Darksiders 4: Everything We Know

During the publisher’s THQ Nordic 2024 Showcase event, the upcoming Darksiders 4 was made official. And I suspect many fans will be over the moon at the glorious return of a not-always-appreciated series. 

Good news, folks! Finally, all four horsemen will get their time in the spotlight, with co-op split-screen and single-player options available. Can’t you just wait to switch control between the horsemen, well, if the feature is available? Or cleanse Earth alongside your buddies? 

But first, let’s take a look at everything we know about Darksiders 4 so far.

What is Darksiders 4?

Darksiders 4 is an upcoming action-adventure game in the Darksiders series. So far, there have been Darksiders (2010), Darksiders II (2012), Darksiders III (2018), and Darksiders Genesis (2019). The upcoming game will be the fifth mainline entry, still set on post-apocalyptic Earth. 

Humans are nearly swept off the Earth when the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse come to their rescue. Now, players must control the Horsemen as they try to rid the Earth of hordes of demons vying for control over the world. 

Can you and your friends restore balance to the universe?

The series has often employed an action role-playing hack-and-slash gameplay. Rather than control all four horsemen, though, previous entries have featured one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with Darksiders Genesis featuring brothers Strife and War. 

Additionally, the first four games use a third-person perspective, while Darksiders Genesis uses a top-down perspective. Meanwhile, you explore an open world, on foot or horseback, solving puzzles, finding treasure chests, fighting bosses, and more. 

With each horseman having unique abilities, War’s dual sword, alongside a Scythe and revolver, Death’s dual scythes, Fury’s whip and magic, and Strife’s gun and curved daggers, gamers will be looking forward to enjoying access to all the unique ranged and melee play styles and weapons of all four horsemen in one game.

Story

Even though Darksiders 4 is the fifth entry in the series, it’ll be a direct sequel to the first game. It’ll be an all-new story that has never been told before, that picks up where the original left off. The setting will remain the same, on post-apocalyptic Earth. However, rather than follow War’s story alone, all four horsemen will be banding up for an epic adventure together. Development

There will be several ways to play Darksiders 4. You can opt for the single-player, the local split-screen co-op, or the online co-op multiplayer mode. It’s not quite clear yet whether in single-player, you’ll be able to switch between the four Horsemen, though it’s most likely the case. That way, you can enjoy different styles of combat. 

As for the multiplayer mode, whether locally or online, you’ll be collaborating with two to four friends in wiping out the demon invasion on Earth. This means you’ll be free to choose your favorite Horsemen, and lean on your team’s strengths and weaknesses against the hordes of demons coming your way.

I suspect the weapons, skills, and abilities of the Horsemen, though, will be made more varied and comprehensive. You need a healer, for instance, in a group, as well as a tank, a mage, and so on. Steam does say you’ll be controlling one of the Horsemen, “each with their own unique weapons and combat styles.”

Third-person perspective returns in Darksiders 4, alongside the blend of combat, traversal, and puzzle solving, all in the post-apocalyptic and lore-rich world you’ll be familiar with. Moreover, you can look forward to fast-paced combat, vicious in its blend of melee and supernatural components. But also, apocalyptic landscapes full of secrets, foes, and mythical beasts. 

Development

Darksiders 4 is currently in the development phase, with developer Gunfire Games and publisher THQ Nordic at the forefront of its production. Both studios aren’t new in town. Gunfire Games, for instance, has worked on mega projects, including Remnant II, Chronos: Before the Ashes, and Darksiders. All have a similar grit theme and visceral combat. So, they definitely are proficient and know what they’re doing. 

Meanwhile, THQ Nordic has been a staple in gaming, with a few bumps in the road. Initially called THQ, they had to close their doors in 2013. And only when Nordic Games bought out THQ did they resurface in the gaming world. Still, they have been pretty successful, working on lots of games, including Wreckfest 2, Disney Epic Monkey Rebrushed, Alone in the Dark, Remnant II, and so many more. These are no doubt favorites of some of you. 

Do keep a lookout for possible Playtests. Gunfire Games, for instance, put out a call for experienced gamers in the Austin area to help them test their latest project and provide feedback. These are often useful in shaping games into something truly special. To be a part of the development process, feel free to fill out this form to be considered as part of the feedback community.

Trailer

Darksiders 4’s announcement teaser trailer is out now. Feel free to watch it to get the best idea of the story and visuals to expect. It doesn’t show any gameplay yet, except for the tantalizing reveal of all four horsemen featuring in the upcoming game. 

The audio and visuals alone are enough to get goosebumps, with the simple line of “You would wage this war alone? No… Not alone” sending your expectations flying of just how much of a blast you’ll be having with friends. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Sorry to say that THQ Nordic has yet to reveal a concrete release date for Darksiders 4. As always, you can add the game to your wishlist on Steam. That way, you receive a notification when the game becomes available. 

As for the platforms, Darksiders 4 will be coming to current-gen PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. So far, only the Steam page has gone live.

We don’t have information on the editions. However, we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for you. Alternatively, you can follow the official social handle to stay up-to-date.