History's most famous wizard is coming to dark fantasy roguelike Ravenswatch, giving me one more reason to tell you to play it

Sorry to Gandalf, Harry Potter, and the Baba Yaga, but when I think of wizards, there's only one name that comes to mind. King Arthur's magical companion Merlin is coming to my favorite co-op roguelike of the moment, courtesy of a new Ravenswatch DLC. He'll be joining the dark fairytale realm as its first paid character, but will be accompanied by a free update that's rather fittingly tackling the balance of the game's magical objects, alongside a handful of newcomers.

I initially struggled with describing Ravenswatch to people in a concise manner. It's quietly one of the best roguelikes in recent years, with its co-op offering in particular a real thunderous success. At a glance, it looks like Hades, but the structure is completely different and its character builds are more rigid and focused based on which fairytale figure you inhabit. But eventually, I realized that it was basically Elden Ring Nightreign's race against time to explore the map and power up before taking on big boss fights, mixed with the combat of Diablo.

If you've got a like-minded friend, I'd seriously recommend giving Ravenswatch a try, and in particular its free Romeo and Juliet DLC. The pair have abilities that synergize together, allowing Juliet to detonate Romeo's roses with her rifle before you swoop together and explode everyone around you with a tender kiss. It's truly peak co-op gaming. The rest of the roster is no slouch too, from a werewolf Red Riding Hood to Gepetto and his army of dolls. But now, Passtech Games has unveiled its first paid add-on, in the form of the legendary Merlin.

As such a famed master of magic, Merlin isn't content with the usual set of skills you'd expect from a Ravenswatch character; instead, he can choose his loadout from a wider selection of nine spells. These are spread across three categories: nature, arcane, and sacred light.

Drop meteor showers to clear out groups, summon icy whirlwinds, or blast foes with cones of fire and lightning. Wrap enemies in giant brambles, blind them using bright flashes, encase yourself with stone shields, or provide heals for you and your allies. However you want to play, Merlin is Ravenswatch's most versatile character yet.

The free update that will arrive alongside Merlin focuses on an overhaul to magical objects. These are a core part of putting builds together, but the current balance on them typically means certain ones are must-pick essentials, while others never see the light of day. Based on a combination of community feedback, surveys, and in-game data, Passtech is currently cooking a major balance rework, along with five all-new additions.

The Ravenswatch Merlin DLC will launch in January 2026 priced at $7.99, alongside the free magical objects update. The base game is currently 50% off in the Steam Winter Sale, so if you've yet to give it a try then now is a perfect time to pick it up. If you can convince at least one friend to join, you'll enjoy it even more.