Disciples: Domination Hands-on Preview

Since Arianna fought to free the people of Nevendaar in Disciples: Liberation, we’ve been waiting to see what came next for this venerable series. Now, five years later, the time has come with the looming release of Disciples: Domination! We were lucky enough to be given a small hands-on look behind the curtains to see what's in store.

Our session started off with a return to the land of Nevendaar. Taking place 15 years after Disciples: Liberation, Domination continues the story of the now-crowned Queen Avyanna. Having freed the people from the gods, you’d expect things to be on the positive side… however, this is not the case, as the weight of leadership has not quite suited our ex-mercenary hero. Abandoned by her companions and abandoning her people in turn, Avyanna’s rule is rife with anxiety and uncertainty.

This miasma of discontent comes to a head as a mysterious corruption starts to spread, leading Avyanna to gain her second wind, so to speak, and lead her people anew! Avyanna hears the Mountain Clans, who were in hiding for the events of the previous game, may have an idea of what's going on, so she sets off in search of the absent people. This is where the plot starts off.

One of the core gameplay loops of the game is overworld exploration. Whenever not locking blades with a foe or passing judgment on a fool, the player will more often than not find themselves journeying through the many zones. The land of Nevendaar is split between the factions into five diverse areas. Each location can be explored, offering unique bonuses and challenges based on the faction in question, those being the human Empire, the demonic Legion of the Damned, the Undead Horde, the Elves, and the returning Dwarven Mountain Clans, respectively.

The overworld maps are surprisingly large, with assets to find, roaming enemies to fight, and quests to complete. The player can even find treasures or resource nodes that can produce valuable materials every real-life hour. These goodies are often guarded, however, and the maps can surprise any unaware monarch with very strong enemies. I may have run into a level 20 encounter with a handful of level five friends. It did not go my way.

As the player explores, investigating the spreading corruption, they will be able to meet companions, both familiar faces and new allies, some of whom may even join their quest. In addition to named companions, the player can also recruit units from all of the aforementioned factions, each with their own strengths and quirks, allowing you to build an army to take on any foe!

Speaking of, Dominion continues the series’ tradition of strategic turn-based combat and planning. Before starting each skirmish, players have the chance to pick their units and get a feel for the theatre of battle with the Deployment Screen. Though it is possible to just fill your group with ten burly Dwarves, Dominion emphasises finding synergy between characters and the factions in general.

For example, the Paladins of the Empire? Absolutely devastating when put up against anything undead! The game also features many abilities that can push or pull units, allowing the player to alter the field as they see fit.

Though the companions and units of the world are forces to behold, Avyanna herself is no passive observer. Featuring four classes with updated skill trees and powerful passive abilities to choose from, Dominion allows players to customise their playstyle. Enjoy summoning minions or casting spells? The Witch Queen is for you! Want to be in the thick of combat? Look no further than the Warmaster. If the player regrets their choices or wants to try another build down the line, respeccing is made easy and only costs a few resources.

Avyanna’s days as a mercenary are far behind her, however, so she must do more than just fight back the corruption. She must also rule her kingdom, bringing us to the new mechanic introduced in Dominion, the Throne.

Unlocked after certain story beats or by interacting with people and items in the overworld, the citizens will occasionally log a Grievance for their Queen to arbitrate. These can range from personal disputes to larger arguments between factions and have multiple solutions, though they are not without consequences. Each faction will react to any rulings, requiring the player to balance the political implications of any choice against both morals and their own goals. Choices may also lead to further Grievances, quests, or even battles!

Thankfully, your companions have more to offer than a strong sword arm! When in doubt, Avyanna can consult her companions to help decide what would be the best course. The companions aren’t unbiased, however, so listening to them blindly may lead to more trouble down the line.

Disciples: Dominion promises to be an interesting journey rife with epic battles and intrigue. As the game focuses on solo content (no multiplayer options are planned as of yet), we look forward to seeing what the story has in store! With a playtime of about 35–50 hours, there are sure to be a twist or two coming.

Disciples: Dominion is set to be released on the 12th of February for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.