Loulan: The Cursed Sand Preview: Blend of Prince of Persia and Dark Souls Into a Stunning ARPG

An Ancient Kingdom Reborn in Sand and Sorrow

Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an upcoming action RPG set along the legendary Silk Road in the Western Regions of China. Players take on the role of “The Cursed Sand,” a skeletal warrior wielding the power of sand as he journeys through a fallen kingdom to find his lost princess.

This haunting tale of love, loss, and redemption unfolds across an ancient desert kingdom that blends Eastern mythology with tragic fantasy. And according to early reactions, it might just be the Prince of Persia reboot players have been waiting for.

Checkout thee game trailer here

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A Cursed Warrior Searching for Redemption

At its core, Loulan: The Cursed Sand tells the story of an exiled royal guard who returns to his ruined homeland to seek the princess he once swore to protect. Now bound by a mysterious curse, his very form has turned to bone and sand — a symbol of both his power and his suffering.

Players can freely switch between his bone and sand forms, each offering unique combat styles, abilities, and story interactions. This duality not only defines gameplay but mirrors the game’s overarching themes of transformation and loss.

Top-Down Melee Combat With Soulslike Precision

Loulan: The Cursed Sand features a dynamic top-down combat system that emphasizes skill, timing, and situational awareness. While its perspective evokes ARPGs like Hades or Diablo, the combat leans more toward realistic melee encounters — one-versus-many battles that reward careful movement and terrain use.

Enemy groups are intelligently designed, forcing players to adapt and use both the environment and their abilities strategically. Every encounter feels handcrafted rather than procedural, echoing the attention to detail of older God of War and Prince of Persia titles.

The Power of Sand — Creativity Meets Combat

The game’s most defining mechanic lies in its sand-based abilities. These powers go beyond simple attacks, allowing for puzzle-solving, environmental manipulation, and tactical experimentation.

You can:

• Form bridges or barriers using sand constructs
• Blind or trap enemies in swirling storms
• Reshape terrain to unlock hidden areas
• Combine attacks and abilities to form fluid combat chains

This versatility turns every skirmish and puzzle into a creative opportunity, making Loulan feel as much about mastery as it is about discovery.

Formidable Bosses and Elite Foes

True to its Soulslike inspiration, Loulan: The Cursed Sand challenges players with formidable elites and massive bosses. Each encounter is built around pattern recognition, reaction timing, and mastery of the sand powers you’ve learned.

These duels serve as emotional and mechanical highlights, pushing players to evolve their fighting style while deepening the protagonist’s cursed journey.

A Handcrafted World Inspired by the Silk Road

Visually, Loulan is breathtaking. Every frame feels painted with dust and sunlight, reflecting the mystique of the lost Kingdom of Loulan, a real historical site buried beneath the sands of the Taklamakan Desert.

From golden ruins and scorched temples to haunting oases, the game’s world design channels a tangible sense of history and sorrow. Community members have praised its art direction, calling it:

“The artwork is sheer bliss — every scene looks hand-painted with sand.”

“Love the Middle Eastern music and atmosphere.”

The soundtrack further enhances this immersion, weaving traditional instruments into melancholic melodies that complement the game’s tone of loss and resilience.

Community Reactions: ‘This Is What Prince of Persia Should Look Like’

Since its reveal, Loulan: The Cursed Sand has drawn impressive community attention. The reveal trailer sparked hundreds of comparisons to classic action games — and nearly universal praise for its art and tone.

Here’s what players are saying:

General Impressions

• “This is what Prince of Persia should look like.”
• “Looks phenomenal — great art direction.”
• “Finally, a good game.”
• “Game trailer of the year.”

Gameplay Reactions

• “Finally, a hack & slash that’s not another Soulslike.”
• “Looks like God of War 1 & 2 gameplay.”
• “Isometric hack n’ slash — nice.”

Comparisons & References

• “Prince of Persia × Dark Souls.”
• “It’s like Prince of Persia, God of War, and Hades in a blender.”
• “Hades-like game with a Middle Eastern twist.”
• “Old-school God of War vibes.”

The recurring sentiment? Fans believe Loulan: The Cursed Sand captures the essence of what Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia once stood for — mythic storytelling, elegant combat, and stunning world design — all reborn in a modern indie form.

System Requirements (TBD)

The developers have yet to confirm the final system specs, but here’s what’s listed for now:

Minimum Requirements:

• 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: TBD
• Processor: TBD
• Memory: TBD
• Graphics: TBD
• Storage: TBD

Recommended Requirements:

• 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: TBD
• Processor: TBD
• Memory: TBD
• Graphics: TBD
• Storage: TBD

While the hardware info remains unannounced, the game’s visual fidelity suggests a polished PC experience that could later expand to consoles — though fans have already voiced disappointment about the lack of an Xbox version.

Concerns and Criticism

Despite widespread excitement, the community has voiced a few concerns:

• Developer’s track record of unfinished projects
• Unconfirmed Xbox release
• Overcrowded ARPG market
• Potentially dizzying camera motion

These are valid points, especially given how many indie ARPGs have recently entered the scene. However, Loulan’s distinct cultural inspiration and striking presentation could help it stand out if execution matches ambition.

The Voice of the Fans

Some comments have turned Loulan’s reveal into meme-worthy moments of genuine praise:

• “Prince of Loulan 😂.”
• “The gaming industry is healing.”
• “Too late, Ubisoft — they already made a good Prince of Persia reboot.”

It’s rare for a new IP from an indie team to generate this much organic excitement from a single trailer. That alone speaks to the power of its presentation.

FAQs – Loulan: The Cursed Sand

Q1: What is Loulan: The Cursed Sand about?
A1: It’s an action RPG set along the Silk Road, following a cursed skeletal warrior seeking his lost princess in a fallen desert kingdom.

Q2: What platforms will Loulan: The Cursed Sand release on?
A2: Loulan: The Cursed Sand is to be launched on Steam, PlayStation as well as Epic Games Store.

Q3: What kind of gameplay can players expect?
A3: Expect top-down melee combat with dual-form mechanics (bone and sand forms), puzzle-solving, exploration, and boss encounters inspired by Dark Souls and Prince of Persia.

Q4: Does Loulan: The Cursed Sand have multiplayer?
A4: No multiplayer has been announced. Current information points to a single-player, story-driven experience.

Q5: When is Loulan: The Cursed Sand releasing?
A5: The release date hasn’t been revealed yet. More details are expected following the game’s recent announcement trailer.

Q6: Why are fans comparing it to Prince of Persia?
A6: The art style, desert setting, fluid combat, and Middle Eastern atmosphere strongly evoke the classic Prince of Persia series — with a darker, more tragic tone.

Final Thoughts

Loulan: The Cursed Sand has quickly become one of the most talked-about indie RPGs of the year. Its mix of ancient mythology, hand-painted artistry, and skill-based combat has resonated deeply with players hungry for something new — yet familiar.

If the final release delivers on the promise of its reveal, Loulan could easily stand alongside modern indie greats like Hades and Blasphemous while carving its own path through the sands of legend.