Darksiders Genesis

Set before the cataclysmic events of the first Darksiders game, ‘Darksiders Genesis’ takes players deeper into the world of Heaven, Hell, and the balance that binds them.

80%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

83% User Score Based on 4,499 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 56 reviews

Platforms

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About

Darksiders Genesis is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Airship Syndicate and was released on December 5, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In "Darksiders Genesis," play as War or Strife, two Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and prevent Lucifer from upsetting the Balance of existence. This top-down action adventure game is a prequel to the Darksiders series, allowing you to experience the origin of the Horsemen and their duties under the Council. Engage in intense combat, explore open levels, and uncover the mystery behind Lucifer's nefarious plans.

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,499 reviews

story451 positive mentions

stability267 negative mentions

Engaging co-op gameplay with dynamic character switching between War and Strife.
Visually appealing art style and detailed environments that enhance the experience.
Satisfying combat mechanics with a variety of combos and abilities.

Frequent bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including character clipping and unresponsive controls.
Frustrating platforming sections due to fixed camera angles that hinder depth perception.
Repetitive level design and lack of depth in the storyline and character development.

story
1,236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story of "Darksiders Genesis" serves as a prequel to the original series, exploring the relationship between the horsemen War and Strife as they confront Lucifer's schemes. While some players appreciate the engaging character dynamics and humor, many find the narrative to be simplistic and lacking depth, often reduced to fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the game is noted for its voice acting and art style, making it a worthwhile addition for fans of the franchise, though it may not resonate as strongly with newcomers.
- “The story is a decent and a nice prequel to Darksiders 1.”
- “Strife’s sarcastic humor and War’s unflinching seriousness make for an entertaining contrast, and their banter adds a sense of camaraderie that keeps the story engaging even when the plot itself treads familiar ground.”
- “The story takes place before the events of the original Darksiders, serving as a prequel that delves into the uneasy balance between heaven, hell, and the charred council.”
- “The story ends on a really weird note, as the entirety of the lore and exposition is crammed into the ending cutscene, and while the story itself might have been cool, the pacing really destroys any enjoyment.”
- “The story is bland and just like the gameplay without any real commitment, a side story where they kill off some minor henchmen without any interesting real developments.”
- “The story is unimaginative and boring and the overall game just feels unfinished.”
gameplay
1,027 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The gameplay in "Darksiders Genesis" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the engaging combat mechanics and the dynamic co-op experience between the two characters, War and Strife. While the game introduces a fresh isometric perspective and a blend of hack-and-slash and twin-stick shooter elements, some players found the gameplay repetitive and marred by bugs, clunky controls, and frustrating platforming sections. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for fans of the series, though it may not fully resonate with those expecting the traditional gameplay of previous titles.
- “Gameplay and story support each other, and it is so rare.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Genesis strikes a perfect balance.”
- “The gameplay is fun and fresh.”
- “Gameplay is bland and boring, but the gameplay loop of playing the same missions over and over to loot over the same enemies is atrocious.”
- “The gameplay is visceral but sluggish and unresponsive.”
- “The platforming is god awful and the repetitive gameplay gets real old, real quick.”
graphics
485 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The graphics of Darksiders Genesis have received mixed reviews, with many praising its vibrant art style and detailed environments that stay true to the series' aesthetic. While some players find the visuals stunning and reminiscent of comic book art, others criticize them as outdated or poorly optimized, particularly in the isometric perspective. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive artistic direction, though technical issues and graphical glitches have been reported.
- “Darksiders Genesis has a great art style (both in cutscenes and during gameplay).”
- “The graphics are stunning, the art direction stellar, and the plot is typical Darksiders over-the-top nonsense (which is what I love about the series).”
- “From the gorgeous visuals to the smooth, frenetic combat and environments that beg to be explored, the quality on display here is incredibly impressive.”
- “Visuals are surprisingly bad, and I'm one of those who really couldn't care less about graphics, but man, this is an awful art style for an isometric ARPG.”
- “Graphics are very, very bad.”
- “Refunded this after like 15 minutes of playing, extremely bugged out graphics that just did not change when changing from low to ultra; I don't know if this is a bug they know about or just how poor the game looks.”
music
400 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The music in "Darksiders Genesis" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its impressive and dynamic soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere and complements the action. Composed by Gareth Coker, the music features a blend of heavy metal and orchestral elements, creating memorable themes that resonate with players, particularly during boss battles. While some noted minor issues with audio balancing, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, elevating the gaming experience and solidifying its place among the best in the series.
- “The music sets the tone beautifully, shifting from atmospheric to energetic with ease, and helping define each area in a way that feels true to the series’ identity.”
- “The soundtrack complements the tone perfectly, alternating between heavy metal-inspired combat themes and haunting atmospheric pieces that evoke the grandeur of the Darksiders universe.”
- “The music, composed by a maestro who understands the nuances of the franchise, underscores every moment with orchestral grandeur, enhancing emotional highs and lows.”
- “The music is okay but nothing worth remembering.”
- “Negative points: weak story, mediocre dialogue save some exceptions, music could use more variety.”
- “The music and sound effects frequently glitched.”
stability
269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some users found the game enjoyable despite its issues, many noted that the instability, particularly in co-op mode, can lead to frustrating gameplay moments, such as characters getting stuck or input controls failing. Overall, the game is described as a fun experience marred by significant technical problems that need addressing.
- “It's fun, runs great, and offers a lot of content; it's never too easy or too difficult.”
- “It runs well with no glitches, and it is pretty addictive.”
- “I ran into frequent crashes, visual/audio glitches, enemies getting stuck, and occasional stutters.”
- “The game is extremely buggy, especially when you're playing co-op.”
- “The sheer number of glitches and errors prevent me from recommending this game.”
humor
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is largely driven by the dynamic between the characters Strife and War, whose contrasting personalities create entertaining banter that many players find engaging and funny. Strife's sarcastic and light-hearted remarks often land well, providing comic relief amidst the serious tone of War, although some players feel that the humor can be hit-or-miss or even forced at times. Overall, the game's dialogue and character interactions are praised for adding personality and charm, making the experience enjoyable, especially in co-op play.
- “Strife’s sarcastic humor and War’s unflinching seriousness make for an entertaining contrast, and their banter adds a sense of camaraderie that keeps the story engaging even when the plot itself treads familiar ground.”
- “The dynamic between Strife and War is hilarious and works so well; the conversations never got boring.”
- “Strife is hilarious, especially his banter with War throughout the game.”
- “All of which are overly forced, not funny, and super awkward.”
- “War is in line with its personality in the first game, and Strife is the comic relief of the squad, but not too much to be boring or unfunny.”
grinding
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to mobile games. While some appreciated the lack of excessive loot grinding and found certain aspects of grinding rewarding, others felt that the need to farm for creature cores and backtrack through levels detracted from the overall experience, making it feel unnecessarily prolonged and frustrating. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant flaw that overshadows the game's strengths.
- “Most of the side missions are pretty straightforward and thankfully not tedious.”
- “Exploration is good; take note you will be looking at your map often, but it's not too bad. Exploration is not that tedious, in my opinion.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unbelievably bad game with the most atrocious grinding I've ever played; feels like a mobile game, not gonna lie.”
- “It's tedious and when (often) the game crashes, I don't even feel like rejoining because I'll have to wait for my friend to find yet another purple rock.”
- “The only downside is that regrinding levels for extra power can feel a little tedious, and the usual backtracking that we know from Darksiders is present.”
replayability
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The game offers a high level of replayability through its creature core upgrade system, dual-character mechanics, and various modes such as arena battles and higher difficulty settings. While some players find the exploration and side quests less engaging, many appreciate the customization options and the fun of switching characters, which enhances the overall replay value. Overall, the combination of collectibles, secrets, and the ability to revisit levels contributes to a satisfying replay experience for both solo and co-op play.
- “The creature core system—an upgrade mechanic where enemies drop orbs that enhance stats or abilities—introduces a layer of customization that rewards exploration and replayability.”
- “With the ability to freely switch between horsemen as a solo player, you can quickly mix up how you manage combat, adding an extra layer to the significant amount of replayability on offer.”
- “The combat and horseman-swapping mechanic keep things fresh; there are tons of collectibles to find, and each level has high replayability.”
- “Definitely don't see the replay value in this game, so if you want a game to put plenty of hours in, then I wouldn't recommend this one.”
- “There's no replay value and the story is like one page of dialogue.”
- “All in all, there is a huge lack of replayability.”
optimization
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
50%
13%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and excellent graphics, particularly on consoles, while others report significant issues such as crashes, bugs, and poor optimization for keyboard and mouse controls. Many users noted that while the game runs well in general, certain levels can experience performance drops, and the platforming mechanics feel unoptimized for a non-platforming game. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on the platform and control method used.
- “Performance-wise, it’s smooth all throughout: fast loading, no crashes, no noticeable frame drops.”
- “I'm genuinely impressed so far how stable, well-optimized and bug-free the game is.”
- “Great graphics with amazing optimization.”
- “It's a beautiful game with very buggy controls and mediocre optimization.”
- “Buggy and terrible performance drag down what could be an okay game.”
- “You simply realize the game is not optimized for platforming of this accuracy - and why would it?”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
23%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, driven by a dynamic and well-composed soundtrack that shifts between haunting and energetic themes, effectively enhancing the dark and epic setting. Players appreciate the detailed environments, intricate character designs, and atmospheric lighting that collectively breathe life into the game world, although some technical issues and gameplay mechanics occasionally detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully captures the distinctive atmosphere of the Darksiders franchise, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “The music sets the tone beautifully, shifting from atmospheric to energetic with ease, and helping define each area in a way that feels true to the series’ identity.”
- “The attention to detail is astonishing, with intricate character designs and atmospheric lighting that breathe life into every corner of this awe-inspiring universe.”
- “Gorgeously detailed graphics, audio and level design set a memorable atmosphere.”
- “The need to push a button to continue (like in old RPGs) breaks any atmosphere you hope for.”
- “The art is pretty, yes, but has all the charm and atmosphere of a Skylanders game; plastic and hollow.”
- “Blurry atmosphere.”
character development
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
Character development in "Darksiders Genesis" is highlighted by the engaging banter and evolving dynamics between characters, particularly War and Strife, which adds depth to their personalities despite some cheesy dialogue. While the character designs are praised for their boldness and expressiveness, many reviewers feel that the overall storyline and character development lack depth compared to previous entries in the series. The game successfully combines intricate character designs with a shared skill tree, enhancing the gameplay experience, but some players express a desire for more substantial storytelling and character moments.
- “Their banter alone adds more character development than some full games manage, and watching their dynamic evolve is genuinely entertaining.”
- “Good character development on Strife, made me willing to find out more about him.”
- “The commentary between Strife and War really feels authentic and brings more character development to both of them as you get to know them more.”
- “Darksiders has always, for me, been in a strange place between superb art style, incredible music and absolutely top-tier character design, and a really wasted opportunity on storytelling with so much more lore and character moments that I want, can almost see, but just aren't there.”
- “Additionally, the storyline and character development in Darksiders Genesis lack depth.”
- “That said, again, the game leans heavily on the original; it is overall on the simple side for character development and specialization, compared to 2.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
18%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its surprising depth, with players experiencing a range of feelings from joy to sadness, particularly through character interactions and a powerful soundtrack. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, such as nostalgia and empathy, while also delivering a fun and engaging gameplay experience. Overall, the blend of heartfelt storytelling and character development contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact.
- “What initially looks like a smaller spin-off turns out to be one of the most refreshing and well-crafted entries in the saga, delivering charm, style, and surprising emotional depth.”
- “The music, composed by a maestro who understands the nuances of the franchise, underscores every moment with orchestral grandeur, enhancing emotional highs and lows.”
- “Ultimately, he is perhaps far more 'human' than I expected him to be; certainly more emotional.”
- “The story felt incredibly dull and uninspired.”
- “I found the emotional moments to be lacking and unengaging.”
- “The narrative failed to evoke any real feelings or connections.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
10%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by a lack of microtransactions, which some players appreciate as a refreshing change from typical predatory practices in mobile gaming. However, there are concerns about the game's overall quality and marketing, with some labeling it a quick cash grab despite the absence of in-game purchases. Overall, players feel that the game offers decent value for its price, but it suffers from a lack of innovation and promotion.
- “You will get played without any microtransactions.”
- “There are no actual microtransactions.”
- “Not to mention its price for what you get here, with no microtransactions, it is absolutely worth it.”
- “There are traces of what would have been the standard predatory mobile monetization practices you're probably familiar with.”
- “Felt like a quick cash grab.”
- “I just wish there was more of a push behind games like this rather than buggy cookie cutter cash grabs most companies keep shoveling out.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 56 critic reviews

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21h Median play time

22h Average play time

14h Main story

31h Completionist

11-36h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 23 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Darksiders Genesis is a hack and slash game with fantasy theme.

Darksiders Genesis is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 14 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 31 hours to finish. On average players spend around 22 hours playing Darksiders Genesis.

Darksiders Genesis was released on December 5, 2019.

Darksiders Genesis was developed by Airship Syndicate.

Darksiders Genesis has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Darksiders Genesis is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Darksiders 3, Darksiders, Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition, Remnant: From the Ashes, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and others.

Darksiders Genesis

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