Crimson Moon review: a distinct take on soulslike combat

Crimson Moon is a multiplayer PvE soulslike that puts players in the role of a nefilim — a half-human, half-angel warrior — tasked with defending humanity from demons while pursuing a prophecy. The game combines close-quarters, stamina-based combat typical of soulslikes with hack ’n’ slash features and cooperative online play, delivering a fresh but imperfect take on the genre.

How Crimson Moon approaches the soulslike formula

The core of Crimson Moon is its cooperative online PvE structure. Players select missions from a central lobby, set difficulty, and invite others to join, allowing groups to tackle content together rather than forcing repeated solo deaths. This design leans toward accessibility, making the game friendlier to players who prefer progression and challenge without the relentless trial-and-error favored by purists.

Combat merges familiar soulslike systems — a stamina bar, light and heavy attacks, and risk-reward timing — with hack ’n’ slash components such as powerful special moves, executions, and an ultimate ability. That fusion supports the game’s premise of playing a powerful divine warrior, and makes the pace approachable for newcomers while still offering tactical decisions.

Art direction and presentation

Crimson Moon’s angelic and celestial themes are strongly reflected in its visuals. Environments and character designs are richly detailed and grandiose, evoking a lofty, mythic atmosphere that recalls other stylized action-RPGs. While the graphics may not top the latest technical benchmarks, the aesthetic is visually captivating and complements the game’s narrative tone.

Crimson Moon gameplay showing a nefilim warrior in combat — Gameplay scene highlighting combat and environment. Image: ProbablyMonsters

Strengths: accessibility, combat feel and price

The game’s accessibility features stand out: extra lives, a structured lobby with difficulty options, and an easier mode soften the typical barrier of entry for soulslikes. These elements make the title suitable for players who want the combat thrill without excessive repetition.

Combat is generally satisfying due to its blend of familiar mechanics and explosive special attacks. Together with the cooperative design, this makes Crimson Moon enjoyable both solo and in groups. The listed price of R$ 72,95 also positions the game attractively for fans of action RPGs and cooperative PvE experiences.

Where Crimson Moon falls short

Despite clear strengths, several design choices hinder the long-term experience. Weapon variety is limited: one-handed weapons (swords, axes, hammers) largely share the same moveset, and two-handed polearms are grouped together with similar attack patterns. Differences between weapons are mostly restricted to unique special abilities, including some for shields, but the overall moveset variety is narrow compared with expectations for the genre.

Loot and equipment systems

The game implements randomized item stats, producing varied loot similar to action-RPGs like Diablo. In practice, however, new drops frequently underperform relative to equipped gear, reducing the incentive to pursue random upgrades and weakening the loot loop.

Crimson Moon combat encounter with multiple enemies — In-game action illustrating enemy variety and arena layout. Image: ProbablyMonsters

Repetition and limited combat options

Levels and objectives grow repetitive over time: many stages feel similar, objectives often boil down to clearing enemies and collecting relics, and enemy variety is limited. While cooperative play mitigates this for some, the structure can become tiresome across multiple runs.

Combat options are also constrained. There are no dodge-specific attacks, guard-break mechanics are absent, and heavy combo variety is limited. The lack of spells or ranged alternatives further channels play into melee-only engagements, which can feel fun initially but thin out over extended play.

Problematic mechanics that affect play

Certain core systems are inconsistent. Camera lock-on is unstable, often switching to awkward angles or retargeting during tight spaces and boss fights. Automated maneuvers such as riposte and backstab can fail to trigger reliably, causing the character to perform a standard attack instead.

Parrying is particularly punitive: the timing window is unusually small for the genre, and parry and block use separate buttons. Players who lack precise mastery of parrying may find it safer to avoid the mechanic entirely.

Verdict and technical details

Crimson Moon boss fight moment with dramatic lighting — A tense boss encounter framed by the game’s celestial aesthetic. Image: ProbablyMonsters

Crimson Moon delivers a distinctive multiplayer soulslike experience that successfully combines cooperative PvE design, accessible systems, and striking art direction. However, its limited weapon movesets, uneven loot mechanics, repetitiveness, and some unstable systems reduce its longevity. The title should appeal to players who enjoy hack ’n’ slash combat or cooperative PvE and to those looking for a more forgiving approach to soulslike mechanics.