I am a knight made of lightning and black steel. Perched on the parapet of a vast gothic tower, I spot a dozen or so undead swarming in the valley below. I leap above them, then swoop down into the mob, exploding like a thunderclap, generating electricity and leaving shattered zombie fragments in my wake.Voin, a first-person action RPG that has just launched in Early Access, does exactly that, and is a year away from full release. It feels like a solid first step on a year-long roadmap.

In Early Access, Voin is exactly what the launch trailer says it is, nothing more, nothing less. You are a cool magical knight. Your dark fantasy kingdom (very scenic) is full of nasty undead. You go out, kick the crap out of your enemies, get some loot and levels, and repeat it on some non-linear semi-open world maps. There's fun aerial movement, brilliant spells and skills (I especially like the cartoonish “backward slow-motion leap to swoop with sword” ability), and a satisfying slow-motion dodge mechanic. It's dumb fun in a good way - just don't expect much story in this early access release.

Oddly enough, despite the great aesthetics (which shine through in the launch trailer), in store screenshots the game looks like a low-fi, bit-crushed mess. By default, the resolution is reduced and the color palette is greatly reduced, and while this look works for something so overtly retro, I don't think it works very well for this game. Fortunately, this feature can all be turned off, and I recommend doing so. Whether on the map or in the hub fortress, you can use a giant magic bell in a lava-filled forge to digestively purify cursed items or pass through a mirrored portal to level up.

One thing I would like to see in the production version (or at least the early access version) is more structured quests and objectives. Right now, the game has plenty of pretty environments and enemies to hack, but not much structure beyond kicking butt, hoarding loot, and gaining power. There's solid combat and spectacular environments, but not much in the way of connection. Oddly enough, despite the heavy metal visuals, the game's music is also fairly subdued. Perhaps a follow-up on the soundtrack will come later, but I feel this game deserves a place on the most devastating dark fantasy metal playlist.

While some Early Access games feel almost finished on day one, Voin feels like a practical foundation for what's to come, with a year of additional development already planned for a final release at the end of 2025, though entertaining and presentable, Unless the aesthetics of a black metal album really resonate with you, it may not be worth jumping on board right away. But if that's enough, Voin is available on Steam Early Access for £15.07 / $17.99.