Oh. My. God. Darksiders 4 is real! The series that has had a tumultuous history involving several years of uncertainty, a publisher change, and a 15-year cliffhanger has finally revealed its next entry that many (mostly me) have been clamouring for. I adore this series, having played through the games multiple times (still need to go back and clean up those platinums, though), but it has been rough as a fan.
The Darksiders series was initially published by THQ, who ended up going bankrupt, leaving the series without a home or developer. But then THQ Nordic (different company) brought the series back from the dead with Darksiders 3 and Genesis. And now, this fourth (and possibly final) entry may finally provide everything we could ever dream of in a Darksiders game.
Ok, so, admittedly, we don’t know a hell of a lot about Darksiders 4. What we do know is that it was unveiled at the THQ Nordic showcase and that it will feature all four of the Horsemen as playable characters. Those include War (Darksiders 1 and Genesis), Death (Darksiders 2), Fury (Darksiders 3), and Strife (Darksiders Genesis). We also know that this will be a direct sequel to the first game, which saw War break the final seal, starting Armageddon and summoning the other Horsemen to Earth. This is unlike previous games, which took place at the same time as each other.
In terms of gameplay, it will feature the series' staple third-person action, puzzles, and exploration, all of which will be playable in single-player or co-op. That means you’ll be able to ride through this game with your friends as the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which is just cool as fuck. I can just picture exploring whatever world the game is set in side-by-side with three friends, as we ride our trusty steeds into the sunset, before swiftly and brutally murdering every type of angel and demon you can think of.
Now that we’ve gone over the confirmed information, it’s time for some theories. In terms of the story, there are quite a few story threads they could explore. The obvious one is if the Horsemen will turn on the Charred Council after all the shenanigans they’ve put them through across the past games. From framing War for crimes he didn’t commit, to giving Fury a potential suicide mission, and just being overall dicks, the Council have it coming. It’s been teased throughout the games that this confrontation could be the final fight for the series, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened in Darksiders 4.
The other antagonist that should be present is Lucifer, who we haven’t seen yet, but has had his dirty demon hands in almost every game so far. If there’s been a shady plan, he’s been at the centre of it. I’m hopeful he at least shows up, instead of just being an offscreen voice that yells at Lilith.
For the gameplay, I’m expecting that War, Death, and Fury will play similarly to their previous outings. For Strife, I’m thinking his gameplay may be akin to a third-person shooter, maybe even incorporating a basic cover system. Alternatively, he may incorporate melee attacks and juggle enemies (like Devil May Cry).
In single-player, I would assume you’d be able to switch between each Horseman whenever you want or at predetermined locations (I’d prefer the former). I would also hope that co-op would be a seamless drop-in/drop-out system to allow for the game flow to remain uninterrupted. But most importantly, I’m expecting the same satisfying combat and being able to ride horses everywhere, unlike Darksiders 3, which KILLED THE HORSE (they were revived, so it's chill).
I am incredibly excited for Darksiders 4. While our information is limited, I will be patiently waiting for the day the Horsemen ride together once again (mostly Death, cause he is the best).
Are you excited for Darksiders 4? Any story theories? Have you played the previous games? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things Darksiders.
I mean, you had me at "co-op as the four horsemen".