Riven Crown announced for PC, a 'souls-fighter' RPG set to release in 2026

Intima Leaf revealed their upcoming game titled “Riven Crown,” an action role-playing game with elements similar to the Souls series, scheduled for launch on Steam and PC in the year 2026.

In simple terms, Riven Crown guarantees an engaging battle experience that combines the strategic nature of traditional Souls-like combat with a complex, sequence-based fighting system. Drawing inspiration from The King of Fighters, the game incorporates ‘super-states’, which provide unique combo attacks and special abilities.

Below you’ll find an announcement trailer, description, and screenshots, all accessible through Intima Leaf. Visit the official site here for more details.

About
In simpler terms, “Riven Crown” is an action role-playing game similar to Souls, set in a dimly lit, eerie world where death isn’t the end but a step into a legendary journey through multiple layers of existence beyond life. This game takes place in a deteriorating realm governed by a rotten monarchy and filled with remnants of vanished civilizations. The environment is shrouded in mystery, rituals, and whispers of an ancient society that has been forgotten.
In Riven Crown, you’ll find a unique blend of traditional Souls-style combat and an intricate fighting system built around combinations. Each weapon offers distinct combo sequences that demand memorization, mastery, and precise execution. This method encourages muscle memory and strategic timing, particularly when facing tough, unforgiving opponents in intense situations.
We refer to it as a “Combat Stylist,” a harsh amalgamation of strategic battle and elegant finesse, crafted for gamers seeking equal parts difficulty and proficiency.
Riven Crown is set to release on PC in Q4 2026.
The Narrative
The story unfolds in a game where a once powerful hero meets their end, only to find themselves transported to another dimension. Here, they journey through various realms, engaging in fierce battles to change their destiny. These realms are inhabited by societies that have become corrupted, transforming their inhabitants into monstrous creatures or demons over time. The elders of these civilizations covertly scheme to escape the cycle and ascend to a higher realm.
In another realm, our hero perishes, but miraculously resurrects in a shattered, surreal plane where the laws of physics are skewed. Here, four ancient empires flourish under the reign of a monarch or queen, each tapping into the might of their individual deity – except for the fourth realm’s god who appears to be missing. The inhabitants of these realms, debased by time and avarice, have metamorphosed into nightmarish creatures known as hell-beasts. Originally led by these rulers, they were turned into stone during a devastating catastrophe called the Great Sweep, leaving their subjects to carry on in desolation ever since. The once-powerful rulers, now transformed into the terrifying Deep Samum – a being of immense power – lead the hell-beasts in chaos and destruction.
Following this devastating event, a unique group of people has arisen. These resilient individuals, seeking meaning and wisdom, have unearthed the original depictions of their ancient deities. Using these as their guide, they established their cities upon the remnants of previous civilizations. Among these survivors, a Council of Elders was formed, comprising three distinct councils, each with the power to manipulate dark magic. They combined their abilities to create the Bark Aggregation, a mystical material that endows humans with extraordinary powers and miraculous talents.
Gameplay Key Features
Hand-Crafted, Seamlessly Connected World
Delve into the intricately crafted universe of Riven Crown, a place where each zone has been meticulously designed and connected. By probing deep within its mysteries, you’ll uncover hidden gems, solve intricate riddles, and experience immersive storytelling woven into the very fabric of the environment. Your curiosity and strategic prowess will be richly rewarded as you traverse this captivating realm.
Super-Based Combat System
In the spirit of fighting games such as The King of Fighters, Riven Crown introduces an exclusive Super Mode. Accumulate your energy to trigger a super move, transitioning into an intense battle phase featuring heightened attacks and a swift evasion maneuver replacing the standard roll. Each weapon comes with its own specific combo scheme during this mode.
Super Combo System
This system, inspired by rhythms, pushes players to perfect specific command series. Super combos demand both skill and precision in timing, ultimately resulting in strong two-stage assaults distinct for each weapon. Once understood, these powerful moves are relatively simple to perform, yet challenging to fully master.
Combat Depth & Control Mastery
In this role-playing game, players will engage in around 25 to 35 hours of playtime, meeting a vast array of foes and non-player characters within an immersive setting. You’ll have the chance to wield various weapons, armor, and items, enhance your equipment, and boost your character’s skills. Each item you acquire has special passive abilities that can be made permanent with continued use.
Super Meter & Prisoner Rescue System
In a manner reminiscent of Metal Slug, saving prisoners serves a purpose beyond spectacle; it enhances your super abilities. As you rescue more individuals, your ultimate attack grows stronger, allowing formerly captive allies to join the fight and aid in battle. The type of attacks you can unleash depends on the weapon you’re carrying.
Dual Blocking System
In this battle scenario, you’ll encounter both upright and low-stance defensive moves. It’s crucial to accurately decipher your adversary’s strikes; misjudge them and you expose yourself. Being proficient in both types of defense is vital for your endurance.
Fighting Game-Inspired Kicks
Use featherweight kicks to get past enemies’ shields and forceful kicks to send foes crashing into barriers. Engage with your surroundings, kick breakable objects to transform them into makeshift weapons.
Precision-Based Combat
Engaging in combat is strategically planned, intricate, and incredibly gratifying. The combination of weapons, understanding enemy movements, and mastering player timing shape the rhythm of the fight. Each encounter calls for accuracy and intuition, creating an atmosphere similar to intense classic fighting games set within a Souls-like structure.
Why Riven Crown
A Distinctive Souls-like Experience
Riven Crown embodies fundamental principles of the Souls-style game series, offering challenging yet satisfying battles and exceptional stage layouts, all the while innovating and taking risks with novel concepts.
Experimental Hidden Cipher Mini-Game
Participants have an opportunity to play an exciting mini-game involving code-breaking, where they can utilize both monoalphabetic and polyalphabetic ciphers. Every week brings fresh challenges with new codes to solve and real-world rewards on offer, fostering community involvement while recognizing the most dedicated puzzle enthusiasts.
Innovative Combat Mechanics
In Riven Crown, there’s a two-tier defense mechanism and a breakthrough system, which heightens the intrigue in each interaction. Engaging the Super State amplifies your battle pace and, uniquely for each weapon, opens up a fresh combo structure.
Narrative with Branching Outcomes
In the realm of Riven Crown, you’ll uncover hidden truths that significantly impact your fate. Encountering unique statues during your adventure can alter the final outcome of the game and modify challenging confrontations with late-game bosses. This results in a storyline that dynamically reacts to your exploration journey.
Who We Are?
At its onset, Intima Leaf Studio was born from a partnership between its creator and an initial collaborator who came aboard as the music composer and sound designer. The inception and early development of Riven Crown primarily took shape under a single effort, with the founder investing 3.5 years into crafting the game while juggling other commitments. This initial phase was fueled by a deep-seated passion for designing games that offer intricate challenges and stimulate thought, all while delving into the intricacies of the human mind through immersive gameplay experiences.
Under the guidance of Mehdi Baccouche’s skills in music composition and audio design, and Aymen Menjli’s extensive 14-year career in the creative field, which includes 7 years as a 3D and VFX artist and a transition into programming, interactive media, and top-tier VR game development, Riven Crown was gradually formed. Their collective experience in both independent and professional settings, including prominent roles within the gaming industry, laid a strong foundation for both technical and artistic aspects.