Dominion of the Forgotten launched on Steam today with a promising combination of build crafting, extraction-based progression, and three-player co-op. However, its first explorers haven’t exactly received a warm welcome, with the new roguelike already sitting at a Mixed rating after its opening day.
At the time of writing, only 40% of its 18 Steam reviews are positive. That remains a very small sample, and one that could shift considerably as more players venture beyond the Eldritch Mists, but the first negative reviews are already pointing toward several problems that may be difficult to overlook.
The broadest criticism is that the game simply doesn’t feel ready for a full release. One player described its combination of isometric ARPG combat, loot extraction, and tower defense as an interesting concept, but argued that it still needs considerably more work and would have been better suited to Early Access at a lower price.
There is going to be work done on the game according to the developer’s post-launch plan. However, the early issues players are experiencing will certainly be disappointing and concerning for Foolishnova Games.
The Combat Is Taking the Hardest Hits
The more specific complaints are centered on how the game feels once the fighting begins. One reviewer reported being repeatedly stunlocked after taking a hit, while also claiming that certain boss attacks could not be escaped even after moving beyond their visible area of effect. Their conclusion was blunt: bosses are currently “unplayable.”
Another early review criticized the combat for feeling rigid, particularly when moving and activating character skills. That same player felt the available starting roster was too limited and argued that the combination of restricted attempts and a time limit left little room to understand a character’s abilities or experiment with upgrades.
Those complaints cut directly into what Dominion of the Forgotten is trying to build. Each expedition is designed around searching the mist-covered continent, assembling a build from equipment and talents, collecting persistent Relics, and escaping before time runs out. A timer can make that loop exciting when players are deciding whether another reward is worth the risk. It becomes far less convincing when they feel they are still wrestling with movement, unclear attacks, or combat that does not give them a fair chance to respond.
There Is Still an Interesting Game Underneath
The frustration surrounding the launch doesn’t mean the underlying idea is without potential. Equipment, skill-altering talents, Dominion powers, and Relics that can be preserved between expeditions give the game several ways to shape a build. It also supports up to three players, with equipment trading, aggro management, and teammate assistance intended to make co-op about more than surrounding the same enemy.
That is a strong collection of ideas, particularly for players who enjoy rogues where progression continues beyond a single run. The problem is that interesting systems only carry a game so far when the combat holding them together is already attracting complaints about stiffness, stunlocking, and unreadable boss attacks.
The small number of reviews aren’t enough to decide Dominion of the Forgotten’s long-term fate, and a handful of updates could change its position quickly. Right now, though, the early response suggests this expedition may have left port before it was fully prepared for what was waiting inside the mist.