HoYoverse's Nodusfall Hands-On: A Dark Fantasy Co-Op RPG Wor

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HoYoverse has built its reputation on colorful, anime-inspired gacha titles like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. With Nodusfall, however, the studio is trying something markedly different — a gritty dark fantasy action game that wears its Elden Ring inspirations on its sleeve. After playing it at Gamescom in Cologne, I came away surprised by how much potential this project has.

A Bold Departure From the HoYoverse Formula

Nodusfall looks nothing like a typical HoYoverse game. The bright palettes, adorable creatures, and endless anime heroines are gone. Instead, players get mysterious magic, brutal monsters, and a dingier, more grounded sense of realism. It's the kind of aesthetic that immediately brings FromSoftware's masterpiece to mind — and for good reason.

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Co-Op Fears and Character Choices

My preview session consisted of two boss battles, each fought in a group of four. I'll admit I was nervous. Most of my co-op experience comes from RuneScape, a 25-year-old MMORPG played primarily with a mouse, and letting down three teammates is nobody's idea of fun.

The demo offered four characters: two melee-focused and two ranged. Each style included a healer, which I ruled out immediately — too much responsibility. Instead, I chose the archer with a mechanical arm, a role built around dealing heavy damage from a distance while handling surprises.

Combat That Clicks Quickly

Nodusfall's combat is easy to pick up. A basic attack fills a gauge that eventually unlocks a stronger strike. There's also a secondary move — for my archer, a bomb arrow that dealt bonus damage once lodged in an enemy's flesh.

Beyond that, every character has four cooldown-based abilities. My archer could leap backwards while firing a powerful arrow, or summon a spirit wolf. Since the wolf only damages enemies in close quarters, I'd dash in, unleash it, then dodge back out. All of this consumes stamina, but the bar is forgiving.

Best of all, my archer had genuine range. I could circle the battlefield's edges while still landing hits — ideal for staying alive and supporting teammates. If an ally needed backup or a revive, I could slip back into the chaos. Soon enough, I found myself settling into a surprisingly satisfying combat rhythm.

Boss Fights Full of Surprises

Nodusfall's enemy design draws from mythologies worldwide. In the demo, I fought Qiongqi, a griffin-like beast from Chinese mythology, and the Maldrake, a classic dragon. HoYoverse has crafted encounters that are genuinely impressive to look at — even when the thing you're admiring is trying to bite your head off.

Boss battles follow a familiar multi-stage structure, each phase bringing a new health bar. The Maldrake was my favorite. It breathes fire, snaps its jaws, and smashes with its wings. But during the opening phase, I noticed something strange: human-like arms protruding from its chest.

Midway through the fight, a knight tore itself free from the dragon's torso, killing it and transforming the encounter into the Maldrake Knight battle. Compared to the slow, predictable dragon, the knight is a blisteringly fast sword-and-polearm fighter that punishes anyone caught in a corner. It also leaves black goo puddles that drain your health. Every strategy I'd developed for the dragon became useless in an instant — and I loved it. I hope HoYoverse brings the same unpredictability to other encounters.

Monetization Still Up in the Air

As a free-to-play title from a studio famous for gacha games, Nodusfall raises obvious monetization questions. The developer says characters will be unlockable through continued play rather than a banner system like Genshin Impact's, with cosmetic monetization under consideration. Beyond that, details are scarce.

Verdict: Promising, But Questions Remain
I went into Nodusfall's preview with no expectations and came out genuinely excited. Combat is fast without being overwhelming, bosses are memorable, and co-op feels engaging yet approachable. I'm still curious about solo play, and whether Nodusfall can carve out its own identity among the games that inspire it remains to be seen.

From what I've played, though, the signs are encouraging — and I'll be following its development closely over the next year.