King Arthur’s Tale Has Been Told a Thousand Times - But Never Like This. In Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, the legendary myths are reborn as a dark, brutal RPG where every choice carves a new path through a haunted world.
After a long stint in Early Access, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon officially launched on May 23, 2025 and the response has been nothing short of explosive.
Available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Tainted Grail might just be the next titan of the genre.
A Gritty New Take On Arthurian Legends
With more than 7,000 reviews being labeled "Very Positive" on Steam, Tainted Grail is already being hailed as
“a love letter to open-world FPP RPGs"
frequently compared to genre titans like Skyrim, Elden Ring, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
But where those games have their own distinct DNA, Fall of Avalon offers a fresh identity. The main character is no chosen one and has no divine prophecy. Instead, players stumble into a personal curse, making for a far more grounded and haunting journey.
A World Worth Getting Lost In
At launch, the game delivers a substantial offering: a prologue plus three fully-fledged acts, each set in sprawling open-world zones that promise 50 to 70 hours of gameplay. Players can explore over 70 handcrafted dungeons and tackle more than 200 side quests, all while interacting with 250+ fully voiced NPCs.
There’s a demo available as well (playtime is around 1–2 hours long) that sets the stage. In it, players awaken in a grim prison, must flee the mysterious “Red Death,” and eventually reach the cursed shores of Avalon.
Originally composed of just 20 people, the indie studio has now grown to over 50 members as they refine the game and roll out new features.
Combat That Feels Real And Rewarding
What truly sets Tainted Grail apart is its thoughtful combat system. Every weapon type feels distinct and impactful - not just in visuals but in mechanics.
Magic, for once, isn’t just an afterthought, but fully and carefully integrated into the fighting system.
Players with experience in real-life medieval combat have even praised its melee mechanics as some of the most realistic they’ve ever seen in a game.
The game isn’t a punishing Souls-like experience. The difficulty is balanced in a way that encourages exploration and experimentation, rather than relentless trial and error.
A Different Path For Every Player
From the start, Questline wanted to create a world where every player’s journey feels personal. There’s no handholding, no mandatory fetch quests or linear questlines. As the developers put it,
“Whenever two people who played Tainted Grail talk about it, their experiences will be so different, it will seem as if they played a different game.”
Graphics That Inspire, Not Just Impress
While it doesn't aim for photorealism, Tainted Grail's stylized graphics are stunning in their own right. Players have noted how the haunting environments, atmospheric lighting, and detailed textures create a world they want to get lost in. One Steam Deck user admitted they pushed their device to its limits “just to drink in the ambience of this fantasy world.”
Room For Growth
Despite the strong debut, Tainted Grail is not without flaws. Some players have reported bugs in the later acts and an encumbrance system that occasionally applies movement penalties inconsistently.
But the development team has been transparent about ongoing work.
Player feedback is encouraged and even welcomed directly by the producers,.
And in about a month, they’ll launch the first modding tools, opening the doors to community-driven expansions and fixes.
The Verdict
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a bold, immersive RPG that proves indie passion can rival AAA polish. Gritty, deep, and unforgettable - this might be your next fantasy obsession.