The Relic: First Guardian (v2026.08.07 & ALL DLC)

Arsilthus is a ruined fantasy kingdom where a shattered sacred artifact leaves entire regions poisoned by grief, fear, devotion, and unfinished promises. The Relic: First Guardian frames its apocalyptic journey through Korean folklore, giving its fallen temples, broken settlements, and monstrous legends a cultural identity beyond standard medieval dark fantasy. You play a Guardian tasked with recovering emotion-charged Relics left behind by the dead, honoring the stories tied to them while trying to prevent the last remnants of civilization from disappearing. The mood is bleak and mournful, but its focus on restoring memories gives the adventure a more human purpose than simply surviving another monster-infested wasteland.

Combat favors aggression without abandoning the deliberate timing expected from a demanding action RPG. Basic attacks do not drain a resource, so players can pressure enemies with long strings, weapon switching, and inventive offense, while stamina matters primarily when evading danger or blocking a lethal blow. Powerful magical abilities draw from their own meter and cooldown system, making them valuable tools for turning difficult encounters rather than buttons to spam. A semi-open interconnected world encourages detours through ruins, hidden dungeons, secret events, and lore-filled side paths, while five weapon disciplines—Sword and Shield, Battle Staff, Daggers, Two-Handed Weapons, and Longsword—support sharply different fighting styles.

Build crafting stands at the center of the progression system, with relic energy, passive effects, equipment traits, and skill trees allowing major changes without being locked into a conventional character-level grind. Weapons are more than interchangeable loot, as each carries its own tragic history and helps reinforce the world’s obsession with lost lives and lingering wishes. Up to 80 mythic bosses promise a wide range of reactive battles, demanding players learn attack patterns and adjust their loadout rather than rely on one universal strategy. Fans of Souls-like combat who want faster offense, flexible builds, and an unfamiliar mythological setting should find plenty to like, while newcomers may appreciate that experimentation is encouraged instead of permanently punished.