Before players first step into the titular town of Redfall, they’ll have a decision to make. Eschewing the single-player campaign pattern that it has set with games like Dishonored, Deathloop, and Prey, Arkane’s newest game instead offers up a co-op experience. That means that players will need to decide which of the four protagonists is the right option for them to first experience the game with. Because of each character's vastly different abilities and skill trees, the decision will shape players’ gameplay experience, not just offer up different cosmetics.
Ex-military sharpshooter Jacob Boyer’s kit enables the kind of stealthy, methodical gameplay that fans of Arkane have come to expect. One of his abilities, Cloak, allows Jacob to turn invisible to hide or sneak past enemies. With upgrades the invisibility lasts longer, allows you to sneak past traps, and can even give invisibility to teammates. Combined with his ability to scout out the map with his raven companion, and the power to summon a high-damage rifle that can be upgraded to hit enemies through walls, Jacob’s abilities give him stealth options, high survivability, and strong damage output - making him a solid choice for anyone looking to play Redfall alone. However, there are three other options to consider.
Die Together or Die Alone in Redfall
For players who prefer playing support, Remi De La Rosa will be a great fit - especially for those hoping to play through Redfall in co-op. Like Jacob’s raven, Remi also has a companion, but instead of a feathered friend, she has a weird little robot named Siren whose primary function is to distract enemies and absorb their damage output. She also has access to a C4 charge that can put out heavy damage. The main reason Remi will make such a good support character is because of her Mobilize ability, which creates a gathering point within which allies are healed over time. Sure this ability will be nice while playing solo, but its full potential is definitely realized in co-op.
Selecting a character in the game is a big deal because Redfall will not allow players to change characters once they’ve started the campaign. So before selecting cryptozoologist Devinder Crousley, players should make sure they find his gameplay style appealing (or be willing to start a whole new save file to change characters). Dev can toss out a beacon and teleport to it, plus teammates can follow him using the translocate terminal that he leaves behind. His Arc Javelin and Blacklight both offer up area-of-effect damage options that make him a good choice for crowd control as well. Dev will make a solid choice for players who enjoy jumping into the middle of the fray to take on hosts of enemies before making a tactical retreat.
Ex-Boyfriends Can Be a Good Thing in Redfall
Like many people, the fourth character, Layla Ellison, has an ex. Unlike many people, Layla’s ex-boyfriend is a vampire that she can call in a pinch to help out in a fight. She can also summon a psychic lift that can launch her, allies, and even enemies into the sky. Finally, she has an ability called Umbrella that blocks all incoming and outgoing projections. It can also let out a blast of psychic energy. Her skills allow her to move around quickly and to quickly get out of danger if she’s backed herself into a corner. Her gameplay style will definitely lean towards run-and-gun. While Layla’s skills definitely help out her teammates, her ability to maneuver, block damage, and call in backup make her a solid choice for slaying Redfall's vampires single-player or co-op.
While all the characters will have access to the same weapons and items, their unique abilities will certainly flavor players’ experience with the game. No matter which character players choose, Arkane has assured players that Redfall will be a complete and fulfilling experience whether they choose to try and rid the town of vampires in single-player or co-op.
Redfall launches on May 2 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.