The First Berserker: Khazan – A Hidden Gem Among Souls-Likes

The First Berserker: Khazan is a Souls-like game by Korean studio Nexon. It features fast-paced combat with three weapon types (dual blades, greatsword, and spear), beautiful cel-shaded 3D graphics, and incredible boss fights. Despite launching in March 2025, the game didn’t receive much buzz. But honestly? It blew me away. I can confidently say it’s one of my favorite games of all time.

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My first experience with Souls Games

I wasn’t really into Souls-like games until the summer of 2024, when I ran through Elden Ring three times in one week. After that, I beat Bloodborne, started Dark Souls 1, and finished Lies of P that December. That whole year turned me into a believer — though I always found a way to “cheat” the system by modding my saves and becoming wildly overpowered.

When I picked up Khazan for PS5, I knew I couldn’t rely on mods. This time, I had to beat it legitimately.

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The Hook: That First Boss Fight

I went into Khazan not expecting to finish it. I took my time in the early levels, learning enemy patterns and grinding for Lacrima (the game’s XP equivalent) to give myself a buffer. Eventually, I reached the first boss. I was way overleveled, but still thought I’d get wrecked.

To my surprise, I held my own. After three failed attempts, the game offered me the option to drop the difficulty to Easy. “Jackpot!” I thought — I love easy modes. But Khazan’s Easy mode? Still punishing.

Apparently, Easy in Khazan is the equivalent of Normal in most Souls games. And Normal? Borderline masochistic. Still, that small bump down gave me the edge I needed to beat the first boss. And just like that, I was hooked. I finally felt that sense of pride that fans rave about when they conquer a tough fight.

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My Favorite Moments

There are so many memorable moments in this game. Here are just a few that stuck with me:

• Defeating Viper, a notoriously tough boss, with a sliver of health — on my first try.
• Struggling through and finally overcoming Vilabaino in Chapter 4.
• Getting goosebumps from the music in the final two boss fights.
• After dozens of failed attempts against the final boss, Ozma, I finally beat the game on Normal difficulty in my New Game+ run. Each attempt was punishing, but every near-win made the final victory even sweeter.

The combat felt tight and fair. Every death made sense. Nothing felt cheap.

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A Story That Pulled Me In

The story might seem simple — revenge and betrayal — but it landed for me. What really caught my attention was the way it begins after the protagonist and his best friend defeat a legendary dragon, Hismar. In most games, that would be the climax. Here, it’s just the setup.

The betrayal comes immediately. You’re left for dead, and that fall-from-glory sets the tone for the entire journey. You always feel like a battle-scarred legend — just barely hanging on.

Along the way, you meet some amazing characters: Elamein, Tristan, Andell, Xilence, the Phantom, and others. Some meet tragic ends. And honestly, it hurt. Khazan is a warrior who loses everything — and keeps losing more.

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Style, Music, and Level Design

There’s a lot of praise online for the combat, build diversity, music, and graphics — and rightfully so. Critics often point to the linear level design and the story as weak points.

Personally, I liked the straightforward levels. I didn’t need a guide or worry about getting lost in convoluted dungeon layouts like in other Souls-likes. And while the story isn’t reinventing the wheel, I found it compelling. With more emphasis on storytelling, I think others would come around to it too.

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Underrated and Under-Marketed

I genuinely hope Khazan develops a cult following. It deserves one. I suspect it flew under the radar due to weak marketing — I never saw a single ad. The only impression I had before buying it was a trailer shown at the 2024 TGA, which made it look more like Diablo. That trailer didn’t reflect the tone or style of the final game at all.

I only recently watched the actual launch trailer, and it’s stunning — it nails the tone, the look, and the sheer energy of the game.

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Final Thoughts

This game has franchise potential. If a sequel were to polish up the story presentation and build on what works, I truly believe it could become a breakout hit.

Until then, I’ll be replaying The First Berserker: Khazan every few years — remembering how it surprised me, challenged me, and won me over.

Even if this is the end of Khazan’s journey, I’m glad I was part of it.

Disclaimer: I used chatgpt to clean up my original writing so that it is more streamlined for a blog post. I will continue doing this to try to learn how to improve writing posts.