Queen's Domain might be the best game like Metroid Prime since Metroid Prime

I d previously tried the demo for Queen's Domain, enjoying it overall despite some annoyances. However, the full game launched on October 30 and, after catching up on what I'd missed, I'm convinced that the demo left out the best parts. Within just five hours, Queen's Domain has become one of my top games of the year. I'm hesitant to write this account, knowing I'd rather be playing the game right now.

At first glance, Queen's Domain appears to fit into the emerging indie King's Field-style subgenre. Early on, it pays homage to FromSoftware's first-person dark fantasy RPG series. Within the first half hour, it distinguishes itself with fantastic art, superior music, and a masterful recreation of nostalgic elements like menus, UI, and sound cues.

After defeating the first boss, players are rewarded with the magic airdash sword, a pivotal moment that truly sets the game in motion. Queen's Domain is a deliberately paced game, feeling like a hybrid between Doom and Quake – players can tell when air travel is possible or not. Freshly Baked Games, the developer, has crafted a unique blend of verticality reminiscent of Destiny raids, with hidden paths and satisfying moments of sequence breaking.

Upgrading the Holy Sword, Endu, grants players extra dashes while airborne, drastically expanding traversal options. Each upgrade feels like a game-changer, opening up entire sections of the map that were previously unreachable. The weaponry in Queen's Domain is expansive, with weapons transforming as they're upgraded simply by using them. The game lacks stat allocation on level-up, encouraging experimentation with the arsenal and creating a truly unique playstyle.

My favorite weapon so far is the Caestus, a medieval knuckle duster that proves effective against slashing-resistant skeletons. Unlike the horizontal dash of Endu, its special attack is an uppercut that launches the character into the air, enabling double jumps to reach otherwise-inaccessible areas. The surprise and meaningful rewards found upon deployment of the Caestus have kept me engaged and eager to explore further.

While some newcomers might be deterred by the initial pre-Endu portion, I strongly recommend persevering through it. The contrast between pre- and post-Endu gameplay is so stark that the air dash truly feels powerful once obtained. This contrast is reminiscent of what makes metroidvanias so captivating, and Queen's Domain's level design might just make it the best first-person metroidvania since the first Metroid Prime.

The cryptic atmosphere, breathtaking vistas, and innovative first-person movement and level design have all contributed to a truly unique gaming experience. I'm already planning to dedicate the next 30 hours to this game and look forward to sharing my full review soon. Queen's Domain is available on Steam for $17, down from the original $20 MSRP.