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Start with Darksiders: Warmastered Edition. It introduces the Four Horsemen setting, War, and the series’ core third-person action-RPG structure before the sequels change protagonist, progression emphasis, and camera style. For a first playthrough, use this order: Warmastered Edition → Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition → Darksiders III → Darksiders Genesis.
The best first Darksiders game for most players
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition is the safest starting point because it establishes the franchise’s world and combat identity. You play War, one of the Four Horsemen, in a post-apocalyptic setting that combines exploration, environmental puzzles, melee combat, firearms and mythical weapons. The series was described by THQ Nordic as “a third-person open-world action role-playing game with a complex warfare system and a large arsenal of modern and mythical weapons.” That foundation makes the later protagonist changes easier to understand.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition | $11.81 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Darksiders II: Death's Door | $6.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Overpass 2 [GRA PS5] | $29.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Darksiders Wrath of War poster with wall scroll 22 inch x 16 inch | $18.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dead Island 2 - PS5 Game - D a One Edition | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The recommended first-playthrough route is the release-order path: Warmastered Edition, Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition, Darksiders III, then Darksiders Genesis. This is an editorial recommendation based on how each entry introduces its own character and format, not a claim that every player will prefer the same combat system. Starting with another game can still make sense if you have a specific priority, such as playing Death, following Fury, or using a War-and-Strife-focused format.
Darksiders games in release order
| Entry | Publisher-documented timing | Protagonist or focus | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darksiders: Warmastered Edition | Original franchise launch in 2010; Warmastered is the later remaster, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S availability announced May 19, 2026 | War; foundational third-person action RPG | Most newcomers and players wanting the clearest introduction |
| Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition | Mainline sequel; enhanced PlayStation 5/Xbox Series version recorded October 15, 2024; retail release recorded January 28, 2025 | Death; broader action-RPG emphasis | Players who prioritize a larger role-playing campaign or want Death’s story |
| Darksiders III | Worldwide PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch November 27, 2018; Nintendo Switch release September 30, 2021 | Fury; later hack-and-slash direction | Players primarily interested in Fury or a different combat feel |
| Darksiders Genesis | PC launch campaign in 2019; worldwide console availability February 14, 2020 | War and Strife; distinct Genesis format | A later detour, alternate perspective or co-op-minded change of pace |
The dates above identify launches and documented edition releases; they do not indicate that one game is universally better. Each entry changes at least one major axis: protagonist, combat direction, exploration and progression, camera perspective or multiplayer orientation.
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What each game offers
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition — the foundation
Warmastered is the remastered version of the first Darksiders. The original was developed by Vigil Games, while KAIKO handled development of the remaster. Its central value for a newcomer is context: War’s role, the post-apocalyptic setting and the series’ blend of action, exploration and puzzle-solving are introduced here rather than assumed.
Choose it first when you want to learn the franchise from its baseline. You also avoid having the first game you see be a sequel’s interpretation of the world. The remaster is the practical version to seek instead of the 2010 release when both are available, because it is the current reworked edition documented by the publisher. A May 19, 2026 announcement also places Warmastered on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, which matters if you are buying for current consoles.
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition — the broader action-RPG option
Darksiders II shifts the focus to Death and gives the series a more expansive action-RPG identity. The publisher’s edition name is exactly Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition. Its enhanced PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series version was recorded on October 15, 2024, followed by a retail release recorded on January 28, 2025.
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Start here only if your priority is a larger role-playing emphasis, loot-oriented progression or Death himself. You will meet a different Horseman before seeing War’s introduction, so the setting’s baseline is less gradual. For those who have already played the first game, however, II is the natural next step in the mainline sequence.
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For a current console buyer, Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition PS5 is a useful search phrase, as is Darksiders II physical edition. Region, stock, price and edition contents can change, so verify the exact platform and release listing before purchasing.
Darksiders III — Fury and a later combat direction
Darksiders III is a hack-and-slash action-adventure developed by Gunfire Games. Its worldwide release was November 27, 2018, on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One; the archive records a Nintendo Switch version on September 30, 2021, along with later downloadable content.
Fury is the reason to choose this game early. If she is the Horseman you most want to play, beginning with III is defensible. Otherwise, playing at least one earlier mainline entry gives you more context for the shared world and makes III’s later combat direction feel like a deliberate variation rather than an unexplained starting point. Treat “different” as a preference issue: the available publisher information identifies the genre and protagonist, but does not establish universal difficulty, length or enjoyment rankings.
Darksiders Genesis — a distinct War-and-Strife detour
Darksiders Genesis centers on War and Strife and uses a distinct format from the numbered mainline games. Its PC campaign launched in 2019, with worldwide console availability on February 14, 2020. The combination of two Horsemen and the different presentation makes it a useful change of pace after you know the series’ basic premise.
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For ordering purposes, play Genesis after at least one mainline game unless its War-and-Strife pairing or co-op-oriented design is your main reason for buying. It can be discussed as a prequel-style entry, but a newcomer does not need to settle every timeline question before starting. The practical point is that Genesis is not the clearest tutorial for the franchise’s original structure; it is the alternate-format game to visit once the core identity is familiar.
Which game should you choose first?
| If your priority is… | Choose first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding the setting and series premise | Warmastered Edition | It is the first game’s remastered presentation and introduces War and the baseline action-RPG formula. |
| A broader role-playing campaign and Death | Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition | It is the mainline sequel built around Death and a stronger action-RPG emphasis. |
| Playing Fury specifically | Darksiders III | Fury is the lead character, and the game represents a later hack-and-slash direction. |
| A War-and-Strife pairing or a different format | Darksiders Genesis | Its focus and structure are distinct from the numbered entries. |
| The cleanest first-playthrough arc | Release order | It presents the foundation before sequels and the separate Genesis-style entry. |
How the games differ by the factors that matter
Entry point and lore context
Warmastered provides the initial frame of reference. II assumes you are ready for another Horseman’s campaign, III presents Fury in a later variation, and Genesis moves to a War-and-Strife pairing. If you value gradual orientation, use release order. If character attachment matters more than chronology, select the protagonist you want and accept that the world will be explained less progressively.
Combat style
The first game establishes the series’ combination of melee weapons, modern weapons, exploration and puzzles. II keeps the action-RPG foundation while putting more emphasis on its own character and progression structure. III is explicitly a hack-and-slash action-adventure, so it is the clearest choice for that direction. Genesis changes the presentation and is best treated as a format variation rather than a direct replacement for the numbered games.
Exploration and role-playing depth
All four entries belong to the broader Darksiders action-and-adventure family, but the editorial fit differs. Warmastered is the introductory baseline; II is the pick when a broader action-RPG campaign is your deciding factor; III is for Fury and its combat direction; Genesis is for variety and the War-and-Strife setup. The available publisher material does not provide reliable completion-time, difficulty or comparative review statistics, so do not use unsupported numbers to choose between them.
Solo and co-op orientation
The numbered games are the mainline solo campaigns to consider first. Genesis is the entry to investigate when a War-and-Strife pairing or co-op-minded experience is the priority. Confirm the mode and platform details for the specific edition you intend to buy, because availability can differ by system and region.
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Choosing Warmastered over the original
When deciding between the original Darksiders and Warmastered, choose Warmastered if the remaster is available on your platform at a comparable price. It is the publisher-identified remastered version of the first game, and its documented current-generation release covers PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Keep the original only when a specific legacy release, ownership situation or platform limitation makes it the practical option.
Buying Darksiders II on current consoles
Look for the exact product name Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition. The enhanced PlayStation 5/Xbox Series version is recorded from October 15, 2024, and a retail edition is recorded from January 28, 2025. Check whether a listing is for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, an older console generation or a digital-only product before paying. Prices and inventory are volatile and should be checked at the time of purchase.
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Other platform notes
- Darksiders III: documented for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at its November 27, 2018 launch, with a Nintendo Switch release on September 30, 2021.
- Warmastered Edition: a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S release was announced May 19, 2026.
- Genesis: launched on PC in 2019 and reached consoles worldwide on February 14, 2020.
These records establish availability at the cited release points, not guaranteed store stock in every country today. Check your region’s storefront or retailer for the exact edition.
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A practical playthrough plan
- Begin with Warmastered Edition. Use it to learn War, the Four Horsemen premise and the series’ mixture of combat and exploration.
- Move to Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition. Continue with Death when you want the mainline sequel and a broader action-RPG emphasis.
- Play Darksiders III. Follow Fury and experience the later hack-and-slash direction after the first two perspectives are familiar.
- Finish with Darksiders Genesis. Treat its War-and-Strife focus and distinct format as a detour or change of pace.
If you already know that Fury, Death or the Genesis format is your priority, you can reorder the plan without losing the ability to enjoy the other games. The trade-off is context: skipping Warmastered means learning the franchise through a sequel or alternate-format lens.
What is known about the franchise’s scale
THQ Nordic’s 2016 prospectus reported more than 5 million Darksiders copies sold and approximately USD 150 million in net sales during the prospectus period. Those are historical figures, not a current lifetime total, and they should not be read as present-day sales or player counts. No current owner-attributed sales, active-player, review-score or completion-time figure is established here, so recommendations above are based on documented roles, formats, editions and release position rather than invented rankings.
Bottom line: the order to use
For nearly every first-time player, buy or play Darksiders: Warmastered Edition first, then Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition, Darksiders III and Darksiders Genesis. Choose II first only when Death and a broader action-RPG campaign outweigh the value of an introduction. Choose III first when Fury is the deciding factor. Choose Genesis first only when its War-and-Strife pairing and distinct format are the point. Release order remains the most coherent route because it lets each change in protagonist and structure build on a foundation you have already seen.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
