Nexon’s First Berserker: Khazan (Photo: a screenshot from the game)
SEOUL, March 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Nexon is preparing to make a bold push into Western markets with First Berserker: Khazan, a hardcore action RPG for PC and consoles developed by its subsidiary Neople. The game, slated for release on March 28, is a key pillar in Nexon’s strategy to extend the beloved Dungeon & Fighter universe into the global console arena.
Marking the 20th anniversary of Dungeon & Fighter, Khazan aims to capture the attention of North American and European gamers by blending the franchise’s lore with the demanding, precision-based combat style popularized by “Souls-like” titles.
To that end, Nexon has showcased the game at major international events, including Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, and The Game Awards, in a concerted effort to build anticipation.
Early reviews highlight the game’s robust and rewarding combat system. Players can choose between three distinct weapon types—greatswords, halberds, and sword-axe hybrids—each offering unique playstyles and skill trees.
The core gameplay centers around “perfect guard” mechanics, where precise timing leads to powerful counterattacks, reminiscent of hits like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Lies of P. The game features 16 uniquely designed bosses, each offering distinct tactical challenges.
However, the narrative elements have drawn some criticism. The revenge story of fallen war hero Khazan lacks depth in character development, with key relationships and betrayals feeling underexplored.
Cutscenes and storytelling sequences are plentiful, yet some critics argue they fail to foster emotional investment in the protagonist’s struggle. Additionally, the game’s tendency to reuse stages for side quests raises questions about its design choices, especially for a single-player, premium console experience.
Despite these shortcomings, Khazan has been praised for its craftsmanship and is expected to resonate with both Dungeon & Fighter fans and hardcore action game enthusiasts. Neople has stated plans to actively monitor player feedback post-launch and hinted at future content updates, potentially including major downloadable expansions.
The game’s success will be a litmus test for Nexon’s “vertical expansion” strategy, which seeks to extend its major intellectual properties across genres and platforms.
With an ambitious goal of reaching 7 trillion won (approximately $4.8 billion) in revenue by 2027, the performance of Khazan—alongside the upcoming release of Mabinogi Mobile—will be closely watched as a critical measure of Nexon’s ability to scale globally beyond its PC roots.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
