Developer Moon Studios has released its first Wicked Inside, a deep dive into everything for its next upcoming title, No Rest for the Wicked, a new Action RPG. The Showcase detailed the game’s story, gameplay, class system, and plans for launch. Moon Studios revealed that No Rest for the Wicked will launch next month into Steam Early Access on April 18. Throughout Early Access, the game will get major content updates leading up to the 1.0 release which will then see the game release on consoles.
No Rest for the Wicked takes place in the year 841 with players taking on the role of a Cerim, a member of an ancient sect devoted to vanquishing a great plague known as the Pestilence. While investigating rumors of the Pestilence’s return, players will board a merchant ship to the backwater Isola Sacra but the ship gets seized by a rebel group known as the Risen, leaving it wrecked as it collides into the island’s rocks. Players wash up on the shores of Isloa Sacra naked and unarmed. As they find their bearings, they end up getting caught between a vast political struggle with the death of King Harol and a fight for survival.
Isola Sacra is a living, breathing world that Moon Studios made painstakingly by hand. Players will traverse through vibrant, seamless, interactive environments with each step, climb, and jump being intentional. Moon Studios wants players to explore the world. Searching every inch may prove fruitful, revealing secret areas and loot. Isola Sacra is also ever-changing. New threats and resources will be found when players return to previously explored areas.
As exploring the world is intentional, so too is the combat of No Rest for the Wicked. With its animation-driven combat system, attacks should be planned and deliberate. In order to overcome opponents, players will have to watch for telegraphed behaviors and look for the most opportune moment to strike. Players can also parry incoming blows that will put enemies into a temporary weakened state. Movement and timing also comes into play during combat. Movement speed determines the type of dodge a player uses. Players who are fast and light can quickstep out of the way of incoming attacks. Players will dodge roll out of the way if they go at a balanced, measured speed. Players who are slower will be more susceptible to attacks due to a slower dodge but can counteract with a shoulder bash maneuver.
Weapons in No Rest for the Wicked are unique. No two will be alike one another. Each weapon has its own stance, can have affixes, and can be optimized by various vendors. They can be imbued with runes that will add additional effects.
No Rest for the Wicked features what Moon Studios calls a soft class system. This means that the priority is on weapons rather than a specific class/role. As players level up, they will earn stat points that you can put across a variety of options, including HP, intelligence, dexterity, strength, and stamina. Intelligence, dexterity, and strength stats can directly affect weapon types and make them more powerful.
As players venture into the world of Isola Sacra, they will eventually come across Sacrament, the capital. Players will be able to rebuild it by purchasing property and decorating it to their heart’s content. With a range of purchasable properties and a gridless interior design system, players can create a unique place to call home and are in control how Sacrament evolves.
Throughout Early Access, Moon Studios will be tweaking, patching, and balancing the game with the help from the community. There will also be major content updates getting released throughout development. The first major update will introduce multiplayer which lets players play alongside each other or against each other. The second major update adds new regions, enemies, narrative updates, and more. Story, system, and gameplay updates will follow afterward.