In some role-playing games, we reload when the action really starts to heat up. In Kenshi, that’s when the fun really begins
Kenshi is simply fascinating. You can find hundreds of videoson YouTube in which people illustrate their agonizing experiences in this hardcore role-playing game. How they were abducted and eaten by cannibals, how they spend months in prison for theft, how they raid a desert caravan only to accidentally run into the arms of a hostile bandit gang
Stories from Kenshi are stories of failure – and that’s what makes the role-playing game so unique. Kenshi is one of those watercooler games, similar to Crusader Kings 3, that you just want to talk about, that you want to tell others about so that they can share their experiences.
But before we jump into the details, here’s the most important info: Kenshi is currently being on Steam discounted like never before. Instead of the usual 27 euros, you can get the game for just 8.90 euros, a discount of 67 percent. The offer runs until April 8, 2024, so there is still plenty of time to find out about the game in advance
Apropos …
What is Kenshi anyway?
Kenshi is set in an open, post-apocalyptic desert world, a bit like Dune with corrugated iron huts. You create your own character from dozens of possible races – from humans to alien races and robots. You also choose a starting situation; and here it becomes very clear what kind of role-playing game Kenshi is.
Here are some (!) possible starting positions:
- As a malnourished slave in eternal servitude.
- As a poor sod spawning in the middle of a horde of cannibals.
- As a religious fanatic in a holy order.
- Alone, naked and destitute in the desert.
In Kenshi there is no great overriding goal You decide for yourself what you want to do with your avatar. Maybe escape from being a slave for a while? Gather a group of like-minded people around you to build your own small settlement (there are plenty of building functions in the game)? Or join one of the factions to gain fame and fortune?
Whatever you do in the game, you will improve a skill. As in Skyrim Learning by Doing
: If you spend ages in a prison cell fiddling with the lock, your lock-picking skill will increase. If, on the other hand, you hit someone on the head … you understand what we’re getting at
Battles are not always one-on-one, you can recruit large hordes like in Mount & Blade and even control them yourself.
Kenshi is tough. You will fail. You might lose an arm in battle or lose all your possessions. Maybe your main character will end up in a cell and you’ll spend hours controlling his aide in order to somehow pay for his release.
Of course, there are tons of guides and tips online to help you survive. Survival guides can be found for every possible area in the open world and if you want, the helpful community will take you by the hand. But we recommend you at least do a playthrough on your own. You’re sure to have something to talk about.
