Demon Slayer Meets Dark Souls In Slick New Fantasy RPG

3 weeks ago 26

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Published Jul 2, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT

Chris is a Gaming Editor at ScreenRant. He has been a professional writer since 2009, and has written for top TV, comics, movie, and video game outlets like Engadget, Polygon, Destructoid, and more. He brings with him an expertise in every game genre, no matter how niche or mainstream.

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We are spoiled for choice when it comes to RPGs. Whether it's dipping into classic point-and-click adventure games or modern open-world romps, there's a lot of room for innovation. Even when it comes to world size, there's a way to pack in density, like the underground and skyward islands of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Some RPGs just grab you right away, though. Many games, like Final Fantasy, just draw you in immediately, to the point where you'll follow it from its announcement through its launch. There is an RPG that stands out from its competition on the way now, and you can find it on the PSN.

The protagonist ringing a bell in Ballad of Antara.

Revealed in May 2024 in a State of Play stream, Ballad of Antara is described as a Souls-like RPG, with a unique world plagued by a mysterious mist. You play as "Emissaries," entities that can command the elements.

"Towering divine creatures" are a key pillar of the game's storytelling, and you'll presumably fight a ton of large-scale bosses throughout the journey. The trailer stands out for its striking visual style and a very dramatic storyline conveyed through audio narration. The voice acting is strongly reminiscent of the over-the-top performances in a From Software game, which clearly influences the project.

A class system was teased, as well as multiple regions to explore, an alternate dimension, and the power to recruit companions or play with friends. If all this sounds ambitious, that's because it is, but the publisher is likely counting on free-to-play monetization to offset that. Right now, PS5 is the only confirmed platform.

Although the game has a lot of potential, doubts have been cast about its release. Reports suggest the game has been "quietly canceled," and we haven't seen many updates this year. According to sources, "Ballad of Antara is about to be canceled. Sources from China, Jinghe and Game Grape, revealed in January 2025 that Paper Games, the parent company that owns Tipsworks, had a major restructuring with the team behind the game, drastically reducing the team from 120 devs to 20."

We're still waiting for news on Ballad of Antara, but there are a ton of RPGs to check out in the meantime. Square Enix is still releasing games like The Adventures of Elliot on a consistent basis, and there are tons of indies popping up on platforms like Steam.