SFG ‘26 Visual Opulance Meets Methodical Combat

During a 30-minute hands-on session with Crimson Moon, ProbablyMonster’s upcoming action RPG, the game’s gorgous visuals were a showstopper. From its towering architecture to the crimson glow that blankets the city of Gildenarch, nearly every scene looked like it could have been pulled from a dark fantasy painting. But just as importantly, the game’s setting is backed by combat that’s responsive and engaging, leaving me hopeful when the final build releases next September.

Moon’s premise places you in the boots of a Nephilim, a warrior who’s caught between human and angelic bloodlines. Serving in the Order of the Crimson Moon, you’re tasked with reclaiming Gildenarch, which has fallen to an army of demons, vampires, and other monstrous forces.

Gothic Grandeur at Every Turn

Sure, it’s a famalair concept, but the focus is clearly on the presentation. Gildenarch is filled with huge cathedrals, crumbling stone architecture, and interiors bathed in flickering candelight. Best of all, the art direction feels cohesive rather than assembled from a checklist of the typical dark fantasy influences. Everywhere you look, there’s a sense of decay and desperation that gives the city character. If danger wasn’t lurking around corners, I would have explored more of an overgrown garden or poked into the recesses of dilapidated buildings. But when I did, there was often a bit of loot to be found.

Inevitably, combat will be compared to modern Soulslikes, and at least some of those comparisons are warranted. Battles require patience, positioning, and learning enemy attack patterns rather than simply mashing buttons. That said, with a bit of charging my Nephilim has a formidable reach, allowing for an easy killing of slower foes.

When Heaven Fights Back

One remarkable mechanic is the inclusion of angelic transformation. Here, a temporary switch to your celestial state offers the possibility of dish out your deadliest attacks. As such, you’re doing more than managing stamina and dodging attacks. With this system, there’s a build up, release, and resetting of abilities that adds yet another rhythm to combat. Like most games that push you into multitasking, it’s another thing to keep track of. But if used efficiently, your transformation can create a reversal of fortune when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Crimson Moon also incorporates some roguelite elements. Runs through different districts offer opportunities to pick up dropped loot. In execution, this shaped my build, with equipment often offered at least two elemental variables in addition to a key stat modifier. Best, my run was long enough to let me enjoy my newfound equipment, and I could see this encouraging experimentation.

Some Questions Still Linger in the Shadows

My demo session was limited to around 30 minutes with an early build, so there’s only so much that can be judged at this stage. That said, I was able to get a feel for the fundamentals but elements like progression systems still need to be examined. Likewise, I only played a solo game for the demo. The full game will support two-player co-op play. But that functionality wasn’t part of my hands-on experience, so it’s difficult to say how much it will change Moon’s overall feel and how difficulty will scale with a partner.

Despite these unknowns, Crimson Moon definitely made a positive first impression. The game’s environments are visually stunning, combat is solid, and there seems to be support for a variety of build types and play styles. With a planned September 2026 release, there’s still time for the remaining pieces to come together, but the groundwork is certainly there.