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Dark Craft is an upcoming free-to-play MMORPG that blends a blocky aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft with a much darker fantasy tone and combat similar to a soulslike that immediately stood out to me.
It's almost like a modern take on those old hyper-realistic texture packs, but I mean that in the best possible way.
The game is set across a wide landscape filled with ruined structures and harsh terrain. Combat focuses on timing, stamina management, and the kind of precision fans of the soulslike genre should expect.
Should we get excited or temper expectations?
The developers behind the game are Take Top Entertainment, a studio mostly known for mobile titles. Its games vary in reception, but most sit above 3.5 stars on the Google Play Store. With that in mind, Dark Craft marks its first PC debut, at least as far as I can tell, and it is a very ambitious step forward.
The game is aiming for an open living world that promises constant activity. Enemy patrols, roaming NPCs, and world events are all expected to unfold naturally as you explore.
There is a lot on offer here, and if everything comes together, it could make a real impression in the MMORPG space. I especially like the idea of the Game Masters. This system is controlled by members of the team who can intervene in gameplay, command enemies, become world bosses, or ambush players.
Now, this system could cause issues and become rather unfair, meaning balancing will be a challenge, but I cannot think of another game using a system quite like this.
However, the free-to-play model does create some concerns. There is always a risk of microtransactions or pay-to-win elements appearing, and with the studio’s background in mobile games, some players may hesitate to give it a try.
Currently, there are no details on when we can expect the game to be released or if it will ever be available on platforms outside of PC, but this could be a game worth keeping your eye on if you’re a fan of Minecraft, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and dark fantasy in general.
Would you play it, or is it too strange a mix for your tastes?
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