Independent developer Moon Studios, celebrated for the Ori series, has announced the eagerly anticipated launch of No Rest for the Wicked Together. This online co-op update for their action RPG, currently in early access, will be available starting January 22, 2026. However, eager players can dive into the game now through an Open Beta test available until Monday, December 22.
Innovative Co-op Gameplay Design
Moon Studios has reimagined traditional multiplayer modes, aiming to overcome their inherent limitations. Founder and CEO Thomas Mahler emphasized that existing modes like host-guest setups or random player additions don’t capture the cooperative essence players crave. Instead, they’ve combined elements from traditional ARPGs with MMORPGs’ shared-world architecture, all while avoiding the need for subscriptions and constant online connectivity. Their vision is to recreate the “magical feeling of playing your very first D&D campaign.”
The game’s technical backbone relies on persistent shared realms, allowing players to create and share realms that are always accessible, akin to Minecraft’s model. Up to four players can explore a realm simultaneously, with their actions persisting even when others are offline. Community chests enable asynchronous trading, supporting players with differing schedules.
Expanded Features and Improvements
Beyond the cooperative focus, No Rest for the Wicked Together introduces enhancements appealing to solo adventurers. Changes include superior enchantment rolls for high-tier items, weapons with random critical strike chances, universal backstab mechanics, and quivers altering bow behaviors. The hardest difficulty tier now features increased enemy density, catering to community requests.
Players will also enjoy shared living arrangements, where they can collectively own a home, set permissions, and access shared crafting facilities. Furthermore, the Crucible roguelike area, revamped post-early access, now supports full co-op play. Multiplayer introduces new AI behaviors for enemies and bosses, necessitating tactical shifts for successful combat.
Early Access Journey and Future Plans
Since its early access debut in April 2024, No Rest for the Wicked has shown promising potential, though not quite reaching expected success levels. Sales estimates from SteamDB hover between one and 1.5 million units, yet the studio seeks community support to boost its Steam user review score. Despite this, CEO Thomas Mahler reassured that Moon Studios is not in imminent financial trouble.
The final version 1.0 release date remains unannounced, but plans include a console launch—though Xbox might be excluded due to shifting market conditions.
[CATEGORY]RPG[/CATEGORY]