Here's what you need to know about Dungeon & Fighter before The First Berserker: Khazan

In just a few weeks, Nexon is releasing a souls-like action RPG titled The First Berserker: Khazan. Fans of Soulslike RPGs may have their eyes on this game, but aren't sure what exactly it is. I know I wasn't very familiar when the game was first announced at The Game Awards 2023.

The Steam page of The First Berserker: Khazan states that Khazan is "set 800 years before the events of the Dungeon Fighter Online (DNF) Universe". First of all, what is the "Dungeon Fighter Online" universe? And also why is the acronym DNF? Well..

In 2005, Korean developer Neople — a subsidiary of Nexon — released an online sidescroller action RPG called Dungeon & Fighter, often shortened to DNF. The game was only officially available in various Asian markets for several years, but when the game finally released in North America in 2010, it was given the altered title Dungeon Fighter Online. This is sometimes shortened to DFO, even today. The two titles and the two acronyms for the same game tend to be used interchangeably. That's not confusing, right?

Even more time passed before a global version of Dungeon & Fighter / Dungeon Fighter Online was made available, releasing in 2015 followed by a Steam release. The game is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary.

The only thing you, player, really need to know about Dungeon & Fighter / Dungeon Fighter Online is that is it a class-based game. There are sixteen classes to choose from, each with multiple advanced classes. For the purpose of this article, note that one of the advanced Slayer classes is named Berserker..

Nexon has been making an attempt to take the now 20-year old online game and branch it out into other genres on other platforms. The first and relatively recent non-mobile entry in this endeavor is DNF Duel, a fighting game based on the series co-developed by Arc System Works. It released in 2022 for PlayStation consoles and Steam, followed by a Switch port in 2023. The game features sixteen playable characters, based on the aforementioned classes from Dungeon & Fighter / Dungeon Fighter Online.

So Where Does The First Berserker Khazan Fit In?

If DNF Duel is essentially the first DNF/DFO spinoff of the DNF series, then The First Berserker: Khazan is the second spinoff of the series. The game itself tells the story of Khazan, which is tied into the world lore of Dungeon & Fighter.

Now, I'm sure a 20-year old game probably has a ton of lore to sift through. For the purposes of Khazan, though, Neople tells you what you need to know. We already know that, supposedly, The First Berserker: Khazan takes place 800 years prior.

According to Neople:

Based on the lore of Dungeon Fighter Online, Khazan is a legendary hero of the Pell Los Empire who lived 800 years ago ... It is said he went to battle without his armor on, swinging an axe in one hand and a sword in the other. He also had throwing axes strapped to his waist, to throw them at enemies whenever he could. A great warrior, he once reached the position of Great General of the Pelos, but later was accused of treason and arrested alongside his good friend, Ozma. His family was wiped out, and he lost the tendons in both arms before being sent into exile beyond the Stru Mountains.

So, Nexon decided to turn this nugget of lore into its own game. That's what The First Berserker: Khazan is. Neople clarifies:

"While The First Berserker: Khazan is based on a specific narrative within the DNF Universe, we’ve made efforts to ensure that players who are not well-versed in this expansive world can still enjoy the game. The story is designed as a standalone narrative focusing on Khazan’s personal life and his journey for revenge, allowing players to immerse themselves in the experience without prior knowledge of the original lore."

It sounds like this bit of lore has become something of a legend in the world of DNF/DFO, with a few interpretations and variations. The First Berserker: Khazan specifically is just one version of the story, with an outcome that will be different than the original lore. Apparently, this version's alterations are all centered around a mysterious being known as the Blade Phantom.

Finally, why bother to make a game centered on Khazan to begin with? Neople's response:

Among the numerous DNF characters, Khazan’s deeply emotional narrative is the biggest reason why we decided to develop First Berserker: Khazan. Noting that such in-depth narratives can lead to empathy and give them a sense of immersion. This ties into the reason why we also chose to develop it as a stand-alone single-player console. It is the most effective format to deliver such an emotional experience

The First Berserker: Khazan releases on March 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam). A demo is currently available.