The Darksiders franchise has offered a different perspective on the adventures of the Four Horsemen. Over the span of three mainline games and one spin-off, Darksiders has gone through a number of shifts in genre and gameplay across different developers, but its action RPG elements remain as the highlights of the franchise.
Nearly six years after Darksiders 3 was released, publisher THQ Nordic announced that it's working on a fourth mainline game. The details are still under wraps, but it has been theorized that Strife might be the main protagonist since he is the only Horseman who has yet to have his own solo mainline game, apart from the spin-off prequel Darksiders: Genesis. This new chapter in the franchise also opens up an opportunity that longtime fans have been hoping for: making all Horsemen playable.
After 5 Years, Darksiders 3 Still Shows the Merit in a Streamlined Soulslike
Darksiders 3 switches things up for both its franchise and Soulslikes by being more straightforward than most games in the genre.
Darksiders 4 is Due For a Multiplayer Option With All Four Horsemen
The overarching story of Darksiders sees all Four Horsemen fighting their own battles to prevent the Endwar between Heaven and Hell and to protect humankind from this colossal event. In the process of this, War is imprisoned by the Charred Council after being accused of prematurely starting the Endwar on Earth, while Death and Fury go on separate journeys to save their brother.
|
War |
Darksiders |
|---|---|
|
Death |
Darksiders 2 |
|
Fury |
Darksiders 3 |
|
Strife |
Darksiders: Genesis |
The mainline games end on a cliffhanger with the Four Horsemen meeting up to prepare for the real Endwar on Earth. They're also operating without the Charred Council preventing them from going against the forces of Heaven and Hell, including their own kind, the Nephilim. Darksiders fans have been patiently waiting for this next chapter to unfold, and they might finally get it in the upcoming game.
The first three Darksiders games have been single-player experiences as each title shared the individual stories of War, Death, and Fury. The spin-off prequel, Darksiders: Genesis is the first game in the franchise to include co-op, as fans get to play either Strife or War. It's still unknown if the next Darksiders game will follow the same format as the mainline titles to feature just one playable protagonist, but the next logical step could be allowing players to alternate between the Four Horsemen and add co-op play.
Darksiders 4 Could Take Multiplayer Notes From Other Popular Franchises
When it comes to modern games that effectively pull off alternating playable characters, GTA 5 always comes to mind. It features three protagonists with different stories and missions tailored for them, and it's also able to bring them together to create a cohesive story. Darksiders has already established that the Four Horsemen are riding again in the next chapter, so it would only be fitting if players get to cover more ground by switching characters or playing as all four in Darksiders 4.
This would not only allow players to use each Horseman's unique abilities anytime they want but also show how each character plays a vital role in stopping the Endwar on Earth. It would certainly be a great way to paint a picture of just how big the Endwar is, which will require the strength of all four Horsemen to defeat powerful boss enemies (and mini-bosses) to weaken the forces of Heaven and Hell.
Likewise, co-op could help lighten the load of Darksiders 4 players with companions to accomplish missions that help stop the Endwar. This could especially be helpful if the next Darksiders game adopts Souls-lite mechanics again, just like in the third game. Co-op mode has definitely improved the experience of games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Borderlands 2 as it encourages teamwork to reach a common goal, and the potential for Darksiders 4 to have players beat bosses, find resources in secret areas, and prepare for a final battle together would cross a huge item of fans' series wish lists.
Darksiders 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 68 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
- Released
- November 27, 2018
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Gunfire Games
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Darksiders
WHERE TO PLAY
Return to an apocalyptic Earth in Darksiders III, a hack-n-slash Action Adventure where players assume the role of FURY in her quest to hunt down and dispose of the Seven Deadly Sins. The most unpredictable and enigmatic of the Four Horsemen, FURY must succeed where many have failed – to bring balance to the forces that now ravage Earth. Darksiders III is the long-anticipated, third chapter in the critically-acclaimed Darksiders franchise.
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
