Lords of the Fallen (2023) Review

Combat: Weighty but Imprecise

Lords of the Fallen's combat is heavier and slower than Dark Souls, which isn't inherently a problem — Demon's Souls and early Dark Souls are also deliberate. The issue is that the weight doesn't feel intentional: enemy hit detection is occasionally inconsistent, dodge timing feels less crisp than the competition, and some attacks with wide swings fail to connect in ways that feel like bugs rather than design. Post-launch patches have improved this significantly, but at launch it was a more substantial complaint.

Spell builds are stronger than melee builds in the base game, with Radiance (holy magic) in particular offering very high damage output relative to effort. Melee builds work but require more patience and pattern-reading. The boss roster is inconsistent: some fights (Pieta, She of Blessed Renewal; Judge Cleric; Tancred and Reinhold) are excellent, while others feel rushed or repetitive.

Dual-Realm Mechanic

The Umbral realm is Lords of the Fallen's genuine innovation. Shifting into Umbral reveals new platforms, shortcut passages, and puzzle solutions invisible in Axiom. The Umbral is also where you go when you die — given a second chance to reach safety before dying permanently. The Umbral also has its own enemies, bosses, and geometry that meaningfully differ from Axiom. This mechanic alone justifies the game's existence and partially compensates for its other shortcomings.

Story and World

The world of Mournstead is large and more interconnected than it initially appears. The story — stopping the return of the Demon God Adyr — is straightforward for the genre but delivered through effective environmental storytelling. The Umbral aesthetic (twisted geometry, floating body parts, surreal lighting) creates a visual identity distinct from other Soulslikes.

Graphics and Performance

Lords of the Fallen is one of the best-looking Soulslikes in pure visual fidelity — Unreal Engine 5's Lumen lighting creates exceptional atmosphere in both realms. The launch performance on PC was poor (stuttering, frame drops), but a series of patches substantially improved stability. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also improved significantly post-launch.

Verdict

Lords of the Fallen is a flawed but genuinely creative Soulslike reboot. The dual-realm concept is its saving grace. Buy it on sale for a unique experience.

Pros & Cons