Dread Templar is a new retro FPS inspired by DOOM, Quake, and Hexen, coming in Early Access this Fall

Dread Templar Hero Image
Dread Templar Hero Image (Image credit: 1C Entertainment)

What you need to know

  • Dread Templar is a new first-person shooter coming to PC on Steam later this year.
  • The game is clearly inspired by classic retro shooters like DOOM, Quake, and Hexen.
  • However, Dread Templar wants to combine the feel of those classic games with modern shooter features.
  • Dread Templar features fast-paced gameplay with a wide arsenal of weapons and areas to explore.

Even after decades of evolutions in game design, the development of new game technologies, and recent trends in video games, retro FPS games like DOOM, Quake, and Hexen still hold a special place in the hearts of countless gamers. Dread Templar is the latest game that wears its retro-inspirations on its sleeves... and everywhere else. However, this gritty classic-throwback has modern aspirations on top of its retro inspirations and aims to combine modern features with old-school vibes.

Dread Templar comes from IC Entertainment, and features incredibly fast-paced gameplay with a wide arsenal of weaponry (over ten types!), dashing, headshots, bullet time, an abundance of puzzles and secret areas to explore, and goretastic, explosive combat with a handmade retro pixel art style. From the early trailer and screenshots, Dread Templar looks like it could be a big winner for fans of the genre.

Dread Templar is heading to Steam in Early Access in Fall 2021, with a wider public release planned for sometime in 2022. You can check out additional screenshots for the game below if you want to see more of it.

It's too early to tell if Dread Templar will make it onto our list of Best Games for PC, but you can still prepare with one of the Best Gaming Mice for PC, which will give you best-in-class performance in every shooter you play.

Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.