A new Dungeon Stalkers playtest lets you try the dark fantasy dungeon crawler before it launches and unlock a character.
A new dungeon adventure game called Dungeon Stalkers is having its final playtest on Steam. This means players can try it before it officially launches. If you join the playtest now you can unlock a character that will also be available when the game goes into early access. Dungeon Stalkers is a dark fantasy game similar to Dark and Darker but it focuses more on fighting against monsters (PvE) instead of just battling other players. The game also has a unique feature that makes sure all players stay on equal ground.
We talked to the game's developer Oneuniverse at Gamescom 2025. They told us about a special system in the game called the Witch’s Curse. This feature is one of the things that makes Dungeon Stalkers different from other multiplayer RPGs. Every now and then the Witch’s Curse casts powerful spells during a match. These spells can change how the game plays out. Sometimes they help you and other times they might make things harder depending on your character your build and what you're trying to do.
Game director Dae Hoon Han said that at first they thought this new feature might feel a little strange to players. But after adding it they received good feedback. Many players liked it because it helps make the game fairer for everyone. Han explained that the goal was to create a better balance so that new or low-level players could compete more easily with high-level or experienced players. The feature which involves a curse adds a fun twist because you never really know how it will affect the game. Sometimes the curse might help you sometimes it might help the monsters or even other players.
Recently the game studio Ironmace also added a PvE (player vs environment) mode to Dark and Darker showing that many players enjoy fighting monsters more than fighting each other. That same idea is part of Dungeon Stalkers. While it still includes PvP (player vs player) action for those who want it the main focus is exploring dangerous dungeons battling monsters and collecting powerful loot and gear.
The current playtest for Dungeon Stalkers is now live and will run until Tuesday, July 1 at 1am PT / 4am ET / 9am BST / 10am CEST. This is expected to be the last test before the game’s official release. It includes many updates and improvements based on feedback from the last public test. In this version you can try two new Stalker characters named Shinobu and Liyan. There's also a new rune system that helps you make your characters stronger over time. You can now visit a camp area where you can craft new items or upgrade existing ones.
There are also changes to the game modes. In quick matches and the PvE (player vs environment) mode you won’t lose any items if your character dies. But in the more competitive ranked mode the older tougher extraction rules still apply so if you die, you lose your items.
If you join the playtest and log in for at least three days during the event you’ll unlock a special character called Rene a vampire summoner. You’ll also be able to use her in the upcoming early access version of the game. Plus the more you play the more rewards you’ll earn like gold, adventure tokens and wish stones.
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