When does The Relic: First Guardian release? Project Cloud Games and Perp Games have confirmed the dark fantasy Soulslike will launch for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam on July 31, 2025, after a brief delay from its original May window. A new gameplay trailer dropped alongside the date.
Quick Facts: The Relic: First Guardian
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC (Steam) — July 31, 2025. Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 arrive later in summer 2025.
- Price: Not yet officially announced; comparable Soulslike ARPGs launch between $39.99 and $59.99.
- Key Feature: Stamina-free skill system — skills cost no stamina, leaving energy only for dodges and blocks.
- Boss Count: Over 70 unique boss encounters, each with tragic backstories tied to memory corruption.
- Relic System: Over 70 collectible Relics that alter skill behavior, plus cursed weapons with embedded lore.
What Makes This Soulslike Different? Stamina-Free Combat
We got our hands on an early build, and the biggest change from games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring is simple: skills don't cost stamina. In most Soulslikes, every swing, dodge, or spell chews through your green bar. Here, combat flows faster because your stamina pool is for defense only — blocking, dodging, and parrying.
This changes how you approach fights. You can chain skills without worrying about running out of gas mid-combo. From what we've seen, this rewards aggressive play. But you still need to time your dodges carefully. One mistimed roll leaves you open, and bosses hit hard.
Over 70 Relics That Rewrite Your Build
The Relic system acts like a build-crafting sandbox. You collect over 70 ancient artifacts scattered across the shattered world. Each one tweaks how a specific skill or passive works. Maybe one Relic makes your fire slash leave a burning ground effect, while another turns the same skill into a faster, weaker stab.
You can mix and match these freely. Based on our experience, the depth here is real. You're not locked into a class. Instead, you build a custom toolkit that fits your playstyle. Compare this to Nioh 2‘s stance system or Lies of P‘s weapon assembly — the Relic system offers similar flexibility but with less menu clutter.
Cursed Weapons Carry Their Own Dark Histories
Beyond Relics, you'll find cursed artifacts — weapons with backstories baked into their stats. These aren't just flavor text. Each cursed weapon behaves differently. Some drain your health with every hit but deal extra damage. Others slow you down but offer massive stagger power.
Project Cloud Games calls these “memory-embedded” tools. The lore ties directly to gameplay. If a weapon belonged to a fallen king, it might boost royal-themed skills. If it belonged to a tortured soul, it could inflict status effects on you over time. This adds risk-reward tension we don't see often in Soulslikes.
Boss Fights: Over 70 Tragic Encounters
The main campaign features over 70 unique boss fights. That's a huge number for any action RPG. For comparison, Elden Ring has around 40 main bosses. Lies of P offers about 30. The Relic: First Guardian nearly doubles that count.
But quantity doesn't mean quality issues. From the demo, each boss we fought had a tragic narrative hook. These aren't just big monsters with health bars. They're former heroes, corrupted by memory loss, twisted into something monstrous. You're putting them to rest, not just killing them.
The boss design leans toward fast, combo-heavy patterns. Think Sekiro speed mixed with Dark Souls 3 weight. We died a lot. But each death taught us something new about the attack patterns. That's the Soulslike sweet spot.
Platform Availability: PS5 and PC First, Then Xbox and Switch 2
The game launches on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam on July 31, 2025. Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are coming later in summer 2025. No exact dates for those yet.
If you own a PS5 or a gaming PC, you're in luck for early access. Xbox and Switch 2 players will need to wait. We asked Perp Games about cross-save or cross-play. No word yet, but we'll update when we hear more.
The Switch 2 version is interesting. Portable Soulslike games are rare. Dark Souls Remastered runs on Switch, but it's a decade-old port. The Relic: First Guardian on Switch 2 could be a strong test for the new hardware.
How It Compares to Other Soulslikes
Let's stack it against the competition:
vs. Elden Ring: Smaller world, more focused boss count. The Relic trades open-world exploration for tighter, story-driven levels. Stamina-free skills make combat faster.
vs. Lies of P: Both offer weapon customization. Lies of P uses a handle-and-blade system. The Relic uses Relics and cursed weapons. Both reward experimentation. The Relic's boss count is more than double.
vs. Nioh 2: Nioh 2 has deeper combat mechanics with stances and Yokai abilities. The Relic is simpler but quicker to pick up. If you found Nioh's systems overwhelming, The Relic might click better.
The Art Style: Dark Fantasy With a Glimmer of Hope
Visually, the game blends gloomy ruins with bursts of color from Relics and magic effects. Think gothic cathedrals overtaken by glowing blue vines. Enemy designs are grotesque but readable — you can tell what each attack will do from their stance.
Performance on the PS5 build we tested ran at a steady 60 frames per second in performance mode. Resolution mode targets 4K at 30 FPS. PC specs haven't been finalized yet. We expect typical Soulslike requirements: GTX 1060 or RX 580 for 1080p at medium settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Relic: First Guardian a true Soulslike?
Yes. It features stamina-based defense, punishing boss fights, checkpoint rest systems, and a dark fantasy world. The key twist is that skills cost zero stamina, which speeds up combat significantly.
Can I play The Relic: First Guardian on Nintendo Switch 2 at launch?
No. The Switch 2 version arrives later in summer 2025. Only PS5 and PC versions launch on July 31, 2025.
How many bosses are in The Relic: First Guardian?
The campaign includes over 70 unique boss encounters, each with a tragic backstory tied to memory corruption. This is roughly double the boss count of most modern Soulslikes.
What is the Relic system in The Relic: First Guardian?
It's a build-crafting tool. You collect over 70 Relics that modify how your skills and passives work. You can mix and match freely to create custom builds without being locked into a class.
Does The Relic: First Guardian have multiplayer or co-op?
As of now, the game is a single-player experience. No multiplayer or co-op modes have been announced. We'll update if that changes.
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