THQ Nordic ended its annual digital showcase with a surprise: a teaser for a new project in the Darksiders franchise. The teaser, a slow-paced cinematic, depicts what appears to be Hell, with three beasts roaring, flames erupting from their mouths. These are the Charred Council, calling out for the “horsemen.” According to a description on Xbox Wire, “It won’t be long until we reveal more about where the Darksiders series is going next, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.”
It remains unclear whether this will be a direct sequel to the action-adventure hack-and-slash series. The Darksiders series has a complex history, with its games not always following a chronological order. The original game centered on War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who was imprisoned by the Charred Council for prematurely initiating the apocalypse. After defeating the Destroyer, War embarked on a war against Heaven and Hell, setting the stage for a sequel. The ending showed him joined by the other horsemen: Strife, Death, and Fury.
However, Darksiders 2, despite its potential as a sequel, unfolded concurrently with the first game, focusing on Death’s mission to clear War’s name. Darksiders 3 also ran parallel to the first game, featuring Fury as the protagonist. Gunfire Games experimented with a different gameplay style, embracing a Soulslike-esque approach.
The last Darksiders release was Darksiders Genesis in 2019, a prequel starring Strife. This top-down perspective game marked a departure from the traditional third-person view of the series. With each horseman having their own game, it seems like an actual chronological sequel might be in order. While a remaster seems unlikely, given the 2016 release of Darksiders: Warmastered Edition, anything is possible.
