The Relic: First Guardian keeps the familiar soulslike mix of third-person combat, exploration and demanding bosses, but changes how two central systems work: attacking does not use stamina, and character growth is not based on levels. Instead, stamina is for defense, while equipment and Relics shape builds. Its Korean folklore setting and tragic boss stories give the action RPG a distinct narrative identity.
Is The Relic: First Guardian a soulslike?
Yes, that is a fair genre label: the official Steam listing tags the game “Souls-like.” It is best read as a positioning label, not a promise that the game reproduces every convention of FromSoftware games or other soulslikes. The available official descriptions establish several familiar signals—third-person action, challenging combat, exploration and bosses—but do not support a detailed system-by-system comparison with any named competitor.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Relic: First Guardian - PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Relic: First Guardian - PS5 | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
First Giants Card Game | $28.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Catholic Card Game | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Renegade Game Studios Risk Godstorm Board Game - Ancient Civilization | $70.17 | Buy on Amazon |
The clearest differences are how the game handles stamina and character progression. Its world and boss storytelling also set a particular tone, while much of the broader action-RPG framework remains recognizable.
How does combat differ?
Attacks do not spend stamina
Inhyuk Park, creative director at Project Cloud Games, stated that “Stamina is never consumed when attacking” in a PlayStation Blog post dated 18 December 2025. The Steam listing likewise says the stamina gauge is reserved for dodging and blocking. That separates offensive actions from defensive stamina management: the resource pressure comes from avoiding or absorbing danger, rather than choosing between an attack and a dodge from the same bar.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Fast Paced Brutal Combat - The Relic approaches combat differently - delivering freedom in attack, intensity in survival. Unleash an unstoppable onslaught with attacks that cost zero resources, allowing you to strike continuously with relentless creativity and consistency. Your stamina gauge is reserved strictly for high-stakes defence like dodging and blocking, while high-power magic operates on cooldowns and a dedicated meter. Attack without limits, defend with absolute precision.
- Explore a Shattered, Semi-Open World - Traverse a vast, interconnected realm filled with forgotten ruins, hidden dungeons, and atmospheric landscapes. The world of Arsilthus rewards curious Guardians who venture off the beaten path with ancient artifacts, secret encounters, and pieces of lost lore buried deep within its ruined regions.
- Confront Up to 80 Tragic Bosses - Step into battle against up to 80 mythic encounters - each a dark, standalone folktale brought to life, bound to a tragic lore that can only be laid to rest through ultimate victory. Adapt or perish: no two legends fight alike, and a strategy that slays one nightmare offers no guarantee of surviving the next.
- Weapons Woven with Narrative - Command five distinct weapon masteries: Sword & Shield, Battle Staff, Daggers, Two-Handed Weapons, or the Longsword. Without a single duplicate weapon to be found - every single item is a bespoke, one-of-a-kind creation with its own tragic history. Discovering a new blade means uncovering a piece of the world's past, transforming your arsenal into a personal collection of living legends.
- Master Ancient Weapon Skill Trees - Forge a deeper bond with your chosen armoury through specialised skill trees powered by relic energy. Channel forgotten power into game-changing passives alongside awe-striking, visually spectacular ultimate abilities.
This changes the combat emphasis, but does not make defense unimportant. Spending stamina on a dodge or block still means managing the windows when you can protect yourself. It is a contrast with games that make attacks draw from a shared stamina bar, not a claim that every soulslike uses that system.
Weapons shape combat rhythm
The developer describes five weapon types. Steam names them as Sword & Shield, Battle Staff, Daggers, Two-Handed Weapons and Longsword. The official materials also describe weapon skills and build choices that can change how skills behave and how combat flows. These details suggest different rhythms and approaches, but they do not establish a broad weapon-count advantage over other games.
Rank #2
- Epic Fantasy Action Adventure – Step into a dark fantasy world filled with danger, mystery, and powerful enemies.
- Become the First Guardian – Take on the role of a legendary protector and uncover the secrets behind an ancient relic.
- Intense Combat Gameplay – Battle fierce creatures and challenging foes using skill, strategy, and powerful abilities.
- Atmospheric World to Explore – Discover haunting environments, hidden paths, ancient ruins, and rich fantasy lore.
- Great for Action RPG Fans – Perfect for players who enjoy fantasy combat, exploration, boss battles, and story-driven adventures.
Magic has its own constraints: Steam describes high-power magic as operating on cooldowns and a dedicated meter, rather than on the stamina gauge.
How does character progression work without levels?
The Relic: First Guardian does not use character levels. Park put it plainly: “There are no character levels in this world.” The developer instead describes progression through weapons, armor, crafting and Relics or runes that provide passive effects.
Rank #3
- BUILD A PRESTIGIOUS DINOSAUR EXHIBIT: Compete to create the most impressive museum by collecting dinosaur cards and curating a high-scoring exhibit.
- CHOOSE BETWEEN ENGINE BUILDING OR SCORING: Use cards for powerful ongoing effects or sacrifice those abilities to score points by displaying them in your exhibit.
- MASTER PERFECT TIMING TO WIN: Balance when to keep cards for long-term advantages and when to play them for points—timing every decision is critical.
- RACE AGAINST RIVALS FOR LIMITED RESOURCES: Compete over dig sites, amber, sets, and news tokens as players jockey for efficiency and advantage.
- ENJOY DEEP STRATEGY WITH STREAMLINED PLAY: Accessible rules paired with meaningful decisions make First Giants ideal for strategy fans and competitive game nights.
That makes progression gear-led rather than level-led. Equipment and Relic choices are meant to shape a build, with passive effects influencing skills and combat tempo. Steam advertises over 70 unique passive effects; that is the developer’s store-page figure, not an independently verified count. The official descriptions do not establish every final build option or the cost and rules for changing a build.
What makes the setting and bosses distinctive?
The game’s dark fantasy world draws on Korean folklore and mythology. Project Cloud Games frames exploration as a journey through a ruined world, where places and encounters reveal the people and memories left behind. Steam describes a semi-open, interconnected world with ruins, dungeons, artifacts and hidden encounters.
Rank #4
- FUN & FAITHFUL - Enjoy healthy laughter with friends and family about all things Catholic!
- EASY TO PLAY - Simple gameplay allows players of any age group to join in the fun!
- EVANGELIZE - Provides a great way to bring the joy of the Catholic faith to all God’s people!
- BELOVED - Thousands of people all around the world are already playing and enjoying the Catholic Card Game!
- The Catholic Card Game Base Deck contains 400 cards. GREAT for 3-10+ players!
The bosses are presented not only as combat challenges but as tragic, self-contained stories. The official materials use different figures for their number: Park’s 18 December 2025 post says “more than 70,” while the Steam listing advertises “up to 80.” Those are developer descriptions, so it is most accurate to treat them as advertised counts rather than an independently confirmed tally.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should PC players know about reviews and performance?
Steam currently lists the game’s user reviews as Mixed: 44% positive from 175 all-time reviews and 50% positive from 12 reviews in the last 30 days, as shown in the 2026 store snapshot. These are changing storefront figures, not a representative study or a guarantee of how the game will perform for a particular player.
Best Value
- Ancient mythology strategy: Command five legendary cultures—Greek, Celtic, Babylonian, Norse, and Egyptian—across Earth and underworld in this reimagined Risk experience
- Premium miniature collection: Includes 382 highly detailed playing pieces featuring warrior gods and soldiers, perfect for serious strategy collectors and display enthusiasts
- Dual ruleset gameplay: Play classic Risk or master the new Godstorm mythology variant with primal forces and divine powers for strategic depth and replayability
- Family-friendly strategy game: Ages ten and up, accommodates two to five players for memorable game nights that blend history, mythology, and turn-based tactical combat
- Complete gaming experience: Contains everything needed for immediate play with comprehensive rules, game board, and components designed for long-term durability and collection value
Project Cloud Games’ Steam description says it has released 18 patches and is continuing to focus on technical issues and performance. That indicates active PC performance work, but does not establish frame rates or stability on any specific hardware. Check recent reports from players with a system like yours before buying if performance is a priority; the cited Steam information does not establish performance or patch parity on consoles.
Which platforms and release dates are listed?
Store dates differ by platform and source, so they should not be combined into one universal launch date. Steam lists a PC release date of 30 July 2026 and identifies Project Cloud Games as developer and Perp Games as publisher. The Xbox Store listing covers Xbox Series X|S, PC and handheld play and gives a store release date of 28 September 2026. These are store metadata, which can change.
The PlayStation Blog post dated 18 December 2025 announced a planned PS5 release date of 26 May 2026. That is a historical announcement; the cited material does not establish the final PS5 release date or present PS5 store availability.
Quick Recap
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.
