Ever dreamed of using a monster's severed head as a weapon? In Heathen, an upcoming indie dungeon crawler, you can do exactly that—and it's as gloriously chaotic as it sounds.
Developed by solo creator Christopher Yabsley, Heathen takes the frantic combat and loot-hoarding of Diablo and throws it into first-person. Set in the fantasy town of Saltgrave, you'll delve into a vast subterranean labyrinth seeking fortune and glory, only to encounter an "ancient horror" in what the Steam page calls a "descent into madness."
A recent trailer highlighted a new enemy dismemberment system that Yabsley says has "done a lot for making swords and axes feel really good." But it's not just about gore—it's about gameplay. As you go deeper, you'll face stranger, more horrific foes, and lopping off limbs becomes key to survival. "Imagine fighting some many-limbed creature, and you have to chop it all apart just to keep it from killing you," Yabsley explains.
The standout moment? Yabsley decapitates an undead archer and then kicks the head midair. "You can actually kick the heads as well," he says. "And if you're skilful enough, you can chop the head of a monster, kick it midair, and then kill another monster with it." That's the kind of ridiculous reactivity that makes combat systems shine.
Beyond the carnage, Heathen's ARPG elements look sleek: loot erupts from chests, portals whisk you back to town, and the UI has a distinctly Diablo vibe (though it might be placeholder). Diablo isn't the only inspiration—Yabsley has cited playing Diablo with his mother as a child as a key influence. "She played it just to connect with me," he shared. "And it's a memory I'll always cherish."
Unsurprisingly, Heathen will support online co-op when it hits early access. There's no release date yet, but for fans of first-person melee like Dark Messiah and Vermintide 2, this is one to watch.
What do you think? Will you be kicking heads when Heathen launches?
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