If you’re a fan of gritty, atmospheric indie role-playing games that channel the spirit of classic first-person “dungeon crawl meets dark fantasy”, then Verho – Curse of Faces, developed by the indie gamedev Kasur Games and published by CobraTekku Games, deserves your attention. Released on 10 November 2025 on Steam, it has already earned a strong “Very Positive” user sentiment.
In this indie game review, let’s follow us at Indie Games Tavern to explore what Verho gets right, where it may still need polish (as an indie game), and whether it stands out in the crowded indie RPG field.
Core Concept & Gameplay Loop
Verho is a first-person dark fantasy RPG, drawing heavy inspiration from classic titles like the King’s Field series. Its premise is unique and moody:
“The Curse of Faces — where revealing one’s face means instant death — has befallen the world. After 264 years of the ‘Era of Solitude’ masks have become the only protection.”
You play as a wanderer in the land of Yariv, exploring ruins, dungeons, dark wilderness areas and castle remains in search of the curse’s source. Gameplay features:
- Mask-based classes: Each mask gives a unique class/playstyle (melee, rogue, magic) and forms the basis of your build.
- First-person exploration & combat: You navigate interconnected environments in first-person view, fight monsters, gain loot, upgrade your equipment, and uncover secrets.
- Risky, old-school mechanics: True to the genre it emulates, early gameplay is tough, resources are scarce, save points matter, and every encounter can be dangerous. The review from Inverse notes: “A single wrong move can easily spell your end.”
- Lore & atmosphere: The world is bleak, gothic and cinematic, with masks, curses, decaying kingdoms, environmental storytelling.
- Replayability: With different masks, build options, hidden areas and secrets, the game invites multiple playthroughs.
Thus the loop of this indie RPG is: Choose your mask/build → explore Yariv’s world → fight, loot, uncover secrets → upgrade → push deeper into dungeons → repeat/rediscover with another mask/build.
What Works Very Well
1. Strong Nostalgia With Modern Shine
Verho nails the vibe of old-school first-person RPGs (especially that “King’s Field” lineage) while adapting modern expectations: smoother controls, clearer UI, rich atmosphere. Inverse’s review says:
“Verho’s tough combat and rewarding exploration are both enthralling.”
We Indie Games Tavern saw many indie gamedev followed Verho’s path in the past, but Kasur Games did a great work here that we didn’t see from other indie titles.
2. Unique Setting & Concept
The mask-curse premise is memorable, offering thematic cohesion across world, mechanics and narrative. The idea that showing one’s face is lethal, and choosing a mask defines identity, is strong.
3. Exploration & Hidden Depths
Players who love uncovering secrets, stumbling upon hidden paths, reading notes and piecing lore will appreciate what Verho offers. The world of Yariv rewards curiosity. An Inverse review notes:
“Verho demands a lot of patience and curiosity, and rewards both in equal measure.”
4. Indie Value & Ambience
For an indie studio, the ambition here is commendable. The visuals (retro-inspired but atmospheric), the tone, the mood and the risk-reward mechanics give Verho strong value for players who enjoy more thoughtful, deliberate RPGs.
Areas for Improvement & Considerations
1. Learning Curve & Early Difficulty
Because Verho leans hard into old-school mechanics, the early game is sluggish, dangerous and may feel punishing. As the Inverse review remarks:
“You begin your journey … making even the bats … formidable threats.”
Players new to this style should expect a steeper climb.
2. Story & Writing Could Be Stronger
While the setting and premise shine, the writing and voice acting sometimes falter. Inverse writes:
“The quality of its writing and voice acting is hit or miss.”
So if narrative-polish is a major priority for you, this may feel less refined than UI or world design.
3. Content Depth & Modern Features
Although the game has rich atmosphere and exploration, some players note that the mechanics and map variety might feel limited compared to bigger budget titles. User feedback on Steam points to UI glitches, slight balancing issues. Because it is indie, you may need to accept some compromises.
4. Accessibility & Quality-of-Life Features
Modern RPGs often include robust tutorials, accessible difficulty options, UI enhancements and controller support. While Verho has many good features, some minor user-reported issues include UI problems, class balance questions, display aspects (Ultrawide support) and so on.
Final Thoughts
Verho – Curse of Faces is a compelling indie RPG that will especially appeal to fans of atmospheric, exploration-heavy, first-person dark fantasy. It doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it executes its vision well, with a strong sense of identity, meaningful exploration, and old-school challenge tempered by modern sensibilities.
If you’re into indie games, dark RPGs, and you enjoy the idea of “mask as identity, curse as mechanic”, this game is a strong candidate for your wishlist. If you prefer fast-paced action, highly polished AAA narrative or shallow difficulty, you’ll want to go in with eyes open.
To ust at Indie Games Tavern, if you’re ready to don a mask, tread the haunted land of Yariv, uncover the source of the curse—and live in the shadow of your own hidden face—then Verho – Curse of Faces may be the indie dark RPG you’ve been waiting for. Mask on, blade ready, and follow us to support the indie gamedevs like Kasur Games.
Who Should Play It?
- Players who enjoy slower-burn exploration, atmospheric worlds and dark fantasy narrative.
- Fans of classic first-person RPGs (e.g., King’s Field, early FromSoftware games) looking for a modern indie take.
- Gamers interested in indie games with unique themes, risk-reward gameplay and hidden secrets.
Who Might Wait or Skip?
- Players seeking high-speed action, flashy visuals or ultra-modern open-world grandeur.
- Those who prefer very strong writing, cinematic story-arcs and minimal challenge.
- And of course, gamers who dislike exploration with risk and slow build-up.
Verho – Curse of Faces Review by Indie Games Tavern.
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