A New Entry in the Soulslike Landscape

Mistfall Hunter is a game that stands out for its unique blend of elements, even if it’s not immediately obvious what it is. With a playable demo available for Steam’s Next Fest, the title positions itself as an extraction soulslike. The Steam page describes it as a “dark fantasy extraction ARPG,” but it’s clear that the game is drawing inspiration from the soulslike genre. There’s a shrine maiden equivalent, combat is deliberate and positioning-based, and its inspirations are on full display.

What caught me off guard was how much Mistfall Hunter felt like a slower-paced version of the 2018 God of War reboot rather than something like Elden Ring Nightreign. The movement is slow and methodical, with an over-the-shoulder camera and claustrophobic environments filled with rooms and corridors.

I don’t mind this approach at all. In fact, I particularly appreciate the absence of a lock-on system. The developer, Bellring Games, seems to have a clear vision: Mistfall Hunter is a game about positioning. Most of my attacks involve lunging forward in some way, which forces me to engage in footsies and string together abilities effectively.

This design choice makes PvP significantly more engaging compared to other soulslike games, which I’ve never really enjoyed. While some people love the chaotic backstab roulette of games like Elden Ring, I found it irritating. That’s not the case here.

The fighting mechanics feel competently designed, even if they are a bit slow-paced. Every action has a sense of weight and impact as I shield-slam and carve up the NPC zombies scattered throughout the map. Although the baseline gameplay is simplistic and relatively non-punishing, I feel it’s too early to pass judgment on the game’s complexity.

An Extraction Game with Unique Flair

Mistfall Hunter is undeniably an extraction game, and I feel like it was made with someone like me in mind. It seems like the developers knew I had struggled with the genre before and decided to create something that would appeal directly to me.

The hallmarks of the genre are all present. You drop into an exploration zone, defeat monsters, and grab loot. You might also encounter other players. Your goal is to escape with your spoils—weapons, armor, consumables, and various crafting items—without dying, which would cost you everything. To make your getaway, you activate a shrine, track down a little bell goblin, and merk it, ascending through a portal.

Engaging Secondary Systems

What really hooks me are the secondary systems in Mistfall Hunter. The meta-progression isn’t just about gear; it also includes skill trees and unlockable, class-based abilities. I’m especially drawn to this kind of design. There’s even a perfect block, and we all know how I feel about parrying.

In short, Mistfall Hunter looks very promising, and it seems I’m not alone in that sentiment. The game has already attracted a promising 16,000 players and continues to grow according to SteamDB. I’ll be curious to see if it can carve out a niche in the genre, appealing to soulslike action game enthusiasts like me, Nightreign fans who wished FromSoftware had added PvP, or extraction shooter hobbyists who are tired of all the guns.

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