No Rest for the Wicked: My First Look at 2026's Game of the Year
Hey everybody, welcome back to Chill Dad Gaming! Today, we're diving into a game that I'm already calling a contender for Game of the Year: No Rest for the Wicked. If you're not familiar, this is the latest project from Moon Studios, the brilliant minds behind the unique and artistic Ori series. They just dropped a massive content update, "The Breach Refined," so it felt like the perfect time to see if this is truly the next evolution for ARPGs.
Right off the bat, the game suggests using a controller, which is always a good sign for action-focused games. I’m using my 8bitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller (link). From the moment I started, I was hooked. The world, the mechanics, the sheer depth of exploration—it's all here. Let’s break down my first chaotic and exciting hours on the cursed isle of Sacra.
Key Moments & Highlights:
[00:01:25] Character Creation: The character models have a unique art style with long arms and distinct torsos. The customization is there, but I'm all about getting into the action.
[00:04:14] Break All the Things: The tutorial starts on a ship, and the first lesson is clear: if it looks breakable, it probably is. Smashing barrels for loot never gets old.
[00:06:50] The Ship is on Fire!: Things escalate quickly as the ship is suddenly ablaze. This is where we get our first sword and shield and learn the basics of combat.
[00:08:18] Learning to Parry (and Failing): The game introduces parrying, a core Soulslike mechanic. The timing is tricky, and it definitely took me a few tries to get the hang of it.
[00:09:10] Stealth & Backstabs Confirmed: I was thrilled to discover you can crouch, sneak up on enemies, and perform devastating backstabs. Yes!
[00:10:05] The First Boss Encounter: A mysterious and powerful woman appears, setting a very high bar for the challenges to come.
[00:11:45] Waking Up on the Shore: After a dramatic cutscene, I wake up on the shore... with none of my starting gear. A classic ARPG start!
[00:12:30] Crafting & Gathering Begins: The game quickly introduces gathering mechanics. You can mine ore, chop wood, and even fish, pointing to a deep crafting system.
[00:15:30] Secret Swim Paths: The exploration in this game is incredible. I discovered you can swim to hidden areas, which immediately got my brain firing on all cylinders to find more secrets.
[00:16:35] Gems and Weapon Infusions: Found my first gem! These can be slotted into gear to add powerful enchantments like elemental damage.
[00:18:21] "This Game is Tickling My Brain!": My reaction to finding yet another hidden path. The level design encourages and rewards curiosity in a way that feels amazing.
[00:20:00] First Level Up & Deep RPG Stats: Leveling up grants attribute points you can manually assign to stats like Health, Strength, and even Equipment Load. This has some seriously deep RPG elements.
[00:22:20] Finding a "Whisper": These are the game's version of a bonfire or save point. Resting here records your progress but also respawns all the enemies in the area.
[00:23:45] My First Magic Weapon: I found a Two-Handed Staff with a "Chain Lightning" rune! Weapons come with their own powerful abilities, which is a fantastic system.
[00:29:40] Finding a Cursed Weapon: Loot can have incredible enchantments but also powerful drawbacks. I found an amazing piece of gear that unfortunately decreases healing for each nearby enemy.
[00:31:28] The Real Boss Fight Begins: After hours of exploring, I finally stumbled upon what looks like the first major boss of the area. Let's go!
Gear Used in this Session:
Controller: 8bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller
Conclusion:
I've only scratched the surface, and I'm already completely addicted. The combination of deep exploration, rewarding combat, and intricate RPG systems makes No Rest for the Wicked feel special. It’s challenging, beautiful, and respects the player's intelligence. I truly believe this game is going to be something amazing, and I can't wait to see how co-op is implemented down the line.
If you enjoyed this first look and want to see more, let me know in the comments on the video! Smash that like button, and consider subscribing for more gameplay.
Watch the full gameplay video here: https://youtu.be/SB0dXx4Yf1I
