I secured a slot for *Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* at Summer Game Fest 2025, having absolutely no clue what to expect. A friend mentioned it resembled D&D, and I was uneasy about the possibility of turn-based combat—it’s just not for me. However, as soon as I commenced my co-op session, it became apparent that *Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* is far more akin to *Diablo* than anything else. Whether you’re adventuring solo or with a party, it seems this game has something unique to offer.

*Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* is indeed [Dungeons & Dragons inspired](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/baldurs-gate-3-final-patch-is-huge/), after the [Abomination Vaults Adventure Path.](https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Abomination_Vaults_(adventure_path)) Well, it’s technically based on something that’s [inspired by *D&D*](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/ravensburger-horrified-dungeons-dragons/)—it’s *D&D* inception, honestly. But I suppose every RPG carries some element of [*Dungeons & Dragons*](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/tabletop/dnd-2024-dungeon-masters-guide/) inspiration at its core, so here we are. That’s enough on the *D&D* front. By itself, *Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* is a hack-and-slash ARPG, where four players advance through numerous levels together.

The narrative follows four courageous heroes as they fight through an expansive, multi-tiered dungeon to defeat Belcorra Haruvex and her legion, with the ultimate goal of rescuing Gaultlight Keep. You’ll take on the role of one of these four heroes—Amiri the Barbarian, Harsk the Ranger, Kyra the Cleric, or Ezren the Wizard. Each character is customizable, and throughout your journey, you’ll have the chance to adjust their playstyle to match your preferences. In *Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults*, each participant manages a single character—be it a solo player with three AI allies, a complete party of four players, or any mixture in between.

### “Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults is striving to maintain its RPG foundations while aiming for increased accessibility.”

While playing with two of the developers—yes, it can be couch co-op or online—I discovered that all four characters need to be represented, so two individuals can’t use the same character. I completely grasp the reasoning, both for story and design, yet I suspect this could lead to some disagreements within friend groups. Something [BKOM Studios](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/age-of-empires-4-pc-review/) implemented to address this is allowing you to select your spells. Although I didn’t experience this in my session, they clarified that each character, regardless of class, can take on a tank, DPS, or healing role.

I was pleased to learn this, as I know, particularly with younger gamers, it’s easy to become attached to a character whose role doesn’t align with your preferences. For instance, give me a hunter healer in [*World of Warcraft*](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/editorals/world-of-warcraft-the-war-within/), and I would be all in! *Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* is making every effort to remain faithful to its RPG heritage while striving for greater accessibility. The game is still in its early development stages, but they indicated that various difficulty levels will be available, suggesting you can likely engage with everyone from ARPG experts to those who are entirely new to video games.

### “I had a fantastic time with two strangers, so I am eagerly looking forward to playing with friends and mastering my character—Harsk is my choice.”

I mention this because that’s essentially how I felt during my *Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* experience. Meeting two new individuals, sitting in a crowded room, grabbing a controller, posing all the questions I could think of while also trying to understand my skills and the mechanics was quite an adventure. I played as Harsk the Ranger, as you may have inferred from my earlier comment about hunters, and amidst the chaos, I was continually losing myself on-screen—totally my fault, I was in the learning phase!

*Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults* reminded me greatly of my dungeon-crawling days in *World of Warcraft*, exploring, collecting loot, and clearing trash mobs before facing the primary boss. The player controlling Kyra the Cleric was consistently bailing me out, chasing after me and healing me because I was playing recklessly.