Lords of the Fallen
In the Time of the Ancients, the Worldly Realm was ruled by a God of pure evil, who enslaved all humankind under his Dominion. But fear turned to anger as rebellion grew in the hearts of men – until the dawn of the Great Rising, when the fight for freedom began. After a glorious victory that cast aside the Fallen God, humans dictated a new order… a world where no sin can ever be forgiven and redemption was not an option. Now, millennia later, the world trembles in fear as the Demonic Rhogar Legion returns from their dark realm, driven by a foul hunger for innocent spirits. Humanity, in a desperate last act, calls upon an unlikely defender – a convicted sinner, rejected by society and cast out of the light… a man known as Harkyn. Now, alongside his mentor, Kaslo, they must travel to the source of the Darkness… to face the Lords of the Fallen.
Game Discussion
fosiho 2
This game i have had for a while and although not completed in the time i have had it is a really enjoyable game. i have recently came back to it in 2019 and got slightly further than i did so im progressing slowly. this game is a learning curve and a challanging game from being a souls fan and other soul game a likes this is one of them from challanging combat to the awesome soundtrack. lords of the fallen is a lot slower however and bosses moves sets are very few and repetitive their are sometimes ganks in the boss fights which can also be annoying but if you can master parrying/backstabs then you can easily kill the small mobs. the world can also be confusing at times and may not always be clear on where you need to go.
Steam User 11
Lords Of The Fallen is actually a very decent Dark Souls clone, especially considering the fact that there weren't many representatives of this sub-genre back in the day. Hell, even now there are only a few playable ones as developers seem to miss the point of what made Dark Souls a legendary title.
I'm not saying LOTF is a perfect game but it definitely plays on the right strings. The most important aspect - the combat - was made really well which makes slaying different monstrosities sadistically plausible. However, I can honestly agree that great swords, hammers, and axes should be a little faster - their higher damage doesn't make up for their absolute sluggishness. Unfortunately, this makes using them an unnecessary challenge and it shows in some of the bad reviews.
I've never cared much about the story in this kind of games - the overall atmosphere was always more important to me. I must say I was more immersed in the decaying, doomed world of Dark Souls but I guess it's a matter of personal preference. LOTF is still dark, brutal, and unforgiving, but it's also quite beautiful in terms of visuals, special effects, lighting, etc.
All in all, I would give Lords Of The Fallen 7/10 but the true enjoyers of the Souls-like games can easily add one point to that rating. I think it's not worth buying the whole Steam bundle though as the DLCs are pretty underwhelming. It's better to grab the base game for a few dollars from one of the well-known key vendors.
Steam User 11
honestly its a fine game. its old and it probably has not been updated for newer systems. it was never perfect. but its a fine game in its own right imo. its not dark souls and honestly, that is ok. its its own thing. can i rightly recommend it to people these days, probably not, but im going to go ahead and hit that thumbs up button anyway on GP. Do with this what you will.
Steam User 8
I'm giving this game an overall recommend because I think it is a great game one you get used to it, and I'm a fan of the devs. Platinumed it on PS4 (over 120 hours) and then came here to replay. With that said, this game is not perfect. Combat is SLOW. If you thought OG Dark Souls was slow, this game is slower; may take some time to get in the flow of things. Graphics are amazing even in 2025. Level design is great and the atmosphere does not disappoint. Full strength build with a bit of magic is the way to go; agility/fast build is basically like putting it on very hard mode. There are better players out there than me, but personally I found fast build virtually impossible. If you are sensitive to screen shake, this game likely will not be for you. It's so exaggerated it's astonishing there is no option to turn it off. WIth that in mind, I was completely used to it within two hours. I'm personally a big fan of the series, but I realize for most people this is a "get it on sale" game.
Steam User 6
Got the game for 1,5 €. For that price its pretty alright :) Its like dark souls but a little slower and clunkier. Not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
Steam User 4
I bought this game back when it came out and remember it was terrible for some reason, after 11 years i decided to 100% and it wasnt as bad as i remember, if you dont want any exploration and go just for the bosses this game takes around 1 and half hour, but if you explore it can take around 10 hours
Steam User 6
Enjoyable for a single playthrough. Slow-paced nature of the game is beginner friendly and exploration of the world is mostly fun. Thanks to this game I have actually learned how stats in others souls games work:)
Steam User 23
Released in the early shadow of Dark Souls II, Lords of the Fallen (2014) tried to carve a space for itself in the newly popular “Soulslike” subgenre. While it never quite reached the same heights, it delivered a dark, methodical action RPG with weighty combat and striking visual design. It’s rough around the edges, but Lords of the Fallen deserves credit as an early Western attempt to replicate and reimagine the punishing loop of death and discovery.
The heart of Lords of the Fallen lies in its slow, heavy combat. You play as Harkyn, a grizzled convict with a violent past, tasked with facing demonic invaders called the Rhogar. The game emphasizes methodical movement—every swing, block, and dodge consumes a chunk of stamina, forcing players to commit to their choices.
Weapons feel powerful, especially two-handed axes and swords that send enemies reeling. But sluggish responsiveness and occasionally janky animations undermine the flow, particularly during tight encounters. Unlike FromSoftware’s offerings, there’s less precision and fewer tools for fast-paced players or dex builds.
Still, the game succeeds in making combat feel weighty. It’s visceral, punishing, and satisfying once you find your rhythm.
Despite being billed as a "Soulslike," Lords of the Fallen is significantly more approachable than its Japanese counterparts. Checkpoints (called “crystal shards”) are more frequent, healing is generous, and players can farm XP easily. It feels more like an action game with RPG elements than a pure endurance test.
That accessibility can be a double-edged sword—while newcomers may appreciate the forgiving systems, Souls veterans might find the experience lacking in challenge and tension.
Visually, the game is stunning for its time. The grim, high-fantasy setting is dripping in medieval decay—ornate cathedrals, crumbling castles, and frost-covered hallways all ooze atmosphere. Armor designs are detailed and imposing, giving Harkyn the look of a walking tank.
But this strong aesthetic doesn’t extend to the level design. Environments are relatively linear and lack the intricate interconnectivity or environmental storytelling seen in its inspirations. The world is more stage than organism—a backdrop for battles rather than a character in itself.
The narrative is passable, centering on Harkyn’s redemption arc and the moral questions of sin, power, and punishment. But most of the story is told through static dialogue, lore scrolls, and basic cutscenes. There are interesting themes—such as the idea of sin physically manifesting in the world—but they aren’t explored with much depth or consequence.
Harkyn himself is a serviceable protagonist but never transcends his archetype as the “gruff, brooding antihero.”
The game offers three magic classes (Warrior, Cleric, and Rogue), each influencing your combat approach. Magic is flashy and fun, if underutilized. Gear progression is robust, with a wide variety of armor sets and weapons to discover and upgrade.
A clever XP risk-reward system lets you “bank” experience at checkpoints or continue forward for increased multipliers—adding a smart layer of strategy for daring players.
Lords of the Fallen (2014) is an ambitious, flawed, but ultimately worthwhile entry in the early Soulslike wave. While it lacks the depth, polish, and design brilliance of its inspirations, it lays down a solid foundation. Heavy combat, striking visuals, and forgiving systems make it a great entry point for newcomers to the genre.
Pros:
-Heavy, satisfying combat
-Beautiful gothic visuals
-Accessible difficulty for genre newcomers
-Solid gear and magic customization
Cons:
-Clunky controls and animations
-Shallow story and characters
-Forgettable level design
-Lacks the depth of true Soulslikes
I think this game is only for genre enthusiasts curious about the evolution of Soulslikes—or those looking for a less punishing alternative to Dark Souls. It’s rough, but it's also part of the blueprint.
Rating: 7/10