Grim Dawn launched in 2016, so the arrival of a new expansion in 2026 is remarkable. For the uninitiated, it’s an action RPG in which you battle all manner of monstrosities, fine-tune your build and hunt for increasingly powerful loot. That may sound like standard ARPG fare, but Grim Dawn stands out through the sheer breadth of its content.
Much of that variety comes from the expansions released over the past decade, which have added enormous areas to explore, new masteries – the game’s equivalent of classes – and even additional modes. The base game was already substantial, but everything introduced since has turned it into a truly colossal experience.
Fangs of Asterkarn isn’t quite as expansive as the game’s two previous major expansions, but it still introduces a sizeable new region to explore. As the artwork suggests, you can expect plenty of frozen scenery alongside a brand-new mastery: the Berserker. The Berserker packs plenty of power, and transforming into a werewolf or wereraven is every bit as entertaining as it sounds. As always, experimenting with the new mastery and finding the best ways to combine it with existing ones is a major part of the fun.
Some of the new quests rely a little too heavily on backtracking, but Fangs of Asterkarn remains a great reason to return if you haven’t played Grim Dawn for a while. It also provides a compelling excuse to discover the game for the first time, even a full decade after its original release. Accessing everything requires the previous expansions, making it a considerable investment, but one that should prove worthwhile for dedicated ARPG fans.
There’s now an astonishing amount to do in Grim Dawn. Thanks to its continued growth, it has earned its place among the genre’s best. Add a friend or two, and you have a game capable of devouring tens, if not hundreds, of hours without wearing out its welcome.
Add us to your RSS feed