Darksiders Genesis
A top-down spin-off prequel starring the fourth Horseman, Strife.
Darksiders Genesis is a top-down hack and slash action role-playing video game. It was created by the American studio Airship Syndicate and released by THQ Nordic. The game launched for Stadia and Windows on 5 December 2019, and for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 14 February 2020. It serves as a spin-off prequel in the Darksiders series and features the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Strife, as the main character. Strife can also call on his brother War for assistance. The game was met with positive reviews at launch, with many critics highlighting the combat.
After the Four Horsemen destroy the Nephilim in Eden, the Charred Council summons them. Suspecting that the demon king Lucifer is conspiring with Samael to disrupt the Balance, the Council orders War and Strife to investigate. They invade Samael’s keep, only to find it under attack by Moloch, a lesser Master of Hell. Samael claims he is not allied with Lucifer and that the attack is a result of this. Before he can explain further, Moloch attacks, and Samael teleports the Horsemen to the Void to meet his associate. There, they find Vulgrim, who agrees to help track Lucifer in exchange for several artifacts. After gathering them, Vulgrim reveals Lucifer visited Mammon, another Master of Hell. Samael suggests the Horsemen force Mammon to talk. They find Mammon with relics from Eden and kill him. Returning to Vulgrim and Samael, they learn Lucifer has opened a path to Eden, poisoning its sacred water. The demon Belial runs this operation. The Horsemen stop it, defeat Belial, and spare him, but Lucifer later punishes Belial.
The Horsemen discover Dagon, the Drowned King, is also aiding Lucifer, who has promised him Eden. They meet Abaddon, Eden’s guardian angel, who asks for help cleansing Eden of corruption. The Horsemen track down and kill Dagon. Samael then advises them to destroy the source of Moloch’s power before attacking him. They do so, and with Samael, they kill Moloch. Before dying, Moloch warns that Lucifer’s plan is complete and Samael knows it. Back in the Void, Samael explains Lucifer offered the souls of the Masters of Hell in exchange for their services. He also reveals Lilith is working with Lucifer to create the Animus, an artifact fueled by the souls of Heaven and Hell’s Masters who accepted Lucifer’s offer.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Darksiders Genesis
- Developer
- Airship Syndicate
- Publisher
- THQ Nordic
- Series
- Darksiders
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Platforms
- Stadia / Windows / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
- Released
- Stadia, WindowsWW · 5 December 2019Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneWW · 14 February 2020
- Genre
- Hack and slash, role-playing
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Director
- Joe Madureira · Ryan Stefanelli
- Producer
- Andy Hansen · Ron LaJoie
- Designer
- Steve Madureira · Clint Bogue
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
After the Four Horsemen decimate the Nephilim in Eden, they are summoned by the Charred Council, which suspects the demon king Lucifer is plotting with Samael to upset the Balance. War and Strife investigate, invading Samael's keep to find it under attack by Moloch. Samael claims he is not in league with Lucifer and teleports the Horsemen to the Void to find his associate, Vulgrim. Vulgrim helps track Lucifer by requiring several artifacts, leading the Horsemen to confront Mammon, Belial, Dagon, and eventually Moloch. The Horsemen learn that Lucifer and Lilith have created the Animus, an artifact fueled by souls of Masters of Heaven and Hell, used on Earth to corrupt mankind. The Horsemen go to Earth, find humanity living in sin, and realize they have helped Lucifer achieve his goal. The Charred Council then forges the Seven Seals as a treaty to uphold balance between Heaven and Hell, setting the stage for future games.
Reader's Guide
Darksiders Genesis is notable as a spin-off that shifts the series from third-person action to a top-down perspective, incorporating looter-game elements reminiscent of Diablo. Developed by Airship Syndicate, a studio formed by former Vigil Games developers who worked on the first two Darksiders titles, the game offers both single-player and two-player co-op modes, allowing players to switch between Strife and War at any time. The combat received widespread praise from critics, with IGN scoring it 8.7/10 and PC Gamer giving it 87/100, while GameSpot and Nintendo Life awarded 7/10. Critics highlighted the strong balance of combat, puzzles, exploration, and progression mechanics, though some criticized the overhead camera, story, and collision bugs. Sales exceeded publisher expectations according to Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors, and the game continued selling well as of 2020.
Did You Know?
- Darksiders Genesis introduces the fourth Horseman, Strife, as a playable protagonist.
- The game was developed by Airship Syndicate, which consists of developers from the defunct Vigil Games.
- It was released for Stadia and Windows on 5 December 2019, and for consoles on 14 February 2020.
- The game's currency is souls, earned by killing enemies.
More in Role-Playing Games of the 2010s, Part 1 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced