It was a slow burn, but I’m fully hooked on No Rest for the Wicked Together. Moon Studios has crafted a grimdark RPG that’s quite unlike anything else I’ve ever played. It’s mechanically an ARPG in the vein of games like Diablo, but it doesn’t feel like one. Its pacing and level design have more in common with Dark Souls, yet there’s a momentum to its flow and a vigor to its inhabitants that is very much its own. The introduction of co-op, which takes place on dedicated realms you share with your companions, was the final, magical spark it was missing, and its first big update has just arrived.
The first patch since the evolution to No Rest for the Wicked Together “comes straight from community feedback,” Moon Studios writes. “PvP duels, text chat, callouts, a Realm Diary, the comfort system. This one’s yours. Before we head down the final stretch towards launch, we wanted to get this into your hands. Early Access only works if we listen – and we are.” As someone who’s been waist-deep in NRFTW for the past couple of months, this update absolutely feels like a gift made for me, with plenty for both solo and co-op players.
Player duels are a great way to kick off or round out a session. With my penchant for bulky, oversized greatswords, I have already accidentally battered seven shades of sunshine out of my poor co-op partner more times than I care to imagine – but now I can do it deliberately. Although I suspect I’ll just end up on the wrong end of his uncanny talent for parrying. The good news is that once a victor is decided, by health or ring out, everyone’s vitality is restored to full and no gear durability is lost.
Also specific to those in multiplayer is the Realm Diary, which marks down major and minor events that take place in the Realm you’re on. Because these dedicated worlds exist for any invited players to drop in and out of whenever they please, it’s a great way to check what other adventurers have done in your absence if you’re part of a larger server. Alongside this comes new quick callouts for easy communication on the move, and full text chat that also appears as a bubble over your character’s head.
Beyond that, the biggest new feature is the comfort system. I’ve taken a relatively spartan, function-first approach to building my home in Sacrament, with only the barest of necessities, but that’s about to change. Now, furniture and decorations alike will rack up the comfort rating of your house, and as it elevates from ‘bare’ to ‘opulent’ you’ll earn increasingly potent, longer-lasting stat bonuses for sleeping there.
On the balancing side, bows have been reworked. They now take gravity into account, and gradually lose their effectiveness beyond their optimum range. Moon Studios notes this is designed “to create more intentional positioning and skill-based ranged combat.” It’s also adjusted several enchantments, with those on rings getting particular focus, to “reduce extreme scaling and improve build diversity.” In the endgame, enemy health has been bumped upwards slightly to support more long-term build progression.
Elsewhere, Eleanor’s crafting menu now lets you swap the slots your runes are placed into. The gesture wheel has been redesigned, and you can quickly select actions by letting go of the menu key while a motion is highlighted. There are new aspect ratio settings, giving you the ability to choose how the interface looks when playing on an ultrawide display. Then there’s a whole raft of additional bug fixes and smaller balance tweaks.
No Rest for the Wicked Together patch 1 is out now, and the game is 30% off on Steam through Thursday March 26, meaning you’ll pay just $27.99 / £24.49. “Go duel your friends. Decorate your home. Show us what you’ve got,” Moon Studios remarks. It teases, “No Rest for the Wicked is evolving into an even deeper, more skill-driven experience – and this is just the beginning.”
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