Over the years, players have seen a wide variety of settings receive a soul. FromSoftware explored various medieval periods as well as gothic horror through a genre it pioneered. Souls like anime Code vein were released, as were the futuristic ones The Surge. Even Star Wars played with some soulful elements in an excellent eat series. And then there's what's probably the most impressive attempt at a soul-like game yet by a studio other than FromSoftware: Lies Pwhich brings a terrifying twist to the Pinnochi tradition. All of these games have unique aspects, but they all have one thing in common: a dark tone Steam'with Johan trying to subvert.
With so many soulslike games offering a dark atmosphere, from Steam titles to AAA or AA attempts, it wouldn't be surprising if some gamers consider it a staple of the genre at this point. The darker world allows for interesting boss designs while supporting the core genre of mystery lore that players need to piece together, so it's easy to see why this has become the norm. Plus, FromSoftware has always done it, so for those looking to create a beloved masterpiece like this studio's games, it's no surprise that many stick to the tried and true method of grimdark worlds. However, Johan bucking that trend is exactly what makes this soul-like game stand out from the crowd.
Johan Developer Vercors Studio has yet to share a release date for the game on its Steam page.
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Johan Rysy at first glance
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EXPLORE a colorful and fantastical world as a medieval rabbit.
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PARRY attacks to unleash deadly finishers with your sword.
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SUMMON a host of creatures in the midst of battle to fight by your side using pages of manuscripts discovered in the world.
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TRAVEL through the world using rabbit agility and a grappling hook.
Johan is a soul where you play as a medieval rabbit in a colorful, fantastical medieval world. Use the power of illuminated manuscripts to summon strange creatures of medieval folklore and confront powerful enemies.
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Johan's recipe includes Elden Ring exploration and Sekiro Combat
Maybe the funnest part JohanA short trailer and screenshots available on the Steam page of this particular soulslike game show how clearly several shots resemble each other Elden Ring. The opening reveal of a large rabbit in medieval clothing and with a sword at his side is silly, of course, but the imposing way it's framed feels like promotional material for FromSoftware's modern classic. Even more relatable is the “striding” shot in the image above and in the trailer, which shows the rabbit staring out at the vast world to explore in a way that players would do countless times during their journey through The Lands Between.
Johan ostensibly trying to offer a rewarding exploration as Elden Ring as well as players will be able to use their “innate rabbit agility” and grappling hook to reach hidden locations in the world. The listed locations could contain manuscript pages that essentially function as Elden Ring's Spirit Ashes. However, instead of summoning an ally next to you every time – which can happen every now and then, as at the end of the current cutscene, a strange headless human body with a face on its chest is fighting alongside Johan – the rabbit itself will sometimes change form. One example is a killer rabbit becoming an equally deadly snail that plows through its opponents.
Mechanic, Johan also leans on another beloved FromSoftware game as iconic Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is clearly felt in his regular struggle. Whether it's a knight or an enemy porcupine, players must approach Johan as a rhythm game, parrying multiple attacks to stun their enemy. If successful, the enemy will be stunned and can then be finished off with a flashy animation. The stunning sound and visual collapse of enemies is very reminiscent of what happens in the FromSoftware games, and when paired with Johan borrowing aerial stealth assassinations. An axe's Wolf could, the comparison seems apt.
Humor and bright colors make Johan different from Bloodborne and the lies of P
Elden Ring survey and An axe combat is a very strong approach on paper, but it's important not to ignore the elephant (or more accurately the rabbit) in the room. Controlling a large humanoid rabbit that wants revenge for some unknown reason is hilarious in concept, and when combined with the colorful world, enemies, and presentation, it's clear that the game will have a very different vibe from your typical Souls. This light-hearted game might not work for everyone, but it could attract souls similar to fans who are burned out on the same kind of note, as well as players who just want to laugh at being obliterated by everything in front of them like a humanoid rabbit. While Vercors Studio still needs to show off the bosses, provide more details on how its world is approached, and confirm or deny upgrade paths for Johanwhat has been shown so far has huge potential.
