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Verdict: Darksiders Genesis is a worthwhile action-adventure for players who enjoy top-down combat, secrets, and the option to tackle a campaign with a friend. Its biggest adjustment is the perspective: this is a prequel built around action-RPG combat, not another third-person game in the style of earlier Darksiders entries. The Switch version’s handheld blur and frame-rate dips are a specific concern for portable players.
What kind of game is Darksiders Genesis?
Darksiders Genesis is a canon prequel set before the original Darksiders. It introduces Strife and revisits the origin of the Seven Seals. THQ Nordic describes it as the series’ first top-down action-adventure; PC Gamer likewise identifies it as a canon prequel and action-RPG. That change in viewpoint is the first thing to consider if you are coming from the earlier games.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Darksiders Genesis - PlayStation 4 | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Darksiders Genesis - Xbox One | $13.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Art of Darksiders Genesis (Hardcover) | $38.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Darksiders Genesis - Playstation 4 (PS4) | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Darksiders Genesis - Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch) | $36.45 | Buy on Amazon |
The campaign centers on two playable Horsemen. War is a melee-focused swordsman, while Strife fights with guns. In solo play, you can switch between them instantly. The game also includes exploration, puzzles, platforming, secrets, collectible items, abilities, weapon enhancements, and Creature Cores, giving players reasons to revisit areas and improve their characters.
How do the reviews judge it?
These scores are judgments from the publications’ original review periods, not current player ratings or a single unified assessment.
#1 Best Overall
- Blast Angels and demons as the gunslinging Horseman strife, playable for the first time
- Swap between the powerful swordsman war and strife instantly in frenetic, single-player gameplay
- Explore the epic world of Darksiders and wreak havoc with a friend in two-player cooperative mode
- Experience a brand new story campaign that takes place before the original Darksiders, exploring the origin of the Seven seals
- Grow in strength and power as you collect items, abilities, weapon enhancements, creature cores and more
| Publication | Score | What the review highlights |
|---|---|---|
| PC Gamer (2019) | 81/100 | Luke Kemp’s verdict: “A great one-shot adventure or an enjoyable grindfest, depending on which you want.” The distinction captures the choice between moving through the adventure and spending more time on optional upgrades. |
| GameSpot | 7/10 | Its review listing also displays a Metacritic score of 77. That is the score shown on GameSpot’s page, not a current check of every platform’s aggregate. |
| Nintendo Life (Switch, 2020) | 7/10 | The review praised combat, secrets, and replayability, while noting blur in portable mode and frame-rate dips. |
The scores point to a game whose appeal depends more on your preferred perspective and play style than on a universal consensus: the action and optional content landed well with reviewers, while the Switch port had a visible portable-mode trade-off.
Is Darksiders Genesis good solo or in co-op?
It supports both. In solo play, switching between War and Strife lets you use their different combat styles yourself. For two players, the publisher supports couch co-op and online co-op. Co-op is a meaningful reason to choose Genesis if you want to share the action-adventure; solo remains a supported way to play rather than a mode built around needing a partner.
Rank #2
- War and strife have been given a new assignment
- lucifer has been plotting to grant power to master demons throughout hell
- war and strife must hunt down these masters
- fight your way through a tangled, demonic conspiracy that threatens to forever upset the balance and unravel all of creation
How does the Switch version perform?
Nintendo Life’s 2020 Switch review found Genesis entertaining and content-rich, but reported blur in portable mode and frame-rate dips. Those are qualitative observations from that review period, not measured performance figures or a claim about every platform. If handheld clarity and consistently smooth performance are priorities, factor that criticism into your decision; the cited Switch review does not establish the same drawbacks for PC or other consoles.
Who is likely to enjoy it?
- Consider it if you want a canon prequel, like top-down action-RPG combat, or value the choice between solo character-switching and two-player co-op.
- It may be a weaker fit if you specifically want the earlier games’ third-person presentation, or are looking for an adventure without optional collectible and upgrade activity.
- For Switch handheld play, weigh the portable blur and frame-rate dips reported by Nintendo Life against its praise for combat, secrets, and replayability.
Platforms and content rating
The ESRB lists Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. It rates the game T for Teen for Blood and Gore, Language, and Violence, and also flags Users Interact. The rating summary describes top-down traversal and combat with swords and firearms. Check the listing for your platform before buying, since product availability can vary.
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THQ Nordic’s official site links Amazon listings for Standard, Collector’s, and Nephilim editions. Those links do not establish current price, stock, or the exact format offered by each listing, so verify the platform and edition on the retailer page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- War and Strife have been given a new assignment
- Lucifer has been plotting to grant power to master demons throughout Hell
- War and Strife must hunt down these masters
- Fight your way through a tangled, demonic conspiracy that threatens to forever upset the Balance and unravel all of creation
Rank #4
- War and Strife have been given a new assignment
- Lucifer has been plotting to grant power to master demons throughout Hell
- War and Strife must hunt down these masters
- Fight your way through a tangled, demonic conspiracy that threatens to forever upset the Balance and unravel all of creation
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
