Moon Studios' soulslike action RPG No Rest for the Wicked has received its most substantial early access update yet, bringing the game's player count to its highest level since its initial launch. The aptly named Breach update significantly expands the game's content while introducing technical improvements including NVIDIA DLSS 4 support.
Expanded World and Story Content
The Breach update nearly doubles the size of the game world with the addition of two new hand-crafted areas: Lowland Meadows and Marin Woods. Players can now explore two new settlements, Hunter's Vale and Marin Village, along with numerous dark caves scattered throughout these regions. The expansion also introduces a dangerous environmental hazard called Blight that adds another layer of challenge to exploration.
Story content has been substantially enhanced with three new quests accompanied by 17-18 new cinematics and cutscenes featuring high-quality animation. These narrative additions help flesh out the game's unique world that blends traditional ARPG elements with soulslike combat mechanics.
Key Features of The Breach Update:
- World size nearly doubled with two new areas: Lowland Meadows and Marin Woods
- New weapon types: Wands (spellcasting) and Gauntlets (close combat)
- Total weapon options increased from ~100 to over 150
- New endgame Plague System with 9 new Plague bosses
- NVIDIA DLSS 4 support and performance optimizations
- Hardcore mode with permadeath
- Reworked healing system using limited food items
- 3 new quests with 17-18 cinematics/cutscenes
Combat and Gameplay Enhancements
Combat options have been significantly expanded with the introduction of two new weapon types. Wands bring spellcasting to the game for the first time, while gauntlets offer close-quarters combat enthusiasts new ways to engage enemies, including dramatic moves like suplexes and dropkicks. The update increases the total weapon options from approximately 100 to over 150, alongside multiple new armor sets and a reworked shield system.
The healing system has undergone a complete overhaul, replacing the previous cooldown method with a limited number of food items per encounter. Status effects and weapon scaling have also been reworked to provide better balance. For players seeking the ultimate challenge, a new Hardcore mode introduces permadeath, though characters that perish will remain playable in regular game modes.
New Endgame System
Perhaps the most significant addition for veteran players is the new Plague endgame system. This mechanic randomly infects zones over time, increasing both difficulty and potential rewards as infestation levels rise. Players can also manually trigger the Plague in specific areas for greater control over their endgame experience.
To cleanse a Plagued area, players must defeat enough enemies to spawn a Plagued Boss, which upon defeat will yield valuable unique items. For those seeking even greater challenges, a corruption system allows players to burn specific resources to add modifiers affecting either themselves or their enemies, further increasing potential rewards.
Technical Improvements
On the technical side, Moon Studios has implemented NVIDIA DLSS 4 support alongside various performance optimizations. Players can expect reduced memory usage, faster load times, and improved physics. The game's tutorial system has been overhauled with optional hint pop-ups to help newcomers acclimate to the challenging gameplay.
Audio enhancements include new music compositions by Gareth Coker and additional voice-over work, complementing the hundreds of bug fixes included in the update. Despite these improvements, recent Steam user reviews have been Mostly Negative with only a 36% positive rating, suggesting some players may be experiencing issues with the new content.
Availability and Pricing
No Rest for the Wicked: The Breach update is available now on Steam. New players can purchase the game at a 30% discount until May 14, 2025, bringing the price down to USD $27.99 / GBP £24.49. This significant price reduction comes at an opportune time, as the ARPG genre is currently experiencing a surge of activity with new seasons for Diablo 4, Path of Exile 2, Last Epoch, and Torchlight Infinite all launching in recent weeks.
It's worth noting that Moon Studios is now fully independent, having purchased the license back from publisher Private Division. This update represents their first major content drop as a self-publishing studio, showcasing their commitment to the continued development of this unique ARPG/soulslike hybrid.