If you have ever spent a weekend huddled around a table with a mountain of plastic miniatures and a rulebook the size of a phonebook, then the name Descent probably makes your heart skip a beat. Well, get ready to trade in those physical dice for a controller because Artefacts Studio and New Tales just announced Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent. This isn’t just a digital carbon copy of the board game; it is a full-blown tactical RPG that aims to capture that “dungeon crawl with the squad” energy without the three-hour setup time.
A New Chapter in a Classic World
Setting the stage for the acclaimed Descent: Legends of the Dark, this new title acts as a standalone prequel taking place just one year before the events we already know. You don’t need to be a lore master to jump in, though. The story follows a ragtag group of adventurers on a desperate hunt for a forgotten relic that could be the only thing standing between the realm of Terrinoth and total, soul-crushing darkness. It is classic high fantasy through and through, but it’s delivered with a fresh visual flair—think stained-glass cutscenes and a world that feels lived-in and dangerous.
Strategy Meets Real-Time Roaming
The gameplay loop here is a clever hybrid that should appeal to both strategy nerds and exploration fans. When you’re just wandering through the 20 massive dungeons, the game plays in real-time, letting you poke around for loot, dodge traps, and solve environmental puzzles. But the second you bump into an elite skeleton or a boss that’s ten times your size, the game shifts into a tight, turn-based tactical combat system. You’ll need to think about things like elevation, line of sight, and positioning to survive. One of the coolest features is the Synergy attack system, which lets your heroes chain their abilities together for some seriously flashy finishers.
The A-Team of Adventurers
You aren’t just controlling generic soldiers here. The roster features eight signature heroes, each with their own unique background and fully voiced personalities. The demo has already introduced us to characters like the tanky dragonborn fighter and a dwarf wizard who specializes in freezing enemies solid. Whether you’re playing solo with three AI companions or jumping into four-player online co-op, you’ll always have a full party of four heroes. The developers even built the missions to be “one-night sessions,” typically lasting about 60 to 90 minutes, making it perfect for a digital game night with friends who can’t commit to a 100-hour epic in one go.
Sharpen Your Blades for Spring
The wait won’t be long, as Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent is slated to launch in Spring 2026. It’s heading to PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, so pretty much everyone is invited to the party. If you’re itching to see if your tactical skills are up to snuff, there is already a free demo available on Steam that lets you play through the tutorial and the first dungeon. It’s a great way to get a feel for the “easy to learn, hard to master” vibe they are going for before the full game drops later this year.
