The First Berserker: Khazan- Everything We Know

In the gaming industry, there is always a reason to celebrate. With new titles, sequels, and remakes dropping now and then, gamers always have something worthwhile to look forward to. As such, Neople, the studio behind the iconic DnF, recently revealed their new upcoming game, The First Berserker: Khazan. Players who enjoy brutal combat will definitely get a kick out of this title. The game promises an exciting and immersive gameplay full of action accompanied by deep storytelling. In the article below, we discuss everything we know about the title so far.

What is The First Berserker: Khazan?

The title is a hardcore action RPG match. Its story unfolds in the captivating Arad continent, 800 years before the events of the first DnF story. Here, players embark on a treacherous journey where they face aggressive warriors, mythical beasts, and the dark forces of a corrupt empire. You take on the role of the legendary first Berserker, Khazan. He is a betrayed hero seeking payback on those who ruined his life as he tries to unravel the deep conspiracy against him. 

Players will watch the protagonist’s narrative unfold. Additionally, you will acquire and master complex skills while taking part in gruesome battles. Players can customize their character’s abilities, weapons, and fighting styles to allow them to experience the rich lore that the game has to offer.

Story

Set in the 89th year of the Pell Los Empire, players follow the narrative of the great General Khazan. He bravely rescued the empire, which he’d sworn to protect from the terrifying Berserk Dragon, giving him great respect and honor. However, not everybody revered this hero. Driven by jealousy, those around him maliciously plotted against him and framed him for treason. His punishment was cruel. Khazan was brutally tortured and later exiled to the snowy mountains with severed tendons in both arms. 

After his close brush with death, the protagonist sets out on a vengeful quest to kill those who ruined his life as The First Berserker. Take part in his journey after he unravels the ruses that led to his downfall. Also, master lost combat techniques, strategize in battle, and learn the truth about the empire.

Gameplay

The brutal and horrific nature of Khazan’s backstory offers a peek at what players can expect in the gameplay. It combines hack-and-slash combat with hardcore difficulty, resulting in high-impact action. The playstyle mimics the playstyle of great titles like the God of War games and Black Myth: Wukong. Players work to destroy their enemies and restore themselves to their former glory. 

You have to endure intense combat against cruel enemies to survive while journeying through the dark lands of Arad. Fortunately, the match is souls-like, meaning you respawn where you drop your picked-up experience if you die. Players have a vast array of weapons and skills to choose from. Each weapon comes with a different set of skills. He also showcases excellent skills, including dual-wielding weapons, spears, and greatswords. 

Players can collect and upgrade these weapons, along with various pieces of armor, and complete gear sets. Additionally, you can upgrade your character, customize his abilities, and combine weapon attributes to develop a personal combat style. The game features hardcore difficulty boss battles that add to the tension of the game. It does, however, make the victory more worthwhile.

Development

Neople, the studio behind the iconic DnF, announced their upcoming title The First Berserker: Khazan based on the Dungeon & Fighter Universe. DnF is an ongoing franchise of 19 years with more than 850 million users worldwide. The new title is a single-player action RPG. It ushers in a different path from the usual DnF multiplayer beat ‘em format. Furthermore, Khazan portrays a dark, fast-paced world that features brutal combat. It has heavy dark fantasy imagery that adds great depth to the game’s aesthetic. 

The creators released a short demo where players can get a feel of the full version of the game prior to its release. In it, players can upgrade their characters and abilities, which they can easily transfer to the full version of the match. Currently, the game has received many positive reviews indicating how eager players are for its official release.

Further, the title includes Unreal Engine, which allows the game’s 3D cel-shaded style to clearly express the nature of animated films. With this, the continent of Arad is reimagined through a striking blend of bold, cel-shaded art and realistic textures, offering a vivid and immersive experience.

Trailer

Khazan’s trailer was directed by the Russo Brothers of Marvel fame. It is a single-player game that begins in the snowy mountains where players see a wounded protagonist. The Blade Phantom, a great sword, heals him as he acquires its power. After, he navigates the snowy mountains, armed with an axe and sword, where he combats the Dragonkin ‘Viper’ army from Dungeon Fighter Online. His final battle involves a mysterious figure that fans are eager to discover when the game debuts.

The game’s visuals portray an anime art style and a frosty aesthetic that seems inspired by the Berserk manga series and FromSoftware’s famous Souls game. It expands on that inspiration by mimicking several features like gore, the eclipse, and the massive hunk of iron we see an antagonist brandish in the manga series. Additionally, it gives insight into the title’s gameplay. It features maze-like environments, powerful falling attacks, charge attacks, a sprint option, and a parry.

Release Date and Platforms

The upcoming RPG action title, The First Berserker: Khazan’s playable demo, was released on January 16, 2025. Players can access it to evolve their skills as they await the official release of the full version of the title, which debuts on March 27, 2025. Further, you can save data from the demo and later transfer it to the full game to continue with your progress. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Interested fans can track the game’s progress via X and watch out for more on YouTube. Additionally, you can now wishlist the game on Steam.