Explore Kingdom of Night: 80s Action RPG Horror Adventure

Summary: Kingdom of Night is an upcoming isometric action-RPG that flawlessly blends 80s nostalgia, coming-of-age drama, and intense cosmic horror, challenging players to save a town from a demonic invasion. Players will explore an interconnected map, battle nightmarish foes, and engage in deep character customization as they fight against the forces summoned by an ancient evil in Kingdom of Night.

Unveiling the Apocalypse in Miami, Arizona: Welcome to Kingdom of Night

It’s not every day that a quaint, small-town setting in Arizona gets upended by an apocalyptic demonic invasion, but in Kingdom of Night, that’s exactly the premise. Imagine stepping back into the neon-drenched, slightly cheesy aesthetic of the 1980s, only to find that beneath the surface lurks ancient, terrifying cosmic evil. This upcoming title, developed by Friends of Safety and published by DANGEN Entertainment, promises a truly unique gaming experience.

Reportedly set in 1987, the story thrusts players, taking control of a young man named John, into the role of the town’s unlikely savior. His journey begins when a satanic cult inadvertently summons Baphomet, the ultimate evil, plunging the quiet town of Miami, AZ, into chaos. Waking to the sound surrounding the kidnapping of his neighbor, John must venture out into the encroaching darkness to fight back, rescue his friends, and hopefully, survive what might be everyone’s last night on Earth.

The game is described as a remarkable fusion of coming-of-age drama, cosmic horror, and true love, wrapped up in a visually striking 80s-themed, isometric action-RPG package. If you’re looking for something that channels the spirit of classics while offering modern RPG depth, Kingdom of Night is definitely one to watch.

Gameplay Mechanics: Action RPG Meets Deep Exploration

Kingdom of Night isn’t just about the atmosphere; it boasts robust RPG mechanics designed to keep players engaged. As an Action RPG, the core loop involves strategic combat, exploration, and deep character personalization that significantly impacts gameplay.

The game features an expansive, interconnected map of Miami, Arizona. Once the introductory chapter, aptly named “Midnight,” concludes, the entire town opens up, encouraging free-form exploration. This non-linear approach to discovery means players can tackle the main objectives—defeating the five Demon Generals before confronting Baphomet himself in his lair, Leviathan—in any desired order. The game rewards curiosity, suggesting that players should arm themselves with a trusty notebook to track rumors and vital information gathered while exploring the seemingly mundane locales hiding gripping, serial-like side stories.

This freedom is key to the Kingdom of Night experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in unraveling the larger-than-life fantasy narrative as they see fit.

Build Your Legend: Class Selection and Character Shaping in Kingdom of Night

One of the most compelling aspects that draws fans of traditional RPGs to Kingdom of Night is the comprehensive character customization system. Players aren’t locked into a single path; they begin by choosing from a selection of classes, which dictate the initial play style.

The game initially offers five core classes to master:

• Barbarian
• Knight
• Rogue
• Necromancer
• Sorcerer

The Kickstarter information suggests there might be up to nine classes or subclasses available, hinting at a complex progression system where initial choices merely set the stage.

The true customization depth comes from the skill trees. Each class boasts a tree split into three distinct branches, and each branch contains ten unique talents. Upon leveling up, players spend points into these branches. Crucially, players are initially locked into the first branch they invest in until they reach level 10 in that specialization. After achieving level 10 mastery in one area, the path opens, allowing players to cross over into another branch to create truly hybrid and personalized builds. For instance, a player starting as a Barbarian could later invest in the Rogue tree to incorporate subterfuge into their melee combat, offering massive replay value even across multiple playthroughs. This “Shape Your Character” philosophy is central to the Kingdom of Night design.

Gear Up: Hoarding the Best Loot

As expected in a loot-driven Action RPG, finding and equipping powerful gear is vital for surviving the encroaching darkness. Kingdom of Night implements a multi-tiered loot system to keep things interesting. Players can enhance their character stats and gain powerful special abilities through:

1. Random drops from enemies, featuring variable drop rates.
2. Completing quest rewards.
3. Discovering hidden hidden items scattered throughout Miami.

Equipment rarity ranges from Common to entirely Unique, ensuring that every successful hunt or exploration yields a potential upgrade for John or his co-op partner.

Thematic Blend: Coming-of-Age and Cosmic Horror

The narrative of Kingdom of Night sets itself apart by mixing seemingly disparate genres. The core premise—a high school student named John fighting undead and demons in his hometown—leans heavily on that classic 80s teen horror film trope. However, this is interwoven with significant cosmic horror elements, centered around the ancient entity Baphomet and the hierarchy of Demon Lords seeking to solidify their grip on the town.

The game promises encounters with:

• Afflicted townsfolk
• High school bullies (likely repurposed into something monstrous)
• Unearthly evils and Demon Lords

The overall tone manages to balance the desperate, hour-by-hour struggle for survival against an apocalyptic backdrop with the personal stakes of saving friends and, perhaps, finding true love amidst the chaos.

The Forces of Darkness in Kingdom of Night

The forces arrayed against John are suitably terrifying, rooted in both classic horror and darker fantasy. The main army consists of:

• Hollows: The basic foot-soldiers, described as zombified townspeople and reanimated corpses, lost to Baphomet’s influence.

Beyond the standard undead, the dimensional horrors drawn by Baphomet include:

• Doldroms: Described as filthy blue hobgoblins possessing depressing auras.
• Wyrd Sisters: Dark witches wielding arcane tricks.
• People Eaters: Blind humanoids that use bat-like wings to smother their prey.
• Darklings: Living shadows designed to strangle victims.
• Puppeteers: Malevolent spirits that inhabit earthly bodies.

The main antagonists are the Five Demon Generals who control sections of the town before the final confrontation with King Night himself. These bosses include:

• Beelzebub: The Lord of vice and festering wounds, depicted as a hideously fat toad creature.
• Pazuzu: Lord of pride and pestilence, often associated with a golden calf and sickly sweet incense.
• Lilith: Lady of nightmares and witchcraft, pregnant with the bad dreams of the world.
• Cain: Lord of violence, rage, and homicide, who wears a cloak made of Abel’s skin.
• Samael: The chief of the Five Lords, a giant and disturbingly alien fallen archangel of death.

Ultimately, John seeks to infiltrate the massive lair of Baphomet, also known as King Night, the monarch of all demons, whose dark dreams shaped the realm of darkness outside Kingdom of Night.

Visual Style and Technical Features

Visually, Kingdom of Night adopts a distinct pixel graphics style coupled with an isometric perspective, reminiscent of classic 16-bit action RPGs, but with modern lighting and effects that enhance the dark fantasy elements. The game is tagged as 2D, fitting perfectly into the indie scene aesthetic.

Beyond the visuals, the game supports critical modern features:

• Single-player campaign (playing as John).
• Local co-op play with a friend, allowing synergistic team-ups between different classes.
• Steam Achievements.
• Steam Cloud saves.
• Full Controller Support (with a recommendation to play controller recommended).
• Accessibility options, including adjustable difficulty, stereo sound, custom volume controls, and a keyboard-only option.

The developers, Friends of Safety, are clearly dedicated to delivering a polished product, evidenced by the active development updates, including the release of a public demo showcased at events like the Indie Horror Showcase 2024.

The Road Ahead: Availability and Community Support

While the Steam page indicates a planned release date in Q4 2025, the community remains excited, especially following the release of a substantial demo on September 23rd of the same year. This demo provided players with a vertical slice, allowing them to test drive five classes and meet key characters, though progress reportedly does not carry over to the final game.

The initial Kickstarter campaign, run by Black Seven Studios (with publishing and consulting support from DANGEN Entertainment), was a success, significantly exceeding its funding goals and demonstrating strong early community belief in the vision for Kingdom of Night. The project also inspired associated merchandise, such as a companion artbook/sourcebook compatible with D&D 5th edition and a custom Dungeon Master Screen, proving the depth of the world-building extends beyond the screen.

For those eager to keep the momentum going or stay updated on the final release date for Kingdom of Night, following their official channels on X (formerly Twitter) and Discord remains the best bet. Fans are clearly hyped for this title, which promises to be a memorable excursion into an 80s-style apocalypse. The tension between the nostalgic setting and the encroaching demon lords promises a rich narrative experience.

Character Progression and Skill Diversity

The commitment to player choice is evident in the skill system. The unique way you can mix and match skill branches—waiting until level 10 in the primary specialization before unlocking cross-branch potential—suggests that true build experimentation is a late-game feature, maximizing the longevity of each Kingdom of Night run. Whether you choose the brute force of the Barbarian, the calculated precision of the Rogue, the tactical defense of the Knight, or the elemental manipulation of the Sorcerer, your choices shape your legend against the dark.

Imagine mastering the ethereal Ice, Light, and Darkness as a Necromancer, or controlling matter itself as a Wizard, manipulating gravity and time. This multi-faceted RPG approach elevates Kingdom of Night beyond a simple hack-and-slash adventure.

A Final Word on the All-Night Battle

To reiterate, Kingdom of Night is shaping up to be a standout title in the indie scene, perfectly capturing a specific, beloved retro vibe while delivering modern gameplay systems. The narrative focus on high-stakes personal drama set against a truly cosmic threat makes the journey worthwhile. Keep an eye on the official announcements; your last best night awaits in Kingdom of Night.

Image sources are from the publicly available Steam store page and Kickstarter campaign materials.