At Summer Game Fest, we had the chance to experience Mistfall Hunter, an intriguing PvPvE third-person extraction action RPG developed by Bellring Games. Blending dungeon-crawling elements with survival mechanics, the game introduces players to a world where a deadly mist slowly consumes the battlefield.

While extraction-based shooters like Rainbow Six: Extraction have carved a niche, Mistfall Hunter refreshes the formula by layering in RPG mechanics and a fantasy setting. The closest comparison might be Synduality: Echo of Ada, and that’s even a reach because Mistfall Hunter leans more into traditional RPG roots.

Here Comes The Mistfall Hunter!

We were given 30 minutes with the demo, starting with a familiar MMORPG-style onboarding experience. I opted for a rogue, a swift dagger-wielder focused on speed and stealth, deviating from my usual tanky warrior builds for a change of pace.

The PC controls were fairly intuitive. Mistfall Hunter features mechanics reminiscent of a soulslike, including a stamina bar that governs skills and evasive actions but not basic attacks, easing the pressure for new players. That said, reflexes still matter, especially with a rogue build designed for mobility and flanking.

Exploration quickly ramps up in intensity. After a brief period, the mist begins to close in, threatening to chip away at your HP unless you escape. Notably, escaping the mist doesn’t restore your health, forcing you to use consumables wisely. This keeps tension high and discourages passive playstyles.

Extraction requires locating specific enemies holding “escape crystals.” After a tense battle with one such guardian, I successfully secured my loot and extracted.

Watch Out For The Mist!

Following the extraction, we returned to our hub to offload loot. Mistfall Hunter features a complete system where failing to extract will result in losing everything you’ve gathered. This harsh penalty elevates the stakes with every mission and rewards cautious, well-planned runs.

The latter half of the session dropped us into a proper dungeon beyond the tutorial. The number of enemies increased, and the map’s twisty design encouraged exploration. I leaned into the rogue’s stealth-based abilities, vanishing temporarily to deliver powerful backstab strikes. Taking on mobs proved unwise, and as with all rogues, one-on-one encounters were far more manageable.

Although I didn’t manage to beat any bosses during my time with the game, I successfully executed a clean extraction after locating another return crystal. The gameplay loop feels tense but satisfying, and I’m curious to see how it translates to a controller setup. I suspect it will lend itself better to the game’s reaction-based combat, whether on Xbox or PC.

Mistfall Hunter is coming soon to Xbox and PC.