Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Brings the Acclaimed Franchise into a New Stylistic Direction

Moment to moment, Ascendance asks you to think about how you move just as much as how you fight. Each playable character brings their own combat style and traversal tools, including aerial movement, gliding, special abilities, and evasive dashes. These mechanics are governed by a stamina-like resource that fuels nearly every action, from attacking to flying, forcing you to manage your momentum carefully.

Stamina management is the connective tissue between combat and platforming. Overextending in a fight or misjudging a jump can quickly leave you vulnerable, whether that means falling into a pit or being caught off guard by enemies. Defensive options like dodges reward timing and awareness, encouraging you to learn enemy behaviors rather than relying on button-mashing. The result is a gameplay loop that feels fast and reactive.

Visually and structurally, Ascendance represents a significant change from previous Legacy of Kain games. Despite the shift in format, Ascendance stays rooted in the franchise’s gothic tone. The world remains bleak and oppressive; the themes are heavy with fate, power, and consequence. The game’s narrative unfolds across multiple eras, connecting familiar characters and moments from the series’ history while expanding on ideas that were previously only implied.

Crucially, Ascendance does not sacrifice storytelling for speed. Mainstays of the franchise, including Simon Templeman as Kain, Michael Bell as Raziel, Anna Gunn as Ariel, and Richard Doyle as Moebius, return to provide fully voiced dialogue. Frequent narrative beats ensure that the game feels like more than a pure action experience. Story sequences are carefully paced, providing breathing room between bursts of combat without disrupting the game’s overall momentum.

Ascendance’s 2D side-scrolling presentation and pixel art aesthetic immediately stand out, evoking the era when the series first emerged. That approach is paired with PS1-era-inspired 3D sequences and anime-influenced cinematics, bringing major story moments to life while nodding to the franchise’s first leap into 3D with Soul Reaver. The experience centers on combat and atmosphere, challenging you to master movement, read enemy patterns, and stay in control under pressure.

During the first hour of play, Ascendance quietly teaches its systems through action. You’re encouraged to experiment with movement, learn when to push forward, and pay close attention to story details. Like many Legacy of Kain entries, Ascendance does not spell everything out immediately. Clues are embedded in dialogue, environments, and character interactions for willing to listen closely.

The pacing is intentionally brisk. Most of the game is designed to be completed in relatively focused play sessions, with the story unfolding quickly and combat encounters arriving in steady succession. The story brings the gravity you expect from a Legacy of Kain game and amplifies the experience throughout.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance stands apart from the rest of the series in both form and feel, yet it remains unmistakably part of the same lineage. By combining fast 2D action, demanding traversal, and a story deeply tied to Nosgoth’s mythology, Ascendance offers you a new way to experience the franchise without losing what made it memorable in the first place.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering Legacy of Kain for the first time, Ascendance delivers a focused, momentum-driven experience that reimagines the series while honoring its gothic roots.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is available on March 31, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S and will be cloud playable via Xbox Cloud Gaming.