- Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
- Release Date: Mar 3, 2026
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Summary: Play as the vampire Kain and his betrayed lieutenant Raziel. Wield legendary blades, use supernatural abilities, and battle through a world of conflict, intrigue, and prophecy as their paths collide across the dark world of Nosgoth.
- Developer: Crystal Dynamics, PlayEveryWare Games
- Genre(s): Action Adventure, General, Survival
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 20
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Mixed: 13 out of 20
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Negative: 0 out of 20
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Mar 3, 2026Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered reanimates the final chapter of the saga starring Raziel, with new features that go beyond a new coat of paint and help make it a more accessible and pleasant experience than it originally was. At its core, however, it's still the same game from two decades ago.
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Mar 9, 2026Continuing with the series' revival, Legacy of Kain: Defiance is again another spruce up of the old vampiric duo from 2003. Fans will appreciate the new look, quality of life improvements and better camera control. It may be a hard sell to newcomers, but it's still an accessible game in its own right. Paired with the Soul Reaver remasters, it's a good time to take a bite into it.
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Mar 3, 2026Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a debt paid and, in many ways, a success: not a miraculous resurrection, but a restorative treatment that brings a classic back to life and makes it playable again without having to hook up an old console to the TV.
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Mar 3, 2026If you are a fan of the series, even if you’ve only played the Soul Reaver remasters and haven’t yet played Defiance, then this is an essential purchase, regardless of the shortcomings. As for what this means for the future of the franchise, considering that we’re getting a new Legacy of Kain spin-off game very soon, I can only hope that we will get the long-awaited continuation of Raziel and Kain’s story sooner rather than later.
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Mar 3, 2026With Legend of Kain: Defiance Remastered, the final chapter of the saga gets a modern-day polish: great news for preserving this legendary series. The story, lore and atmosphere still shine, and the visual upgrade plus a few neat extras will please longtime fans. Just don’t expect miracles: clunky controls, a rebellious camera and repetitive combat remind you this is very much a product of its time, even if the ride remains entertaining.
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Mar 11, 2026Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered provides a notable narrative and significantly enhanced gameplay thanks to its improved camera and controls. However, its 'minimum effort' remastering approach results in inconsistent graphical upgrades and persistent bugs, ultimately feeling disappointingly uninspired despite appealing extra content for fans.
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Mar 4, 2026I still love the series and am keen to see it continue, but Legacy of Kain: Defiance just hasn’t aged well and represents the very nadir of PS2-era action adventure games. The repetitive combat and uninspired level design grow tedious and the new additions are not particularly exciting. The use of AI upscaled textures helps explain the underwhelming nature of the graphical updates and is emblematic of a remaster that feels cheap. Considering the original game is still available on Steam and PlayStation, I’d suggest picking that up instead. Like so many modern vampires, this game’s resurrection is more of a curse than a blessing.