Darksiders 4 needs to check one item off fans' wish lists

The Darksiders franchise offered a different take on the adventures of the Four Horsemen. During three main games and one side game Darksiders has gone through a number of shifts in genre and gameplay across different developers, but its action RPG elements remain the highlight of the franchise.

After almost six years Darksiders 3 when it was released, publisher THQ Nordic announced that it was working on a fourth main game. Details are still under wraps, but it's been theorized that Strife could be the main protagonist, as he's the only Rider who hasn't had his own solo main game yet, aside from a spin-off prequel. Darksiders: Genesis. This new chapter in the franchise also opens up an opportunity that longtime fans have been hoping for: making all of the Horsemen playable.

Darksiders 4 is intended for a multiplayer variant with all four riders

The overarching story of Darksiders sees all four horsemen fighting their own battles to prevent Endwar between Heaven and Hell and protect humanity from this colossal event. In the process, War is imprisoned by the Charred Council after being accused of prematurely starting Endwar on Earth, while Death and Fury go on separate journeys to rescue their brother.

The mainline games end on a cliffhanger with the four riders meeting to prepare for the real Endwar on Earth. They also operate without the Charred Council preventing them from going against the forces of Heaven and Hell, including their own kind, the Nephilim. Darksiders fans have been patiently waiting for this next chapter to unfold, and they may finally get to see it in the upcoming game.

The first three Darksiders the games were single-player experiences, as each title shared individual stories of war, death, and fury. Spin-off prequel, Darksiders: Genesis is the first game in the series to include co-op, as fans can play either Strife or War. It is not yet known if there will be more Darksiders the game will follow the same format as the main titles and only feature one playable protagonist, but the next logical step could be to allow players to switch between four riders and add co-op play.

Darksiders 4 could take multiplayer notes from other popular franchises

When it comes to modern games that effectively pull off rotating playable characters, GTA 5 always comes to mind. It features three protagonists with different stories and missions tailored for them, and is also able to connect them to form a cohesive story. Darksiders already found the four horsemen riding again in the next chapter, so it would only be appropriate if players covered more ground by switching characters or playing as all four in Darksiders 4.

This would not only allow players to use each rider's unique abilities whenever they want, but also show how each character plays a vital role in stopping Endwar on Earth. It would certainly be a great way to get an idea of ​​how big Endwar is, which will require the power of all four horsemen to defeat powerful enemy bosses (and mini-bosses) to weaken the forces of Heaven and Hell.

Likewise, a co-op could help lighten the load Darksiders 4 players with companions to complete missions to help stop Endwar. This could be especially useful in the next one Darksiders the game again adopts Souls-lite mechanics, just like in the third game. The co-op mode has definitely improved the experience of games like this Baldur's Gate 3 and Borderlands 2 because it encourages teamwork to achieve a common goal and the potential for Darksiders 4 having players defeat bosses, find resources in secret areas, and prepare for the final battle together would make a huge chunk of fans' wish lists.