Darkhaven has officially kicked off its Kickstarter campaign today, aiming to raise $500,000 to fund its development as a multiplayer online ARPG with a destructible world and deep progression systems. Within hours of launch, the project had already secured nearly $80,000—roughly 16% of its goal—highlighting early interest in what Moon Beast Productions calls an ARPG unlike any other.
The game’s core design centers on a fully procedurally generated world where players can explore freely, engage in combat with mobility, and witness environmental changes triggered by their actions. The studio emphasizes a Diablo-style progression model, featuring skills, itemization, and a sandbox that evolves dynamically. Unlike many previews, the Kickstarter includes a pre-alpha demo on Steam, described as an unfiltered glimpse into the game’s foundation rather than a polished teaser.
A Demo Built for Feedback
The pre-alpha demo is intentionally rough, offering players hours of open-ended gameplay to test core mechanics. Key features in this build include
- Character progression: Caps at level 8, with one playable class and six skills across three skill trees.
- World events: A major event can be triggered through the main quest, causing progressive and endless transformations in the environment.
- Multiplayer note: Online play is experimental, with potential downtime as the team refines the feature. World resets are expected during testing, though persistent world-state saves are planned for later stages.
Moon Beast Productions stresses that this demo is a working version of the game—not a curated showcase. Bugs, balance shifts, and placeholder elements are acknowledged, but the goal is to let players interact with a larger portion of the world than typical demos allow. The studio encourages feedback, even on small details, to help identify and fix issues quickly.
Roadmap: From Kickstarter to Steam Early Access
The Kickstarter funds will directly support expanding the game’s scope, including
- Additional character classes and skills.
- Expanded mob roster and lore development.
- More biomes and environmental events.
- NPC integration and quest systems.
The campaign runs until March 20, 2026, with a target launch window for Steam Early Access in late 2026. The studio’s development timeline suggests steady progress, with the pre-alpha serving as a critical stress test for the game’s systems before refining them further.
Who Is Darkhaven For?
Darkhaven’s design positions it as a hybrid between traditional ARPGs and sandbox experiences, appealing to fans of Diablo’s progression systems and Elden Ring’s environmental depth. The destructible world and dynamic events set it apart from static ARPG maps, while the multiplayer focus adds a layer of unpredictability—though players should expect early volatility in online features. The pre-alpha demo is a raw but revealing look at what’s to come, offering a chance to shape the game’s direction before its full release.
For those interested, the Kickstarter campaign and pre-alpha demo are now live, with updates on the game’s progress shared through the studio’s official channels.
