Loulan: The Cursed Sand arrived with a trailer that feels straight out of the PS2 era, fast combat, heavy atmosphere, and camera work that instantly brings back those old God of War vibes. The story unfolds in a fallen desert kingdom inspired by ancient Silk Road legends, filled with mystery and myth. If you’ve missed the days when action games mixed epic combat with deep lore, this might be the one to bring that magic back. Let’s take a closer look at how Loulan captures the same spirit that once made the old God of War and Prince of Persia games legendary.
What Is Loulan: The Cursed Sand?
The upcoming action RPG from ChillyRoom, Loulan: The Cursed Sand, is set in a fallen desert kingdom inspired by the ancient Silk Road. The story follows a skeletal warrior, a royal guard resurrected to fight through cursed ruins, switching between bone and sand forms to save a lost princess. Coming to PS5 and PC with no release date yet, Loulan already looks like the kind of classic action game fans have been waiting for.
Why Loulan Feels Like Old-School Ps2 Action games
The moment you watch Loulan: The Cursed Sand’s trailer, it’s hard not to think of the PS2 era. the fast, heavy combat, the brutal finishers, and the cinematic camera angles that pull you right into the action. It carries the spirit of the old God of War games, while the desert setting and sand-based mechanics give off a distinct Prince of Persia vibe.
Like those PS2 classics, Loulan doesn’t chase open-world exploration or complex RPG systems. Instead, it focuses on what made early action games unforgettable: tight combat, puzzle-solving, epic boss fights, and myth-driven storytelling. The trailer feels built to strike that nostalgic nerve. The developers aren’t trying to make new games that are just like old ones; they’re trying to bring back the feel of those old games.
Where Loulan Built Its Own Identity
While Loulan: The Cursed Sand draws upon the energy of the old-school action genre, it provides a unique offering by introducing its own concepts. The narrative takes deeper dives into ancient Chinese legends and into a world of buried cursed ruins, desert spirits and forgotten kingdoms in the era of the Silk Road.
The gameplay features a unique dual-form mechanic. You can toggle between a Bone form which has powerful long-range attacks, or a Sand form, which is more agile but relies on magic attacks. The main protagonist is particularly interesting, as he is a resurrected warrior from death. Adding to this is the mystery around who brought him back from the dead, how did he get powers that he plans to use to rescue the lost princess.
The game also shines visually, with a memorable sense of identity. The textures of gold light, clouds of dust storms, and ruined temples conjures a sense of allure, glimmer, and death when viewing Loulan.
What Fans Can Expect Next
Right now, the developers of Loulan: The Cursed Sand haven’t confirmed a release date, but it’s expected to arrive sometime in 2026 for PS5 and PC.
Fans want to see more depth in the combat system and more enemies, especially how the two forms will work together in tougher battles. If these developers can strike a balance between the storyline and a more intense game experience, Loulan could be touted as a modern classic rather than just a reminder of one.
Of course, there are some unknowns still: How much player choice will there be available within the world? How far do RPG systems go beyond combat? And more importantly — does the game preserve that raw PS2-era intensity without feeling too dated?
The good news is that early impressions are strong. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Loulan: The Cursed Sand seems like a proper throwback with modern presentation. It isn’t simply just nostalgia bait, but could become something that sits outside of the spectrum of what a “classic action game” could be.
Conclusion
If the final game lives up to its trailer, Loulan: The Cursed Sand could be one of 2026’s biggest surprises — especially for players who miss the charm of old-style games wrapped in modern design. It captures the spirit of the PS2 and PS3 era but with a voice of its own.
Would you give this one a try? Let me know in the comments. Also, read other posts here
Disclaimer: All images and game content used in this blog are the property of their respective developers and publishers. They are used under fair use for the purpose of commentary, criticism, and review.
