unique artefact. Each item exists only once in the world and carries its own history. Finding a legendary sword is not just about improving statistics. It is about uncovering the story of the warrior who once carried it.
This approach gives equipment a sense of importance that many RPGs struggle to achieve. When every item has a history, replacing your weapon becomes a meaningful decision rather than a routine inventory clean-out.
With five weapon categories and twelve specialised skill trees, there appears to be plenty of room for players to develop distinctive combat styles. Whether you prefer speed, strength, precision or versatility, the game promises enough flexibility to support different approaches.
Facing the Brutals
Of course, any action RPG lives or dies by its boss encounters. The Relic: First Guardian promises up to 80 major bosses known as The Brutals, each representing the tragic transformation of once-normal people corrupted by curses, starvation or despair. This immediately adds emotional weight to battles that could otherwise become simple tests of skill.
The previewed encounters suggest these fights will offer significant variety. Some bosses rely on overwhelming strength and intimidating size, while others challenge players with unpredictable attacks and complex patterns. Each encounter appears designed to tell a story rather than simply present another obstacle.
That philosophy is particularly interesting because it changes how players view enemies. These creatures are not merely monsters guarding the next area. They are reminders of the world’s collapse, individuals who lost themselves along the way.
Successfully defeating them is not just about victory. It represents bringing an end to their suffering. If the full game maintains this level of creativity across dozens of encounters, boss design could become one of its defining achievements.
A Beautifully Broken World
Visually, The Relic: First Guardian immediately impresses. Arsilthus is a world of contrasts, blending breathtaking fantasy landscapes with haunting reminders of destruction. Ancient architecture, mist-covered environments and ruined settlements create an atmosphere that feels both beautiful and tragic.
The game’s art direction appears particularly strong. Rather than relying purely on darkness and decay, it uses colour, lighting and environmental detail to create a world that feels alive despite its devastation. The result is a setting that invites exploration, even when danger lurks around every corner.
Character designs also stand out, particularly the larger enemies and boss creatures. The Brutals appear imaginative and unsettling, blending elements of fantasy, folklore and tragedy into memorable designs.
Presentation will ultimately depend on the final release, but early impressions suggest Project Cloud Games has created a world with a strong visual identity.
Reasons for Excitement
There is still much we do not know about The Relic: First Guardian. The full scale of its world, the quality of its narrative and the balance of its combat systems will only become clear after release.
However, the foundations are incredibly promising. The decision to move away from traditional stamina-based combat immediately gives the game a unique feel. The handcrafted equipment system shows ambition, while the focus on emotional storytelling could help it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre.
The biggest challenge will be maintaining variety across such a large adventure. Eighty bosses is an enormous number, and ensuring each encounter feels meaningful rather than repetitive will be essential. Likewise, the Relic system will need careful balancing to ensure experimentation remains rewarding. If those elements come together, this could become one of the more surprising action RPG releases of the year.
Final Preview Verdict
The Relic: First Guardian is shaping up to be an ambitious and visually striking action RPG that recognises the importance of both combat and storytelling. Rather than simply creating another ruined fantasy world, Project Cloud Games appears determined to fill Arsilthus with memories, emotions and characters worth saving.
Its aggressive combat system, distinctive equipment philosophy and tragic boss encounters give it a personality that sets it apart from many of its inspirations. The game still has questions to answer, but the foundation is undeniably impressive.
For fans of challenging action RPGs, this could be one of the most exciting upcoming releases. It combines familiar ideas with enough fresh concepts to feel like something more than another imitation.
If the final version delivers on the promise shown so far, The Relic: First Guardian could be a memorable journey through a broken world where every battle, every weapon and every forgotten memory tells a story.
