There was a time when fantasy adventures meant little more than a sword, a mysterious world and an awful lot of things that wanted to kill you. Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster looks back fondly on those days, mixing the blood-soaked spectacle of classic sword-and-sorcery with the exploration and combat of a modern Metroidvania.
The result is a hand-drawn adventure through the war-torn world of Arborea, where becoming the hero might be the easy part compared to surviving the journey.
Available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC, Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster puts players in the role of the last Beastmaster as a new conflict threatens to tear Arborea apart.
At A Glance
- Game: Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Price: £12.99
- Genre: Action Metroidvania
- Developer: Dormidin Studio
- Publisher: Selecta Play
A New War Is Brewing In Arborea
The Portal Wars may have ended, but peace has proved to be little more than a temporary reprieve. A new king of Imperia has joined forces with the Holy Kingdom and begun a campaign against non-human creatures, dragging the inhabitants of Arborea towards another devastating conflict. Standing against them is a world of humans, beasts, magic and ancient powers – and somewhere within it lies a prophecy about someone capable of bringing the warring sides together.
That someone is the Beastmaster.
Rather than simply charging from one battlefield to another, players will explore a world shaped by centuries of conflict, uncovering the truth behind the war while attempting to decide the fate of both humans and beasts.
A Fantasy World With Old-School Roots
Barbarian Saga wears its inspirations proudly. The game draws from the sword-and-sorcery worlds of Beastmaster and Conan, while its gameplay also looks towards classics such as Castlevania, Golden Axe and Ghouls ’n’ Ghosts.
And combat is naturally at the heart of the adventure, with the protagonist wielding the mysterious Heart-Eater sword while developing abilities that can change how they approach the dangers of Arborea.
One of the biggest tools at their disposal is the ability to channel animal souls. These transformations aren’t simply a cosmetic change – they provide new ways to approach combat and allow players to adapt their fighting style as the adventure progresses.
The game also offers plenty of room for customisation. Players can collect different ritual beads, teeth, amulets and plant roots, with these items capable of altering attributes such as physical attacks, vitality and Mana.
There’s more to surviving Arborea than simply swinging a sword harder.
A Bloody Fantasy Adventure Awaits
With its mixture of hand-drawn animation, classic sword-and-sorcery influences, Metroidvania exploration and beast-powered abilities, Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster is clearly aiming for players who like their fantasy adventures with plenty of retro flavour and violence.
The bigger question is whether the last Beastmaster can actually end Arborea’s seemingly endless cycle of conflict. Players will get their chance to find out when Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster arrives on Xbox Series X|S (through the Xbox Store), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC.
