Bleak Sword was originally released on Apple Arcade in 2019, but got an expanded DX edition this year. It was intended by designer Luis Jiminez to do something like Dark Souls on a touchscreen, so it's all about brutal combat with a simple interface. You attack or dodge, with some basic variations, and defeating enemies requires you to study their patterns, make sure you're not in the way when they go for a big attack, and then let them have it while they're open. It's actually a pretty easy game, at least on the PC.
It has a striking presentation. The music is by Jim Guthrie, who was a big factor on Sword & Sworcery, which Jiminez cited as a major influence. The non-boss enemies are small and rendered in minimal pixel art graphics, but what leaps out about the graphics are the diorama-like arenas where the battles take place, some of which add environmental hazards like out of control mine carts.
The game definitely falls more in line with the modern grimdark style, especially the type popularized by Dark Souls. It's a grungy, seemingly hopeless world overrun with demons and slimy predators. Lots of undead and necromancy, with a hero who dutifully trudges through everything because it's really the only thing he can do. Just kill as much as he can until he hopefully ends whatever curse the king has foolishly unleashed. There's a sense of delirium that hangs over everything.
Supplemental viewing: Conquest
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