Almost 14 years ago, Drakensang Online, a German hack and slash MMORPG, was released. After the release on Steam and a switch to a season model like in Diablo, the team has now released the second season with new content.
What kind of game is it?
- Drakensang Online is a free action MMORPG that you play in isometric perspective, meaning “diagonally from above.” The game mechanics and UI are heavily reminiscent of Diablo and similar games.
- You have four classes to choose from, each of which can build different builds through talents and skills.
- After initially launching as a browser game, it has offered a standalone client for several years and has been playable on Steam since 2022.
What’s new in Drakensang Online: In November 2024, the developers Bigpoint from Germany switched to a season model. Now, on February 20, the second season has started.
The new season is all about escaped criminals and bounty hunts. From level 10, you can accept “Wanted” missions. A total of 20 bounties with varying difficulties and rewards are available. Additionally, you can find treasure chests through treasure maps, and there is a new battle pass with three paths:
- The free path rewards you with 19 days of premium and various currencies.
- In the paid “Gold Pass,” you receive a mount and various crafting materials.
- The also paid “Red Pass” offers significantly more season coins, the currency for the season shop, as well as cosmetics.
The second season is set to run until May 11, 2025. You can find more information on the official Drakensang Online website.
Cool world, few players on Steam
Drakensang itself is based on the world of “The Dark Eye,” Germany’s competitor to the massive Dungeons & Dragons. The Dark Eye, or DSA for short, is especially known for its many rules and the much more regulated use of magic.
However, Drakensang Online only shares the name with the franchise of the same name and has created its own world because Bigpoint did not acquire a DSA license. Accordingly, the rules are somewhat looser.
The MMORPG Drakensang Online has won several awards since its release, including the German Developer Award in 2011. However, the game itself has not aged well over the years and has received little additional content. In a GameStar review, it was noted at the time: “So far, just a pretty shell.”
The studio was acquired in 2016 by the Chinese company Youzu Interactive, which made headlines in 2020 with a murder involving poison. On Steam, Drakensang Online has a rating of 73% in recent reviews and has had an average of 100 players in recent months (via steamcharts, as of February 21, 2025). This does not include players of the standalone client.
As the reviews have improved since the introduction of the season system, there is hope that Drakensang Online will soon receive more updates. However, there has been criticism for years that simply not enough is being delivered. If you are looking for something more modern, the co-op RPG from Warhammer is currently on sale: The Warhammer 40,000 RPG on Steam is currently as cheap as ever, leading you into the dark world for 28 euros.
