You’d think with how popular Bethesda Softworks’ Elder Scrolls series is, there’d be more of an effort to replicate it. The good parts, mind, not the obligatory laundry list of release-day bugs. It’s no small feat crafting an immersive open world filled to the brim with dungeons and danger… but Spellcast Studios’ Ardenfall seems eager to meet that challenge. Boasting action-packed RPG combat and a vibrant world just begging to be explored, Ardenfall might just be the next big thing. Does it rise above the games that inspired it, however? Only time (and this review, maybe) will tell.

What is Artenfall?

Like most RPGs, Ardenfall begins with your character having a very, very bad day. Tossed ashore like meaty driftwood by a peculiar storm, they awaken in a strange land with naught but the clothing on their back. Massive coral colonies loom above like a forest canopy as gossamer bubbles crowd the air like a bizarre soda commercial. Waves sing their gentle, repetitive song at your back. Buried beneath the tranquil scenery, however, lies otherworldly danger–the type that a demo can only scratch the surface of.

Ardenfall is pretty, to say the least! The rich, colorful environments evoke Rare Limited’s Sea of Thieves or Ubisoft’s Beyond Good and Evil. Character designs are a bit limited, but what monsters lack in detail they make up for in endearing design. No wolves or skeletons here. Like stepping into Morrowind for the first time, Ardenfall feels like a brand-new world. The few areas you get to explore in the demo paint a compelling picture as well. Bioluminescent sea caves, coral forests, and quaint fishing villages help set Ardenfall apart from the rest of its peers. Spellcast Studios put a lot of love into Ardenfall’s environments and it shows.

All-in-all, Ardenfall paints a pretty picture, but does the gameplay keep up… or does it ArdenFAIL?

You Have NO Class!

Like many of its RPG predecessors, Ardenfall forsakes the usual class-based system in favor of a more open model. In lieu of the traditional choices, you shape your character by picking a race and a few focus skills. The demo offers three races thus far–each one seemingly tuned for different playstyles–but none truly limit the player. Even if you choose a dwarf, you can still spend your attribute points on magical or social skills. Keep in mind that while you can still wear gear you aren’t specced for, you will suffer some heavy penalties. Rough, sure, but not terrible consequences, all things considered.

You’ll recognize the rest if you’ve played an Elder Scrolls game in the past decade. You can run, jump, throw and drink potions, dodge, and even parry enemy attacks. Sell your gear to shopkeepers and get pissed at their set amount of money. Wanna steal? Go to jail!

Staves and scroll-like slates let you wield magic while sharp stuff is organized into Light and Heavy weaponry. Armor comes in Light and Heavy varieties while mages can utilize Magic Armor. There are stealth attacks, ranged weapons, and lockpicking too, but the latter foregoes a minigame in favor of a percentage system. There’s lots of playstyles in Ardenfall, but we’ll have to see if magic and missile-based combat hold up.

As for the gameplay itself, well, you get quests from NPCs and delve into dungeons to get what you need. This process might be easier said than done, but it’s nothing you haven’t done before, right?

I’ve ArdenFALLEN and I Can’t Get Up!

If you’re sensing an underlying message in this review, I’m sorry to say you aren’t psychic, just perceptive. As promising as Ardenfall is, I left the demo feeling oddly neutral about it. The setting is cool, as is the gameplay, but can these support the full game? Don’t get me wrong: it’s nice to be able to levitate again in a Scrolls-like. It’s good that Ardenfall seems to offer several options towards resolving a quest. That said, will Ardenfall be as big as the games it’s trying to emulate, or will it be a fun, albeit linear romp?

I won’t spoil the specifics, but the demo’s big quest involves collecting regents for a potion. In my lacking wisdom, I assumed the quest giver needed all three ingredients to craft the concoction. You actually only need one to complete the quest, but the ingredient you use comes with DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

Okay, not in the demo, at least. Who knows how it’ll play out in the full game. There’s a good, violent and mysterious outcome or you can solve things without potions at all. My issue here, and maybe I’m spoiled, is that these moral choices don’t carry much weight. I get that it’s a demo, but both quests in the demo run into this issue. Do you complete a ritual, or do you screw with it for no reason? Do you help a creature, or do you kill it? Ardenfall claims these choices will shape your playthrough, but does a game that lets you choose your skills have to be so black and white? It’s still early, I know, but if my moral quandaries are ‘Save the Dog’ or ‘Kick the Dog’ I’ll probably forgo a second playthrough.

Aside from a crash at the tail-end of the demo and a few instances of getting caught on the scenery, I don’t have many complaints. Being a demo, these things can be ironed out.

Where the Pieces Ardenfall

In conclusion, Ardenfall shows a lot of promise. The question that remains, however, is will it be able to stick the landing? Will it stand out from the games that influence it? I think so, but until it comes out we’ll just have to wait and see.

Ardenfall was part of Steam Next Fest: February 2026. As of publication the demo is still available, with a release dates of sometime in 2026. Join the Official Discord, and follow the game’s progress on Twitter.

Read all of our coverage in our Steam Next Fest February 2026 page.