The next adventure from the developer of Ori and the Blind Forest is a gripping soulslike action-RPG with a survival game twist

GamesRPGThe next adventure from the developer of Ori and the Blind Forest is a gripping soulslike action-RPG with a survival game twistWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Moon Studios)

The view over a settlement at night in No Rest for the Wicked.

From its opening moments,No Rest for the Wickedis dripping with atmosphere. Literally, a lot of the time—during my 90 minutes with the game, its grim setting is perpetually damp, a clouded island where bandits and worse lurk among sodden ruins.

Its inhabitants—including my created character, a mystic warrior known as a “Cerim”—have a wonderfully gangly, grotesque look, like classical portraits whose paint is running in all that rain. And that’s just the normal humans—when I run into the enormous mutant that serves as this build’s boss fight, I get to see what ugly really looks like. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

No Rest for the Wicked is a soulslike action-RPG—expect the deadly, methodical combat and careful exploration of Dark Souls, with the top-down perspective and loot customisation of something more like Diablo 4. But I didn’t want to lead with that, because to just waffle about genres and inspirations would be the most boring way to talk about a game that immediately yanked me into its world and refused to let go.

You’ll know developer Moon Studios from its breakout debutOri and the Blind Forest, and though that goes some way to explaining its arresting visuals and effortless sense of place, the island of Isola Sacra feels a million miles away from that game’s enchanted wilderness. With talk of kings, heirs, dogmatic religion, and unholy plague, it’s a bigger, grander story—but also a more human one, concerned with the plight of common people caught up in horror and cruelty beyond their control.

As a Cerim seemingly shipwrecked on Sacra’s shores, dressed in rags and wielding the first big stick I come across, it falls to me to stand against the rising darkness. Or at least against the local gang of brigands, to start with.

(Image credit: Moon Studios)

The Cerim approaching a gate with blood stains on the ground in No Rest for the Wicked.

As you’d expect, given the Soulslike influence, battles against this unpleasant lot are all about caution and precision—dodge-rolling, blocking, and parrying at the right time, looking for opportunities to launch slow but powerful strikes in retaliation. But here again the game stands out on its own terms.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

That’s the other piece of the combat puzzle: runic attacks. As you strike with your weapon, you charge up your focus, and once you have enough you can spend it on special strikes. With a dagger, that might be a charging strike, whereas with the staff I wield for most of my hands-on, it’s a selection of three fiery spells. The result is that each weapon has its own in-built rhythm—get basic strikes in until you’re charged up, then look for a perfect moment to unleash hell, whether that’s dashing back to an elevated position to rain down fire from, or interrupting a foe’s stumbling charge with a sudden skewering strike.

(Image credit: Moon Studios)

Winnick pointing his sword at the player in No Rest for the Wicked.

It’s clear there’s a lot of depth still to come in these combat mechanics. Tantalisingly, many of my weapons have empty slots which more runic attacks could be dropped into—the thought of customising my own preferred set is very enticing. I’m similarly keen to experiment more with the game’s unique twist on Dark Souls' weight system; instead of simply slowing you down, heavier gear actually changes how your character moves. Near-naked characters can make quick side-steps instead of rolling, while heavily armoured warriors can use their slow dodges to shoulder charge into enemies. I’m sure each will prove useful in different situations.

(Image credit: Moon Studios)

A mutant boss monster in No Rest for the Wicked.

My final skirmish before my time is up is a duel with that great, grasping monstrosity I mentioned, as it lurches around a rain-soaked field. Rolling through its wild swings and sprinting through the mud to slash at its fleshy bulk, I feel like I’m just getting started on a truly unique journey. These days, it takes a lot for a Souls-inspired game to stand out, and believe me that I’m more cynical than most when it comes to FromSoft’s many imitators. But No Rest for the Wicked refuses to stand in anyone’s shadow, combining a rich tapestry of expertly-wielded influences with a world that just begs to be explored. It may always be cloudy on Isola Sacra, but Moon Studios' future is looking brighter than ever.

More about rpg

A Path of Exile 2 sorceress casting flaming skulls in a hellish landscape

Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot

Double headed wizard man holding arms up looking sad

LatestThe 11 big FPS games of 2025See more latest►

Latest

The 11 big FPS games of 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages screnshot

The 11 big FPS games of 2025

See more latest►

Most Popular

This bizarre roguelike has a new take on the Vampire Survivors formula: letting you build your own custom weapons out of brains, eyeballs, and chimpanzee spines

18 games the PC Gamer team can’t wait to play in 2025

The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 4

2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me

Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout

‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids

Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)

Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals