Before the arrival of The Forsaken Hollows, the long-awaited Elden Ring expansion scheduled for December 4, PlayStation 5 owners are treated to a surprise: a free game inspired by the dark and tortured visual universe of FromSoftware. It’s not a Souls-like in the strict sense, but its suffocating atmosphere and monumental boss fights should satisfy fans of ruthless challenges.
This game is Perennial Order, available as a free demo on PS5. And if he currently goes under the radar, he benefits from being known. “One of the most visually impressive games I’ve seen in a while,” writes journalist Sam Cawley, won over by its aesthetic. The studio behind this project, SOEDESCO, plays the graphic darkness card to the fullest.
A tribute to Bloodborne, without copying the formula
If Perennial Order does not use the progression system of Souls, it shares with the FromSoftware saga a certain taste for visceral horror and visual ambiguity. “Perennial Order perfectly captures this melancholy atmosphere, with each image feeling like a work of art in its own right,” adds Sam Cawley. We face grotesque entities in a succession of intense duels, interspersed with scenes with strange NPCs. The icing on the cake: the entire game can be played in two-player cooperation.
“What Perennial Order seems to favor above all else is atmosphere,” the author further emphasizes. And indeed, looking at the screenshots, the game world seems to ooze madness. “If you thought Bloodborne was about some disturbing encounters, I don’t think you’ve seen anything yet,” he warns.
Available on PS5, Steam and Steam Deck compatible, Perennial Order costs around £16 in full version, but offers a free playable demo. A great opportunity to dive into this vegetal and gothic hell without spending anything.
Waiting for Artorias and the return of Elden Ring
Elden Ring fans can see Perennial Order as an appetizer before the return of the Middle Lands. On December 4, The Forsaken Hollows, DLC for Nightreign, will be released, which will add new classes playable in multiplayer as well as a new zone. One of the announced bosses is none other than Artorias, cult figure from the Artorias of the Abyss expansion in Dark Souls. “He’s one of my favorite bosses in the entire Dark Souls trilogy and I can’t wait to see what new surprises he has in store for us,” writes the author of the article.
The continuation of the Elden Ring universe will also continue in 2026 with The Duskbloods, planned exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. But until then, Perennial Order has everything to satisfy the expectations of players craving thrills and deformed monsters.