The way Hades has changed how we look at roguelike is transformational, and many games have tried to follow in its hallowed footsteps to varying degrees of success. However, one that might just do that and more is the Arthurian fantasy action roguelike, Sworn.
Developed by Windwalk Games and published by Team17, the Early Access title has received the game-changing The Mutinous Fae update. If you didn’t know, this is a co-op medieval fantasy roguelike game where players must fight their way through a desolate version of Camelot ruled by a corrupted King Arthur.
Throughout the course of the game, players will gain upgrades from major figures from Arthurian lore like Merlin and Nimue, along with a series of Fae Lords, all in the name of taking the throne back from Arthur.
This new update continues the main story in Sworn, taking place right after the players defeat the corrupted king. Despite usurping Arthur, corruption still spreads throughout Camelot, forcing the players to seek help elsewhere. Gameplay-wise, players will be given the new story quest, which is activated after they beat Arthur by speaking with a new friendly NPC in Carmarthen. A new challenge mechanic is also being introduced, which grants players access to the game’s final area.
In the Secret World, players will experience eight new combat chambers, six new enemy types, five minor and one major, two new kinds of traps, and a brand new Boss encounter with accompanying cutscenes.
Then, if players need respite after a challenging run, they can visit the new shop and Fountain Chamber. New music has also been added to the Sworn soundtrack, which will certainly make for an epic change of pace.
Speaking of changes, the Sworn team has also implemented a series of artistic tweaks to the game’s visuals. Textures and artwork have been updated in the Wirral Forest and Deep Harbor, map layouts have been modified in Cornwall, and corruptions have been given an updated set of visual effects.
Some more general improvements have been made to the game’s script, like fixing typos, replacing instances of the word “run” with “quest,” and adding rarity labels to Duo and Round Table Blessings.
Sworn is available for PC only, and its full release is planned for Summer 2025.
