If you're someone who has a soft spot for dark, atmospheric RPGs, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon might just be your next obsession. On the surface, it definitely evokes Skyrim—open world, first-person exploration, and that familiar feeling of being a lone adventurer carving their path through a crumbling world. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find a rich blend of influences that go far beyond Bethesda’s flagship. There are shades of Soulslikes in the world design and combat pacing, a haunting touch of the Gothic series in the overall mood and tone, and even some clear callbacks to Morrowind and Oblivion in how the game handles quests, exploration, and lore delivery. It’s a slow-burn experience that respects player agency and rewards curiosity—something that’s increasingly rare in modern RPGs. What really sets Tainted Grail apart, though, is its unique dark fantasy aesthetic. The game draws from Celtic mythology, classic grimdark themes, and—this was unexpected but deeply welcome—a dose of HR Giger-style alien horror. It’s weird, it’s twisted, and it absolutely nails that “beautiful decay” vibe that makes wandering through its world both eerie and captivating. Visually, it’s surprisingly impressive for an indie RPG. Environments are dense, moody, and atmospheric. Characters and animations may not rival AAA titles, but they serve the world well. I did run into a fair number of visual bugs, but nothing game-breaking. Most of it was fixed with a quick reload. My only real gripe is performance—it's a bit wobbly at times, and I do hope the devs manage to iron that out for the full release. All in all, I highly recommend Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, especially if you’re a fan of old-school RPGs or ambitious projects like Enderal. It’s rough around the edges, sure—but what it offers in tone, depth, and atmosphere is something truly special.
Had like 10 crahses in one hour, wait until there are patches in the modding community. But otherwise, it seems to be good...
