Lords of the Fallen (2014 video game)

Lore & Background

The game is set in a world after the defeat of the god Adyr by three heroes who became demigods known as the Judges. Players control Harkyn, a convicted criminal with runes on his face marking his sins, released from prison to stop an invasion of Adyr's demonic forces, the Rhogar. Harkyn journeys through large interconnected environments, battling beastly enemies and bosses using melee weapons like axes and hammers.

Reader's Guide

Lords of the Fallen received mixed or average reviews, with Metacritic scores ranging from 68/100 (PlayStation 4) to 73/100 (Windows). Critics praised its solid combat and accessible take on the Souls-like formula, with Game Informer calling it a 'surprising sleeper' and GameSpot noting it 'earns more respect than such a flippant description.' However, IGN found its risk-based reward system made risk obsolete, and Polygon criticized technical issues and easier difficulty. The game's legacy includes a mobile version released in February 2017 and a reboot of the same name in October 2023.

Did You Know?

• A mobile version with one-to-one swipe combat controls was released on 9 February 2017 for iOS and Android.
• The game uses a 'risk and reward' system where a multiplier increases experience gain but resets when using a checkpoint.
• Players can choose from three magic types (brawling, deception, solace) and three armor sets (warrior, rogue, cleric) to customize Harkyn.
• The game has three possible endings depending on how the player uses the Rune of Adyr.