Varthos: Heir to the Throne
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About Varthos: Heir to the Throne
Varthos: Heir to the Throne is a chaotic action RPG set in a medieval fantasy world where you battle endless waves of monsters and undead to claim a throne. Developed by Nightshift Game Development, it launched December 2025 on PC. The game blends fast melee combat with RPG progression, letting you level up skills and gear while fighting through procedurally generated maps. Play solo or team up with friends in co-op to tackle hordes. The core loop is simple: fight, die, reset, improve. It’s a punishing but addictive grind with a focus on twitchy combat and resource management.
Gameplay
You start with basic weapons and armor, gradually unlocking spells and class-specific abilities. Each death resets your progress, but you retain permanent upgrades. Combat is fast and requires precise dodging and timing, miss a block and you’ll be overwhelmed. Between runs, you can tweak builds and manage a limited inventory of potions and gear. Co-op adds complexity, as teamwork is needed to survive later stages. The game’s 15+ hours average playtime reflects its grind-heavy design. Bosses require memorizing attack patterns, and random loot drops keep things fresh. Controls are responsive, but the difficulty spike in later levels may frustrate newcomers.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate it 4.2/5, with 65% completing the main story. Average playtime is 18 hours, and 32% finish 100% completion. Community moods are split: 58% call it “thrilling” while 28% label it “grindy.” Critics praise the combat depth but criticize repetitive enemy spawns. One user wrote, “The permadeath adds tension, but I wish skill checks weren’t so binary.” Achievement stats show 70% unlock all 50 trophies, though 40% abandon the game after hitting level 20. It’s a divisive title, loved for its challenge, hated for its repetition.
PlayPile's Take
Varthos is best for fans of punishing action RPGs like Dark Souls or Hades. It costs $29.99 and offers 50 achievements, but its high skill ceiling may deter casual players. While the co-op is fun, solo play leans too much on luck. If you enjoy mastering mechanics and don’t mind repeated deaths, this is worth $30. Otherwise, skip it. The game’s rough edges make it a niche pick, but its addictive combat and co-op modes give it staying power.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
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