Looney Tunes murder sim.

they just don't make 'em like this anymore

Dark Messiah of Might & Magic stands as a glorious relic from an era when games dared to be weird, wild, and unapologetically fun. Released in 2006, it’s a title that doesn’t just offer an experience—it throws you headfirst into a medieval blender of swords, sorcery, and physics. And let’s be clear: they don’t make games like this anymore.

You play as Sareth, a young hero who’s either destined to save the world or turn it into a flaming disaster zone, depending on your moral compass. The story is a classic fantasy affair with twists, betrayals, and an ever-present demonic voice in your head whispering questionable life advice.

Forget button-mashing; this is combat that demands imagination. Sure, you can stab enemies with your sword. But why stop there? Cast a frost spell and watch them hilariously slip into a pit. Or boot them into an explosive barrel because you can. Every room feels like a deadly puzzle box, and your job is to find the most inventive way to destroy everything inside it. You can develop Sareth’s abilities as a warrior, mage, or a mix of both. Want to incinerate enemies with fireballs? Go ahead. Prefer sneaky backstabs? That’s an option too. The skill tree allows for varied playstyles, making each run feel fresh.

Modern games often emphasize sprawling environments, but Dark Messiah focuses on compact, intricately designed levels that feel alive. Every corner, every room, every platform is carefully constructed to maximize both immersion and the sheer joy of environmental carnage. The Source engine’s physics add a layer of unpredictability that makes each encounter feel dynamic and unique.

Dark Messiah’s visuals are a testament to what smart design can achieve, even with technical limitations. While the textures may seem dated, and the character models a bit wooden, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere still hold up remarkably well. It’s a game that proves style and substance can often outweigh sheer graphical fidelity.

Dark Messiah of Might & Magic is less a game and more a playground of chaos where your foot is the ultimate weapon. The story might not win awards, but the sheer joy of turning every encounter into a physics experiment makes it unforgettable. A flawed but fantastic adventure. If you enjoy creative combat and don’t mind some rough edges, Dark Messiah is worth revisiting.

Add workshop and create free roaming maps and it's worth

Honestly surprised at the very positive reviews for this game because it is a janky mess most of the time even with mods. Platforming feels like it isn't finished and combat, while satisfying at times, doesn't really hold interest for the entire game. Story is pretty bare-bones and awkwardly told, so you're not missing much. Visually it looks like a lot of games from the mid 2000s and not very stand out. It just felt like there wasn't a whole lot here almost like a early access version of the game. A remake would be good for this. Also be prepared for crashes.

This is the first game I ever got on Steam and it's a hot mess, but it's kind of fun kicking enemies into the conveniently placed spikes that are leaning against practically every wall and clipping through everything with the rope bow. Would I recommend buying this in 2025? Honestly, no, but for $2, go for it!

Fun dark fantasy romp with fun combat for fun price.

The game play itself is fun with the swordplay, magic and kicking enemies off a cliff. Worth it if its on sale as its an old source game with its own unique jank to it. the only minor issue that i have was when interacting either books, notes, or signs it makes your cursor invisible and i don't know if there was a community patch for it or not. you might need to do that first unlike me. still its very fun either way.

This is such an easy recommend.

£1 on sale. A quick 7 hour experience, decent story, good voice acting, great combat.

Did require a hex edit to fix infrequent crashing. Easy enough to follow the guide to do it.

Amazing game. Absolute gem. Best first-person hack and slash combat yet.