But how will the rollout work? How much will the expansion cost? In a new forum post, game director Judd Cobler apologized for the delay in information, as the studio is in the “thick of our acquisition” by Krafton.

“Currently, we’re working on a seasonal-to-expansion roadmap to share with you all shortly. We’re just tidying up some graphics and trying to ensure what we say for the season content is not sharing too much that will force us to adjust it shortly after sharing (making a live service game is very iterative).” He also clarified that Orobyss isn’t Season 4 and that multiple seasons will launch before it arrives, which is why it hasn’t received too many details.

Cobler reiterated how the developer’s association with Krafton will “be hugely strengthening for the studio and the content that we’re able to create,” and its “growing future” (which it admitted to being at risk previously). While post-1.0 seasons weren’t profitable, Cobler says the studio is unsure about monetization surrounding the expansion.

“Years ago, when we were a significantly smaller team formed on Reddit, our goal was not to charge for any content, but our cosmetic sales have not been enough to cover our own development costs over the long term. Our studio has grown significantly, and we pay livable wages to our team members. In true ARPG fashion, our costs have increased (insert power creep joke here). That being said, we are still modeling how the expansion will be monetized exactly, but when a decision is made, we will share it with you right away.”

Last Epoch on PS5 and Orobyss don’t have a release window, so stay tuned for more updates in the coming months.

The expansion and PS5 release were both announced with a trailer during the State of Play. The trailer, which you can check out below, shows off the host of features that Last Epoch is known for, like its customisable skill tree, crafting systems and gameplay-changing loot. However, we don’t really get much in the way of details about what the Orobyss expansion will entail.

Last Epoch on PS5 will feature all of the 5 playable classes from the PC release, with each featuring three masteries that can be customised to a player’s chosen style of gameplay. All in all, there are more than 120 unique skills in the game, and players will need all the power they can get since the campaign will take them across countless eons as they travel through time to take on the forces of the Void.

For more details about Last Epoch, check out our review of the PC release.

Referring to the acquisition by Krafton, Cobler has noted that the future of Eleventh Hour is now much more secure. He has also referred to the acquisition as marking the beginning of a new chapter for the studio overall since the game launched the 1.0 version of Last Epoch back in 2024.

“After speaking with dozens of strategics and potential partners, Krafton clearly demonstrated that they’re aligned in helping us achieve our goals and can both enable and guide us through some of the largest upcoming challenges we’ll face as a studio,” wrote Cobler. “This partnership will allow us to deliver things we’ve only dreamed of previously, and I’m excited to share details on those at a later date.”

After the acquisition, Cobler has also noted that Eleventh Hour Games will now focus on growing its team of developers to make more content and improvements to Last Epoch. However, he has noted that the studio isn’t yet ready to share details about what the acquisition means for the long-term content plans, while also pointing out that Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies is launching on August 21, and that Season 4 will release around four months after that.

“I started Last Epoch as an after-hours passion project in 2017, where I took to Reddit to form a group of ARPG obsessed enthusiasts in the pursuit of making ‘The Next Great ARPG’,” wrote Cobler. “We were excited to come home from our day jobs and discuss, debate, and build the early stages of Last Epoch late into the evenings over Discord, eventually leading to our name ‘Eleventh Hour.’ From there, we brought our ideas and passion for what we wanted to develop through a successful Kickstarter, followed by Early Access, and years later, launched Last Epoch 1.0 in early 2024.”

Last Epoch is available as a free-to-play game on PC. For more details, check out our review of its 1.0 launch.

This acquisition announcement comes in the wake of Krafton being in the midst of a legal battle with the co-founders of Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds. The lawsuit, which seemingly revolves around a $250 million payout that the co-founders have claimed has been withheld by Krafton, also claimed that the publisher had been engaged in a campaign to delay the release of Subnautica 2.

“Krafton engaged in a months-long campaign to delay Subnautica 2’s release,” reads the lawsuit. “It pulled key marketing materials, refused to follow through with crucial partnerships, and reneged on long-standing commitments to handle important pre-launch tasks.”

30. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Don’t Nod’s second major action RPG, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden was released early last year, and it turned out to be a way better experience than Vampyr. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden was an excellent action role playing game with plenty to do with story being its main focus. Throughout the game’s narrative, players would have to make tough decisions which can result in any of the five endings.

While next year looks even more jam-packed with incredible adventures, what are some of the best role-playing games from 2024 that deserve your attention? Join us as we sift through the dozens of choices and present the 20 best RPGs of the year that must be experienced.

Path of Exile 2

For all the complaints against its rewards, end-game, map layouts, etc., Path of Exile 2 is still an incredible action RPG, even in early access. Each class and their Ascendancies presented multiple new options; the Skills are impressive while combat feels visceral; and the bosses present some of the best encounters in the genre. The fact that such a sizable end-game is available right now, complete with pinnacle bosses, is also incredible. Yes, there are plenty of things to improve, but Path of Exile 2 is proving just as addictive as its predecessor and will receive double the amount of content before early access ends.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Did Hellblade 2 disappoint some because it wasn’t a sprawling experience or stuck too closely to the previous game’s linearity? Undoubtedly. However, the continuation of Senua’s journey as she embarked on a blood campaign of revenge was one that still delivered. Between the stunning visuals and performances, with Melina Juergens once again killing it, going beyond the confines of Senua’s darkness to rescue others offered a new dimension to the overall story. Of course, the combat also delivered thanks to its visceral nature and animations.

Helldivers 2

Arrowhead Studios delivered an absolute smash hit with Helldivers 2, a co-op game where players team up to fight waves upon waves of enemies across the backdrop of alien planets. Many of its ideas can be traced back to live service games like The Division’s PvP mode, but the game’s ability to induce a constant sense of chaos as you try to complete the objectives without veering into frustrating territory is what makes it so addictive in the first place. The gameplay has a knack for crafting some amazing stories, and that power of shared experiences and personal stories is what made it such a big thing.

Hi-Fi Rush

We wouldn’t really imagine a developer of games like The Evil Within creating a brightly colored rhythm game, but Tango Gameworks actually did that with Hi-Fi Rush and shadow dropped it out of nowhere. And the best part is that it all works beautifully despite the game being something that’s well out of the developer’s comfort zone. Everything from the fleshed-out world that operates on a tempo to a diverse range of rocking tracks and a combat loop that’s more rewarding than it is punishing, Hi-Fi Rush makes for a great first rhythm game for fans to get into this niche genre.

Palworld

Palworld felt like an interesting contrast of genres with initial trailers showcasing cute Pokemon-like creatures holding realistic guns against the backdrop of lush green plainscapes. And when it was released in early access recently, fans absolutely lapped it up thanks to a solid set of mechanics that work well in conjunction with one another. Sure, there are a few rough edges here and there – but the sheer creativity of it all is what makes it so endearing in the first place.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence might feel like a cheap knockoff of The Last of Us at first glance, and while that notion is true on some level – it isn’t entirely indicative of the entire story. Set against the backdrop of one of the darkest times of history, the story of Amicia and Hugo is an emotionally charged tale that features an equal share of heartfelt moments and adrenaline-pumping set pieces – which combined with the wonderfully well-realized characters makes for an incredibly exciting experience through and through.

Stray

Stray might not be a sprawling epic or a thrilling ride, but its unique concept of putting you in the paws of a stray cat was apparently more than enough reason for hundreds of thousands of fans to want to pick this one up. The puzzles are pretty simple, but interesting world-building and a snappy runtime that never lets the player get bored of the mechanics is what made it such a big deal when it was released back in 2022.

Demon’s Souls

The game that started it all. Demon’s Souls, first released for the PlayStation 3 back in 2009, surprised everyone with its brutal difficulty and intimidating boss battles. Featuring excellent art style and an eerie atmosphere (who can forget the crazy Valley of Defilement), Demon’s Souls went on to become an unexpected hit among players. Although later Souls games will take the genre further in different ways, Demon’s Souls still remains a memorable experience. If you have a PlayStation 5, you can try the excellent remake which was released back in 2020.

Lies of P

Lies of P is developer Neowiz’ take on the Souls formula, and while the initial showings were definitely promising – it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the final result would rank amongst the dozens of similar FromSoftware that keep releasing left, right, and center. But that skepticism was proven wrong, and Lies of P managed to actually deliver a worthy Soulslike with excellent level designs, memorable boss battles, and a couple of unique mechanics of its own.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian’s latest Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that has huge ambitions, and it would be safe to say that it has set a new benchmark for RPGs in this generation. Baldur’s Gate 3 features a complex web of mechanics that work well in cohesion with one another, and there’s a bunch of distinct possibilities right from story endings to different playstyles and much more – and the attention to detail in each aspect is the major drawing factor which makes Baldur’s Gate 3 such a fun time.

Valheim

Valheim launched into early access in 2020, and it instantly became a smash hit with hundreds of thousands of fans flocking to make a living in procedurally generated worlds. Valheim features interesting boss battles, a high level of replayability, and memorable boss battles – but what makes it stand out amongst the crowd is a very tangible sense of progression as you get stronger and stronger with each biome you clear.

Lords of the Fallen

Talking about Souls games that managed to win the hearts of hundreds of fans, we have Lords of the Fallen. Released last year, Lords of The Fallen thrusts players into an appropriately murky dark fantasy setting and dates them to take on brutal bosses and trudge through overwhelming odds. Add to that an excellent world-shifting system and gorgeous visuals, and Lords of the Fallen becomes an unmissable game for fans of Soulsborne releases.

Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver is the kind of game that never fails to surprise the player. It’s a weird mishmash of genres ranging from farming simulation to adventure and much more, and the fact that it all works beautifully in a cohesive fashion makes it such a great time. It’s a game that’s bursting at the seams with its creativity, and there are more than a few fans who took note of this one.

Phasmophobia

Blending together a horror experience in a multiplayer format is definitely a tough task, but Phasmophobia aces that with its excellent atmosphere and clever design. Phasmophobia was released at a time when friends were isolated from one another, and the sense of camaraderie that arises from trudging through decrepit locations and taking up tasks together is something that brought us closer to one another during such challenging times – which is one of the biggest reasons behind Phasmophobia’s runaway success.

The Forest

Survival games are dime a dozen these days, but Endlight Games’ smash hit The Forest managed to stand out amongst the barrage of similar contemporaries thanks to its excellent understanding of what makes a game of this ilk tick. The Forest features brutal survival mechanics, and the scenarios it puts you through force you to be dynamic in your approach and come up with interesting solutions to the problem at hand – and that is what makes it a game that’s worth spending dozens and dozens of hours in.

Last Epoch

The recently released Hack and Slash action RPG Last Epoch took the video gaming industry by storm, boldly making a name for itself in a genre. Last Epoch’s primary reason for success is its flexibility in build crafting, and its ability to appease both the casuals who don’t want to dive deep and veterans alike. In addition to this, Last Epoch also offers plenty of valuable loot as you progress through the game’s bevy of dungeons, and that engaging hook of player progression is another major drawing factor for the game.

Rocket League

Driving an abnormally large ball into a goalpost while seated in a car might just sound like someone’s wildest dream, and the developer made that dream come true with Rocket League. And despite a few inherent frustrations that come with this interesting yet unwieldy concept, Rocket League manages to be a greatly fun game that becomes even better if you have a few friends to play alongside as you make memorable stories of last-minute victories and defeats alike.

Available in early access since April 2019, Last Epoch sees players on a journey to gather the pieces of the titular artifact to prevent a catastrophe. There are five default classes, but as you progress, each with three associated Masteries completely changes your playstyle. Each skill also has a dedicated skill tree to level up.

Despite the player count, Last Epoch’s Steam user reviews have dropped to “Mixed”, with only 62 percent being positive. It’s due to server issues preventing players from logging in or taking extensive time to travel to the next zone. An offline mode is available, and while you can’t trade, the Circle of Fortune, which buffs loot drop rates, is available.

To truly understand the appeal behind Last Epoch is to also understand the inherent appeal and current state of the action RPG genre. While incredibly popular, in recent times, the genre has been largely dominated by popular but variable IPs. One may focus quite a bit on offering players a pure, unadulterated power fantasy, allowing them to do millions of points in damage as they cleave a path through hundreds of enemies, while the other may allow players to get to that point only after they’ve spent a sufficient amount of time in thinking about their gear and figuring out their abilities and passive skill tree.

To put it simply, when it comes to action RPGs, they often tend to exist somewhere on a sliding scale between offering an insane power fantasy, and giving players a lot of build-crafting options to tune their builds to a T. Last Epoch sits quite comfortably between the the power fantasy and build crafting and customization scales.

"As you level up through your journey in Last Epoch, you gain new abilities, just like any other action RPG."

Last Epoch, going for the middle-of-the-road approach with its power fantasy and customization options, manages to achieve a little bit of the best of both worlds. The game offers quite a bit in terms of power fantasy, especially once you start hitting the mid-game and the synergies between your various abilities start coming together, at the same time also offering plenty of opportunities for players to experiment with these various synergies with what is one of the cleverest methods of build customization I’ve seen in an action RPG.

As you level up through your journey in Last Epoch, you gain new abilities, just like any other action RPG. What makes things more interesting, however, is the fact that each of your abilities also happens to have its own bespoke skill tree that allows you to tinker with just how your ability works. For example, playing with the Necromancer specialization, you can focus on letting your summoned minions do your killing. These summoned minions can be further customized by, for example, allowing Summon Skeleton to also bring forth archers and mages. This can be taken even further by giving each of your different skeleton types their own unique abilities, like fire arrows for your skeleton archers, or a poison blast for your mages, while your regular skeleton warriors cause enemies to bleed with every hit.

This same level of customization extends into every class, sub-class, and ability. The Sentinel class, for example, can be built up to be the weapons expert that is the Forge Guard, or a dark magic character in the form of the Void Knight. The Rogue, on the other hand, can go for a pet-based sub-class in the form of the Falconer, the archery-based Marksman, or the stealthy melee-focused Blade dancer. The Mage, and Primalist all have similar options that radically change how you plan your character’s build, depending on the style of gameplay you might be going for.

"The game offers quite a bit in terms of power fantasy, especially once you start hitting the mid-game."

Any discussion about action RPGs these days is never really complete without having to talk about its endgame systems, however, and thankfully, Last Epoch has a few options to play around with. The primary form of endgame content comes with the Monolith of Fate. Unlocked on finishing the title’s story, the Monolith of Fate essentially takes players through a series of randomly-generated zones, each one allowing players to target specific equipment slots for the loot they might want. For example, players might get to choose between a zone that will reward them with a weapon, or one that rewards them with a new pair of boots.

The other form of endgame content is the Arena, which acts as a way for players to compete with each other. The Arena allows players to take on infinite waves of enemies, slowly rising in difficulty. On dying, players are rewarded with a spot on the appropriate leaderboard, showing off their skills, class, and how many waves they managed to survive. These leaderboards are segregated into appropriate categories, split between solo, group, softcore, and hardcore.

Some of the most interesting content in Last Epoch, however, are its dungeons. Rather than being just simple caverns you murder your way through, the dungeons in Last Epoch are more elaborate affairs. Taking cues from popular MMORPGs, dungeons in Last Epoch tend to have their own unique mechanics, be it playing around with light to prevent the growth of dangerous plant-based enemies, or hopping back and forth between two distinct time periods throughout your run of a single dungeon. Each dungeon has its own unique rewards, alongside the randomly generated loot you’re probably there for.

"Each of your abilities also happens to have its own bespoke skill tree."

Speaking of time travel, I guess it’s time to talk about the story of Last Epoch. As far as action RPG stories go, Last Epoch isn’t the most interesting one out there, however, it has a distinct gimmick in the form of time traveling. As they progress through the story, players will fight their way through the Ancient, the Ruined Era, and the Imperial Eras. While there are some interesting attempts at environmental storytelling throughout the game, especially since you often get to visit the same zone thousands of years apart, getting to see how things once were and how they become later on, the overall story ultimately just boils down to “find and kill the main villain”.

There are still plenty of fun moments throughout the story, however, since, among other things, your actions help you achieve interesting things in the context of the world of Eterra, from forging bonds with several NPCs, to straight up waging a war on an entire empire. Despite these cool moments, there’s just too much fluff in Last Epoch, where you’re often just running through random zones and mindlessly killing enemies until you have to talk to an NPC again to progress the plot.

While the choices made on the gameplay side of things largely pay off, offering an incredible amount of customization while still being easily understandable and fun, some of the choices made in the game’s story often make it feel like there might be just a little bit too much padding. On the bright side, the core gameplay remains fun throughout, especially once you start unlocking some of your fancier abilities that start truly kicking off the power fantasy that fans of the genre play action RPGs for.

This game was reviewed on PC.

While the patch notes are too numerous to list here in their entirety, there are a few noteworthy highlights that players can expect once the game comes live from its 24-hour maintenance. A major new feature coming to the game with the update is Item Factions, which allows players to join either the Merchant’s Guild or the Circle of Fortune. Each faction allows players to make choices to effect how they get new loot throughout the game.

Players are also free to leave and switch between the two factions whenever they might want without losing their reputation progress, promoting further experimentation and customisation.

Last Epoch is also getting a fully offline mode, which can be accessed by going into the title’s properties in the Steam UI to pick between regular and offline modes in the launch options. Offline players won’t find many differences in the game, aside from minor UI differences like the online character tab being hidden, and the region selection dropdown menu being disabled.

The update is also bringing a host of changes to just about every other aspect of the game, including every class, passive abilities, and unique and set items. There are also new unique items being added to the game with the update.

For more details, check out the full patch notes on the official Last Epoch forums.