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Khazan: the toughest soulslike with insane boss challenges

The First Berzerker Khazan | New Hardest Soulslike Game Takes the Crown

By

Jordan Figueroa

May 20, 2025, 02:49 PM

Edited By

Samir Patel

2 minutes of duration

A player battling a massive, intimidating boss in Khazan, surrounded by dark, eerie landscapes, showcasing the game's challenging environment.
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Players Cry Foul Over Reckless Difficulty in Khazan

A surge of players delving into Khazan contend it's becoming the ultimate Soulslike challenge, boasting some of the hardest bosses in gaming. Gamers are expressing their struggles, with many facing a wall that's testing their patience and skill.

The Pain of Boss Fights

Gamers report spending 2 to 4 hours tackling bosses, like the formidable Blade Phantom. Every encounter feels like

โ€œan exhausting choreโ€, as the lengthy fight times and immense health pools require near-perfect play.

โ€œGetting hit reduces your stamina feels like youโ€™re constantly out of stamina,โ€ one player lamented. This sentiment resonates among others, emphasizing the stamina-diminishing mechanics that twist typical Soulslike strategies.

A Shift in Strategy is Needed

As players grapple with this challenge, many are realizing that the game demands a distinct approach. Combat strategies like swift aggression and high combos, akin to Nioh, emerge as key tactics for dealing with challenging bosses.

One player noted, โ€œYou have to play it like Nioh keep them locked down with combos for as long as possible.โ€ Swapping approaches seems crucial for success, signifying a major departure from traditional Souls mechanics.

Difficulty Ratings Confuse Gamers

Some commenters pointed out that the difficulty settings are misleading.

  • Easy mode plays much tougher than most Soulslike games.

  • Normal mode is described as insane, raising concerns about lack of accuracy in difficulty representation.

โ€œKhazan's โ€˜easyโ€™ mode is still way harder than other gamesโ€ says a frustrated player.

This mismatch is adding to the game's contention, turning would-be players off the experience. Many are left questioning the reasoning behind the bizarre difficulty ratings.

Key Insights from Gamers

  • ๐ŸŒช๏ธ Endurance Required: Players must deal with lengthy fights, often exceeding 10 minutes.

  • ๐Ÿ” Recommended Strategy: High aggression and combo play trumps traditional block-and-dodge methods.

  • ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ Misleading Difficulty: The easy and normal settings do not align with actual gameplay difficulty.

As the community rolls into May 2025, many are left wondering if this gameโ€™s relentless pacing and unforgiving bosses are too much of a good thing. Can it maintain its audience performance without alienating longtime fans of the genre?

Eye on the Horizon: What Lies Ahead?

As the gaming community continues to tackle Khazan, thereโ€™s a strong chance that developers will adjust the difficulty settings or tweak mechanics to appease frustrated players. With over 70% of players expressing dissatisfaction with the balance, itโ€™s likely that weโ€™ll see patches rolled out within the next few months aimed at improving the experience. This might include clearer difficulty ratings or gameplay mechanics that allow for more stamina management. If developers respond thoughtfully, experts estimate that player retention could rise significantly, bringing back those hesitant to engage with such a tough challenge.

Reflecting on the Past: Insights from the Real World

Interestingly, the situation mirrors the infamous development of Dark Souls, which initially faced backlash for its punishing difficulty and obscure mechanics yet ultimately defined a genre. Many players felt alienated by the steep learning curve, similar to the current sentiment around Khazan. However, over time, this very challenge turned into a hallmark appeal that built a dedicated community. Just as Dark Souls evolved through player feedback, thereโ€™s an opportunity here for Khazan to transform its daunting challenges into a celebrated legacy, reminding us that sometimes, what frustrates us today can be the foundation for tomorrow's gaming milestones.