Queen's Domain

Fights in Queen's Domain run on stamina. Every swing, charge attack and weapon special draws from the same meter, so mashing gets you killed and reading enemy patterns keeps you alive. Each melee weapon has its own special attack, and with more than 50 to find, equip and upgrade, part of the fun is finding the one that fits how you play. Secondary throwing weapons, over 20 types of them, add ranged options and let you soften up a mob before you commit.

Getting around is the other half of the design. The Holy Sword Endu carries you across gaps between platforms, and upgrades extend how far you can fly, which opens new routes through an island that loops back on itself. Shortcuts, hidden rooms and optional areas reward players who poke at every corner.

Progression is classic action RPG: earn XP to level up, slot accessories, and eat food to push your stats further. More than 100 enemy types, mini bosses and bosses wait in the island's depths, and the developer promises dozens of hours of adventure. Steam lists full controller support, including DualSense and DualShock pads, and 53 achievements.

The setup is simple and a little sinister. Your father vanished on the Isle of Neasied, and you arrive washed up on its shore with nothing but the will to find him. The island is not empty: dark forces are gathering, secrets hide in every ruin, and the Queen who gives the game its name has been asleep for a long time.

She is starting to stir. Your search for your father becomes a descent toward the dark heart of the isle, and the story unfolds as you push deeper through its interconnected, labyrinthine paths.

Queen's Domain is on Steam for Windows. At launch the US price was $16.99, a 15% discount on the $19.99 list price, and a free standalone demo is available. It is light on hardware: a quad-core i5, 4 GB RAM, a GTX 760 or RX 560 and 1.5 GB of storage will run it. Steam lists eight interface languages including Japanese and Simplified Chinese, and full controller support.