Spoilers for the 2005 God of War ahead
The year is 2005. You have decided to play a brand new PlayStation exclusive called The God of War. You get your first taste of Kratos at the then earliest point of his journey. You soon learn that Kratos is tricked by the god Ares into killing his wife and daughter, Lysandra and Calliope, inside a village temple so he can become the “perfect warrior”. What followed in the original trilogy is a trauma-driven revenge story, one shaped by the pain and loss inflicted on Kratos. An upcoming soul-like Steam The game packages similar traumas into a story set in an alternate afterlife influenced by the first world war in real life, and even though Steam players don't kill their wife and child, the pain of their deaths lingers.
Dark Dominion is that game, and it will be released in May 2026 on Steam. It not only combines an interesting, more straightforward story that is similar The God of War (and simpler than most Soulslike games), but it channels it into an environment defined by trauma and channels it into the game. Developed by a small team of five people called ZERO5GAMES, Dark Dominion is an interesting title that fans of the genre should not sleep on.
The traumatic story of Dark Dominion
The best Soulslike games make the protagonist, and by extension the player, feel small in a mighty world. Players start with nothing, and through sheer skill, determination, and self-improvement, they overcome the demigods, gods, Lovecraftian creatures, or whatever stands before them. The protagonist of Dark Dominion is perhaps the weakest soulslike protagonist yet – a simple man who has lost everything. His wife died giving birth to their daughter, who seven years later died of pneumonia. That trauma shapes the man who remains, and the broken mill enlists in World War I to meet his death as well.
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Death, however, has other plans. The main character finds himself in a twisted post-world that bleeds into the First World War, where the battlefields are distorted, where his enemies are monsters, where he is already dead and doesn't know it yet, where he has a chance to get everything back, to save the souls of his wife and child, or disappear altogether. Along the way, the protagonist must struggle with his own soul and fall into madness, such as nightmarish visions and the ghost of someone he lost (probably related to Melina in Fire Ring) both torment and guide him.
As this traumatic story unfolds, players will explore a twisted afterlife in four acts. While many video games adopt a more traditional 3-act story structure, the extra act can go a long way to flesh out the traumas and horrors that befall the main character. The story bits are already quite rewarding, in terms of what has been revealed, but it's even more terrifying for the protagonist's ultimate fate.
The World of Dark Dominion is “Alive” in the deadly sense
At first glance, Dark Dominion looks very similar Dark souls or Demon's Soulsbut the unique premise—a Soulslike game focused on trauma and personal demons against the backdrop of a cursed war—helps it stand out in an otherwise over-the-top genre. It also channels one of the key features of a true Soulslike game: environmental storytelling. While some Soulslike games circumvent this, it is an important aspect of the genre that blends the horror of the story with the world around them. Regardless of the afterlife created by World War I, players can expect to search for armor, weapons, locations, and more to understand the secrets, lessons, and horrors hidden within Dark Dominion.
Dark Dominions world also reacts to the protagonist's mental state. There are dynamic interactions between his mental state and the environment, with areas shifting and distorting depending on his emotional stability. Hallucinations can manifest as both subtle clues and deadly threats. Such mechanics ensure that the protagonist's trauma brings life to the world of the game, while being intimately connected to the narrative. Hidden passages, secret rooms, and cryptic messages scattered throughout the afterlife encourage players to piece together the story for themselves. Such a premise implies a level of player choice, perhaps it does Dark Dominion can have multiple endings depending on the protagonist's mental state, as well as how he confronts or avoids the horrors of his own trauma.
Dark Dominion Gameplay is inspired by FromSoftware's Soulslike Formula
Fans can expect hardcore battles as difficult as the strongest enemies in the Dark souls and Demon's Soulswith each twisted enemy from both this WW1-inspired afterlife and the protagonist's own fear and guilt. In every aspect of the experience, his trauma over his wife and daughter bleeds into it, including the gameplay. Players naturally need a way to fight back, and that's where the world of World Wars gives way to the afterlife. There is no mention of WW1 weapons, although there may be. Instead, players are further weakened within these limitations:
- Dark Dominion boasts dozens of unique armor sets across the three iconic classifications: light, medium and heavy. Each comes with unique bonuses that determine the play style.
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Players will be able to use swords, spears, axes, blades, crossbows, artifacts, and more to beat back enemies.
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Players can access magic influenced by fire, blood, lightning, and illusions. However, each spell comes at a price for its power.
True to the Soulslike action-RPG formula, players will have an expansive RPG and leveling system. Developers boast that every stat point is a choice and building a character the wrong way means they will pay with their life. After all, Dark Dominion also features 100 “distinct” types of monsters, traps and terrifying bosses. There's still a lot to show in that regard, but an early standout is Fecaloid, the Cursed Fecal Demon, who couldn't be more different Fire Rings Dung Eater.
Dark Dominion takes players through Hell and out the other side
“If you're going through hell, keep going” is a famous quote often attributed to Winston Churchill during World War II. It may be before Dark Dominion the protagonist's time, but it ultimately reflects his own struggles. Hell existed when he was alive, and it still claimed him in death.
Ultimately, Dark Dominion is a journey through loss, guilt and trauma, all wrapped up in the punishing frame of a Soulslike. Fans of both the genre and narrative games can find themselves captivated by the haunting, unforgettable world ZERO5GAMES has created. At the very least, it's an easy addition to the wish list ahead of the May 2026 release date.
