The First: Berserker: Khazan is an action RPG soulslike from Neople and NEXON where you play as the titular berserker himself in a quest for vengeance. Read our review to learn about what it did well, what it didn’t do well, and if it’s worth your money.

The First Berserker: Khazan Review Overview

What is The First Berserker: Khazan?

The First Berserker: Khazan is an action RPG soulslike where players take control of the titular warrior, fighting through the Empire of Pell Los to prove his innocence, earn his freedom, and avenge the death of his brother-in-arms.

Set 800 years before the events of the Dungeon Fighter Online (DNF) universe, this game offers a brutal glimpse into one of the bloodiest eras in its history—one filled with death, phantoms, and a surge of power from the Netherworld itself. With General Khazan at the center of it all, players will carve their path through treachery and war in a desperate and rage-fueled struggle for redemption.

The First Berserker: Khazan features:
　⚫︎　Intense Hack-and-Slash soulslike combat
　⚫︎　Massive dungeon crawls and boss fights
　⚫︎　Three unique weapons to choose from: dual-wield, spear, and greatsword
　⚫︎　Expansive skill trees for each weapon
　⚫︎　Random equipment drops and equipment set bonuses

For more gameplay details, read everything we know about The First Berserker: Khazan's gameplay and story.

Digital Storefront
Steam				PlayStation				Xbox
Price			$59.99

The First Berserker: Khazan Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Love That Cel-shaded Anime Aesthetic Great Weapon Variety and Build Flexibility This Game’s Bosses are No Joke Deeply Emotional and Personal Story in A Massive World	Maybe Too Much Action Between Bonfires These Combos are Too Complex for My Taste Random Loot + Set Bonuses = Bad times

The First Berserker: Khazan Overall Score - 88/100

The First Berserker: Khazan is arguably the best soulslike—or soulsborne-adjacent—game to come from a developer outside of FromSoftware in a long time, perhaps ever. Its anime/manga-inspired visuals blend seamlessly with its soaring orchestration and frenetic, combo-driven combat, creating an experience that is as intense as it is unforgettable.

Its story is deeply personal and brutal, while its lore and world-building add weight to every battle fought. While the game’s steep challenge and AAA price tag may be a barrier to entry, greatness comes at a cost—and in this case, that cost is $60 well spent on a bloody masterpiece!

The First Berserker: Khazan Story - 9/10

The First Berserker: Khazan delivers a story that is as personal as it is emotional, crafting a uniquely intimate tale of vengeance and regret—a rarity in a genre often defined by sweeping, impersonal narratives. It carves out a distinct, albeit simple, niche within the soulslike space, keeping both world-building and character development firmly in the spotlight rather than letting either fade into the background.

The First Berserker: Khazan Gameplay - 9/10

One can’t go wrong with blending the familiar with the fresh, and the developers of The First Berserker: Khazan understood this perfectly. From soulslike fundamentals to its uniquely fast-paced, combo-heavy combat and massive, cinematic boss fights, this game delivers it all. While its random loot system clashes somewhat with equipment set bonuses, that’s a small blemish on an otherwise fantastic experience—because while nothing’s perfect, this game comes pretty darn close.

The First Berserker: Khazan Visuals - 9/10

What really gives The First Berserker: Khazan its cutting edge in visuals is that it doesn’t try to be another hyperrealistic, obsessively intricate dark fantasy title or a derivative of Japanese history or culture. Instead, its bold cel-shaded colors and anime/manga style make it stand head and shoulders above its peers, delivering a visual feast that feels like a dark-fantasy epic come to life—worthy of the word Berserk and all that entails. It’s not as varied or artful as what FromSoftware’s been cooking up for the past couple of years, but it’ll more than do for what the game’s going for.

The First Berserker: Khazan Audio - 9/10

This game’s audio peaks at the best possible moments, creating an amazing backing to some of the most breathtaking scenes I’ve seen in a soulslike—including Elden Ring. While I do wish there was more voice acting, what’s there is masterfully done. The crisp clash of metal on metal and the visceral sound of flesh tearing match the game’s brutal tone perfectly, delivering an audio experience as raw and intense as its title suggests.

The First Berserker: Khazan Value for Money - 8/10

$59.99 is a steep barrier to entry, even if it’s the AAA standard and The First Berserker: Khazan justifies its price with quality and content. You’ll absolutely get your money’s worth—but if you’re on the fence, skip the pre-order and deluxe editions unless you’re desperate to play early or want the extra cosmetics. They don’t make much of a difference in gameplay, but they sure do in your wallet.

The First Berserker: Khazan Review: A Bloodstained Masterpiece!

Oh, to be yet another soulslike releasing in the shadow of the genre’s progenitor—just as it reaches the pinnacle of its evolution with Shadow of the Erdtree—only to watch another transformation crest the horizon with Nightreign looming ahead.

Oh, to be doomed to obscurity, not for being awful, but for being merely mediocre in comparison to what many consider the finest example of video games as an art form. It’s tragic, really. So many soulslikes enter the market only to be clubbed over the head by their own inadequacy, sinking into the depths of forgotten titles that barely made a ripple in the zeitgeist.

One might assume this action RPG would suffer the same fate. But like a man too furious to die, The First Berserker: Khazan is a game too darn good to be forgotten. It has the sheer scale and world-building of Elden Ring, crafting an expansive world that makes you feel wonderfully small. It carries the grit and punishing difficulty of Dark Souls, keeping your grip white-knuckled on the controller. And it embraces the relentless aggression of Bloodborne, rewarding only those brave enough to press the attack and push forward.

So let’s get into it. Here’s my review of The First Berserker: Khazan—a game that, much like almost every mainline Soulsborne entry in FromSoft’s catalog, is nothing short of a bloodstained masterpiece!

Great Adventures and Greater Dungeons in Pell Los

Rage.

Whereas The Lands Between—and the worlds of the Soulsborne series in general—depict the forlorn remnants of past greatness, Pell Los is a land drowning in blood and fury. Rampaging monsters threaten the empire’s survival, unspeakable horrors lurk in its hinterlands and mountaintops, and now, its greatest saviors—Khazan and Ozma—have been branded as traitors. One exiled. The other executed.

It’s rare to see rage, in such vast amounts and distilled purity, serve as the overwhelming pathos of a game’s design. But when it does—whether in the original God of War games or DOOM—it’s a relentless, bloody journey from start to finish, with a whole lot of screaming. And that’s exactly what The First Berserker: Khazan is. It’s rage unbridled, and both the pace and scale of its gameplay and setting reflect this fact.

At its core, The First Berserker: Khazan is an action-packed soulslike where players hack, slash, and cleave their way through relentless waves of enemies and towering bosses. Armed with an arsenal of three distinct weapons—a dual-wield, a spear, and a greatsword—they chain together brutal combos to tear through foes while dodging, blocking, and parrying in turn.

Defeated enemies drop Lacrima, the game’s leveling currency, which can be used to upgrade stats. But, as is tradition, dying means losing all unspent Lacrima—unless you can reclaim it on your next run. So far, so soulslike. The game even has its own take on the Estus Flask to keep you alive. But this is where The First Berserker begins to carve out its own identity—because for all the comparisons I’ve made to Elden Ring, this game has a few tricks even FromSoft didn’t think of.

First off, there’s the game’s structure. Instead of an open world designed for exploration or interconnected zones filled with enemies and loot, The First Berserker uses a mission-based progression system. Each mission is tied to a specific location, accessible only within that area. That’s not to say these locations are small—far from it. Every single area in this game feels like a full Elden Ring biome, packed with unique enemies, mechanics, elemental hazards, hidden paths, and sprawling dungeons.

The sheer scale of each location is staggering—especially considering that each one accounts for just a fraction of the game’s overall runtime. Missions typically culminate in a boss fight, but between point A and point B, players will face plenty of brutal encounters. The enemy variety, while not as creative or iconic as those in Soulsborne, is still impressive. And yes, I got to relive my Anor Londo PTSD when I reached the third major mission area—thanks to all the 7-foot-tall archers knocking me off bridges and ledges with arrows the size of javelins.

Another way The First Berserker truly separates itself from other soulslikes is in its combat. It’s much faster and more combo-driven than the typical methodical, dodge-roll-heavy approach of the genre. Here, you don’t just cautiously step into battle—you come out swinging and hope for the best. Well, maybe not hope—there are defensive options, including blocking, dodging, parrying, and counterattacking, with perfectly timed dodges and blocks offering additional bonuses.

Weapon variety also works differently. Instead of scavenging unique weapons with distinct movesets like in almost every other soulslike, you have only three weapons to choose from, with lootable gear providing stat boosts and set bonuses rather than completely unique effects. The real customization comes from the skill tree—which, in addition to boosting stats through leveling, lets you pick perks, moves, and bonuses for each weapon. And best of all? You can respec at any time for free. Beat that, Rennala!

Then there’s the game’s Spirit system, a separate gauge that builds up through combat and fuels a range of abilities. You can spend Spirit to unleash powerful skills you’ve unlocked—like the Javelin—or use it as a resource for other actions, such as activating the Orb of Will, a consumable that converts Spirit into healing.
With this system in play, combined with your main weapons, you’re less of a one-man army and more of a well-equipped toolbox, capable of adapting to different situations. Thanks to the game’s generous free skill respecs, versatility isn’t just an option—it’s the key to survival.

All of these features—the mission system, equipment storage, and upgrades—are accessible from the game’s hub world, The Crevice. It’s no Firelink Shrine, but I’d be remiss to call it anything less than impressive. Here, you can select missions, decide which section of an area to tackle, optimize your loadout, level up, upgrade gear, and set out whenever you’re ready.

Speaking of setting out, now that we’ve broken down the core gameplay, let’s dive into The First Berserker’s story. While absolutely drenched in that signature soulslike mystique, complete with a massive, unknowable world of secrets to uncover, it still manages to stand out in its own unique way.

Deeply Emotional and Personal Story in a Grand World

Despite its grand world steeped in lore, warring factions, and an ongoing Netherworld upheaval, The First Berserker: Khazan tells a surprisingly personal and deeply emotional story. Many of its key beats revolve around Khazan’s regrets and motivations—shallow as they may sometimes be—but they add a layer of humanity to his relentless pursuit of vengeance. Heck, the entire first and second missions are all about Khazan’s struggle with the Blade Phantom who freed him, coming to terms with Ozma’s death and finally striking a bargain with the Blade Phantom moving forward. If that ain’t personal, I don’t know what is.

It’s a far cry from stories driven purely by rage, like DOOM, and just as distant from the detached, cosmic inevitability of Elden Ring and other Souls games, where the player is often a mere pawn in a grander cycle of fire, gods, and fate. Here, Khazan isn’t just another warrior fulfilling some ancient prophecy—he’s a man fighting for his name, his honor, and the truth, no matter the cost.

There are greater forces at work—some aiding Khazan, others standing in his way—but the story never loses sight of his personal journey. His struggles, both internal and external, remain at the heart of the narrative, making The First Berserker: Khazan feel unique among its soulslike peers. It’s one of the few in the genre to feature a named protagonist with a clearly defined arc, akin to Sekiro, but it also doesn’t forsake the grand, cryptic lore that defines the genre.

It’s the best of both worlds, which brings us to the last of its accolades to be mentioned, but easily the one that ties it all together with a neat bow: its unforgiving difficulty and amazing boss fights.

Maximum Aura (and Difficulty) from These Bosses

Let’s be real—if a soulslike isn’t tough as nails or doesn’t have memorable bosses, it might as well not exist. Nobody remembers a forgettable challenge. Thankfully, The First Berserker doesn’t hold back. It won’t send you into a Let Me Solo Her spiral, but it’ll definitely punish you if you get complacent. Even seasoned soulslike veterans (like yours truly) might find themselves caught off guard enough times to fuel their own berserker rage.

The fast-paced, combo-heavy combat takes some adjustment, especially if you’re used to the methodical dodge-and-strike rhythm of most soulslikes. Here, stamina management is even more crucial because you’re stringing together an absurd number of combos—more on that later. Bottom line? It’s decently tough, even if you think you’ve got the chops. That said, I appreciate that the game offers an easy mode for those who need it. (Not that I did, of course.)

Soulslikes Meets AAA Anime Visuals and Sounds

What I did need, after all, was a break from all the hyper-realism. Don’t get me wrong—it’s great art at the end of the day. But after seeing the umpteenth 15-foot-tall swordsman moving with unearthly grace in FromSoftware’s detailed fantasy worlds, I could use a palate cleanser. And The First Berserker: Khazan’s cel-shaded anime visuals? Exactly what I needed.

With bold colors, high-contrast outlines, and anime stylings reminiscent of Berserk (which we know even FromSoft approves of), The First Berserker feels like a gritty, dark-fantasy manga brought to life—especially when you hit that perfect pose with the background just right for maximum coolness.

And it’s not just the visuals. The game’s soundtrack doesn’t just match that level of quality—it surpasses it at times, especially when the music swells during a boss transformation or the introduction of a new character.

The presentation here is top-tier, though not flawless—a bit more voice acting wouldn’t hurt, and maybe there are one too many snowy mountaintops and red-stone ruins for the best variety. But honestly? That’s nitpicking at this point, which brings us to some of the game’s legitimate concerns.

Maybe Too Much Variety For Its Own Good

Now’s where The First Berserker: Khazan starts to show its cracks. As solid as it is as both a game and a soulslike, it’s not perfect. One of its biggest issues is gameplay variety—some might even call it overwhelming or overcomplicated. With how fast the combat is, you’re expected to memorize a lot of combos to avoid being repetitive, each with its own unique triggers and sequences. Not everyone is going to have fun trying to keep all that straight in the heat of battle.

Then there’s the issue of pacing between bonfires—well, their equivalent here. Checkpoints are much less frequent than in most soulslikes, with each major area only offering around five instead of the usual ten or more. This makes dying in The First Berserker a harsher punishment than in most other games of its kind. The walk-back is often long, packed with enemies, and potentially frustrating, which is something worth considering.

Lastly, we have the odd mix of random loot and set bonuses. These two systems don’t always mesh well. While random loot drops are great in theory, the fact that you need specific set bonuses to push your character above the enemy means that progression is tied to RNG more than skill. With five or so equipment categories all relying on drops, your success often feels dictated by luck rather than mastery. Sure, being great at the game overcomes this hurdle, but at that point, why even have this system in place?

A Spectacle On All Fronts

Overall, The First Berserker: Khazan is a stellar game in both presentation and design, nailing its own distinct style without ever feeling out of place in the genre. It builds on the staples of soulslikes while injecting its own ideas, resulting in a faster, more animated take on the formula that stands apart from the riff-raff and might actually stand a chance and be remembered.

It's a bloodstained masterpiece, a spectacle wrought from the anguish of one man, greased by the hardworking people of a studio who had a clear and well-executed vision, and tempered by a quality that's undeniable.

Is The First Berserker: Khazan Worth It?

Absolutely, Just Don’t Splurge on the Extras

This game lands in the unsurprising AAA price bracket of $59.99 for the base version and $69.99 for the preorder edition, which comes with bonus items and other extras. But unlike certain recent releases from companies that rhyme with Goobisoft, The First Berserker: Khazan actually earns its price tag—not just through raw content density, but through its artistry, presentation, and game design, all of which are up to snuff in their own ways (and then some).

That said, I’d skip the deluxe editions and preorder bonuses unless you’re really itching to play it early—the extra items just aren’t worth the extra $10. But the base game? Absolutely worth the price of admission if you can save up for the initial higher-than-average price for most games.

Digital Storefront
Steam				PlayStation				Xbox
Price			$59.99

The First Berserker: Khazan FAQ

How Do I Switch Difficulty Levels in The First Berserker: Khazan?

The option to switch between Easy and Normal Difficulty becomes available to players after they complete the game’s first mission. It should be noted that players switching to Easy Mode cannot switch back to Normal difficulty without restarting a new save.

Does The First Berserker: Khazan Have Co-op or Multiplayer Modes?

No. According to the game’s developer, The First Berserker: Khazan was designed to be a single-player experience and will not have any co-op or multiplayer content, including co-op multiplayer game modes, for the foreseeable future.

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The First Berserker: Khazan Product Information

Title	THE FIRST BERSERKER: kHAZAN
Release Date	March 27, 2025
Developer	Neople
Publisher	NEXON
Supported Platforms	PC (Steam) PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X|S
Genre	Action, RPG, Soulslike
Number of Players	1
ESRB Rating	ESRB M 17+ PEGI 16
Official Website	The First Berserker: Khazan Website

Aaron Bruce Albert..

A massive fan of roguelikes, turn-based RPGs, and open world adventure games. His gold standard games include The Binding of Isaac, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and Dragon Quest Monsters Joker.