Tainted Grail Just Dropped a Massive Underwater DLC – But the Performance Issues Are Still Killing the Vibe

A Full Expansion Just Seven Months After Launch

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon launched its first major expansion, Sanctuary of Sarras, on December 15, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. The DLC brings players into a completely new zone shaped by the deep sea, featuring 10-15 hours of additional content including over 20 hand-crafted dungeons, unique bosses, new NPCs with branching storylines, and more than 100 new items spanning weapons, armor, spells, and relics. Sanctuary of Sarras represents developer Questline’s commitment to expanding the dark fantasy RPG that left Early Access in May 2025 after two years of development [web:1165][web:1166][web:1176].

The expansion introduces three entirely new skill trees called Warrior, Rogue, and Mystic that function separately from the base game’s progression systems. Players activate sacred shrines throughout the new region to weaken enemies and earn points to invest in these trees, allowing on-the-fly build adjustments to match different combat scenarios. The system provides flexibility that the base game lacked, though some reviewers criticize the skill trees for feeling underwhelming compared to the dramatic environmental and narrative additions [web:1188][web:1189][web:1191].

What makes the expansion notable is how quickly it arrived after the full 1.0 release. Tainted Grail launched in late May 2025 after spending two years in Steam Early Access. Seven months later, Questline delivered a substantial expansion rather than minor DLC or cosmetic packs. That turnaround suggests either the content was already in development alongside the base game or the studio is operating at an impressive production pace for a relatively small team tackling an ambitious 50-70 hour open-world RPG [web:1172][web:1180].

The Deep Sea Setting Delivers Lovecraftian Vibes

Sanctuary of Sarras takes place in a nautical realm beneath Avalon’s surface, featuring underwater environments, shipwrecks, deep-sea creatures, and coastal settlements threatened by mysterious forces from the depths. The expansion leans heavily into Lovecraftian horror themes, introducing cosmic dread and unknowable entities that contrast with the more traditional dark fantasy of the base game’s three regions. Players encounter intriguing new characters with complex backstories, choice-heavy quests featuring multiple outcomes, and atmospheric environments that reviewers consistently praise [web:1188][web:1194].

The visual presentation maintains the base game’s distinctive aesthetic, which uses a DirectX 11 engine to deliver mid-2000s graphics that evoke classic Bethesda RPGs like Oblivion and early Skyrim. While the technical limitations are obvious compared to modern Unreal Engine 5 titles, the art direction compensates through strong environmental design, atmospheric lighting, and detailed interiors packed with interactive elements. The underwater theme allows Questline to experiment with color palettes and architectural styles that differentiate Sarras from the perpetual autumn landscapes of mainland Avalon [web:1184][web:1194].

Reviewers highlight the expansion’s willingness to pace content unevenly, starting strong, slowing during the middle sections, then ramping back up toward climactic encounters that justify the journey. The optional dialogue and lore-heavy conversations reward players who engage deeply with NPCs rather than rushing through quest objectives. This matches the base game’s philosophy of respecting player choices and allowing narrative discovery rather than forcing exposition through cutscenes [web:1188].

Sanctuary of Sarras Content Breakdown

• 10-15 hours of new gameplay content
• Completely new deep-sea zone separate from base game regions
• Over 20 hand-crafted dungeons and interior locations
• Unique epic bosses requiring different tactical approaches
• More than 100 new items including weapons, armor, rings, amulets, relics, spells
• Three new skill trees (Warrior, Rogue, Mystic) with switchable progression
• Sacred shrines that weaken enemies and grant skill points
• New NPCs with branching dialogue and choice-heavy quests
• Lovecraftian horror themes and cosmic entity encounters
• Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam

But the Performance Problems Are Still Brutal

Despite the expansion’s content quality, Tainted Grail continues suffering from significant performance issues that plague console versions especially. PlayStation 5 players report stuttering, random sound cutouts in open areas, player model lag in first-person view, and compounding problems with animation synchronization. Multiple users mention needing to quit and relaunch the game periodically just to maintain playable performance, a workflow that destroys immersion and makes extended play sessions frustrating [web:1177][web:1195].

The problems aren’t limited to consoles. PC players encounter similar issues including stuttering, low frame rates, micro-stutters, delayed animations, and sluggish controls even on hardware that should crush the game’s modest DirectX 11 requirements. Common fixes involve disabling VSync, adjusting display settings, and accepting that the game’s optimization simply isn’t up to 2025 standards despite the recommended specs listing only an RTX 2070 Super and 16GB RAM [web:1192][web:1184].

What makes the performance situation particularly frustrating is that the writing, quests, and world design are strong enough to keep players engaged despite technical problems. Reddit discussions consistently mention that the narrative and exploration compensate for awful performance, but in 2025, requiring players to choose between smooth gameplay and good storytelling feels unacceptable. Games shouldn’t demand that compromise, especially when they’ve been in development and Early Access for years [web:1177][web:1195].

From Kickstarter Board Game to Ambitious RPG

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon originated from the massively successful 2018 Kickstarter campaign for the Tainted Grail board game, which became that year’s biggest crowdfunding success. Publisher Awaken Realms leveraged that momentum to greenlight a video game adaptation, transitioning from tabletop to first-person open-world RPG while maintaining the dark fantasy reinterpretation of Arthurian legends that made the original compelling [web:1169][web:1193][web:1196].

The board game version presents players as explorers on the mysterious island of Avalon centuries after King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table used the Holy Grail’s power to conquer the land from its original arcane inhabitants. The video game adaptation takes place during the fall of Camelot’s 600-year rule, positioning players as escaped prisoners who become vessels for King Arthur’s centuries-dead soul. This setup allows Questline to explore themes of legacy, corruption, and inevitable decline rather than heroic triumph [web:1172][web:1193][web:1196].

What distinguishes Tainted Grail’s take on Arthurian myth is its commitment to dark fantasy interpretation influenced by Celtic folklore and cosmic horror. Knights aren’t noble heroes but flawed individuals struggling with impossible choices in a dying world. The Round Table’s greatest legends appear as fallen or corrupted figures whose accomplishments led to Avalon’s current desperate state. Familiar names like Merlin, Lancelot, and Galahad exist in this universe but with twisted roles that subvert traditional expectations [web:1174][web:1196].

What the Base Game Offers

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon features three massive regions to explore: the Misty Horns of the South, sun-bathed Cuanacht, and the snowy Forlorn Swords. Combined, these zones provide 50-70 hours of gameplay including a branching main quest with hundreds of different endings, over 200 side quests, 250 unique fully voice-acted NPCs, more than 60 distinct enemy types, and 70-plus dungeons filled with secrets and challenges. The game supports both first-person and third-person camera perspectives, letting players choose their preferred viewpoint [web:1172][web:1180][web:1181].

Combat combines melee weapons, ranged weapons, and magic through skill-based systems that reward timing and positioning rather than stat-grinding. Multiple crafting systems let players create weapons, armor, consumables, and enchantments from materials gathered during exploration. The magic system differentiates itself through unique mechanics tied to Avalon’s corrupted arcane energies rather than standard fireball-and-lightning fare common in fantasy RPGs [web:1169][web:1172].

What PC Gamer’s review emphasized is the game’s inconsistency. For every moment worth celebrating, there’s a frustrating enemy encounter or confusing UI feature to endure. The world design demonstrates confidence and ambition. The cast of characters feels colorful and memorable. But uneven difficulty spikes, interface problems, and the persistent bugs prevent Tainted Grail from achieving greatness despite its fascinating foundation. IGN’s review echoed similar sentiments, praising the unique Arthurian interpretation while acknowledging that bugs and rough edges mar the experience [web:1174][web:1187].

The Early Access Journey

Tainted Grail entered Steam Early Access on March 30, 2023, giving PC players access to work-in-progress versions for over two years before the full 1.0 release on May 23, 2025. During that period, Questline released the Cuanacht expansion in May 2024, doubling the game’s content and demonstrating commitment to expanding the world beyond the initial Early Access offering. The studio used community feedback to refine combat, improve UI elements, balance difficulty, and squash bugs before launching on consoles [web:1172][web:1180].

The Early Access period allowed Questline to iterate on systems that weren’t working while building confidence in their vision. Player feedback influenced quality-of-life improvements like accessing stashes from fireplaces, adjusting experience gain rates in New Game Plus, and fixing quest-breaking bugs. But the core design philosophy remained intact: dark storytelling, player choice consequences, exploration rewards, and atmospheric world-building over hand-holding tutorials and quest markers pointing to every objective [web:1189].

What’s less clear is whether the two-year Early Access window helped or hurt the final product. On one hand, Questline shipped a substantially larger game than initially planned with multiple regions, hundreds of quests, and deep systems. On the other hand, the performance problems and bugs that still plague the console versions suggest the extra development time didn’t solve fundamental optimization challenges. The DirectX 11 engine choice, while enabling broad hardware compatibility, may limit how much further Questline can push visual fidelity and performance [web:1184].

Is Sanctuary of Sarras Worth It?

Early reviews of the Sanctuary of Sarras expansion are cautiously positive, with most critics praising the environmental design, quest variety, and Lovecraftian atmosphere while expressing reservations about the new skill tree system and level scaling. The expansion delivers substantial content for players who enjoyed the base game and want more Tainted Grail without fundamentally changing what the experience offers. If you bounced off the main game due to its quirks, Sarras won’t convert you [web:1188][web:1189][web:1191].

The pricing hasn’t been widely discussed in available coverage, but considering the 10-15 hour content estimate and the inclusion of new progression systems alongside story content, it appears positioned as a mid-tier expansion rather than a budget DLC or full sequel-scale addition. Players who invested 50-70 hours in the base game and want to return to Avalon for another substantial adventure will find value, especially if they enjoy the darker tone and cosmic horror themes Sarras emphasizes [web:1165][web:1176].

But the expansion can’t escape the base game’s technical problems. If stuttering, sound cutouts, and performance issues frustrated you during the main campaign, those same problems will hamper your enjoyment of Sarras. Questline continues patching and improving the game, with updates addressing some quest bugs and quality-of-life concerns, but fundamental optimization challenges persist seven months after the 1.0 launch. Wait for more patches if smooth performance matters more than content quantity [web:1189][web:1195].

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Sanctuary of Sarras DLC launch?

December 15, 2025, at 1 PM EST / 7 PM CET on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The expansion is available now for all platforms simultaneously.

How long is the Sanctuary of Sarras expansion?

10-15 hours of new content including a new deep-sea region, over 20 dungeons, unique bosses, new NPCs and quests, plus three new skill trees with separate progression systems.

What is Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon about?

A dark fantasy first-person open-world RPG based on Arthurian legends. You play as an escaped prisoner possessed by King Arthur’s soul during the fall of Camelot’s 600-year rule over the mystical island of Avalon.

Does Tainted Grail have performance issues?

Yes, especially on consoles. Players report stuttering, random sound cutouts, animation lag, and various bugs requiring periodic game restarts. PC versions also experience performance problems despite modest system requirements.

How long is the base game?

50-70 hours for the main story and substantial side content across three major regions. The game features over 200 side quests, 250 NPCs, 70-plus dungeons, and branching storylines with hundreds of possible endings.

Is Tainted Grail worth playing in 2025?

If you can tolerate technical issues, yes. The writing, world design, and dark Arthurian storytelling are compelling, but uneven difficulty, bugs, and performance problems prevent it from reaching its potential.

Was Tainted Grail originally a board game?

Yes, the 2018 Kickstarter campaign for the Tainted Grail board game became that year’s biggest crowdfunding success. The video game adapts the same dark fantasy reinterpretation of Arthurian legends.

Can you play Tainted Grail in third-person?

Yes, the 1.0 release added third-person view alongside the original first-person perspective. Players can switch between viewpoints based on preference.

A Flawed Gem Still Worth Exploring

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon represents ambitious independent game development at its most conflicted. Questline created a genuinely fascinating dark fantasy world with memorable characters, complex quests, and atmospheric environments that evoke classic Bethesda RPGs. The writing demonstrates confidence in its vision, trusting players to engage with morally ambiguous choices and consequences without simplistic good-versus-evil frameworks. The Sanctuary of Sarras expansion proves the studio can deliver substantial post-launch content that expands the universe meaningfully rather than tacking on forgettable side missions.

But the technical execution can’t match the creative ambition. Performance problems that should have been solved during two years of Early Access persist months after the 1.0 release. Console players deal with stuttering and audio bugs that require constant restarts. PC players with modern hardware encounter optimization issues in a DirectX 11 game with modest visual fidelity. The inconsistent difficulty and UI frustrations compound these problems, creating barriers between players and the compelling content underneath.

The question isn’t whether Tainted Grail is worth experiencing. It absolutely is, especially for fans of dark fantasy, Arthurian mythology, or open-world RPGs that respect player intelligence. The question is whether you have patience for technical roughness in pursuit of strong writing and world-building. If you can overlook stuttering because the quest design is excellent, if you’ll endure sound cutouts because the atmosphere is incredible, if you’re willing to restart periodically because the characters are memorable, then Tainted Grail delivers experiences you won’t find elsewhere in 2025.

Sanctuary of Sarras continues that tradition. The expansion adds meaningful content to an already substantial game, introducing Lovecraftian horror elements and underwater environments that differentiate it from the base game’s regions. The new skill tree system provides build flexibility, though the implementation feels underwhelming compared to environmental and narrative additions. For players already invested in Avalon’s dark reimagining of King Arthur’s legend, the expansion justifies returning despite persistent technical problems. Just keep your expectations calibrated, save frequently, and prepare to restart occasionally. The hidden gem of 2025 remains hidden partly because its rough edges obscure the brilliance underneath.