Independent studio BECUZUS, led by director Sungjae Lee, has officially pulled back the curtain on its highly anticipated dark fantasy title, VANRAN. Following years of quiet development, the studio has transitioned from cinematic teasers to a full global gameplay debut via IGN, showcasing the visceral, real-time combat that defines this ambitious Korean action RPG.
Experience the Underworld: Steam Demo Now Live
In an exciting move for the "soulslike" community, BECUZUS has launched a playable Steam demo immediately following the trailer reveal. The demo offers a deep dive into Chapter 1, allowing players to step into the boots of Kaleb, a lone warrior navigating a corrupted underworld inspired by the haunting mythologies of Dante’s Divine Comedy and Orpheus and Eurydice.
Unlike traditional cinematic-heavy titles, the demo highlights VANRAN’s commitment to "playable storytelling," where plot points are triggered through exploration and combat rather than cutscenes.
Fluid Combat and Colossal Bosses
The trailer and demo provide the first hands-on look at the game's core mechanics:
The Chain System: A distinctive mechanic used for both fluid traversal and dynamic combat shifts.
Aggressive Momentum: A combat loop that rewards parries, guard breaks, and constant offensive pressure.
The "Titan" Encounter: A technical marvel featuring real-time mountable mechanics and adaptive AI that coordinates group attacks.
Looking Toward a 2026 Release
While the genre is known for its steep learning curve, director Sungjae Lee emphasizes that VANRAN includes support features for newcomers while maintaining the scalable difficulty required by hardcore fans. "We’re especially excited for players to try the demo and experience the core of VANRAN themselves," Lee stated.
This global debut follows successful appearances at ChinaJoy and Gamescom, positioning VANRAN as a flagship title for the next wave of high-end Korean RPGs.
VANRAN is slated for a full release on PC and consoles in December 2026. Players can wishlist the game on Steam today to access the free demo and prepare for the journey into the abyss.
