Join forces with your friends to explore and reclaim the fallen kingdom of Camelot from the corrupted Arthur in SWORN. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the early access, and more.

Everything We Know About SWORN

SWORN Plot

Reclaim Camelot from the grip of a corrupted Arthur and his fallen Knights of the Round Table! As the kingdom crumbles under its reign, it's up to you to restore its former glory.

Encounter legendary figures from Arthurian lore and fae lords like Titania and Oberon as you fight to rewrite the fate of Camelot!

SWORN Gameplay

SWORN is a solo or co-op action roguelike with a top-down perspective, similar to games like Hades. Each run takes you through procedurally generated dungeons, where you must defeat enemies and complete tasks before progressing to the next area.

Throughout your journey, you'll earn Blessings from powerful Fae Lords, each granting unique enhancements to your abilities. Unleash Titania’s cleansing flames or harness Oberon’s wrathful winds to shape your combat style. As with any roguelike, death sends you back to your base, where you can upgrade your gear, unlock new abilities, and prepare for your next attempt. Along the way, you'll battle formidable bosses and uncover the secrets of Avalon, the gods, and the looming darkness.

What sets SWORN apart is its Soulforged Knights—unlockable characters with distinct skills and weapons. By gathering resources during your runs, you can expand your roster, experiment with new playstyles, and forge your own legend. With over 200 unique blessings, the possibilities are vast, making each run a fresh and dynamic experience.
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SWORN Release Date

SWORN is currently available for early access on Steam for $24.99. The game is also set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, though a specific release date has yet to be announced.

Digital Storefronts
Steam			Switch			PlayStation			Xbox
Price			$24.99

SWORN Review [Early Access]

Not Just Another Knockoff

Many people have been calling SWORN a “Hades clone”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While both games share similarities—action-packed, isometric roguelikes centered around gods, with rock music and a somewhat dark art style—SWORN offers much more than just a Hades knockoff. In fact, there are aspects of SWORN that I actually prefer over Hades.

Even though it’s still in early access, the game is impressively polished, which speaks volumes about the care and attention to detail the developers have put into it. However, I will admit that it’s not perfect and still requires some updates before its full release. And no, I’m not talking about minor bugs or glitches—that’s to be expected in any early access game.

Co-Op Lacks Public Lobbies

For a game marketed as a co-op experience, it’s disappointing that there’s no proper online matchmaking. Currently, you can only play with friends by hosting a private lobby, and they can only join if you send them an invite on Steam or share a code.

There’s no option to join random public lobbies, which would have been a great feature for players who don’t have friends playing SWORN or just want to jump into quick co-op sessions without coordinating. Hopefully, a future update will address this, as adding matchmaking could significantly enhance the game’s longevity.

Story Isn’t All That Interesting

Unfortunately, neither the narrative nor the characters are particularly engaging, which is a shame given the incredible concept of encountering gods in a corrupted version of Camelot ruled by a fallen King Arthur.

While the character designs are fantastic—my favorite being Badb, the Dark Omen—the story itself never really pulled me in. I also wish we had more meaningful interactions with the gods, as I never felt any real attachment to them.

Part of the issue might be the lack of a central protagonist. Since you play as various nameless, personality-less characters, it’s harder to form a connection.

I get that roguelikes don’t always prioritize storytelling, but SWORN has such a promising premise that it’s disappointing to see it fall flat in execution. Hopefully, the full release will bring improvements, but as it stands, the story just doesn’t leave much of an impact.

Dark, Gritty, and a Pretty Metal Art Style

SWORN boasts stunning visuals, with a dark, gritty, comic book-inspired art style heavily influenced by Mike Mignola’s work. As the creator of the Hellboy universe, Mignola is renowned for his masterful use of shadows, high contrast, and unique characters—all of which are beautifully reflected in the game, particularly in its striking character portraits.

The character designs stand out as some of the game’s strongest elements, offering a fresh and unique interpretation of mythical gods. Each one is visually distinct, with bold color schemes and thematic elements that make them instantly recognizable. Badb, the Dark Omen—a pink, winged entity with a goat-like appearance—is a personal favorite, while Titania, wreathed in flames, is equally captivating. Even the playable characters are visually compelling, with the Monk and her various skins being particular highlights.

The game’s art direction does a fantastic job of establishing a rich, atmospheric world. While procedurally generated dungeons can sometimes feel repetitive, and environmental elements like dense foliage occasionally obscure visibility, the overall aesthetic remains striking. The game leans into a dark, edgy, almost metal tone that makes it look so unique. The boss designs are another standout feature, resembling twisted, nightmarish versions of fairy tale figures. However, some animations—particularly when aiming—can feel a bit janky, occasionally impacting gameplay. Hopefully, future updates will address these issues, as SWORN's visuals are otherwise one of its most compelling aspects.

Rocking Music

Much like its bold, metal-inspired art style, SWORN’s soundtrack is an absolute powerhouse. The music is electrifying, with intense, booming guitar riffs that inject pure adrenaline into every encounter. The sheer energy of the soundtrack is palpable—it’s the kind of music that makes your heart race and keeps you fully immersed in the action.
What’s especially impressive is how well the tracks hold up, even on repeat. Despite hearing them loop countless times, they never lost their impact. That said, a bit more variety in the soundtrack would be a welcome addition, but overall, it’s a minor gripe in an otherwise phenomenal audio experience.

Each Run Feels Entirely Different

One common challenge in roguelike games is how repetitive they can become—a natural aspect of the genre that requires players to replay levels while making gradual progress. Even in exceptional titles like Hades, there were moments where progression felt like it dragged. However, in my nearly 15 hours with SWORN, I never felt like I was stuck in a grind or going in circles.

The game does an excellent job of keeping progression rewarding. Upgrades from the Beacon of Avalore gradually shape your squire into a formidable champion, making each run feel meaningful. The main currency, Fairy Ember, allows you to acquire weapons, while Shards are used to enhance stats and skills. The game distributes these resources generously, ensuring that upgrades feel steady and impactful rather than slow or stingy. As a result, progression feels smooth and engaging, keeping the experience fresh even after multiple runs.

Combat in SWORN feels incredibly satisfying, even when using slower weapons. Despite their pace, the gameplay remains fluid, thanks to the variety of tools at your disposal—normal attacks, special attacks, dashes, and special skills. This balance ensures that combat never feels overwhelming.

Enemies and bosses may present a challenge at first, but their attack patterns feel fair and well-designed, giving you a chance to learn and adapt. That said, aiming can occasionally be a bit tricky due to the sometimes stiff and slow mouse controls. While it’s not a major hindrance, it would be great to see this issue addressed in future updates.

Excellent Character Progression

The main reason SWORN never felt repetitive for me is its incredible variety in gameplay customization. The game allows you to swap between four unique characters, each with their own distinct playstyle, along with four different weapons that drastically change how they perform in combat. Add in an array of special spells to unlock and various cosmetic customizations, and every run feels fresh—almost like playing a Diablo-style dungeon crawl.

The game features four distinct classes: Vigilante, Rook, Spectre, and Monk. My personal favorite is the Monk, a versatile character with a wide range of options for different playstyles. The Monk’s lightning abilities are particularly powerful, thanks to their AOE effects, making them an excellent choice for crowd control. Their starting weapon, the mace, is slow but incredibly strong, though I also enjoy using the magical staff for long-range combat.

Beyond character builds, the Blessings from the gods add another layer of depth. Each upgrade enhances different aspects of your combat—light attacks, heavy attacks, dashes, and special abilities—allowing for mix-and-match customization. Personally, I prioritize upgrading my special ability first, as many of these buffs apply damage over time effects, such as poison, which can be a game-changer in tougher battles. The sheer number of viable builds keeps every playthrough engaging and rewarding.

Co-Op is the Way to Go

While SWORN’s lack of public lobby co-op is a bit of a letdown, once you gather a group of friends, the game becomes an absolute blast—even with just two players. The experience of playing online with friends is incredibly smooth and engaging, making for hours of fun. If you’re into roguelikes like Hades, SWORN is definitely worth the $25 price tag, particularly with its deep character system that allows you and your friends to play in totally different ways.

You can have one player focus on long-range attacks while the other dishes out massive AOE damage—creating endless possibilities for team strategies. The game’s cooperative dynamics really shine when you work together to come up with creative approaches to each run. It’s the kind of game that thrives in multiplayer, and it’s easy to lose yourself in the fun for hours on end with more updates to come!

Developers, please consider adding online public lobbies.

Game8 Reviews

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SWORN Product Information

Title	SWORN
Release Date	February 6, 2025 (Early Access)
Developer	Windwalk Games
Publisher	Team17
Supported Platforms	PC(Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Genre	Action, Roguelike
Number of Players	1-4
ESRB Rating	RP
Official Website	SWORN OfficialWebsite