Next Genium opens applications for the closed playtest and unveils the first official trailer for its action-adventure inspired by East Slavic folklore
Next Genium has published the first official trailer for Godreaper, its third-person action-adventure set in an East Slavic dark fantasy world, and has officially opened applications for the closed playtest – the project’s first real public test after months of presentation materials only.
The protagonist is Zaremire, a bogatyr from East Slavic tradition, in a world where an unknown corruption has struck the roots of the World Tree. The poison has driven the gods mad, turning them from guardians of order into tyrants, while creatures from Nav flood the ruins of villages and a horde advances from the east. The developers openly cite God of War and Elden Ring as references, both for the boss fight design and for the sense of powerful combat, but they graft these onto a Slavic identity that the genre rarely shows.
Shield, armor, ensouled weapons: what’s in Zaremire’s arsenal
The core of combat is progressively destroying the enemy’s armor: each opponent demands a different approach to crack and bring down, no button-mashing. Zaremire wields a shield for space control and parrying, and carries three types of “living” weapon – levitating weapons with a soul of their own, that act independently, distract enemies, and strike from the flank. This behavioral side is the detail worth watching most closely as the project approaches release: it’s where the tactical variety this genre often lacks could finally take shape.
Alongside this sits the elemental “Incandescence” system: fire, frost, and lightning, which players use both in combat and to solve environmental puzzles, like putting out fires, dispelling darkness, or burning away the growths of Nav that block the path. Upgrade trees, amulets, and stats round out character building, giving players enough freedom to adapt their playstyle to their own preferences.
What the trailer actually shows
The video leans entirely on a grim atmosphere, without excessive rhetoric: rotting forests, abandoned settlements, a sense of defeat that precedes the player’s arrival. Zaremire moves through an already-compromised world, trying to delay the end and find his family.
The Slavic setting still gives the game a less familiar look than its declared references suggest. Zaremire’s faithful sword goes by the name Vspokh, and along the way the bogatyr can count on help from Baba Yaga and Koschei to uncover who stands behind the world’s destruction.
The demo and the closed playtest
Applications for the closed playtest are officially open. Whoever gets selected will get their hands on a vertical slice of the first act: from the Damp Dungeon to the Ancient Bridge of the Volots, all the way to the citadel of Naven. More than 10 types of regular enemies, two bosses, three side quests, and over 4 hours of content make up this slice of the game.
Next Genium has been clear about what this phase leaves out: the second main weapon set, the levitating weapons’ upgrade system and the full Incandescence mechanics, the world map and bestiary, the final UI, and several cutscenes featuring key characters. This transparency helps frame correctly what to expect from this phase and what will only arrive later.
The statement on generative AI
Next Genium states that it used image generation for concept art, some 2D assets, promotional material, and voice synthesis for AI-driven characters. This kind of disclosure appears more and more often these days, but it still carries weight for a project that leans so heavily on its own visual and cultural Slavic identity. Playtest after playtest, we’ll see how much this affects public perception of the game.
Who’s behind Godreaper
Next Genium works on multiple fronts at once: besides Godreaper, the studio has projects in development that range from survival-action to roguelite, passing through old-school RPGs, with settings spanning underwater science fiction to Slavic folklore. The team states its mission as delivering games that don’t flatten themselves into current trends, while keeping a recognizable style.
Next Genium has already made Godreaper‘s Steam page available, where players can add the game to their wishlist ahead of the release, planned for 2027. Applications for the closed playtest remain open to anyone who wants to take part.
Here’s Godreaper’s Steam page, with all the information about the game.
