Rivalling Dark and Darker, extraction RPG Dungeon Stalkers starts final playtest

New extraction RPG Dungeon Stalkers is running a final playtest on Steam, and you can unlock a character that will last into its early-access launch. The dark fantasy dungeon crawler promises to offer a slightly different twist on games like Dark and Darker by putting its primary focus on PvE, and boasts a distinctive, game-altering feature that will keep everyone on even footing. As it gears up for launch, developer Oneuniverse has kicked off a new public playtest.

We spoke with Oneuniverse at Gamescom 2025, where they explained the decision to include the Witch's Curse system, a mechanic that makes Dungeon Stalkers stand out from the crowd when compared to the best multiplayer games in the extraction RPG space. Every so often, it will unleash powerful spells that can dramatically change the flow of a match, providing effects that can be beneficial or detrimental depending on your character, build, and goals.

"We initially thought this could be a little bit of a strange feature, but the feedback has been positive," game director Dae Hoon Han told us, noting its ability to even the playing field and give more casual players a chance against hardcore grinders. "We wanted to balance so that low-level users or new gamers would have an easier chance against high level players." Han notes that "you never know if the curse will be something that's beneficial for yourself, for other players, or for the monsters."

Given that Ironmace recently relented on offering a Dark and Darker PvE mode, there's clearly a desire for games that focus more on taking down deadly creatures than fighting other players. That PvP aspect is still present in Dungeon Stalkers if you want it, but the core is all about tackling the dungeon denizens to claim that valuable loot and gear.

The current playtest, which is set to be its last before release, includes a wide range of tuning from the last public showcase. You'll be able to use new Stalkers Shinobu and Liyan, and try out a rune system that allows you to grow your characters' potential over time. On top of this comes a camp where items can be crafted or upgraded. Quick matches and the dedicated PvE mode now have no item loss on death, but the ranked mode retains the more punishing extraction rules.

The Dungeon Stalkers playtest is live now and runs until Tuesday July 1 at 1am PT / 4am ET / 9am BST / 10am CEST. You can join here. If you log in for three days during the event, you'll unlock vampire summoner Rene as a playable character, and will also be able to use her during early access when it arrives. You'll earn additional rewards the more you play, including gold, adventure tokens, and wish stones.

We've picked out plenty more of the best fantasy games and the best RPGs to play in 2025, so you won't be wanting for options, whatever your tastes may be.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We've also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.