Deal | $3 instead of $30: Bizarre soulslike RPG hits lowest price ever on Steam
Fans of Zeno Clash 1 and 2 will already be familiar with the strange, stylized world of Zenozoik. With Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, Chilean studio ACE Team returns to the surreal setting, this time adding a third-person soulslike twist. The story follows the quiet warrior Pseudo, who encounters a mysterious child hunted by a powerful faction – and decides to protect it. Instead of relying on lengthy dialogue, the game tells its story through atmosphere, encounters, and environmental cues.
At its core, Artifacts of Chaos is a soulslike built around melee-focused combat. As with most games in the genre, success is not just about landing hits – timing, blocking, and dodging are equally important. One of the title’s standout features is the ritual system: before certain encounters, a brief dice-based ritual can trigger random effects that influence the fight. These range from altered visuals and additional hazards to small combat advantages, adding unpredictability and variety. As players progress, they unlock new combat techniques and discover improved gear, creating a steady sense of progression.
In its review, German gaming magazine 4Players awarded Artifacts of Chaos high marks, praising its distinctive art style and creative direction, which stand out in an AAA landscape often criticized for a lack of imagination. The game was also commended for its layered combat system, emotional storytelling, and a solid runtime of around 15 hours. Not everything impressed, however. The review criticized inconsistent enemy AI and unbalanced weapons – in some cases, throwing a rock was reportedly more effective than engaging in melee combat. The ritual dice mechanic also drew criticism, as its effects can feel minor or barely noticeable. Despite these issues, the game still received a strong score of 8 out of 10. On Metacritic, reception is more mixed, with a Metascore of 69 and a User Score of 6.9. Steam users, however, are far more positive, with around 1,300 reviews and a 91% positive rating.
90% discount – for the first time ever
Clash: Artifacts of Chaos was released in March 2023 and typically sells for around $30 on Steam. According to SteamDB, the game is now discounted by 90% for the first time as part of the Winter Sale. As a result, the quirky soulslike – which is also Steam Deck Verified (available on Amazon for $470) – is available for just $3 until January 5.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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