Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon - Sanctuary of Sarras is a dark fantasy open-world RPG available on PS5. It expands the core experience of the base game with a new underwater region filled with quests, exploration, and character progression options set against a backdrop of crumbling Arthurian myths.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on exploration across a bleak island realm where players make choices that influence quests, alliances, and the world state. Combat mixes melee attacks, ranged options, and magic in a stamina-driven system that rewards timing for blocks, parries, and dodges. Character development relies on six attributes that gate equipment and abilities while feeding into flexible skill trees. The Sanctuary of Sarras expansion introduces an isolated underwater domain accessible in Act 2, complete with dynamically scaled enemies, ancient shrines that award points for three swappable region-specific skill trees, and over 100 new items including weapons, armor, and accessories.
Travel between the new area and the main island remains possible during the associated questline, though the region locks permanently once the story concludes. Players encounter new bosses, regular enemies, and more than 20 dungeons or interiors designed around naval and submerged themes. The expansion adds roughly 10 to 15 hours of content focused on uncovering the history of rebels who defied King Arthur centuries earlier.
Game Modes
The game operates exclusively as a singleplayer experience with no multiplayer components. Difficulty settings allow adjustment of combat challenge, ranging from more forgiving options suited to story emphasis to stricter survival-oriented play. The main narrative unfolds through branching quests and faction interactions, while side content encourages free-form exploration of points of interest, resource gathering, and optional objectives. The Sanctuary of Sarras content integrates as an extended questline with its own progression systems layered onto the existing singleplayer framework.
Story and Setting
Avalon exists in perpetual autumn after King Arthur's long-ago conquest, now threatened by the returning Red Death plague and the spreading Wyrdness, a chaotic force that alters the land and its inhabitants. Players begin as an imprisoned nobody who can shape events through decisions and alliances with various groups holding competing visions for the island's future. The Sanctuary of Sarras expansion delves into a long-hidden myth involving a maritime exodus led by rebels following Nimue, their fleet sunk by Merlin's retribution, and the isolated underwater kingdom they established in ancient ruins untouched by the island's afflictions.
Is It Worth Playing?
The base game delivers 50 to 70 hours of open-world RPG gameplay with strong emphasis on choice-driven quests and build variety, though some players note performance inconsistencies on PS5. The Sanctuary of Sarras expansion receives praise for deepening the lore and atmosphere without overhauling core systems, adding meaningful new progression and exploration opportunities. It suits players who enjoy dark fantasy settings, non-linear storytelling, and methodical character building in a singleplayer format. Those seeking substantial new content tied to the existing world will find the expansion a worthwhile addition once the base game is complete.
