🩸 What if zombies invaded a medieval battlefield? 🗡️ This new game is so brutally intense, it’s rewriting the rules of horror! Picture yourself as a knight, slashing through hordes of grotesque creatures in a war-torn wasteland, with up to three friends by your side. Will you risk it all to stop the plague, or lose everything trying?
Dive into the gore and find out more! 👉
In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, few titles dare to combine the visceral brutality of medieval warfare with the unrelenting terror of a zombie apocalypse. Blight: Survival, an upcoming PvE action-horror game developed by Haenir Studio in partnership with Behaviour Interactive, does exactly that. Set to release in 2027 on PC via Steam, with potential for other platforms, this co-op roguelite promises a thrilling blend of gore-soaked combat, strategic decision-making, and atmospheric storytelling. With its unique setting in an alternate 14th-century Europe, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a focus on cooperative survival, Blight: Survival is poised to redefine the zombie horror genre. Below, we explore its world, gameplay, narrative, and why it’s generating such intense buzz among gamers.
A Grim Setting in an Alternate 14th Century
Blight: Survival transports players to a no-man’s-land between two warring kingdoms, where centuries of bloodshed have birthed a horrific plague known as the Blight. This fungal affliction, thriving on spilled blood, reanimates the dead into grotesque, zombie-like monsters that roam the ravaged landscape. Unlike traditional zombie games set in modern or post-apocalyptic worlds, Blight: Survival grounds its horror in a meticulously crafted medieval setting. Think crumbling villages, fog-shrouded forests, and marshlands littered with corpses and gibbets, where every step feels fraught with danger. The game’s aesthetic draws inspiration from historical warfare, with authentic armor, weapons, and combat techniques, but takes artistic liberties to amplify the grim atmosphere.
Players take on the role of the Writhens, a group of brave (or desperate) mercenaries tasked with venturing into this purgatory to destroy the source of the Blight. The narrative is not linear but unfolds through exploration, with players piecing together the aftermath of a great story through environmental clues and discoveries. This approach adds a layer of mystery, as you investigate mangled fungi or uncover hidden journals, hinting at the Blight’s origins and the human cost of the ceaseless war. The game’s world feels alive yet desolate, with crows pecking at the dead and distant screams echoing through claustrophobic interiors like dungeons and cellblocks.
Gameplay: A Tense Blend of Combat and Strategy
At its core, Blight: Survival is a cooperative action-horror roguelite that supports solo play or up to four-player co-op, offering a dynamic experience that balances visceral combat with high-stakes decision-making. The gameplay draws inspiration from genres like souls-like, extraction games, and action-adventure, creating a unique hybrid that’s accessible yet challenging. Players must navigate mission-based maps—rather than a fully open world—estimated to take around 25 hours to complete the main path, with additional content for continued play.
Combat: Brutal and Tactical
The combat system is a standout feature, described as a “hybrid between Dark Souls and Mount & Blade”. Players wield a variety of period-authentic weapons, including one- and two-handed swords, shields, daggers, bows, and potentially crossbows, with developers hinting at possible post-launch firearm additions. Combat is directional, featuring light and heavy attacks, parrying, shove kicks, tackles, and stealth finishers, offering a high skill ceiling for seasoned players while remaining approachable for newcomers. A unique posture mechanic allows players to break an enemy’s stance through precise attacks, opening opportunities for devastating follow-up blows, with effectiveness varying by weapon choice.
The enemies are equally diverse, ranging from Blight-infected zombies to opportunistic bandits and even humanoid bosses, maintaining a grounded, realistic style without fantasy elements like dragons or elves. The infected aren’t your typical mindless zombies; some retain twisted remnants of their former selves, making encounters unpredictable and unnerving. The game’s gore is unapologetic—expect to see heads split, brains splattered, and limbs severed in gruesome detail, as showcased in the 2022 gameplay trailer.
Extraction and Roguelite Elements
Blight: Survival incorporates extraction-lite mechanics, where players must weigh the risks of pushing forward to secure loot against the safety of extracting early. Death carries consequences, potentially costing you progress or gear, which adds tension to every decision. The roguelite structure means some items or knowledge may persist between runs, such as journal entries or offerings made at shrines for buffs, enhancing replayability. A lockpicking mechanic, shown in development videos, involves manual dexterity with no UI, further immersing players in the world.
Customization is a key component, with players able to loot, equip, and personalize armor and weapons, including changing colors and crests to suit their playstyle. The game also features a camp as a social hub for preparation between missions, though base-building isn’t planned at launch. This blend of exploration, combat, and strategic choices ensures every session feels fresh and perilous.
Development and Anticipation
Developed by Haenir Studio, a small Icelandic team initially founded by two developers, Ulrik and Mads, Blight: Survival has grown significantly since its 2022 reveal, which went viral on TikTok with nearly 7 million views. The studio partnered with Behaviour Interactive (Dead by Daylight) in 2024, expanding the team to dozens of developers to realize their ambitious vision. Built using Unreal Engine 5, the game boasts stunning visuals, detailed textures, and atmospheric lighting, earning praise for its immersive environments and fluid combat animations.
Despite its promise, the lack of a confirmed release date beyond a 2027 estimate has sparked some skepticism among fans, with one Steam user lamenting the wait since adding it to their wishlist in 2022. However, the developers have reassured the community of significant progress, with plans for initial playtesting in 2025. The game’s selection for an Epic MegaGrant suggests potential availability on the Epic Games Store alongside Steam, though no console platforms have been confirmed yet.
Why Blight: Survival Stands Out
Blight: Survival distinguishes itself in the crowded zombie genre by merging medieval realism with supernatural horror, avoiding the clichés of modern apocalyptic settings. Its comparison to games like Hunt: Showdown and Vermintide highlights its blend of cooperative tension and gritty combat, while its roguelite and extraction elements add strategic depth. The focus on a PvE experience, with potential post-launch PvP invasions, ensures accessibility for solo players and groups alike. The developers’ commitment to a complete experience without microtransactions or battle passes, with possible paid DLC expansions, further enhances its appeal.
The game’s sound design, featuring guttural growls and haunting ambient noises, amplifies the tension, while its narrative explores themes of human greed, survival, and morality in a world scarred by war. The Blight itself serves as a dark metaphor for unchecked conflict, adding thematic weight to the high-stakes gameplay. Whether you’re sneaking past guards, battling hordes, or uncovering the plague’s secrets, Blight: Survival promises an experience that’s as emotionally gripping as it is brutally intense.
The Future of Blight: Survival
As Blight: Survival continues development, its community remains eager for updates, fueled by the developers’ active engagement on platforms like X and Steam. The game’s blend of historical authenticity, innovative mechanics, and cooperative horror sets it apart as a potential classic in the genre. While the wait until 2027 may test fans’ patience, the promise of a polished, genre-bending experience makes it worth watching. For those who love zombies, knights, and high-stakes survival, Blight: Survival is shaping up to be a game that delivers on its bold premise.
Conclusion
Blight: Survival is more than just another zombie game—it’s a bold reimagining of the genre, set in a hauntingly realistic medieval world. Its visceral combat, strategic extraction mechanics, and cooperative gameplay offer a fresh take on survival horror, while its grim narrative and atmospheric design pull players into a land ravaged by war and plague. As Haenir Studio and Behaviour Interactive continue to refine this ambitious title, the gaming community waits with bated breath for a chance to face the Blight. Whether you play solo or with friends, this game promises to test your courage, skill, and resolve in ways you won’t soon forget.
