Lords of the Fallen (2023)
Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Steam Deck YMMV)
Current goal: Survive the dead realm of Umbral
Lords of the Fallen is the latest Soulslike to drop this year. Being part of such a stressful genre of games, it already has the capacity to send shivers down your spine with its many tense boss encounters.
However, this reboot of the 2014 game of the same name is particularly horrifying because it stacks an undead world on top of a living one. The realm of Umbral is scary. Rotting flesh is everywhere. Moths circle carcasses like vultures. Gigantic, mummified-looking humanoids cling to buildings reminiscent of Bloodborne’s Amygdala. And if you stay long enough, a red-cloaked reaper known as the Scarlet Shadow will hunt your soul relentlessly.
It’s rather frightening, making it the perfect game to play as spooky season nears its end. Just make sure the lamp you carry has enough fuel. You’ll need it to make your way through the land of the dead. — Levi Winslow
