If you’re looking for a world where the environment is as rich as the combat is intense, Dragonkin: The Banished needs to be on your radar. After spending some serious time with this title, I’ve put together a breakdown of why this game is a must-play for fans of deep storytelling and character progression.

Choose Your Champion: The Four Hero Types

The game immediately grabs you with its diverse roster. What I love is how distinct each playstyle feels; you aren’t just picking a skin, you’re picking a completely different way to experience the world:

• The Knight: Mastery of the spear combined with devastating fire attacks.
• The Barbarian: A powerhouse of brute strength who manipulates ice, thanks to being infected with dragon’s blood.
• The Oracle: A psychic powerhouse who can manipulate electricity. She brings a unique narrative perspective, believing humans and dragons should live in peace.
• The Tracker: The tactical choice, using precision arrows and a variety of traps to control the battlefield.

Pro Tip: Don’t stress the choice too early! The game features a Prologue that lets you play all four heroes at their peak power level. It’s the perfect “test drive” before you commit to your main journey.

Innovation in Progression: The Ancestral Grid

Forget standard skill trees. In Dragonkin, you manage the Ancestral Grid. This is where you upskill your character as you progress. But you aren’t alone in this journey—you have a Wyrmling.

Your Wyrmling is a loyal companion/pet that stays by your side throughout the entire story. The genius here is that their progress is tethered to yours. When you add points to your Ancestral Grid, you’re also unlocking new skills and buffs for your Wyrmling, who in turn enhances your attacks. It makes the “grind” feel twice as rewarding.

Your Base of Operations: The City of Montescail

Everything centers around the City of Montescail, the headquarters of the Human Alliance. As you progress through the story, you can upgrade the city itself. Doing so unlocks new services and features that help you tackle tougher challenges.

The best part? It’s a social hub. You can invite up to three friends to visit your version of Montescail to see your progress and gear.

Play Your Way: Local and Online Co-op

In an era where “couch co-op” is disappearing, Dragonkin delivers.

• Local Co-op: Play with a friend on the same screen (2-player).
• Online Co-op: Join forces with a squad of four players.

The Verdict

The storytelling is deep, the cutscenes are visually stunning, and the world is incredibly immersive. Whether you love to grind for hours to perfect your armor and weaponry or you just want a wholesome, rich story to get lost in, this game delivers.

It’s a complete package for anyone who loves developing a character from a lone hunter into a dragon-slaying legend.