Bkom Studios has unveiled exciting new co-op gameplay for the upcoming game, Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults. This action role-playing game (ARPG) draws inspiration from the tabletop adventure of the same name and marks a shift in gameplay style, as it adopts an isometric hack-and-slash format.
Unlike earlier Pathfinder titles like Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous, which featured turn-based mechanics, Abomination Vaults is designed to emphasize cooperative action and multiplayer experiences. During the 2025 Summer Game Fest, new gameplay showcased how up to four players can navigate the game’s vast labyrinthine dungeon.
Players have the option to team up with friends or venture into the dungeon alone. In cases where there are fewer than three players, the game’s AI takes charge of the remaining characters.
Notably, players can issue commands to AI companions or even take direct control during combat, adding a layer of strategy. The game features four distinct classes based on beloved Pathfinder champions: Amiri the Barbarian, Harsk the Ranger, Kyra the Cleric, and Ezren the Wizard, each influenced by the second edition of the tabletop game.
While the roles are fixed, there is significant flexibility in build crafting, allowing players to customize each class without navigating intricate RPG skill trees. As players progress, they can adjust classes and leverage acquired items to strengthen their team’s unique synergies, although executing team-up abilities requires skillful timing and coordination.
Initial hands-on previews suggest that Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults resembles the Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance series more than traditional Baldur’s Gate titles, boasting real-time action and dynamic class interactions reminiscent of the Dark Alliance approach. Reviews from the Summer Game Fest have been largely positive, highlighting the co-op gameplay as seamless and enjoyable, essential traits for a dungeon crawler.
However, questions remain regarding how the game will sustain player interest within its extensive dungeon and avoid monotony. As the first-ever co-op hack-and-slash ARPG based on the Pathfinder Adventure Path, players will lead iconic heroes into the ominous Gauntlight Keep, challenging the malevolent sorceress Belcorra Haruvex and her horde of abominations.
Belcorra, resurrected as a ghost, seeks revenge against those who defeated her centuries ago. Players are called upon to delve into Gauntlight Keep’s treacherous depths, confront foul monsters, and ultimately lay Belcorra’s wicked soul to rest.
As heroes explore the dungeon, their unique stories will unfold alongside thrilling gameplay.