Dark Devotion
A Templar Knight explores a fallen temple in a faith-driven action RPG.
Dark Devotion is an action role-playing game released in 2019, developed by Hibernian Workshop and published by The Arcade Crew. It was made available for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Development began in 2015, and a successful Kickstarter campaign launched two years later.
The game places players in the role of a Templar Knight initiate, who is sent by her God to explore a fallen temple. She must manage her faith and courage while cleansing the temple of demons. Critical reception was mixed.
In terms of gameplay, the Templar starts by entering the temple and eventually reaches the Filthblood Shelter. From this hub, players can explore dungeons, upgrade abilities, and interact with non-player characters. Unlocking shortcuts and portals allows for faster travel between areas. The Templar can attack, dodge, parry, and block. Stamina is consumed when rolling or dodging, and weapon attacks also drain stamina, with larger weapons costing more. Killing enemies earns Faith, which can be used to purchase perks or as a mana resource. Perks have five levels, but only one can be active at a time; players select which perk to use in the hub and can swap it based on the situation or equipment loadout. Tablets found throughout the game grant permanent stat upgrades, such as increased stamina or damage. Equipment includes two weapon slots, one armor slot, and one slot for an amulet or accessory. Armor determines how many hits the Templar can take before losing health, while accessories affect total health. Blessings and Diseases provide buffs and debuffs.
Heavy armor offers extra protection but slows stamina regeneration, while lighter armor may increase critical hit chances. Bosses are encountered through exploration, and some must be defeated to progress. The four worlds are interconnected, offering multiple paths that allow players to skip certain areas or bosses. Teleportation Altars are scattered across the map, with only one active at a time. In Filthblood, a one-way portal returns the player to the last activated altar. Upon death, the Templar loses her equipment and respawns in the Filthblood Shelter with low health and armor. Weapons and armor from bosses or quest rewards are permanently unlocked and can be chosen as starting gear from the hub. Accessories and runes are lost on death.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Dark Devotion
- Developer
- Hibernian Workshop
- Publisher
- The Arcade Crew
- Engine
- Clickteam Fusion 2.5
- Platforms
- Windows · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch
- Released
- Windows · 25 April 2019 · PlayStation 4, Switch · 24 October 2019
- Genre
- Action role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player
- Designer
- Louis Denizet
- Artist
- Alexandre Magnat
- Writer
- Arthur Dos Santos
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of Dark Devotion began in 2015. The game cleared the Steam Greenlight process, and a Kickstarter campaign launched two years later seeking €20,000, ultimately raising €31,796 by 17 October. The Arcade Crew announced the game on 3 April 2018 with a planned release that year, but it was delayed to Q1 2019 on 17 October 2018. A playable demo appeared at PAX East 2018 and again at E3 2018. The game released for Windows on 25 April 2019 and for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on 24 October 2019. A physical release by Limited Run Games began production in late 2019.
Sources of inspiration include Romantic era artists such as Eugène Delacroix, 14th century French gothic architecture, and H. P. Lovecraft's stories and concepts about the antihero, which helped the developers improve the story arc and character development. The game's interconnected four worlds allow multiple paths, letting players skip certain areas or bosses. Upon death, the Templar loses equipment and respawns in the Filthblood Shelter with low health and armor, though some boss-dropped or quest-reward items are permanently unlocked.
Reader's Guide
Dark Devotion is notable for its blend of action RPG mechanics with rogue-lite elements, set in a gothic, faith-driven narrative. The game's combat system includes attack, dodge, parry, and block, with stamina management tied to weapon size and actions. Faith serves both as currency for perks and as mana, while Blessings and Diseases provide buffs and debuffs. The interconnected world design and teleportation altars offer strategic exploration, and the permanent loss of equipment on death reinforces a risk-reward loop. Critics compared it favorably to the Dark Souls series, praising its visuals and combat, though some found the music repetitive and the progression system hindering quest design. The game received mixed reviews on Metacritic and a 50% recommendation rate on OpenCritic, with Famitsu scoring it 27/40. Its Kickstarter success and indie pedigree highlight its place as a crowdfunded title that carved a niche among fans of challenging, atmospheric action RPGs.
Did You Know?
- Dark Devotion was inspired by Romantic era artists like Eugène Delacroix and 14th century French gothic architecture.
- The Templar loses all equipment upon death except for boss-dropped or quest-reward items, which are permanently unlocked.
- The game's Kickstarter campaign raised €31,796, exceeding its €20,000 goal.
- A playable demo was featured at both PAX East 2018 and E3 2018.
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