Before Dark Souls there was King's Field, and five hours into brilliant homage Queen's Domain, it's already one of my favourite games this year

The clue is right there in the title. Queen's Domain isn't just a retro-fantasy action RPG played in first-person; it's an explicit homage to King's Field, the long-dormant FromSoftware series that helped shape the modern gaming landscape as the precursor to Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring. While the series' influence is clear, Queen's Domain moves beyond mere imitation to create a compelling, moody experience that stands on its own merits.

Queen's Domain

The game begins with Prince Beriik washed ashore on the mysterious Isle of Neasied after his expedition ship was destroyed. His mission is to find his father, King Gius Abraon, who vanished while attempting to save the kingdom of Bamaen. As the story unfolds, the peace of the realm is threatened by the rising army of the damned under Queen Siraatsu, bringing legendary beasts and feral creatures back to the land. While the lore is dense, the atmosphere is immediately palpable.

Visually, the game utilizes a lo-fi aesthetic reminiscent of the 90s and early 2000s. It employs low-poly angles, shimmering lo-res textures, and rasterised skies to create a sense of chilly isolation rather than pure decay. This mood is heightened by an unpredictable soundtrack that shifts from ambient melancholy to jarring, dissonant synth melodies, occasionally incorporating unexpected sounds like trumpets or quacking ducks.

Exploration is the core of the experience. The Isle of Neasied is deceptively compact but secretly labyrinthine. Landmarks like ancient towers and gated cave mouths serve as orientation points, but the paths between them are often convoluted. A seemingly straightforward route might wind along perilous cliffs or plunge into shadowy glades, only for the player to realize that different paths eventually converge in unexpected ways.

As players acquire new tools, the game introduces Metroidvania-style traversal. A single sword, for instance, provides not just offensive capabilities but also the ability to perform lunging thrusts that allow the player to cross previously impassable gaps. This opens up verticality, allowing players to bound across treetops or navigate complex water temples, turning exploration into a rewarding puzzle of shortcuts and secret passages.

Methodical Combat and Progression

Combat in Queen's Domain is deliberately rudimentary, emulating the feel of older titles. There is no dedicated dodge button; instead, players must rely on stepping away from attacks. While the systems may feel 'baggy' compared to the precision of Dark Souls, they demand patience. Standard swings deal minimal damage, requiring players to hold the button to charge up powerful attacks, turning combat into a rhythmic dance of feints and timing.

The arsenal is diverse, featuring throwing knives for kiting, spears, and bludgeons, many of which possess unique secondary abilities. A rock-paper-scissors-style damage system encourages experimentation, especially during boss encounters. Furthermore, an automatic leveling system strengthens both the character and their weapons, which eventually evolve, providing a steady sense of progression through the game's challenging encounters.

Despite the similarities to the Soulslike genre, Queen's Domain maintains key differences. Players do not lose items upon death, and while resting at crystals resets the world state, players can save their progress independently, offering more breathing room than the unforgiving loops of FromSoftware's modern hits.