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The First Berserker: Khazan Review

A demanding, boss-focused action RPG with standout combat, tempered by repetitive missions, limited exploration and a less expressive lead.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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The First Berserker: Khazan is worth considering if you want a single-player action RPG built around demanding fights and memorable bosses. Its combat is the main draw; its linear mission structure, limited exploration and comparatively flat lead character make it a less compelling choice if you want a richly branching adventure. Difficulty labels changed after launch, so check the current build’s options rather than relying on launch-era advice.

Is The First Berserker: Khazan worth playing?

For players who enjoy learning enemy patterns and overcoming difficult boss encounters, the strongest case for Khazan is its combat. PC Gamer reviewer Sean Martin praised the combat and boss design, describing them as among the strongest he had encountered in a soulslike. He awarded the game 80; that is one reviewer’s assessment, not a consensus score. Martin also reported that the game ran perfectly for him, which should be read as his experience rather than a guarantee for every platform or setup. PC Gamer’s review also cautions that difficulty spikes can occur and that the introductory missions may not show the game at its best.

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The trade-off is a relatively focused, linear adventure. Martin found the missions somewhat samey and the exploration limited, and criticized Khazan as flat and unexpressive despite the story’s prominence. Those are his critical judgments, but they point to a useful decision: choose this for its combat first, not for a sprawling world or a particularly nuanced protagonist.

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How hard is Khazan, and does it have difficulty settings?

Khazan is designed around challenging combat, but its difficulty labels and defaults changed after release. GamesRadar reported on August 6, 2025, that creative director Junho Lee said Neople had renamed the former “Easy” option “Normal” and the former “Normal” option “Challenge,” while making Normal the default starting setting. The report also says the developers added Beginner and Hardcore options. Lee explained that many players had quit without changing difficulty; GamesRadar presented “I’d rather quit with dignity than drop it down to Easy” as player feedback, not as a quotation from a named individual. GamesRadar’s report documents those changes, but does not establish which choices appear in every current platform build. Check the difficulty menu in your version before starting; do not assume launch-era labels or defaults still apply.

#1 Best Overall
The First Berserker: Khazan - Play Station 5
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What is the story and setting?

The game takes place roughly 800 years before Dungeon Fighter Online. General Khazan is falsely accused of treason and exiled to the mountains. After surviving a near-death experience, he sets out on a revenge journey that leads him toward an imperial conspiracy. The premise gives the action a clear personal motivation, though PC Gamer’s review found Khazan’s characterization notably flat.

SEGA describes the game as a single-player hardcore action RPG set in the Dungeon Fighter Online universe. Its product page says more than 800 million people worldwide have played the broader franchise; that is a publisher-provided, undated figure about the IP, not a player or sales count for Khazan. SEGA’s official product page provides the premise and franchise context.

Rank #2
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What does Khazan look and feel like?

SEGA describes the visuals as 3D cel-animation imagery combining a cel-shaded look with realistic textures, created with Unreal Engine. PC Gamer’s impression was more mixed: the review noted dramatic anime-style sequences, but also found some environments drab or visually repetitive. The game’s stylized presentation is part of its identity, though the visual variety may not be consistent throughout.

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What platforms is The First Berserker: Khazan on?

SEGA lists The First Berserker: Khazan for Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its official Japanese product listing also documents a physical package edition and a Deluxe Edition. SEGA’s March 28, 2025 announcement covers the Japanese release and says SEGA handled physical-product manufacturing and sales in Japan and Asia under a sub-publishing arrangement with Nexon. These details do not establish current price, stock or edition availability in other regions, so check the relevant storefront before buying. SEGA’s launch announcement gives the Japan-and-Asia distribution context.

Quick Recap

Rank #3
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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.

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