Drova: Forsaken Kin arrives like a bucket of ice water to the face. Developed by the indie team at Just2D, this title is a unapologetic love letter to the grimdark classics of the early 2000s—specifically the legendary Gothic series. It’s a game that doesn’t just respect your intelligence; it demands it. If you step off the beaten path without a plan, the wilderness will eat you alive, and that is exactly why it is one of the most refreshing action-RPGs to hit the scene in years.
A World That Despises You (Until You Earn It)
The story of Drova begins with a sense of desperate hope. You play as a nobody from a dying village, a place where every winter is a death sentence. When your local druids discover a mysterious red crystal, they believe it is the key to reaching Drova, a mythical “Otherworld” promised to be a paradise of peace and plenty. Naturally, things go sideways. Upon arrival, you realize that the paradise was a lie. This is a land defined by loss and struggle, where the ruins of a dead empire are being picked over by two warring factions: the idealistic Nemeton, who hope to restore the land to its former glory, and the Remnants, a group of pragmatic outcasts who simply want to find a way to escape back home.
The setting is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. Drawing heavy inspiration from Celtic mythology, the world is thick with fog, ancient spirits, and a sense of “low fantasy” realism. There are no shimmering paladins here; there are only desperate people trying to survive the deathfog that slowly consumes the land. Because the game features no quest markers or floating compass icons, you are forced to actually pay attention to the world. You’ll find yourself reading maps, following landmarks, and asking NPCs for directions that actually matter. It creates a level of immersion that modern “checklist” open worlds simply cannot match.
The Gritty Beauty of Pixel Art
Visually, Drova is a treat for fans of the lo-fi aesthetic. The pixel art is hand-crafted and surprisingly detailed, managing to convey everything from the claustrophobic dread of a dark mine to the haunting beauty of a spirit-infested grove. The top-down isometric perspective gives you a tactical view of your surroundings, which is essential because the world design is incredibly dense. Every corner of the map feels purposeful.
The graphics work in tandem with a stellar soundscape to build a thick atmosphere. The music shifts from quiet, melancholic strings while you’re picking berries in a forest to pulse-pounding, aggressive percussion the moment a pack of wolves catches your scent. There is a tactile weight to the world; when it rains, the colors mute, and when you’re injured, your character’s movements reflect the brutality of your situation.
Master the Flow of Battle
Let’s talk about the combat, because this is where Drova: Forsaken Kin truly tests your mettle. This isn’t a button-masher. Every swing of your sword or thrust of your spear consumes stamina, and if you run out in the middle of a brawl, you’re as good as dead. The combat system is built around the concept of flow. You need to time your attacks to create combos, manage your parries, and use perfect dodges to create openings.
The game features a deep progression system that avoids traditional level-scaling. If an enemy is too strong for you, they stay too strong until you actually get better gear or learn new talents. You won’t just wake up stronger; you have to find teachers within the world who are willing to train you in specific weapon arts or occult spells. Whether you want to be a heavy-armored juggernaut or a nimble dual-wielder, your playstyle is earned through hard work and exploration. The boss fights are particularly memorable, often acting as “skill checks” that force you to use every tool in your inventory, from traps and bombs to powerful divinity spells.
The Verdict
Drova: Forsaken Kin is a rare gem that understands the core appeal of the RPG genre: the journey from being a “nobody” to becoming a force of nature. It’s a challenging experience that rewards patience and curiosity while punishing recklessness. With its branching narrative, impactful choices, and a world that feels genuinely alive, it offers dozens of hours of high-stakes adventure. If you miss the days when games felt like a mystery to be solved rather than a tour to be guided through, you need to set foot in the mist and see if you have what it takes to survive the Forsaken Kin.
