A New First Person Soulslike Enters The Castle
Decrepit is a new dark fantasy first person soulslike coming to PC, and it is aiming squarely at players who love brutal combat, creepy castles and the tension of losing everything on death. Revealed at The Game Awards, the game is being created by solo developer Olof Hagelin, a former Starbreeze and Avalanche developer, under the studio name Jämmerdal Games.
From the first trailer, Decrepit shows a heavy focus on grim medieval combat against twisted undead enemies. Expect close quarters melee with swords and other brutal weapons, all viewed through a first person perspective that tries to drop you right into the dungeon. The vibe is very much classic dark fantasy horror, with enemies bound to torture devices and shambling horrors waiting in the dark.
The game is set inside an accursed castle where you begin in a dungeon cell and must fight your way toward freedom. The story details are still light, but the tone is clear. This is meant to be oppressive, unsettling and unforgiving in a way that fans of games like Dark Souls will recognize.
Roguelike Structure With Soulslike Level Design
One of the most interesting parts of Decrepit is how it mixes roguelike design with soulslike structure. You repeatedly venture out from your cell, gather loot and try to push deeper into the castle. When you die, you are dragged back to the dungeons and must try again.
However the castle itself is not randomly generated. Publisher Three Friends explains that while enemies and encounters are shuffled each run, the overall layout of the castle remains the same every time. That means you can learn the environment, study routes and gradually build true map knowledge rather than relying only on raw stats or random luck.
Decrepit is inspired by several classic and modern influences:
- First person action games like Hexen, with fast and direct combat.
- Old school dungeon crawlers such as Eye of the Beholder, where navigation and spatial awareness are key.
- Modern soulslike games that reward careful observation, pattern recognition and mastery through repetition.
The developer and publisher describe Decrepit as emphasizing spatial mastery over power growth. Instead of endlessly stacking stats and damage numbers, the core progression comes from learning the castle, finding secrets and unlocking helpful shortcuts between areas.
In that sense, it borrows a page from FromSoftware’s level design. Enemy placements might reset when you die, but any shortcuts you open stay unlocked, and hidden secrets you discover remain found. The comparison made is to Sen’s Fortress from Dark Souls, stretched out to an entire game of traps, tricks and tightly designed encounters.
Atmosphere, Immersion And What To Expect On PC
Developer Olof Hagelin points out that first person games have always appealed to him because of how immersive they can be. By putting players directly behind the eyes of the character, Decrepit wants to amplify the dread of exploring dark, hostile spaces.
He also highlights a love of old school dungeon experiences. With Decrepit, the goal is to recapture the mix of fear and excitement that came from classic first person dungeon crawlers, but updated with modern soulslike combat ideas and moodier visuals.
For PC players, the structure sounds appealing if you enjoy challenging games that reward patience and perseverance. The static layout means skilled players can speed run areas once they have learned the space, while the shuffled enemies and encounters should keep each attempt slightly unpredictable. It sits somewhere between a pure roguelike and a traditional handcrafted action RPG.
You can expect:
- First person melee focused combat against twisted undead and other horrors.
- A persistent castle layout that you gradually learn and master.
- Randomized enemy encounters and loot on each run that keep replays fresh.
- Permanent shortcuts and secrets that make future attempts faster and more strategic.
- A heavy dark fantasy atmosphere aimed at fans of grim, oppressive worlds.
Decrepit is targeting a 2026 launch and will be available on Steam, where you can already add it to your wishlist. There is still plenty to learn about specific systems, exact combat feel and progression, but the early reveal positions it as one to watch if you are into punishing first person action with a strong focus on level design.
For players who enjoy experimenting with builds, learning tight enemy patterns and mastering intricate environments, Decrepit could scratch that familiar soulslike itch while offering a fresh first person twist. With its blend of roguelike runs and FromSoftware style shortcuts, it aims to turn one cursed castle into a long term obsession for PC gamers who do not mind dying again and again on the way to freedom.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/decrepit-is-a-dark-fantasy-first-person-soulslike-in-a-castle-full-of-zombies-wholl-repeatedly-drag-your-clobbered-body-back-to-the-dungeons-until-you-get-good-enough-to-escape/
