Elderborn is an action game developed by indie game developer Hyperstrange. This metal slasher game features melee combat from a first-person perspective. In this heroic fantasy world, you play a merciless slayer who is on a quest to uncover the ancient secrets of the City of Doom. As the lone player, you must focus on your character’s ability and melee combat skills. You will have eleven varied weapons to master. It is up to you how much your character will progress in terms of skill; you must adapt and overcome your multitude of enemies. 

Immensely barbarous game

Elderborn is set in a classic dark fantasy setting. In this universe, strength is the law, and there is no place for mercy. It features a Howardian tale filled with violent melee combat, resulting in gory imagery throughout the game. Your weapons can slash, stab, or smash your enemies, and its usefulness will vary between enemies. Players will also have the option to physically attack their opponents. 

Pushing and punching appear to more effective than kicking. Kicks will not always knock opponents down, but its useful kicking defensive weapons out of a soldier’s arms. By increasing your playtime, you can convert it to skill points. Skills allow impactful damage, increased attack speed, and increased resistance. Parrying can also maintain your resistance as minor enemies will move away from you.

The difficulty of playing the game lies in the lack of peripheral vision. The whole game is displayed in POV. You are limited to what is in front of you, making it difficult to counter-attack those approaching you. Overall, Elderborn is a game for fans of dark fantasy and metal-rock inspired illustrations. Its gruesome fighting style allows players to immerse themselves into these animations that result in a vicious ending.