Dark Souls Vibes Are Strong in This Free Steam RPG

Bearing in mind that video games often serve as a form of escapism for many, it's bizarre how often we actively put ourselves in horrendous situations when jumping onto the nearest console or PC for an hour of relaxation.

Whether cutting through demonic entities in Diablo or avoiding plague-infested townsfolk in Bloodborne, we've been in some bleak scenarios over the years and not every game can be Hello Kitty Island Adventure (unfortunately).

Up next to bat, bearing that in mind, is Dungeon Stalkers, a PvEvP dungeon crawler where you team up with friends to take on enemy hordes and rival teams. Though it's slightly lighter in tone that Dark Souls, the overall vibe is similar and you aren't able to turn your back for a second, or it's lights out.

The premise of the game is fairly simple fantasy fare. You take on the role of a titular Dungeon Stalker as they venture into the cavernous depths in search of wealth, fame and overall fortune. To start, you select a Stalker from a roster with various background, with your adventures enabling you to improve your character's prowess in their dungeoneering endeavours.

It also features some interesting mechanics to be aware of along the way. Armor is crucial to your survival and it will break if you take too many hits, leaving you as a sitting duck for the rest of the run.

The other is "The Witch's Curse," which essentially serve as affixes that come into effect during individual runs. You'll have to account for these charges or you'll quickly find yourself on the end of a loss.

Played entirely in third-person, it's a relatively simple take on a genre with plenty of potential options. Currently in Early Access, it's totally free-to-play if you fancy giving it a whirl, so there's very little risk in trying it out.