Sword & Sorcery, a cooperative dungeon crawler and RPG from publisher Ares Games, is a satisfying and creative alternative to classic Dungeons & Dragons gameplay (alliteration and all).

Players will level up resurrected heroes, working together to progress through a story full of gremlins, orcs, pirates, and more than a few pop culture references.

Sword & Sorcery: Immortal Souls is the base game, which originally launched a few years ago. But now that the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has warmed up newcomers to the genre, it seems timely to review this personal favorite.

Besides, the publisher is Italian and may be a little obscure for some. Interest in the game itself has partly waned, which is a shame, since Ares Games is still adding new expansions. That level of support may convince you to join in, so here’s teaser for the Abyssal Legends from earlier this year:

Anyone who wanted to jump directly into the deep end of Dungeons & Dragons was probably overwhelmed, and it can be difficult to find a DM who is skilled enough to keep things smooth and on track. There are many, many rules. This is a reflection of its freedom, which is its main appeal.

Sword & Sorcery is dense, to be sure, but it’s also friendlier and manageable compared to all that. It doesn’t take itself seriously, which is a helpful touch. There are blatant nods to The Lord of the Rings, but also unexpected references to Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones.

This can feel very silly, and the story is pretty straightforward overall. But that’s part of the game’s charm. There’s a childlike spirit and energy in Sword & Sorcery. It always swings for the fences, no matter how broad or small the detail.

Moral alignments are a neat twist, and player decisions can also result in different endings. You might even get an enemy NPC on your side, or not. Either way, you can’t hinder the story though, as the game effectively drives itself.

You won’t need a DM, and you can even play with only two players. There’s also a companion app to help players keep track of things, so that bookkeeping doesn’t become stifling. Battles can feel drawn out at times, but the difficulty is balanced and enemies have terrific AI.

Final Thoughts

Sword & Sorcery has many familiar high fantasy story beats. But the components are high quality, the content lets newcomers sink their teeth into something heavier without getting discouraged, and the playful tone is delightful.

Score: 8/10