Firefield review: AI-built Diablo-like RPG shows promise

Firefield launched as a solo AI experiment

Firefield is an action RPG developed by Naoki Fujinaga and released on May 8, 2026. Built in three months using AI tools — notably Anthropic’s Claude Code — the retro-styled title explicitly draws inspiration from the original Diablo and was created entirely with artificial intelligence assistance.

Immediate strengths: gameplay, visuals and localization

The core gameplay is one of Firefield’s most consistent achievements. Controls feel functional and familiar to players of classic action RPGs, while the developer introduces changes such as unique special abilities tied to each weapon type and cooldown mechanics that add extra challenge.

Gameplay showing spells and weapon abilities — The game features various spells and special weapon abilities — Image: Reproduction / Robe of Fire

Visuals and animations

Art assets and animations stand out compared with common AI-generated imagery. Many illustrations avoid the generic, collage-like look often associated with automated art, and equipment visuals support the game’s dark atmosphere. Animations are generally fluid, giving a better-than-expected sense of motion for an AI-driven project.

Language support and some convincing voices

Firefield ships with wide localization: 90 languages for subtitles and 70 for voiceovers. Several voice performances come across as convincing and appropriately matched to scenes, avoiding the overtly robotic tone typical of some AI audio.

Major issues that hurt the experience

Despite its achievements, Firefield contains a number of problems that significantly impact play and enjoyment. Many of these stem from systems design, asset generation and audio implementation.

In-game NPCs with mixed voice quality — Some NPCs have convincing voice acting, while many others sound robotic and artificial — Image: Reproduction / Robe of Fire

Problematic death mechanic and interaction bugs

The game’s death mechanic is the most serious design flaw. When the player dies, all equipped items and inventory are dropped; these items often end up inside the boss room among multiple enemies. This behavior can force a near soft-lock where progression effectively requires restarting from the beginning.

Interaction with NPCs and world objects is also unreliable. Clicking on chests, the item deposit, or NPCs sometimes fails to trigger the expected interaction. The developer has stated these issues will be addressed in upcoming fixes, but they remain present and disruptive at release.

Repetitive assets and odd animations

Many distinct items share identical artwork, and map icons do not reflect item-level differences—armor, for example, often appears the same regardless of level. While animations are smooth, they can feel awkward: special attacks and spells frequently reuse the same character animation, with effects originating from strange points or moving in odd ways. These visual oddities don’t always break mechanics but degrade presentation compared with the original Diablo.

Soundtrack absence and off-putting effects

Firefield lacks a proper musical soundtrack, a notable omission for an action RPG. Sound effects are hit-or-miss: some spells produce shrill or mismatched noises that do not align with the on-screen action, such as a lightning spell whose sound design does not fit the visual effect.

Verdict: an impressive AI showcase with clear limits

Firefield demonstrates the capabilities of AI-assisted development and what a solo developer without prior experience can produce in a short timeframe. However, its positive aspects are balanced by design choices and technical problems that often undermine gameplay. The title may interest AI enthusiasts and curious players, but broader appeal is constrained by the issues described above.

Technical and release details

Price: R$ 37,49
Developer: Robe of Fire
Publisher: Robe of Fire
Release date: May 8, 2026
Genre: Action RPG
Availability: Steam
Portuguese (PT-BR): interface, subtitles and voiceover — note not all interface elements are translated
Platforms: PC only
Multiplayer: Single-player only
Age rating: 10 years (Fear)