There are a ton of upcoming RPGs that fans of the genre will be looking forward to as we head into 2026, with multiple new titles on the horizon. Souls fans have a big year ahead as well, with FromSoftware’s hugely anticipated The Duskbloods scheduled to launch as well.
Dark Souls and Elder Scrolls fans will definitely want to wishlist the upcoming Queen’s Domain, a new “retro” dark fantasy action RPG with a free demo available to play now on Steam. While no official launch date is available yet, the demo includes a brief, roughly 1-hour portion of the game, letting players explore the starting area and an early dungeon encounter, get a taste of weapon pickups and loot, and take on the first boss.
Queen’s Domain Has A Free Demo On Steam
Try The Dark Retro-Fantasy Action RPG Now
Queen’s Domain is described as a “retro-fantasy” action RPG, and is clearly inspired by old-school dark fantasy RPGs, with medieval aesthetics and promising gameplay that’s sure to capture the nostalgia of early Elder Scrolls games. Queen’s Domain features “brutal combat and traversal-focused exploration,” hinting that it could also include challenging bosses vis-à-vis Dark Souls.
The exploration elements echo these iconic RPGs as well, with “dozens of hours of adventuring and exploration” planned in the full release. Weapon variety includes “50+ melee weapons to discover, equip, and upgrade,” as well as “20+ types of secondary throwing weapons.”
The demo for Queen’s Domain is available to play now, giving players a brief glimpse at what the game has to offer. As noted, the official launch date is undetermined at this time, but with a free demo available and the game being in development at indie studio Freshly Baked since 2023, a full release likely won’t be too far off.
It Looks Absolutely Fantastic
The Isle Of Neasied Hides Many Secrets
Queen’s Domain not only looks great, it has a promising premise, story/narrative, and style, and the world-building elements of the game look especially exciting. It’s set on the Isle of Neasied and follows the protagonist’s search for their father, taking players into a “labyrinthine world where secrets and dangers lurk around every corner.”
“Fight your way through the hordes of monsters and powerful bosses awaiting you in the darkest depths of the isle,” and customize your playstyle by choosing from dozens of weapon combinations with distinct special attacks. The demo gives you a real sense of what’s possible and what lies ahead with Queen’s Domain, and there’s a good chance it’ll be on your wishlist after you try it out.