End of Eden is an open-world Gothic-like from indie studio Laughing Fox Games, planned for PC in 2027, and it appears to lean into the same brutal, faction-driven structure that made Piranha Bytes’ work so impactful to a certain niche.
You’re dumped on a cursed island as a nobody, and the pitch is very clear: you earn your place inch by inch, not by virtue of a glowing quest marker. The game includes melee, archery, and magic as parallel paths, factions whose allegiance actually matters, and character growth that feels deliberate. Crafting, gear progression, and a “living” NPC ecosystem are also present and accounted for.
The goal seems to be that feeling where you’re constantly negotiating status, pushing into spaces you’re not ready for, and savoring small wins when a camp finally lets you in. The devs talk about “earning every inch” and making quests feel costly and meaningful rather than disposable content, which is exactly the right language for this kind of game.
For me, that potential hits a nerve. Piranha Bytes games (especially Elex) are some of my favorite games of all time, and outside of the top-down Drova, we really haven’t had much that scratches that same itch since PB shut down in 2024. If Laughing Fox can actually deliver a focused, reactive island that pushes back just enough, End of Eden might finally be the Gothic-style comeback a lot of us have been waiting on. Now let’s hope they don’t skimp on bugs and jank.
What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.