Diablo has influenced countless games after it, and I’m not just talking about the sequels. The original Diablo was an iconic dungeon crawler, and its dark, dour mood didn’t detract from its enjoyment one iota. While Tristram was a bleak and shadowy place to hang around, it also had a ton of personality, and many studios have tried and failed to replicate that feeling.
However, some have succeeded in spades, even Blizzard themselves when they crafted Diablo 2: one of the best sequels of all time. While it’s back and large and in charge with the remake Diablo 2: Resurrected, there are lots of other competitors waiting in the wings, and some of them are even getting remakes of their own.
For now, we’re focused on a singular release, which is free to try on Steam now.
Try This New Mistbornesque RPG Free Now
Developed by Makeshift Software, Hexborn manages to unite the magic of the Mistborn universe with the dungeon-crawling sensibilities of the Diablo series.
The premise is a bit out there, but will be familiar to anyone who enjoys anime or wizard school plots: “Hexborn is a dark fantasy action RPG that blends brutal hack-and-slash combat, deep dungeon crawling, guild progression, and player-driven rivalry in a world consumed by an ever-expanding corruption known as the Graveglass Blight. Forge your path as one of the realm’s rising Scion — powerful adventurers gifted with unique, one-of-one abilities capable of shaping the fate of entire kingdoms. Venture alone or alongside allies into cursed ruins, forgotten catacombs, and hostile territories filled with ancient horrors, rival guilds, and lost secrets buried beneath the ashes of fallen civilizations.”
You’ll explore a world full of Mystery Schools, which are aiming to “unlock dangerous forms of sorcery,” as the Blight slowly envelops the world. You’ll be able to create a guild and recruit allies/rank up, go on “large-scale raids,” and craft relics. The game’s core flow is through hack-and-slash combat, via solo or multiplayer modes. Dungeon crawling is on the table, as well as rival guild raids and competitive PVP through an arena.
Right now, the game is a ways away, and likely because it’s so ambitious in its scope. With a Q4 2027 release date, it won’t be out anytime soon, but a demo is available now. According to the studio, the demo is meant to showcase the combat system, parts of the narrative, and the “artistic aesthetic” of Hexborn.
Hexborn Looks Pretty Promising
While there are many games out there trying to push a grandiose scale but not even coming close, Hexborn still has a year and change to sort everything out and realize its full potential. Until that actually happens, you can try the demo out and see for yourself. Providing a demo this early is a good sign that more will be on the way as additional builds arrive.
Steam is vast and ever-winding when it comes to finding games, but it is possible. Hexborn is an early project, but it could become a chart-topping sensation by the end of 2027.
