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NerveLabs has released its dark fantasy RPG The Lantern of the Laughless Saint into Steam Early Access as of August 17. The game takes clear inspiration from The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, building its world around exploration rather than guided objectives.

Players are drawn to an isolated island after sharing a strange, recurring dream, waking beneath a massive, silent Tower with no memory of the journey there. The island is pieced together on foot, through rumors, half-burned journal pages, and conversations with its stranger residents, each of whom has a different explanation for why the player has washed up there. Somewhere in the island's depths sits an empty theater known as the Amphitheater, where the fallout of the player's choices toward other characters takes shape as an audience filling in around a final performance.

Combat spans multiple weapon types, and the game features working spell-crafting and alchemy systems that NerveLabs has said it will expand further during Early Access.

The Lantern of the Laughless Saint supports both solo play and full online co-op, letting groups explore the island and take on its dangers together, with consequences that apply to the whole party rather than one player alone. It also offers shared and split-screen options alongside Steam's Remote Play Together.

Despite launching in Early Access, the current build is already substantial. It includes over 50 quests, more than 60 enemy types, over 100 equippable items, and a fully completable main quest, on top of the spell-crafting and alchemy systems. NerveLabs plans to keep the game in Early Access for under a year, pushing updates every one to two weeks. The eventual full release will add new enemies, areas, equipment, and quests, with further polish and expansion planned for spell-crafting, alchemy, and fishing.

The game requires Windows 10 or higher and is priced at $19.99, discounted to $17.99 as part of a launch offer running through August 24. Early user reception has been strong, with the title sitting at Mostly Positive across its first reviews on Steam.

Darryl Linington - Tech Writer - 451 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025

I’m a tech editor and journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering smartphones, AI, gaming hardware, and emerging technology. I’m passionate about making complex topics clear, engaging, and relevant—especially when they shape how we live, work, and play. I’m also an author with a love for psychological thrillers, horror, and honest, emotionally driven storytelling. My books include Drowning, 3:33 a.m., The Midnight Murderer, Keystrokes of Vengeance, and Life’s Too Short For This Sh!t!. Whether I’m writing about technology or fiction, my goal is always to connect with readers, spark thought, and leave a lasting impression. Inspired by my daughters and shaped by years of media experience, I bring curiosity and purpose to everything I write.