Chris InglisDrova – Forsaken Kin is an action RPG developed by Just2D and published by Deck 13 that immerses players in a dark and mysterious world inspired by Celtic mythology. As a druid exiled from your tribe, you embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind a devastating event that has ravaged your homeland. I loved the atmosphere of the game, and the way the game progressed gave me Quest for Glory vibes which is no mean feat. The steady progression had me hooked as you face tougher adversaries, craft new gear and go deeper into the story.
Drova’s world is beautifully crafted with a pixel art style that evokes a sense of nostalgia. It reminded me of playing Morbid: The Seven Acolytes and is what drew me to the game. The environments are diverse, ranging from dense forests to sprawling cities, each with its own unique atmosphere. The game’s soundtrack complements the world perfectly, creating a haunting and immersive experience.
Drova’s story is well-written and full of twists and turns. You will eventually have a choice to join one of two factions, Remnants or Nemeton, each with their own values and in pursuit of their own goals. Your choice will be relevant for the rest of the game and impact the entire story, and everything comes with a price. The characters are well-developed and believable, adding depth to the narrative, and there is some great humour with some of the character dialogue.
The combat system in Drova is fast-paced and satisfying. Players have a variety of weapons and abilities at their disposal, allowing for different playstyles. You need to balance stamina between your swings, blocks and dodges, while learning the different cues from the different monsters you will face. The game’s skill progression system encourages experimentation and customisation, as players can unlock new abilities as you gain prestige, spend learning points to raise stats, and learn new skills.
Drova is certainly not an easy game. While the initial enemies are beaten easily, once you progress past the introduction, the enemies quickly become much tougher, and the world can be unforgiving. There are even thorny bushes that will make you bleed which caused me to slow down and not only look for dangerous monsters but also be aware of what other passive dangers lurk in the shadow. The challenges are rewarding though, and the sense of accomplishment when overcoming them is satisfying.
The game’s exploration mechanics also encourage players to discover hidden secrets and uncover the lore of the world. Holding right mouse button will hide some of the nearby foliage and also highlight footprints if someone critical to the story had been walking in that area. This led me to finding a heap more loot and discovering more of the zone I was in. Initially there is no in-game map, so you need to remember landmarks. You eventually gain a crudely drawn map but it is static, so you still need to remember landmarks and directions yourself which can be a challenge when you take a break between play sessions. Later you can purchase a proper map as well as ink to mark your own waypoints.
Overall, Drova – Forsaken Kin is a well-crafted action RPG that offers a compelling story with consequence and humour, engaging combat, and a beautiful world to explore. There were moments that took me back to playing the Quest for Glory series in the 90s, as well as more modern takes on pixel art RPG’s. There are hours of content here as you craft new items, earn prestigate, spend learning points to specialise your character, and complete quests for your chosen faction. This is an easy game to recommend.
This review utilised a key provided by PR Hound and Drova – Forsaken Kin is out now on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
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