No Rest for the Wicked Early Access Preview: "A Substantial Amount of Gorgeous Grinding to Enjoy Already"

Moon Studio’s reveal of late last year made a splash with the fans. With Take-Two Interactive’s Private Division on publishing duties, the team behind the critically acclaimed, gorgeously animated duology introduced its first foray into isometric action-RPGs, with an Early Access period that kicked off last week for those too impatient to wait on version 1.0 in 2025. There’s a substantial amount of gorgeous grinding to enjoy already, but window shoppers should anticipate a laundry list of hotfixes and changes to roll out as the game solidifies into its final form.

It should also be stated that ’s retail price of $39.99 – a 10% discount is in play until May 2 – is a high cost of entry. However, those willing to breach it will find that the game’s EA period offers a tantalizing blend of careful weighty combat in the Soulsborne vein, along with a sumptuous art style and an elegantly produced dark fantasy yarn… but it’s still a game that lives and dies on the grinding wheel.

first test-drove ’s private build-in-progress last month, and we’re happy to reveal that the consumer-ready EA version has real legs to it, along with a special randomized dungeon to run after the meat of the current content is chewed through. With a trove of collecting and crafting to do and its superb combat fundamentals, is worth the price and in a good place to blossom, but the upcoming multiplayer update and QOL fixes should strengthen the sale.

The premise and tutorial plunks players onto a pirate ship as a customizable “Cerim,” a kind of nomadic monster hunter alternatively feared, scorned, and admired by the populace. Bound for the besieged town of Sacrament, their journey is rudely interrupted by rebel pirates wreaking havoc, with the hero left washed up on the shore to fend for themselves with tattered rags and fisticuffs.

From humble sandy beginnings, they’ll punch some wildlife and quickly find a few basic weapons and gear by picking up the random detritus at hand, be it a chunk of