This is the demo for Darkhaven.

It has many hours of open-ended ARPG play in a sandbox world.

Please enjoy the demo, and give us feedback and suggestions if you have them!

Demo-specific information:

• There is no hard-and-fast "end" to the demo, but your character progression will cap out at level 8. 

• There is one character class in the demo, with 6 available skills in 3 separate skill trees.

• There is one "world event" that can be triggered by following the main quest line. This event will totally transform your world over time, until it's stopped. Keep in mind, you don't have to trigger it until you're ready!

• In-game performance will get better before release. Please let us know about any critical issues you find.

About Darkhaven

Darkhaven is a dark-fantasy isometric ARPG set in the aftermath of a total collapse of civilization. You are a survivor in a world where the wild lands and monsters have reclaimed the ruins of long-dead empires. To survive, you must venture beyond the safety of your meager stronghold to hunt the remnants of evil and become the hero this world awaits. Unearth items of legendary power, learn arcane skill trees, and master a combat system that rewards skill and positioning over simple stat-checks.

Every Player’s Game is Unique

Darkhaven moves away from the disconnected, "hallway-and-room" logic of traditional random layouts. We use ecological rules to stitch together biomes, handcrafted points of interest, and terrain that make sense. Every world is unique, yet feels cohesive with a rich implied history. Exploration isn't just a path to the next set of mobs; it’s the discovery of a vast and living realm.

Totally Dynamic Worlds

The terrain in Darkhaven is fully deformable. You can dig into the earth to harvest resources, discover hidden caves, tunnel through dungeon walls, or rebuild ruined fortresses. Drain lakes to uncover sunken ruins or redirect flows of lava to form an impassable moat. You can also build. Raise the earth to create islands, fortify defensive positions, and construct everything from bridges to entire settlements. The land is your dominion, and its destiny is in your hands. 

Lurking Horrors 

Malevolent forces prey on the remains of this dying realm. Tendrils of darkness worm through the veil from other planes, tearing open rifts in reality. Each breach spawns legions of horrors and spreads corruption that physically transforms the landscape. These enemies are powerful and hungry, and every invasion leaves permanent scars. While you can fight them back and rebuild, the world remembers. Craters, ruins, and the structural changes left by these incursions remain as a lasting record of your epic battles.    

Build-Inspiring Itemization

Itemization is the heartbeat of Darkhaven. We avoid the "balanced banality" and tiny incremental percentages that are common in many modern titles. There are no “green arrow” decisions. Instead, you will find gear that feels genuinely powerful for its level, and rare items that remain viable far beyond their expected power band. Finding a "too good" item should be a moment of excitement that inspires your build decisions, not something to be nerfed.

We’re building on our past work with the next generation of relics, runes (and rune words), and build-defining set items to add layers of interesting choices. This system is supported by trading and finely tuned drop rates. By focusing on the value of rare finds, we ensure that trading remains a cornerstone of the experience. Many rare items are useful for adapting your current build, while advanced players chasing specific archetypes can look to others to fill out those extremely rare, missing pieces.

Tactical Combat and Truly Open Movement

In Darkhaven, your character isn't stopped by a fallen log or a shallow stream. You are free to jump, climb, swim, and dash, making verticality a core part of the experience. Scale a fortress wall to gain a height advantage or use a well-timed leap to clear projectiles and heavy attacks. This freedom of movement transforms the environment into a tactical playground where your skill is just as important as your stats.

The result is combat that is never a mindless grind. To match your skill, our monster AI is designed with distinct behaviors and unique abilities; they don't just rush you in a mass. You must learn to read your opponents and utilize situational skills. Whether you are lashing out to pull a high-priority threat into close range or dashing to reposition for a killing blow, success depends on outmaneuvering your foes.

Persistent, Multiplayer Realms

Play solo, join a co-op adventure, or enter high-stakes PvP-enabled realms. Darkhaven supports persistent online worlds where your progress and your impact on the land remain even when you are offline.