no rest for the wicked – early access review
No Rest for the Wicked is a brutal and atmospheric action RPG from Moon Studios, marking a dramatic shift from the ethereal beauty of Ori to something far darker, grittier, and more punishing. Currently in early access, it's already showing serious promise—even if it's not for the faint-hearted.
punishing but fair
Combat is at the heart of Wicked, and it doesn’t pull its punches. If you’re expecting hack-and-slash ease, prepare for a rude awakening. Every encounter demands focus, timing, and stamina control. It wears its Soulslike influences on its sleeve, but adds its own flair through weapon variety, spellcasting, and build customisation.
It’s tough—at times brutally so—but rarely unfair. Boss fights are tense, often multi-phase affairs that test everything you've learned. And when you finally bring one down, the sense of triumph is immense.
gorgeous world, grim setting
Even in early access, the world is a stunner. The hand-painted environments blend haunting beauty with medieval decay. Towns feel alive, forests claustrophobic, and every ruin seems to whisper of a fallen past. The tone is consistently grim but captivating.
There’s also a surprising amount of verticality and hidden detail—encouraging thorough exploration. Side quests and world-building are layered with nuance, leaning into themes of power, plague, and human desperation.
story and lore: rot beneath the surface
Set in the war-torn land of Isola Sacra, the game drops players into a kingdom plagued by political instability and the rise of a deadly blight known as the Pestilence. The king is dead, the throne is contested, and the land itself is visibly rotting. It’s a story steeped in religious tension, moral ambiguity, and the creeping dread of something ancient awakening beneath it all.
The narrative is subtle but compelling, delivered through sharp writing, brooding NPC dialogue, and rich environmental storytelling. You’ll piece together lore not through cutscenes, but through fragments—tattered books, whispered rumours, and the scars left on the land. It’s a slow burn, but a promising one, and early glimpses suggest a story that’s as thoughtful as it is bleak.
There’s clearly a deep mythology being established here, and while not all threads are fully developed yet, the foundation is strong enough to pull you in—and leave you hungry for more.
still in development
Being in early access, No Rest for the Wicked is unfinished. Some systems—like housing, crafting, and town upgrades—are clearly in place but not fully fleshed out. There are occasional bugs, UI quirks, and the odd performance hiccup, especially in denser areas.
That said, what’s here is solid, and the foundations are strong. It already offers several hours of challenging content, and Moon Studios have outlined a clear roadmap for improvements and expansions.
final thoughts (for now)
If you’re after a polished, casual RPG, this isn’t it—at least not yet. But if you enjoy challenging combat, rich atmosphere, and watching a living world take shape through development, No Rest for the Wicked is absolutely worth your time.
We’ll return with a full review once the game hits 1.0, but for now, it’s a striking and ambitious start.
