We played an early version of the video game Kromlech - a dark fantasy RPG developed by the Czech studio Perun Creative (Hobo: Tough Life, Kvark). The game was released in early access on Steam in March of this year.
DEVELOPER: Perun Creative
RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2026 (early access)
ENGINE: Unreal Engine 5
PLATFORM: Steam
CURRENT STATUS: active development; available version 0.2
The inspiration for this video game comes from the European Iron Age (1st millennium BC) and Celtic mythology. Right from the start of the game, it is evident that it is a tribute to the cult classic Gothic. Kromlech is a blend of a raw sandbox open world with modern rogue-lite mechanics.
In the game, we play as Cronach, a lonely adventurer. With him, we navigate through an apocalyptic world where a catastrophe is currently unfolding – namely, after 30 days a cataclysm will occur, and it is up to us to change that. As the apocalypse approaches, the world literally 'cracks', and the only one who sees it is our main character – Cronach. His task is to connect those cracks. This is not a classic fairy tale about a prince saving a princess. Here, the story is dark, and such a mood and atmosphere follow us from the very beginning.
The region or world, the so-called open world we move through, is inspired by ancient Celtic lands. Expect a dark atmosphere akin to the series Vikings mixed with Lovecraftian horror. Conversations are short and infused with black humor. Through our choices, we gain epithets that shape our fate in the game. One major difference compared to other video games is that in Kromlech there is no classic 'game over'. After you lose or fail to complete a mission, you simply continue playing in a darker tone. Interestingly, many side quests are based on real Celtic or Slavic legends about sacrifices or spirits from nature. The combat is brutal, forcing us to strategize. It is necessary to focus and find the weak points of the enemies.
The game is made in Unreal Engine 5 and emphasizes a reactive world where our decisions are crucial. This is not a game that 'holds your hand'. The developers plan to keep the game in early access for about 12 months to utilize feedback from the gaming community to iron out technical issues, which is very commendable.
So far, Kromlech holds a MIXED rating on Steam – about 67 percent positive reviews. This is a realistic rating considering that this is early access where there is always a significant difference between players who appreciate the developers' vision and those who are frustrated by technical obstacles.
PROS:
- atmosphere, innovation, depth of combat
CONS:
- optimization, technical roughness, difficulty
CONCLUSION:
Kromlech is a rough diamond whose final result we eagerly await. It is an ambitious, punishing RPG for which we already need a powerful PC. If the developers fix all the shortcomings, we are in for a cult RPG classic.
A copy of the early version of the game for PC was provided by the development studio Perun Creative
