Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Reviews
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance allows players to experience the events of previous games through a different lens in an entirely different genre than they’re accustomed to. Unfortunately, the combat is boring, and the story is winding and doesn’t pay off. As the game ends, we’re shown Raziel being thrown into the void, leading into the Soul Reaver games, left wondering why this game was even necessary.
My final thoughts, in simple terms, are that Legacy of Kain: Ascendance does not do this long-standing series justice. Not in voice acting, not in story, not in graphics, in gameplay, or any other metric by which games are judged. I hope that game developers and publishers realize that there is a passionate fan base out there eager for more Raziel and Kain adventures, unveiling Nosgoth’s misty past, present, and future. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance gets the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a linear 2D action platformer that is fun to play through, but some will call it a missed opportunity. The simple slash-em-up gameplay is addictive, but it is all a bit mindless.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance presented us with a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, our passion for the Nosgoth universe led us to appreciate the franchise’s first original title in over twenty years, thanks above all to a bold reinterpretation of the narrative canon, a refined art style, and simple, fast-paced gameplay. On the other hand, viewed through the lens of players less captivated by Crystal Dynamics’ vampires, we found ourselves with a two-dimensional action game that is far too linear and repetitive, betraying Bit Bot Media’s inexperience. What was meant to be an attempt to revive the franchise thus ends up being a product aimed solely at the series’ most die-hard fans, who might even be annoyed by the lack of consistency with the past.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance offers a fantastic prequel story with the iconic original voice cast, finally answering decades-old questions for fans of the series. However, the disjointed art style, repetitive combat, and frustrating level design make the actual gameplay a struggle to enjoy. It is a vital piece of lore for fans, but playing on Story mode is the best way to experience it.
While Legacy of Kain: Ascendance tries to explore shifting visual styles and maintains the series’ focus on narrative, the actual gameplay feels like an afterthought. The stage design is lacklustre, and the combat system is too basic, showing little to no evolution throughout the playthrough. Above all, it is over before you know it.
Repetition, controls that feel a little sloppier than they should, and quite a few bugs prevent this title from ascending terribly high
Beyond the story, the voice acting – which reunites the original Legacy of Kain team – and the localization for our language are highlights of Ascendance. However, the many problems present ended up overshadowing the franchise's return. While playing, I found myself frustratedly thinking: "I expected more," "the series deserved more." The story ends with a hook for a future sequel. Who knows, maybe they'll get it right in a next game?! Just don't make high bets, because you might lose your wings like Raziel.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If this is how Crystal Dynamics envisions the future of the franchise, they’d be better off closing the coffin they’ve opened and burying it deep again, because Legacy of Kain: Ascendance has turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments of 2026. Anyone expecting the latest LoK installment to ride in like a mythical steed is bound to be let down - because Bit Bot Media is essentially trying to sell the same bloated, long-dead horse all over again in the hope of turning a profit.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
What could have been a grand return for a franchise that has been waiting for a new installment for over two decades turns out to be a mediocre letdown.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
For some, it’s business as usual; others, a massive missed opportunity to resurrect a much-loved franchise into the current generation. In that regard, I am privileged in the sense that at least my disappointment only lasted a weekend. “Vae victis” to all who purchased this game hoping for the best. You deserve better, Kain raisers.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a soulless game, afraid to take risks. Its gameplay is extremely simplistic, even compared to other games in a series that's over 20 years old, and it forgets what made it great: its compelling narrative.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
All in all, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a poor attempt to inject energy into a long-forgotten franchise.
There’s very little to redeem Legacy of Kain: Ascendance other than the fact that it’s short.
What little fun Legacy of Kain: Ascendance does offer, is quickly replaced by the feeling of boredom. With a distinct lack of replayability, forgettable boss fights, and poor level design, fans of the series will indeed wonder what has happened to the series, and its usual pedigree of strong character development through storytelling. Sadly, what Ascendance does well, is overshadowed by its painfully short runtime, and mediocre enemy designs.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance arrives at a delicate moment for the franchise. After years of silence broken by the positive reception of the remasters, fans expected a high-quality return worthy of the series — but what they received was a title that seems to underestimate the very legacy it carries in its name.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While some art assets are fine, with some decent music, I struggle to really find anything good about the whole package. The story is miserable, with extended dialogue sessions that, while voiced, are simply not entertaining. However, the biggest issue is the bland gameplay that does nothing to even stand out, providing combat and platforming that are dated, even by NES standards. The Dead Shall Rise was a hollow attempt at revisiting the lore, and Ascendance simply echoes that same attempt, offering a story that fans of the series simply didn’t take to.
The Legacy of Kain: Ascendance shows that the franchise can still challenge and please fans after all these years. It is both a trip down memory lane and a modern action experience, thanks to the vision of FreakZone Games and the help of Crystal Dynamics.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance tries to revive one of the most revered game series, but does so through controversial narrative choices, bare‑bones mechanics, and a runtime that barely justifies the game’s existence.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
We've thought about it, but Ascendance doesn't even manage to earn a 6, in our opinion. The developers' love for the Legacy of Kain saga is evident in the lore and the narrative structure. Everything else, however, is truly lacking. Ascendance is a very weak game, never fun or entertaining; it's playable from start to finish, but don't expect this to be the game that will resurrect Raziel from his eternal slumber.
Review in Italian | Read full review