Does Darksiders’ New Style Signal a Shift for Action Games?

The release of Darksiders Genesis was a huge departure for the franchise, abandoning the traditional third-person action game format and opting instead for top-down gameplay. While this change, by itself, may not seem very significant, it does raise certain questions about the current landscape of gaming. More specifically, Darksiders’ new style puts a giant question mark over future single-player action/adventure titles and how they will adapt to the ever-changing gaming environment.

If third-person action games do disappear, it wouldn’t be the first time we have seen a game genre come and go. A decade ago, everyone was hoping on the MMORPG train, trying to topple WoW and plant themselves as the next must-play game that demanded hundreds, if not thousands, of hours. When it became evident that players were becoming less and less interested in that kind of time sink, many companies hopped into the MOBA scene.

While League and DOTA are still prevalent in the gaming landscape, those who followed suit have quickly vanished (Blizzard’s Heroes of the Storm is but one example). Then came the Battle Royale craze, which is what we are currently in the midst of (thanks to Fortnite, PUBG and Apex Legends). The point is, game styles do come and go, but for many decades third-person action games have found their place.

The franchises are almost too many to name, Assassin’s Creed, Tomb Raider, Uncharted, Just Cause, The Witcher and (until now) Darksiders are simply those closest to mind. It isn’t time to hit the panic button yet, but perhaps it is time to dust it off and keep it within reach. I would not be surprised to see this trend continue, although I sincerely hope it does not. I have been a longtime proponent of 3PAA games and would be loath to see their kind be lost to time.

For now, we can only sit back and enjoy the games that are put in front of us. While Darksiders’ Genesis may not follow the same format as its forebears, it by no means should be a mark against the game itself. Top-down games have always done well on handheld consoles, and with its recent release on the Switch, Darksiders’ new style may find a welcome home in Nintendo’s dark horse console.

Besides, any way you dish up the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, it’s gonna be a good time! Stay tuned for our review of Darksiders Genesis on the Switch and follow Strife and War as they battle new demons and threats to the Council!

For those who simply can’t wait, you can check out their official site here: https://darksiders.com/