When Lords of the Fallen debuted in October 2023, the reception was pretty lukewarm. Many players, myself included, had quite a few bones to pick with the initial release. Despite some core design issues still lingering, developer Hexworks surprised us by continuing to refine the game beyond our expectations.
After dropping version 1.7 last December, which brought noteworthy improvements, Hexworks has once again captured our attention with a fresh, substantial update that perhaps many thought wouldn’t come.
This recent update is so transformative that Hexworks has labeled it as version 2.0 of their Souls-like action RPG. It doesn’t just tweak core mechanics; it revamps large sections of the game. There’s an impressive new feature aimed at newcomers, something I haven’t really seen in games of this genre before.
Drawing inspiration from legacies like Split Fiction and the creators of It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios, CI Games is introducing a Friend’s Pass. It does exactly what you’d imagine: a player can invite a friend, regardless of the platform, to experience the game in online co-op—even if the friend doesn’t own the game. Now, anyone can download the game for free, create a character, and run through the full tutorial, which has also received a makeover in this update. Once you’re through, you’re primed to be invited to gameplay sessions by anyone with the complete game.
Now, the update’s progression system might seem a bit complex, but version 2.0 has smoothed out many aspects. While your character’s progress and loot carry over between sessions, only the host retains world progression. However, in any shared playthrough, both players can individually save mainline story progress, keep track of defeated bosses, and lit Beacons (similar to Bonfires). Vigor and loot drop per player, and you can revive each other too.
The updates don’t stop there. Version 2.0 introduces a slew of gameplay modifications. For instance, you now have a dedicated jump button! The core combat system has also been polished with an improved lock-on system, more nuanced weapon handling, swifter movement and dodges, and entirely fresh sound effects for combat maneuvers. There’s even a new mechanic using the Umbral Lamp that helps you navigate the game world more effectively.
On top of all that, the interface has seen a crisp redesign, enhancing the user experience with a cleaner layout and several quality of life enhancements, like quicker and automated Vigor collection, among other tweaks to streamline the gameplay.
To celebrate this substantial patch, Lords of the Fallen is currently discounted up to 72% on all platforms. However, sale dates vary depending on the platform, with some ending as soon as April 23 and others extending to May 1.
If nothing else, I highly recommend snagging the Friend’s Pass on Steam or your platform of choice, and diving into the tutorial to get a feel for what’s changed. The patch rollout is still ongoing, but it should hit all platforms by Monday, April 21.
