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With the upcoming release of another souls like game, Lords of the Fallen, many are left wondering whether it’s going to be open world like Elden Ring or follow a more traditional approach. While an open world setting for Lords of the Fallen will allow for more player-based experiences, they can be difficult to navigate at times, especially if you’re not putting all that time into exploring. So, what’s in store for the players then?
Will Lords of the Fallen Have an Open World?
Lords of the Fallen is semi-open world, as confirmed by an official Twitter comment. This means that the game still follows a linear pathway with one quest leading to another, but you’ll have the ability to explore other areas.
Some early access users also stated that you can complete various quests in whatever order you like, giving the game its semi-open world status. Plus, there are several secrets hidden in both realms, Axiom and Umbral, that you can discover while you’re taking a break from quests.
This can be both a good thing and a bad thing, depending on the person playing. Many players prefer a straightforward questline they have to complete instead of exploring, while others might enjoy a break to see what else the realms have in store.
On the other hand, since the map for Lords of the Fallen is huge with a variety of different bosses, you might find it easier to explore first, defeating enemies and leveling up your skills before facing off against the main bosses.
For those curious about what LotF’s linear gameplay consists of, we’ll explain a bit more about the game’s plot.
- Explore A Vast, Interconnected World: Journey across two expansive, parallel worlds in your epic quest to overthrow Adyr. While the living realm presents its own brutal challenges, untold terrors lurk in the nightmarish realm of the dead. Encounter a wide array of characters, eager to offer a dubious hand…
- Define Your Own Legend: Fully customise your character’s appearance from a wide array of visual options, before selecting one of nine character classes. Whichever starting path you take, develop your character to your own playstyle by upgrading stats, weapons, armour and spells.
- Master Fast, Challenging Fluid Tactical Combat: Only those that master the deep, tactical combat can hope to survive. Choose from 100s of uniquely brutal weapons, or forgo metal for magic with devastating attacks of the arcane.
- Unite or Fight in Online Multiplayer: Experience the expansive, single player campaign alone, or invite a second player to join your adventure in uninterrupted, online co-op. But be warned – heroes from other realms can, and will invade.
- Wield a Device of Ungodly Power: Your lantern possesses the ungodly power to cross between worlds. Use this dark art to reach forgotten places, unearth fabled treasures, and even manipulate the very soul of your foe.
Lords of the Fallen Gameplay & Plot
If you played the Lords of the Fallen (2014), you might remember that the game had three different endings, depending on the faction you aligned with. The story for the latest Lords of the Fallen (2023) is set 1000 years in the future and will follow up on one of the three endings. Which one exactly, we’re not sure yet.
What we do know is that Adyr, a demon god, is awakening once again, and your mission will be to defeat him through a series of quests. It’s not that straightforward though, since players will have to traverse the land of Mournestead to restore light within six Beacons of the Sentinels. These beacons won’t be left unguarded either, so you know that’s where the action aspect comes in.
This stuff might sound like jibberish to players new to the Lords of the Fallen series, but a couple of hours into the game should immerse you completely in the realm of Axiom and Umbral.
Dual-Realm Design
While the game doesn’t follow an open world design, it has incorporated the concept of two realms into it, Axiom and Umbral. Axiom is the land of the living, while Umbral is better known as the land of the dead. Players are allowed to travel freely between the two realms and can even have a companion tag along to make things easier.
So for everyone disappointed by the linear gameplay model, you are always free to check out both realms and the secrets they possess.
For more guides and information on Lords of the Fallen, check out these related pieces from our team: Is Lords of the Fallen Cross Platform? Is Lords of the Fallen a Souls Like Game? Is Lords of the Fallen Multiplayer?