Soulframe is still super early access, but the vibes are immaculate

Soulframe is an open-world action RPG from Digital Extremes, the developer of Warframe. While the two games share a few systems, Soulframe is by and large its own beast. It’s still in very early access, and Digital Extremes are slowly inviting more players in over time while they tinker with weapon stats, player power, and other elements under the hood. I’ve been curious about Soulframe for some time, but since the game is still taking shape in the oven, I sat back and waited. After this year’s TennoCon, I decided to finally jump in and see what the game is all about.

I am an Envoy, a defender of the world of Alca who has been touched by nature in some mysterious way. I get a few glimpses of my past: being held by a loving mother in a castle under siege, being interrogated and deemed a traitor in a structure in the sky, and then left for dead in a body of water. Soulframe keeps its cards close to its chest, similar to Warframe, but this storytelling method works better in a high fantasy setting. Soulframe feels like a fairy tale, with all of the storybook flourishes in the UI. The first NPC I meet is a guy called Orlick the Bicameral, a scribe and historian. The world feels mysterious without being overwhelming and confusing, so I’m eager to set out and explore.