With or Without Co-Op, Darksiders 4 Can’t Sideline Its Other Horsemen

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The imminent release of Darksiders 4 is set to grant the wishes of many fans, offering them the chance to play as all Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This exciting news was shared during the latest THQ Nordic presentation, and it’s been confirmed that the fourth installment will serve as a true sequel to the original Darksiders game, promising an expansive open-world experience within a third-person RPG setting.

Among the captivating aspects of Darksiders 4 is that it allows players to select any one of the legendary Horsemen for single-player or multiplayer cooperative gameplay. This choice offers a chance to explore each character’s unique combat techniques and abilities. For those opting for co-op play, collaboration becomes key as players can employ different Horsemen in their team. Yet, there might be a limitation when it comes to choosing only one Darksiders 4 character to command throughout the entire narrative arc of the game.

Darksiders 4’s Character Selection Shouldn’t Sideline the Other Horsemen

Historically, all three primary Darksiders games have been designed for single-player experiences, with unique mechanics tailored to suit each protagonist’s combat style. The exception is the spin-off prequel, Darksiders Genesis, which features a top-down hack-and-slash gameplay and allows players to switch between Strife and War, introducing cooperative play in the process. What sets each single-player game apart is its ability to narrate the tale of each Horseman, detailing their individual journeys, adventures, and the ways their actions influenced the events leading up to the Endwar depicted in the first Darksiders.

It was bound to happen eventually that each of the Four Horsemen would be playable characters. The original Darksiders game tells the story of War, who is wrongfully imprisoned following accusations of initiating the Endwar prematurely. In this game, Uriel summons the other three Nephilim Riders to aid in battling the powerful forces of both Hell and Heaven. After a 15-year wait, the franchise finally implemented a co-op mode in Darksiders 4, which is a step towards realizing this goal. This could potentially mean that players might need to join forces through co-op gameplay in order to experience an adventure with all Four Horsemen together.

The Four Horsemen of Darksiders

  • War
  • Death
  • Fury
  • Strife

In Darksiders 4, as stated on its Steam page, players will select one of the Horsemen to take control in the narrative. It’s undetermined if the other three Horsemen will be artificially intelligent opponents during single-player campaigns or if choosing a Horseman would mean experiencing only that character’s perspective without the others throughout the story. Regardless, it seems like a missed opportunity to introduce playable Four Horsemen and then focus solely on one character in the plotline.

In Darksiders 4, they could introduce a multi-character system like Yakuza: Like A Dragon, allowing all characters to engage in combat against enemies and interact with them during their adventure. The game could also feature distinctive combat interactions between characters, taking advantage of each one’s unique weapons, fighting styles, and abilities. Moreover, solving puzzles would be more manageable with the Horsemen working together when necessary. As this is the first time all four Riders will appear in a single game, Darksiders 4 should emphasize their bond and teamwork during intense battles against formidable enemies in single-player mode. If the fourth mainline game culminates in the final battle of the franchise, it would be crucial to highlight their relationships effectively.

Over time, numerous games have featured multiple main characters, like the widely acclaimed Grand Theft Auto 5, which blend solo and group missions. But unlike these games, Darksiders 4 emphasizes the combined might of the Four Horsemen. They band together to combat Lilith, the Charred Council, and other powerful entities in the Endwar, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding humanity. Whether you’re playing a single-player story or co-operative online, it’s crucial that each unchosen Horseman doesn’t become sidelined. This is because the essence of their union for a common purpose lies in their collective strength.

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2025-08-02 19:04