Upcoming action RPG The Relic: First Guardian will transport you to a brand new world like you’ve never seen before: the kingdom of Arsiltus, whose fate now lies in your hands. It is up to you to save the once-prosperous land which now lies in ruins following the destruction of a relic. This mysterious relic is the key to everything and so you must go on an epic quest to find the scattered, broken pieces. Gather them all to save the world and bring peace back to the kingdom. Exciting, right?!
Once you have completed your quest the land will enter a new era, much like how the game itself is bringing something new to the world of action RPGs. Releasing in 2025 (although you can add it now to your wishlists on Steam and Playstation), The Relic: First Guardian draws from Korean folklore and myths, which are an integral part of the game’s DNA. Even if you think you know these stories, First Guardian will let you experience them in new and exciting ways.
The game draws from several legends including the tale of Kongjwi and Patjwi (a traditional romance story similar to Cinderella), The Honest Woodcutter (a cautionary tale about honesty), The Tiger’s Whisker (which teaches us about patience), and The Field Mouse Who Ate Fingernails (a story about a doppelganger).
All of these tales have been reimagined as events and bosses in the game, for the world of Arsiltus. For example, after escaping from the stepmother and stepsister, who had persecuted you, you will discover if her story has a truly happy ending.
That inspiration really helps make The Relic: First Guardian unique, as does the item system featured in the game. On your quest you will discover each piece of equipment is one-of-a-kind, so don’t worry about searching for it again - no item can be collected twice, there are no duplicates. Meanwhile, the over 50 unique bosses you will encounter on your journey are each very individual too, presenting you with various different challengers.
While each one is unique, every boss falls into one of two categories - brutal and humanoid. The former are monsters who follow their instincts whilst the latter are more strategic, planning their every move to be one step ahead of you. They certainly deliver challenges to rise up against during the exhilarating and immersive combat, which much like Korean mythology is crucial to The Relic: First Guardian.
Immersive is certainly the word as the aim of these boss battles is that the player feels each hit in a very real sense. There are therefore various effects that can be activated including a curse attribute which vastly increases received damage, a lightning attribute that cuts in half maximum stamina, and an ice effect that slows you down. Environmental factors also come into play as you will discover objects that either hold you back or help you.
During this riveting combat you can use weapons from the five categories the game offers, each of which allow you to develop different skills. Whilst there are shared common ones, each weapon also has 12 different skills, which you can acquire to build a skill tree. For example, if you want to increase your skill damage, maybe look to the two-handed weapons category, whose charge function will help you build that up. And if that’s not for you, there will be another style of play better suited for how you want to tackle the game. The various weapons and skills means that you can become your own unique fighter, enjoying the game the way you want to.
The skills aren’t just tied to the weapons too. You can learn over 50 passive ones on your journey, further helping you customize your character so you can make them exactly who you want them to be. These are discovered through runes and equipment you will uncover whilst on your mission, which can do various things such as restore health.
These weapons and skills are how you level up during the game, as notably The Relic: First Guardian does not feature character levels. Instead all players start their journey with fixed stats that can be increased when you unleash these new skills through runes and equipment. This is the key to becoming strong enough to beat the bosses in the thrilling combat and find the pieces of the broken relic during the captivating quest. It’s certainly a tough mission, but a unique, enthralling, and rewarding one for any action RPG fan.
Which is what developers Project Cloud Games were aiming for. The Relic: First Guardian comes from this small studio composed of thirteen visionary artists who always aim to provide players with exceptional gaming experiences that both captivate and enchant.
The Relic: First Guardian releases in 2025. Add to your wishlist on Steam and Playstation right now.
