Arx Fatalis dumps you in a dungeon with no map, no markers, and absolutely no hand-holding. It’s the kind of game where figuring things out is the game.

Early on, it’s a blast. I killed a spider by climbing on its back, posed as a gem trader to sneak past goblins, and slipped something extra into the Goblin King’s cookies so he’d run to the toilet — just so I could have a word with him. It’s immersive, strange, and oddly charming.

But after a few hours, the fun starts to fade into endless lever puzzles and wandering in circles. Combat takes a back seat to key hunts and cryptic quests.

It’s not a bad game — just a very specific kind of old-school. If you love Ultima Underworld-style dungeon crawls, you’ll probably dig it. Everyone else? Maybe bring a guide… or a strong tolerance for confusion.

boomer gold

Enjoyable, very tight controls on magic.