A recently announced game called Fatekeeper appears to combine the best elements of Skyrim and Dark Souls with a touch of For Honor flair. While Steam hosts many projects attempting to replicate the formula of these three games, Fatekeeper stands out for its intriguing world-building, cutting-edge visuals, and a compelling story that makes its single-player campaign worthwhile.
Steam also offers many notable first-person RPGs from small teams, but few can compete with the genre’s biggest names or truly capture their fans’ attention. Fatekeeper, however, has the potential to become one of the most successful RPGs, even drawing in discerning fans of classic gems like Skyrim.
New Steam Game is Like Escape from Tarkov With Zombies
A new extraction shooter on Steam strongly channels Escape from Tarkov, but with zombies added to the mix.
Fatekeeper Features At a Glance
- Linear campaign with some exploration
- First-person combat with magic and swords
- Alchemy system for crafting new potions
- Environmental storytelling
- Handcrafted world
- Customizable loadouts
- Talking-mouse companion
Fatekeeper’s Role-Playing Elements Take the Best of Skyrim
Master the art of sword and sorcery and forge your path with relics, spells, and choices that shape who you become in this first-person RPG.
Developer Paraglacial, a subsidiary of THQ Nordic, first revealed Fatekeeper in August 2025, quickly making it one of the most anticipated Skyrim-like games. While comparing the graphics of this new Unreal Engine 5 title to Bethesda’s fourteen-year-old RPG is unreasonable, fans see the resemblance for good reason: Fatekeeper follows the same “sorcery combined with melee action” approach of Skyrim, featuring enemies that seem lifted straight from a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Fatekeeper also seems to treat RPG elements with a comparable depth to Skyrim. It provides players with multiple options to customize their builds, adjust character stats, and even influence the story through their choices. While Paraglacial’s upcoming game isn’t an open-world RPG, it still lets players explore and piece together the lore through observation and attention to detail, a hallmark of Skyrim, though in a more structured format.
Like Dark Souls, Fatekeeper’s World Plays an Active Role in Telling the Story
In Fatekeeper, the world isn’t just a backdrop—it’s one of the main characters.
While some label Fatekeeper a Soulslike, its similarity to Dark Souls lies primarily in its storytelling approach. Developer Paraglacial notes that every item, weapon, puzzle, and ruin carries a backstory, each revealing a piece of Fatekeeper‘s rich lore. This focus on environmental storytelling mirrors the Dark Souls series, where every piece of equipment and collectible unveils intriguing details about the world and its characters.
In a recent Steam post, Fatekeeper‘s developers explained how player discoveries contribute to the story. “The world of Fatekeeper is layered with the remains of those who lived, fought, and vanished long before the player arrives,” the post said, adding, “Weapons and items are not just loot, but echoes of old traditions.” This means that players seeking to fully grasp the lore will need to examine collectibles closely to uncover hidden details that reveal the story’s secrets.
Combat and Weapons in Fatekeeper Are Reminiscent of For Honor
Success demands both skill and preparation.
As a linear, story-driven action RPG, Fatekeeper places a strong emphasis on combat. Players are constantly ambushed by various creatures and face numerous boss fights in each area. Unlike many generic melee-focused first-person games that simplify combat, Fatekeeper seems to demand careful attention to enemy movements and split-second decision-making. The precision required, along with the need to balance attacks, defenses, and parries, gives Fatekeeper a distinct For Honor feel: every strike counts, and every mistake can be fatal.
Another aspect Fatekeeper seems to share with For Honor is its Viking-esque weapon and armor design. While most enemies are non-human, beast-like creatures, much of the gear closely resembles traditional Viking Age equipment, a theme that is also central to Ubisoft’s For Honor.
Fatekeeper Release Date
A newly released Fatekeeper gameplay trailer showcased eight minutes of action, indicating that development is progressing well. However, developer Paraglacial has not announced a release date yet. The small, 12-person team appears to be targeting an early access launch in 2026, though that timeline should be taken with a grain of salt, as delays remain possible. Fans eager to be notified when the game launches can add it to their Steam wishlist and follow the developer on social media for updates.
