HoYoverse’s upcoming dark-fantasy action game Nodusfall wears its Elden Ring influences openly, but a hands-on Gamescom preview indicates that the four-player co-op title has ideas of its own. The demo consisted of two boss battles played in groups of four, and the previewer came away impressed after initially worrying about the responsibility of playing alongside a team.

Nodusfall marks a substantial tonal change from the brighter, anime-forward style commonly associated with HoYoverse. The Gamescom demo instead presented mysterious magic, vicious monsters and a grittier fantasy setting. Four characters were available: two melee-focused options and two ranged options. Each combat style included a character with healing-focused abilities, while the previewer selected an archer built around dealing damage from range.

Context Background

The preview presents Nodusfall as a co-op boss-focused game in which players must adapt their roles during demanding encounters. Its dark-fantasy presentation may invite comparisons to other action games, but the hands-on session focused on the practical rhythm of four-player combat: attacking from range, moving into danger to support teammates and responding to changing boss behaviour.

Questions remain around the full experience beyond the Gamescom demo. The preview specifically identified solo play as an area still worth watching, while further details on the game’s broader systems were limited.

Combat and Bosses Give Nodusfall Its Best Chance to Stand Apart

Combat uses a straightforward framework. Basic attacks fill a gauge that enables a stronger attack, alongside a secondary move and four cooldown-based abilities. The archer used in the preview had a bomb arrow that dealt additional damage after being embedded in an enemy and struck again. Her kit also included a backward-moving dodge that fired a powerful arrow, plus a spirit wolf ability that required getting close to a target before retreating. These actions consume stamina, although the previewer found the available stamina bar generous.

Ranged combat also offered flexibility in co-op. The archer could remain near the edge of the battlefield while still landing attacks, then move back into the fight to provide extra damage or revive a teammate. That balance between self-preservation and team support helped establish a satisfying rhythm during the demo’s battles.

The two bosses drew on different mythological traditions:

Boss Origin or design Notable twist Qiongqi A creature from Chinese mythology depicted as a griffin-like beast A multi-stage encounter with a new health bar for each phase Maldrake A traditional fire-breathing dragon A knight tears itself from the dragon’s torso and becomes the Maldrake Knight

The Maldrake encounter was the demo’s standout battle. Its opening dragon phase used familiar fire-breathing, biting and wing attacks, but human-like arms visible in its chest foreshadowed a major change. Midway through the fight, a knight emerged from the dragon’s torso, killing the creature and turning the encounter into a fight against the faster Maldrake Knight. The knight uses a sword and polearm, tosses players into the air and creates black goo that drains health when stepped in, requiring the group to abandon its dragon strategy and adapt.

Monetization Still Taking Shape

As a free-to-play HoYoverse game, Nodusfall also raises questions about monetization. The developer says characters are intended to be unlocked through continuous play rather than the banner system used in Genshin Impact, while cosmetic monetization is under consideration. Specifics beyond that remain limited. The Gamescom preview found the combat approachable without becoming overwhelming and the co-op engaging, but the final shape of solo play and other systems remains unclear.

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