Grim Dawn Review

Grim Dawn is simultaneously a blast from the past devoid of originality — and potentially the most refreshing ARPG of the last decade. Traditional hack-and-slash RPGs have evolved into somewhat of a niche sub-genre. While a handful of noteworthy titles appear annually, few receive sufficient fanfare to stand alongside the biggest AAA projects. Diablo and perhaps Torchlight are recent exceptions, but both have their detractors. Diablo III launched in an incredibly frustrating state, while Torchlight II’s whimsical aesthetic might not strike a chord with old-school fans fond of the subgenre’s earliest offerings.

Story

Grim Dawn lives up to its name. Set in the fallen kingdom of Cairn, humanity finds itself on the brink of annihilation due to two warring supernatural forces, the Aetherials and Chthonians. The player character spends most of his time helping the few remaining humans survive, rather than mounting a resistance against the forces of darkness.

Grim Dawn introduces the protagonist as a demon-possessed human about to face death at the hands of mankind’s desperate remnants. The campaign launches with the “good” guys attempting to hang him, like some old Western starring Clint Eastwood. Once the demon leaves the host human, the group spares him because humanity cannot afford to lose any more members. Grim Dawn’s opening moments expertly establish this universe’s dark and depressing tone. Even as the protagonist, you spend a lot of your time hunting down possessed humans.