Darksiders Genesis

With its fun and engaging combat, a healthy mix between hack and slash and RPG elements and an enjoyable rapport between the two protagonists, Darksiders Genesis might be the most fun chapter in the series so far. Despite a sub-par performance on the Nintendo Switch screen and a not very functional map that could be more helpful, this is a game that will most certainly marvel any fan of the genre and which deserves an opportunity by every other Switch player too.

Darksiders Genesis has its flaws for sure. It is still a lot of fun to play and it remains a solid entry in the Darksiders series. I would only recommend playing it in TV mode. With that being said, it might be hard to recommend the Switch version itself if other versions of the game are available, as I suspect the higher resolution may make certain objects easier to spot within the game. If you are a fan of Darksiders though, I can’t recommend this enough. There is a lot here that adds to the overall backstory of the Four Horsemen and the Charred Council.

Technical foibles aside, Darksiders Genesis provides yet another fresh take on everyone's favourite Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The isometric viewpoint is an interesting new direction and one that isn't quite justified by the familiar hack 'n' slash action, but this is nevertheless a fun and well-designed experience that stays true to its roots despite its diminished scale. Fans of Darksiders will surely find a lot to enjoy here.

The game has a good visual style, but you just a feel a little distant from the action due to the fixed viewpoint. Cooperative play is a nice touch and a welcome addition for the franchise. However, its implementation has not been thought through properly. Darksiders Genesis may forever be in the shadow of Diablo III, but that’s not necessarily a bad place to be. If you are a fan of Blizzard’s ARPG, chances are you’ll find a lot to enjoy here. I know that I did.

Darksiders Genesis is, for us, the best entry in the series in terms of its mix of satisfyingly meaty hack-and-slash action and huge levels filled with secrets, puzzles and platforming. With its fully co-op campaign, unlockable arena mode and Apocalyptic difficulty feeding into that addictive Creature Core grinding, there's an absolute ton here for fans of the series – and newcomers alike – to get stuck into. This Switch version may suffer some slight blurriness and FPS hiccups in portable mode but, if you can make peace with these problems, this is a highly entertaining action game at a very reasonable price.

If you’re a Darksiders diehard, consider picking up Daksiders Genesis on a different platform. It’s near unplayable on the Switch, but has the seeming makings of a better outcome, elsewhere.