Darksiders Genesis

Darksiders Genesis is by far the best game in the series. As someone who has played all of them, I can honestly say that this is more than a hack and slash game where you slay demons, but a kick-ass demon slaying game that has found new life by remixing what it does best and incorporating the best features of other games to create something new in the series.

Darksiders Genesis is a fantastic new direction for the series, and while I love the third-person 3D entries, I’d be fine with the Genesis blueprint running the show moving forwards. This is one of my favourite games I’ve played this year. Put it on your Festivus wishlist, if you haven’t picked it up yet.

Darksiders Genesis is a great top-down action game despite some minor issues.

Darksiders Genesis feels a lot like some of our favorite parts of the Marvel Ultimate Alliance games mixed with Darksiders tone and puzzle-solving. It unfortunately brings some issues in those games along, such as enemy repetition and glitchy environments, but these are light problems among the genuinely enjoyable and accessible gameplay.

From the gorgeous visuals to the smooth, frenetic combat and environments that beg to be explored, the quality on display here is incredibly impressive. Despite a smattering of minor issues and a few iffy design choices, Darksiders Genesis is still a fantastic videogame, and might even be the best Darksiders game to date.

Darksiders Genesis is a great game. I feel like the developers masterfully ticked every box on their design sheets, so they should be proud of this one. Unless the genre really turns you off or the occasional puzzle is a deal-breaker for you, Darksiders Genesis is definitely worth your money.

Darksiders Genesis translates everything from its 3rd person predecessors perfectly, I have zero complaints about the gameplay itself. The additional core system and the myriad of upgrades ensures boredom never sets in and I highly recommend anyone who’s got an even passing interest in this gives it a go.

Though it lacks polish, Darksiders Genesis is a rare spinoff that equals and sometimes surpasses its mainline brethren.

Darksiders Genesis looked like another Diablo clone, but it has its own personality and is a Darksiders with a different perspective. It's fun, has a component of RPG and platform game and, despite its problems, is a great new game of the saga created by Madureira brothers.

Darksiders Genesis is not only immediately fun, it is also immediately recognisable as Darksiders despite the move to a new genre and completely different camera angle. Strife is a very welcome addition to the Darksiders canon, and when paired with War they have helped elevate Genesis to the best entry in the series in the post Vigil Games era.

I expected much less from Darksiders Genesis and I got a really pleasant surprise. What looked like a hack'n'slash, a weird version of Diablo, turned out just another Darksiders game, only isometric. Hell, I think it's even better than Darksiders III. Good stuff.

There are many things that I wish Airship Syndicate would have done differently, but Darksiders: Genesis is definitely a title worth picking up. It's no Darksiders 4 and lacks the polish of any of the previous Darksiders games, but it's got the flavor, the pace and the combat mechanics that made the franchise popular among gamers. There's a compelling story underneath all the hacking and slashing, with interesting characters and extremely well-done level design. The puzzles are very clever, something that I would expect from a Darksiders game, and there's simply a lot of content to enjoy throughout a nearly 15-hour playthrough.

Despite some hokey voice acting and a few technical quibbles, Darksiders: Genesis manages to be every bit as significant to the franchise as the mainline games.

Darksiders is back with a fantastic adventure that still delivers an experience true to the series. This is a great adventure both alone or in coop, so don’t let the camera fool you.

Despite the story of Darksider Genesis is pretty mediocre, the combat system and puzzle-solving design are impressive. With a beautiful Diablo-like aesthetic, it also presents us a fascinating world.

Thanks to relatable heroes and streamlined gameplay, this isometric Hack & Slay is a blessing for the slightly worn Darksiders series.

I think Darksiders Genesis has a really solid base, is greatly entertaining, and is definitely worth its price tag. The previously mentioned technical flaws can (hopefully) be addressed in future updates, and I would then have little gripe with the game itself. If you are a Darksiders fan, or simply want to feel the power of slaying demons left and right, I would definitely recommend picking this title up.

A great one-shot adventure or an enjoyable grindfest, depending on which you want.

This diversion from the main branch of Darksiders games was a risky, but at the end of the day correct, choice. This game is devilishly fun.

Darksiders Genesis truly surprised me, a game I was hardly interested in after the mess that was Darksiders 3. While I highly recommend it to franchise fans and those who enjoy a good ol’ dungeon crawler, I’m confused by two huge release decisions: to first put this on PC and Stadia far ahead of a Switch, Xbox One and PS4 release, and to optimise the game for a controller even then. With a console release just days away – and expect an update on this review with our thoughts, by the way – I’m still left thinking this new format would have been perfect for the PC’s keyboard and mouse.

With two styles of satisfying combat that stay fresh throughout the entire game, supported by a side of Zelda-style item-based dungeon puzzles and pre-apocalyptic series lore, this is a brilliant adaptation of Darskiders' signature brand of fun, even if it's not as grand or cinematic as the third-person action games.

Darksiders: Genesis proves that less is more. The choice of Diablo-style isometric perspective proves to be a boon, but don’t be fooled by the puzzle and adventure elements - this is an action game at heart. Strife and War are here to entertain you, and they’ll do whatever they have to do to achieve that goal.

After the less successful Darksiders 3, the franchise seems to have found its way up again. Apart from the sometimes forced humor and clumsy controls, there is little to be said about the spin-off game, which despite the changed camera position will feel familiar to Darksiders fans.

Taking the series in an entirely new direction, Darksiders Genesis manages to stay true to the prior games whilst delivering in a totally different genre. A fun game let down by grindy character progression.

Darksiders Genesis may seem a Diablo-like, but it’s a true Darksiders with a change of perspective. He focuses mainly on combat, yes, but it hasn't forgotten exploration, puzzles and even platforms.

Darksiders Genesis marks a return to form for the series, with a classic experience underlying the shift in camera perspective and budget price tag. Some minor issues with controls during puzzles and navigation aren't enough to dampen enjoyment of this surprisingly great prequel spinoff.

Perhaps it was a bit unexpected, but Darksiders Genesis is more than a decent game, honoring the name of the long-time series. Featuring remarkable graphics and an amazing soundtrack, the new installment can provide you in with at least fifteen hours of enjoyable action.

Darksiders Genesis is a game which can appeal to longtime series fans and newcomers alike, and anyone tangentially interested in the action-RPG genre should give it a chance.

Thanks to the passage from the action-adventure genre to the hack 'n' slash with isometric view, Darksiders Genesis demonstrates how the series can evolve without losing its core.

Though Genesis doesn’t exactly introduce anything totally new to the franchise, it’s an entertaining experience that stays true to the feel and tone of the series despite making a few budgetary concessions.

Darksiders Genesis looks very much like the older games in Darksiders series, and even repeats their mistakes, such as camera problems. Nevertheless, solid visual design and good music that matches greatly with the game's tempo save the day and make Darksiders Genesis a very good game, but not one of the best in the genre.

Darksiders Genesis explores a new genre with the series, the story may have been better, but the experience is enjoyable whether you're playing alone or with a friend, fans of the series will be satisfied with this one.

It's hard to imagine any fan of any of the Darksiders games not enjoying Genesis. It definitely hammers home on the strengths of the franchise and brings the playable characters full circle with the introduction of Strife.

Darksiders Genesis is a well thought and executed isometric hack and slash game - with an original progression system - that excels in battle, exploration and co-op mode. A great addition to an already excellent franchise.

Quotation forthcoming.

Darksiders Genesis pulls off the change in perspective. It feels like a true to form Darksiders game and should not be skipped by any fan of the series.

Minor faults aside, Darksiders Genesis masterfully shrinks down the long-running franchise into a top-down action game that’s just plain fun to play.

An entertaining spin-off that manages to retain the Darksiders vibe while shifting the perspective, offered at an inviting price point.

Endowed with a superb artistic direction, the proposal of Airship Syndicate is moreover surmounted by a cherry in the form of an online co-op mode or locally with two people.

If you’re after yet more Darksiders action and aren’t put off by the change in viewpoint, which you shouldn’t be, Darksiders Genesis will not disappoint. Even better, it’s available a bit cheaper than usual releases. Airship Syndicate has created a game that both fans and those new to the series can jump into and have a great deal of fun. And thanks to co-op, it no longer has to be a solitary affair.

Darksiders Genesis may be a new look for the series, but it doesn't sacrifice the glorious chaos fans have come to love. Gorgeous visuals, weighty combat, and a surprising amount of replayability make Darksiders Genesis something everyone can enjoy.

Darksiders Genesis is a low budget, low priced full fledged title with a lenghty campaign and some impressive setpieces, tons of collectibles and a surprisingly deep combat system.

Darksiders Genesis have a change of style but the pace and the coremechanics are still great and enjoyable. The game looks and sounds amazing. Frenetic combat for single and co-op.

In a year where we’ve had no shortage of hefty experiences demanding an endless endurance to enjoy them, it’s nice to play something that reigns it in a little. Darksiders Genesis isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it’s the kind of refreshing hack-and-slash game that could reinvent the series and should be a breath of fresh air if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by most games these days.

As a stopgap between Darksiders 3 and the eventual Darksiders 4, Genesis scratches an itch in an unconventional manner that deserves some appreciation for trying something new along the way. Darksiders Genesis is action and co-op play firing on all cylinders. Even if I do need to strap a pair of binoculars to my face to see what I’m doing.

Although the concept of a "Diablo spinoff for the Darksiders series" had the potential to just be a big bowl of wrong, the mad men and women at Airship Syndicate pulled it off.

Although Genesis turned out to be a bit glitchy and buggy, and its parkour sequences are straight-out torturous, all in all it it’s a pretty successful experiment. [Issue#243, p.48]

What Airship Syndicate have done is show the world that the Darksiders IP is more than a one-trick pony, and for those who’ve not been tempted by the core franchise entries up until this point, there is now a very different sample of the IP with which to taste.

The new Darksiders’ top-down perspective may actually be my favorite of the series. The game has its flaws but looks great, sounds absolutely fantastic and offers both dynamic gameplay and some interesting environmental puzzles to spice everything up. [02/2020, p.46]

Darksiders Genesis is an excellent addition to the action-RPG genre. While it isn't as polished as Diablo, Genesis delivers a great adventure full of exploration and puzzles to boot. With its main characters there is plenty of fun for veterans of the series as well as new players.

A competent hack'n slash with beautiful art and great soundtrack, a focused and professionally delivered game which only lacks more variety and deepness to convince to the dedicated fans of the genre.

Darksiders Genesis takes the franchise's pillars (fast-paced combat, some puzzles and platforming) to an isometric perspective. A game that, although feels completely like a smaller spin-off rather than a big new entry in the series, manages to still give that Darksiders' feeling that fans love.

A purchase is highly recommended to all fans of the brand, but more could be done to refine a title that still does not reach the peaks of the initial regular chapters.

Darksiders Genesis manages to twist the series' formula successfully, offering plenty of engaging puzzle-solving and treasure hunting, both elevated by the good mission and location design. Repetitive combat, lack of a true loot system and a few other issues prevent the game from being a must-buy for everyone, but Darksiders fans will surely enjoy their time with the game, even more if they have a friend to play with.

Darksiders Genesis provides a short burst of demon-crunching carnage for hardcore fans of the franchise, but the overall experience is easily eclipsed by other, deeper, more engaging action-RPGs.

Darksiders Genesis gets a lot right. It has plenty of personality and a dynamic, engaging action system. Its only real problem is that it has tackled a thematic challenge that it can't deliver - hell should not be dull, empty or repetitive, and yet this game fails on all fronts there. It's not entirely the developer's fault, in the sense that if they showed a truly creative vision of hell it would either offend or be too surreal for the kind of mainstream audience that it's pitched at, but perhaps developers need to better consider where they're setting their games in that case.

Darksiders: Genesis has a clear identity. It's not the most experimental game in the world, but it takes a variety of tried-and-tested systems and executes them with bravado and grace.

For those who want to continue knowing the bloody adventures of the four Riders of the Apocalypse, Darksiders Genesis is a must. On the other hand, if you're looking for the usual saga formula, it can be quite disappointing.

The challenging boss fights, engaging combat, and emphasis on co-op in Darksiders Genesis make it still worth checking out despite its technical hiccups. Fans of the Darksiders franchise worried that the game is too different from the others can rest easy knowing that Darksiders Genesis is a genuine Darksiders experience from start to finish.

For me, the new gameplay approach was interesting because I am also a big Diablo fan and was curious how the developers implement this in the Darksiders universe. The answer is: not very thoughtful.

When it works, Darksiders Genesis is quite fun and entertaining. Unfortunately the game is plagued by many technical issues and some very questionable design choices that prevent to guarantee an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

Darksiders Genesis is a fun, but samey hack-and-slash romp. I've always admired the Darksiders franchise for jumping to different styles of play from game to game: Darksiders Genesis is its biggest jump yet, and one of its most successful. Though it feels understated, thanks to a pulled-out camera and a less flashy approach than the original three, it's a well-designed gauntlet of quick, mashy fights and light brain teasers. It's not going to set the world on fire, but it's all good fun.

Darksiders Genesis fails to take advantage of the series' strengths. Since Darksiders’ inception, fans have imagined what it might be like to team up as the different horsemen. Darksiders Genesis finally offers a co-op experience, but its offbeat design and forgettable story don't deliver on the fantasy.

Isometric Darksiders spin-off that does not do Strife any justice.

While Genesis may already be fading from our memory, those looking for nothing more than 15 hours or so of punchy, demon-slaying action will no doubt have an appropriate response. It matters not. [Issue#342, p.110]

It’s not a horrible game per se, but there’s absolutely no reason to play it, even if you crave a co-op slasher.

Darksiders Genesis feels like a B game. There is nothing wrong with that and it also justifies the lower price. Yet we would have liked a little more balance and urgency.

Darksiders Genesis, assuming some of the technical limitations are ironed out, could be a fun co-op romp for ardent fans of the franchise. For those looking to try out something new, there are better co-op games, and better Darksiders games.