This RPG is the multiplayer Skyrim you’ve always wanted

One of the most interesting genres in recent years is the extraction shooter. You and potentially some friends go into an area, try not to die to various enemies, and leave with as much loot as possible. You have a string of side quests alongside your main objective, with the hopes of upgrading your character.

Don’t be fooled when I say ‘shooter’, though. The genre has come a long way with tweaks to the formula. Dark and Darker, for example, has the same premise but swaps all guns for swords, shields, and magic. It lends itself well to multiplayer, be it player versus player (PvP) or player versus environment (PvE). Since then, plenty of other games have picked up the mantle, and it’s difficult not to get excited about particularly good-looking ones. It’s at this point that Dungeonborne steps into the frame.

Dungeonborne is an upcoming PvPvE dungeon crawler (which is pronounced fantasy extraction shooter), and it looks pretty familiar. Far be it for me to draw comparisons, but I’d say it has more than a little bit of Skyrim in its blood. Is that because Skyrim is one of the best RPGs and the go-to for fantasy worlds nowadays? Maybe, but it doesn’t make it any less interesting.

This game puts you in the shoes of a treasure hunter diving into a bevvy of dungeons. You can choose to pair with allies or go without friends entirely. There are several dangers you’ll face, however. A variety of monsters litter each dungeon, including skeletons, cyclops, and what looks like a beholder. You’re also up against other treasure hunters trying to get their fill and probably more.

Along with the usual sword fighting, there are also plenty of magical effects on display. Lightning storms, blizzards, and telekinesis all appear in the trailer, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s all incredibly pretty as well. I’m not saying graphics are all that matter, but they do sort of help.

What’s really cool about Dungeonborne, though, is that there will be a free demo that we can all try it for ourselves. The trial kicks off during the next Steam Next Fest, which starts on February 2nd. That means that not only you but any and all of your friends can jump into Dungeonborne to check it out. Also, the Next Fest will serve as an excellent way to find out if it’s the kind of game you’ll like or one that you should avoid entirely if it doesn’t click. It’s free either way, though, so you might as well give it a go.