Darksiders: Understand the story of the Series

Darksiders is a series beloved by its fans, and this story began back in 2010 with the release of the first game for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Since then, three more titles have been released, with the most recent arriving in 2019. The franchise quickly gained a loyal audience, attracted by the epic narrative of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and their universe.

Almost fifteen years after the beginning of the saga, fans are still waiting for the story's conclusion. In August of this year, the development of a new title was announced, reigniting expectations and curiosity about the fate of the Knights. Inspired by this news, I decided to revisit this saga in a series of articles, recalling the plot of each game released so far and exploring the entire journey of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Get ready to dive into this universe and relive the most memorable moments of this apocalyptic adventure!

Darksiders is an action-adventure game series inspired by the Book of Revelation, presenting an epic adaptation of the conflict between Heaven and Hell. The franchise explores the chaos that arises when the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse arrive on the scene, revealing a dark universe, full of conspiracies and apocalyptic battles.

One of the striking features of Darksiders is its approach to gameplay. The developers chose not to stick to the mechanics of the first game. Instead of repeating the original formula, each title brings a different style to its predecessor, winning over fans through the engaging narrative and characters’ charisma, rather than through the repetition of mechanics.

Except for Darksiders Genesis, the story of the main games takes place simultaneously, with each title focusing on the perspective of one of the Horsemen. Thus, each game offers a new angle on the same plot, deepening it and expanding the protagonists' points of view.

In this article, we will explore the narrative of the first game, but first, we’ll present a brief overview of the titles released so far:

Darksiders (2010)

Main character: War

Synopsis: In this debut game, we follow War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who is unfairly accused of starting the end of the world. In search of redemption and justice, he must face armies of angels and demons while unraveling a conspiracy which has shaken the balance between Heaven and Hell. Inspired by action-adventure games in the style of The Legend of Zelda, Darksiders features dungeon exploration, puzzle solving and intense combat.

Darksiders II (2012)

Main character: Death

Synopsis: The plot of Darksiders II happens parallel to the events of the first game and follows Death, who fights to prove his brother War’s innocence and restore humanity. This title expands the universe with more varied gameplay, including RPG elements, customization abilities, and exploration of vast settings, aligning well with Death's mission of redemption and his personal quest.

Darksiders III (2018)

Main character: Fury

Synopsis: In this title, we accompany Fury on a mission to capture the Seven Deadly Sins. The story takes place in the same period as the previous games, deepening the chaos that devastates the Earth after the beginning of the Apocalypse. Darksiders III adopts a gameplay style closer to Dark Souls, with challenging combat and focused on strategy.

Darksiders Genesis (2019)

Main characters: Strife and War

Synopsis: Unlike other games, Darksiders Genesis adopts an isometric view and offers an experience similar to games like Diablo. Set before the events of the first Darksiders, the game follows Strife and War as they face demonic hordes and attempt to thwart Lucifer's plans.

Right at the beginning of the first game, we are introduced to the story of the creation of Heaven and Hell and the emergence of the incessant war between angels and demons, who, ever since the beginning, have sought to assert their dominance. The angels, led by the Archangel Abaddon, defend justice and order, while the demons, led by figures such as Lucifer, seek freedom and absolute power.

To prevent this cosmic war from destroying everything, an impartial entity known as the Charred Council was created. Its goal was to maintain balance between the forces of Heaven and Hell, ensuring that neither dominated completely

To reinforce its authority, the Council created the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — War, Death, Fury and Strife — who are Nephilim, a powerful hybrid race born from the union of angels and demons. With insatiable ambition, the Nephilim threatened the balance of the universe, which led the Council to order the Knights to eliminate their own kind, becoming the last of their race and the defenders of balance.

Over time, a third kingdom was created: Earth, inhabited by humans, fragile beings, but endowed with free will. To preserve human development, the Council established the Sacred Pact, prohibiting direct interference from Heaven and Hell until the day of the Apocalypse. Thus, humanity grows without external influences, and, at the right time, the Knights will ensure that the Pact is respected and that balance is maintained.

The game begins with War, one of the Four Horsemen, being summoned to Earth in the middle of an apocalyptic conflict. However, upon arriving, he quickly realizes that something is wrong. Instead of an Earth prepared for the Apocalypse, the planet is in chaos, but without the destruction level expected at that moment. War soon discovers that the confrontation between angels and demons, which was supposed to occur only at a specific moment, was anticipated in a catastrophic way.

During his arrival, War finds Abaddon focused on repelling the demonic forces that have invaded Earth. However, the presence of the Knight causes obvious discomfort in the archangel. Distracted, Abaddon is suddenly attacked by Straga, one of the most powerful demons in Hell. Despite fighting bravely, he ends up succumbing to Straga's power.

Shortly after Abaddon's death, War confronts the colossal demon. The battle is intense and from the beginning: Straga, with his imposing strength and stature, attacks War using his huge mace and energy blasts. Each strike from Straga creates shockwaves that cause the ground to shake. When War manages to get close enough to harm the demon, the confrontation is abruptly interrupted: before he can deliver the final blow, the Charred Council intervenes.

Suddenly, War feels his strength fading away. The Council, without warning, drains much of his power, leaving him vulnerable. Weakened, the Knight is quickly defeated by Straga.

War is then captured by the Charred Council and accused of being responsible for anticipating the Apocalypse. The Council believes that, with his great strength and authority as a Knight, War caused the premature destruction of Earth and disorder among the kingdoms. The accusation is serious, as War, being one of the Horsemen, should be the last line of defense against the Apocalypse, and not the cause of it.

Among a climate of tension and uncertainty, the Council severely discusses the situation. Although War was accused of acting hastily, doubts about those truly responsible hang in the air. The Council, recognizing the complexity of the situation, decides not to convict him immediately, offering him a chance to prove his innocence. They know something isn't right, and that War may not be directly to blame. Instead of punishing him with death, they decide to send him back to Earth to investigate what really happened.

So, an entity called the Watcher was assigned to supervise him, ensuring that he follows the Council's orders and does not act recklessly. Also, the Council gave the Watcher the power to weaken the Knight and even eliminate him if he disobeyed.

When War returns to Earth, he finds a world in ruins, inhabited by demonic creatures and humans transformed into zombies. He discovers that a hundred years have passed since he was captured by the Council and that the forces of Hell have emerged victorious in the apocalyptic war.

To uncover the truth behind the premature destruction, War follows the Council's guidance and searches for Vulgrim, a demonic merchant known for exchanging valuable items and information for souls. Although he knows that Vulgrim is treacherous, War recognizes the need for allies — even if temporary — and, for that reason, decides to accept the deal offered by the merchant.

Throughout his journey, War finds himself forced to repeatedly return to Vulgrim, who strategically appears at specific points in the game. At each meeting, Vulgrim always has a new offer to help War advance, transforming the relationship between them into a constant game of interests and distrust.

In a decisive moment, Vulgrim reveals to War that the answers he seeks are in the Black Tower, domain of the Destroyer — the commander of the infernal armies that triumphed in the apocalyptic battle. The merchant also mentions that the demon Samael can help him enter the Tower, and advance in his mission.

When War finally encounters Samael, he sees the demon trapped and weakened. War frees him, understanding that his help will be essential to enter the Black Tower. Free again, Samael proposes a deal: he will guide War to the Tower if he destroys the Chosen who guards it. With no alternative, War accepts the pact.

During the journey, remnants of Heaven notice the presence of War on Earth. Uriel, leader of the Celestial Guard, confronts the Horseman, initially believing he poses a threat, but upon understanding his quest for redemption and the truth about the Apocalypse, decides to help him. With this alliance, War recovers his horse, Ruin, lost during the Apocalypse, and together they advance to defeat the Guardians and make their way to the Black Tower.

Upon facing one of the Guardians, he reveals a hidden truth: they do not protect the Tower, as Samael claimed, but are on a mission to prevent it from regaining its full power and becoming a threat. Although surprised, War decides to move forward, aware that completing his mission is the only way to get the answers he seeks.

With the Guardians destroyed, Samael regains his full strength and, keeping his word, fulfills his part of the agreement, guiding War to the entrance of the Black Tower, where the Destroyer, architect of Earth's destruction, is located.

When War finally enters the Black Tower, he comes across Azrael, the archangel imprisoned in an energy cell that drains his strength. Recognizing him as one of the guardians of the cosmic scales, War decides to free him.

Grateful for his freedom, Azrael reveals the secrets of the conspiracy which resulted in the Apocalypse:

Abaddon, leader of the angels, feared the growth of infernal power and, hence, devised a plan to protect Paradise with a preemptive attack. His goal was to destroy six of the Seven Seals and anticipate the final battle, acting before the forces of Hell got any stronger.

Ulthane, the craftsman of the Nephilim, supported Abaddon's plan, forging the Blade of Armageddon to destroy the Seals. Also, Abaddon planned to restore the seals, a strategy to deceive the Charred Council and incriminate the forces of Hell.

Azrael, although hesitant, also became involved in the conspiracy, believing that this would be the only way to avoid Heaven's defeat.

War feels betrayed when he understands that the Apocalypse wasn’t caused by demons or inferior entities, but by the archangels themselves and their allies. Driven by fear, they were the ones who destroyed the balance and sacrificed the human world to achieve their own goals.

Upon discovering the whole truth, War believes that his mission is completed, as Abaddon, the one truly responsible, is already dead. However, the Watcher insists that his task is not over yet: he needs to kill the Destroyer to restore balance and thus fulfill his duty. Without much choice, War decides to move forward and comply with the Council's wishes.

Azrael, overcome by regret for his participation in the conspiracy and the destruction of humanity, seeks redemption, opening the way for War to find Straga, the last guardian assigned to protect the Well of Souls.

War finds Straga again, now stronger and more determined than ever. The final confrontation between them is brutal and, after an intense battle, War finally defeats the demon, avenging his initial defeat and preventing the Destroyer from using the Well of Souls as a source of power.

Azrael enters the scene again and reveals that the Gardens of Eden, which everyone believed to be destroyed, have been preserved in secret. The archangel tells War to find the Tree of Knowledge, capable of revealing everything that really happened after Abaddon's death at the hands of Straga.

Upon touching the tree, War has a revealing vision. He hears a female voice speaking to Abaddon, offering him a choice: escape trial for his crimes and command the armies of Hell against Heaven. Fearing the Council's severe punishment and betraying everything he believed in until then, Abaddon accepts the offer, assumes his new identity as Destroyer and sets in motion the events that would lead Hell to victory.

Next, the vision shows War that the Council knew of Abaddon's treachery, but, without direct proof, could not formally charge him. With the Seals reforged, the Council needed someone to face the traitors, but knew that the Horsemen of the Apocalypse would never agree to act as mere assassins. So, they devised a plan: they would send War to Earth and accuse him of causing the Apocalypse, betting that, in his quest to clear his name, he would eliminate the true culprits and restore balance.

After the vision, War meets Azrael and the Watcher again. He reveals that Abaddon is the Destroyer, but chooses to omit that he knows about the Council's manipulation. Azrael then says that the Destroyer plans to annihilate the entire kingdom of Heaven and that only the Blade of Armageddon has the power to destroy him.

With this new mission, War heads to meet Ulthane so that the craftsman can reforge the Sword of Armageddon.

In possession of the sword, War goes to Azrael who opens a portal for the knight to find the Destroyer. When they meet, the Destroyer tries to convince War to join him, promising enough power to command the universe. However, War rejects the offer, calling Abaddon a coward, and starting a battle against the demon. After an intense fight, War finally defeats the Destroyer, who returns to his angelic form as Abaddon. At that moment, a new battle begins, ending with War tearing off the angel's wings and impaling him with the Blade of Armageddon, putting a definitive end to his reign on Earth.

With Abaddon's death, the treacherous Watcher reappears and takes the seventh seal because, if the seal were to be broken, War would be free to take revenge on the Council. Arrogantly, the Watcher gloats about how the Council manipulated War like a puppet and declares that although his mission was accomplished, War would now be imprisoned again.

At that moment, Uriel fulfills the death pact he had made with War, piercing him with the Blade of Armageddon and breaking the seventh seal. The broken seal releases War from his chains and revives him to fulfill his calling. In a final act, War kills the Watcher, crushing his head.

Uriel then warns War that he will be hunted by the Council. War, unimpressed, replies that he won’t be alone. In the game's epic final scene, we see the three other Horsemen of the Apocalypse appearing on the horizon, summoned by the power of the seventh seal, ready to face the Council alongside War.

Darksiders has a very well-developed narrative and, despite the game being unnecessarily long on some occasions, the final experience is very satisfying. The gameplay and the entire atmosphere of the world presented made me become very fond of this game. I am certainly one of the fans who eagerly awaits the conclusion of this saga.

Glad the next game is being developed.