Krater: Shadows over Solside is a post-apocalyptic RPG set in Sweden. The whole game plays around the city hub Solside which is located at the Krater, the crater left behind from the explosion which ended the world. The player takes the role of a fortune-seeker who wants to get inside the crater where a big dungeon and treasure awaits (this also serves as occupation after the story is concluded). However, before he has to solve various quests and join the digger faction. The dialogue and characters are humorous.
The real-time fighting system is reminiscent of action RPGs like Diablo: activating special abilities and clicking on the numerous enemies to attack them. The main difference is that the player can recruit up to two mercenaries. In order to coordinate attacks, their abilities are on the same quick activate bar than the main character’s - because every of the four character classes has two abilities, that makes a whole of six. Of course characters level up over time and can be improved with better gear (for example made with the crafting system), but there are no additional abilities to learn.
Additionally, the characters receive booster slots over time which are used to modify the character’s abilities with various combinations. Like in other RPGs released at the same time, a character out of health is only knocked down and rises up after the fight (except in the highest difficulty). However, with every knockdown the injury meter fills up and after the fourth knockdown the character suffers an injury which influences the statistics negatively. The injury meter can be reset by visiting a doctor, but the injuries are permanent. Depending on the difficulty level, too many injuries lead to permanent death.
