Ahead of the launch of Dark Fantasy ExtrAction RPG Gods, Death & Reapers’ upcoming Closed Alpha 5 test on April 30, 2026, developer Wolcen Studio is giving fans a preview of the content they can expect, including new maps, abilities, upgrades, environmental hazards, enemy types, a first look at the endgame mode, and more!
Those who wish to enter death’s domain and experience a new realm of extraction-based gameplay in Gods, Death & Reapers, as well as be first in line for playtests for future Wolcen titles, can register today at https://playtest.wolcenstudio.com.
Map Updates
Gods, Death & Reapers’ Closed Alpha 5 introduces Stable and Unstable versions of maps, Helheim and Midgard, designed to support different playstyles and levels of experience.
Stable Maps are built for more casual PvE players, looking to provide an accessible space where they can explore, learn core mechanics, and gain battle confidence. Unstable Maps are designed for those seeking a challenge. They are high-risk, high-reward PvPvE battlezones. Surviving in the Unstable Maps requires stronger builds, better gear, and sharper decision-making.
A First Look at the Endgame
The first iteration of the endgame Arena mode will debut in the next alpha. Players will be able to unlock the PvP Arena for ruthless duels where they’ll need to show mastery in combat and efficiency in their build. In Arena, dying won’t cost players their gear, so they’ll be able to come equipped with the best loadout and compete for leaderboard points.
Sanctuary Upgrades
The Sanctuary is a base where players can craft, customize, and overall progress their characters. Closed Alpha 5 adds the capabilities of Tier 2 and 3 building upgrades to Sanctuary, including the Portal, which unlocks Unstable Maps at Tier 1 and unlocks the Arena at Tier 2.
Additionally, players will be able to upgrade the Workshop and Smithy for item salvage and reroll options. Sanctuary upgrades come with one caveat: to keep the Sanctuary up and running, players will need to collect souls on maps and fuel the Power Source.
Environmental Hazards
Zones of hazardous weather will now appear at random places in maps, forcing players to adapt their strategy. Staying in these hazards for a while leads to inevitable death. You’ve been warned.
New Weapon Abilities
Closed Alpha 5 brings a fresh set of abilities to Longsword and the Staff, along with improvements to existing ones.
The Longsword unleashes a variety of technical offensive and defensive abilities, including a lethal dash-and-strike combo, shooting a web of spinning wires that slashes everything in its path. The Longsword’s Chaincut Blitz teleports the user to their target, then strikes up to five enemies, and Null Ring creates a barrier that blocks enemies and projectiles. Additionally, the Blood Tether is an AOE attack that latches onto enemies while the Shieldbreaker detonates, damaging nearby enemies.
The Staff harnesses dark magical powers to charge Mana and raise hell on the battlefield. Abyssal Pull creates a portal that fires a projectile, then boomerangs enemies towards the projectile as it returns. The Staff also features the Suffering Link ability that links two enemies together and creates a shared damage effect. At full Mana, the Staff gains Infectious Power, boosting the next ability based on stacks absorbed.
New Enemy Types: Jotnar & The Champions
Closed Alpha 5 comes with a new faction and enemy type, plus the hellish mythical beast that continues to gain power.
Jotnar are elemental giants from Niflheim and Muspelheim, now invading the afterlife in the absence of the gods. Fierce and destructive, a single Jotun is as dangerous as a full enemy pack. The Champions are roaming mini-bosses that can appear anywhere on the map. Even trickier, any enemy can become one. What looks like a normal fight can quickly turn into a serious challenge. Nidhoggr, the Corpse Chewer of Helheim, receives new attack abilities and can now fly during combat!
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About Gods, Death, & Reapers
Gods, Death & Reapers is an isometric Dark Fantasy ExtrAction RPG, a new sub-genre that blends high-stakes, PvP extraction gameplay with traditional PvE encounters, where players risk it all in ARPG-style, real-time combat. Guided by Death through realms inspired by various global mythologies, players take on objectives, confront dangerous enemies or rival Reapers, and attempt to escape with valuable loot. Each mission begins in the Sanctuary, a customizable base for upgrades and planning, and every run hinges on the same core choice: extract with rewards or fall and lose it all.
As reapers, players will traverse lands filled with unfathomable dangers and precious secrets. Players can customize their own reapers before descending into Death’s domain and join factions that offer them new challenges to conquer (and souls to reap). Once in the underworld, they can unleash devastating techniques by experimenting with weapon abilities and ultimate skills — refining their playstyles through deeper skill customization and combat variety. A trip to the Sanctuary also blesses them with the ability to craft gear and manage resources before the next descent.
The Closed Alpha 5 playtest of Gods, Death & Reapers runs from April 30, 2026 (10 AM CEST | 1 AM PDT | 4 AM EDT | 5 AM BRT | 3 PM ICT) to May 4, 2026, (6 PM CEST | 9 AM PDT | 12 PM EDT | 1 PM BRT | 11 PM ICT), and will be open to participants across North America, Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
Gods, Death & Reapers is coming to Windows PC via Steam Early Access. Players can wishlist the game on Steam. Anyone who joined earlier playtests retains access to all future Closed Alpha builds.
For more information, follow Wolcen Studio on YouTube, and stay connected with Gods, Death & Reapers on BlueSky, X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and the official website.
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