Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Looks Like a Strong Substitute for The Elder Scrolls 6

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Nearly a month has passed since the stealth release of “The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered”. Even now, countless players are likely still exploring Cyrodiil, uncovering its hidden treasures. Yet, for some, the urge to try something new may be growing. Unfortunately, Bethesda is yet to announce a release date for “The Elder Scrolls 6” (fingers crossed it arrives before the end of this decade). However, there could be another game in their repertoire that offers an engaging open-world fantasy experience to help quench your thirst while waiting.

Starting on May 23rd for PC, my excitement levels are soaring for Questline’s “Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon”! At first glance, it might seem like a fresh action RPG from the first person perspective. However, what many may not know is that it has been in early access since March 2023, with development spanning much longer. I became aware of this fascinating project after discovering “Tainted Grail: Conquest,” a delightful roguelike deck-builder set within the same captivating universe.

The mix of fighting options and construction elements created engaging gameplay, although it might not match the depth of giants in the genre. Yet, its Arthurian legend interpretation provided an intriguing twist. Now, after many years, The Fall of Avalon seems ready to offer a more immersive version of that story on a grander scale.

In contrast to typical fantasy role-playing games, the backdrop of “Tainted Grail” carries a significantly darker tone. Drawing inspiration from the tale of King Arthur, the narrative unfolds in a realm stricken by a catastrophic disease called the Red Death. The devastation wrought by this plague compels Arthur to relocate his people from their original land, eventually leading them to Avalon – an enigmatic island that soon reveals its own perils due to a mysterious phenomenon known as the Wyrdness (and yes, it’s pronounced exactly as it appears).

In Avalon’s title itself, you can see that its inhabitants are destined for calamity. The Wyrdness twists the minds of its inhabitants, spawning bizarre new creatures. Unlike Conquest, which seems to focus on the aftermath years later, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon places you right in the heart of the disaster, allowing you to explore this frightening land and strive for survival. Yet, it’s not just about surviving; your decisions will shape what enduring impact King Arthur’s reign will have on the world following 600 years of unyielding conflict, as suggested by the game’s promotional materials.

It’s intriguing that, similar to the game Oblivion, the player’s adventure commences with escaping from an asylum. Recall the opening scene in Bethesda’s timeless classic (enhanced by the remaster), where you start off as an insignificant character. The quest for the Emperor gradually pulls you into the Oblivion predicament. In contrast, Tainted Grail is more grim, as you’re essentially a guinea pig for adversaries. Despite being released by a mysterious figure, you must still navigate through the asylum and its labyrinthine corridors, eradicating enemies and witnessing their devastation in the form of other sick or deceased patients.

In this part of the game, there are several surprising similarities if you’ve played the free demo. For instance, the lockpicking mini-game is identical to that in ‘The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim’. The interface may require some adjustment, particularly when it comes to equipping quick-use consumables, but having predefined loadouts from the start is beneficial. However, with limited options for armor and weapons, combat can be challenging, especially when facing multiple enemies. If you remember always gathering food and drinks in ‘Oblivion’ without much opportunity to use them, ‘Tainted Grail’ frequently encourages such stockpiling.

After leaving the asylum, progress becomes smoother in the Horns of the South, the initial of three significant areas. Here, you’ll find crypts, tombs, ruins, and shrines to explore, along with resources to collect, adversaries to confront, and diverse NPCs to meet. The variety of activities such as fishing, alchemy, blacksmithing, and many others is extensive, but what truly captivates is how the narrative will evolve based on your choices. This game promises hundreds of distinct endings for its main storyline, although their uniqueness is yet to be proven. However, the responsiveness of the world remains quite impressive.

At present, two out of three regions are accessible – Horns of the South and Cuanacht Village, with Forlorn Swords soon to join as part of Version 1.0. The other areas will be expanded upon later. You’ll enjoy a great deal of flexibility in constructing your gameplay, with access to over 400 weapons, more than 55 spells, and over 15 Soul Cubes. In Tainted Grail, you can employ a dual-wielding system that enables casting spells from one hand while wielding weapons in the other. If you prefer, you can even cast two spells simultaneously – it’s all about staying alive.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share some exciting details about this upcoming game! You’ll find over 75 dungeons, more than 250 unique non-player characters, many of whom are integral to the 200+ side quests we have in store. Plus, there are over 100 distinct enemy types.

The main questline is projected to offer between 50 to 70 hours of gameplay, and for those who like to explore every nook and cranny, there’s even more beyond that. And let’s not forget the much-requested addition of a third-person perspective, allowing players to always keep an eye on their character!

What’s truly remarkable about Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon isn’t that it comes from a large studio like Bethesda, but rather the opposite. Despite not having the same visual quality as Oblivion Remastered or the optimization we’d expect, this game showcases an impressive level of world-building, quest design, and combat before its release. It’s a clear demonstration of the power of a smaller team with a unique vision, much like Bethesda was with Oblivion, except Tainted Grail has a darker, less cheerful tone and probably won’t end with your character being hailed as a hero.

Creating games like Tainted Grail isn’t a walk in the park, even when you have a big team behind you. Despite the current abundance of high-quality releases, particularly in the indie scene, Tainted Grail stands out with its unique offering. It’s an open-world action RPG set in a dark fantasy universe, inviting you to delve into its twisted take on the King Arthur legend. Along your journey, you’ll confront the terrors hidden within this world and enjoy extensive customization options for your character build. The combat is even superior to that in Skyrim, but what truly sets it apart is its distinctive setting, art direction, and the audacity of its vision—elements that make Tainted Grail a must-play.

It remains uncertain whether The Elder Scrolls 6 will live up to Bethesda’s reputation or provide an adventure as captivating as past installments. In fact, aside from the revelation that its leveling and progression will resemble Skyrim, there’s very little information available about the project – including its development status, setting, or final title. Tainted Grail may not rival it in size and visual quality, but its unique concept, dark atmosphere, and potential make it a standout for quite some time.

On May 23rd, the early access version of “Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon” will end for PC platforms, and it’s set to debut on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 as well. We can hardly contain our excitement to witness how this complete game performs!

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2025-05-19 11:11