This is a challenging gothic roguelike RPG that blends role-playing, strategy, and turn-based combat with a strong emphasis on adventure and tactical decision-making. The core experience revolves around managing a roster of flawed heroes, pushing them into perilous dungeons filled with psychological stress, disease, and monstrous foes. Success hinges on careful resource management, strategic team composition, and the ability to withstand the encroaching darkness, both literal and metaphorical.

The Premise and Atmosphere

Venture into a grim and oppressive world where ancestral lands have been corrupted by unspeakable horrors. You are tasked with reclaiming these ancestral lands, a quest that demands the recruitment and leadership of a band of desperate heroes. The game's atmosphere is steeped in gothic dread, with a constant sense of impending doom and the psychological toll that such an environment takes on its inhabitants. Every expedition is a gamble, and the narrative unfolds through the trials and tribulations of your roster.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay loop centers on managing your estate and leading expeditions into procedurally generated dungeons. Players recruit heroes from a diverse pool, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and psychological vulnerabilities. Combat is turn-based and tactical, requiring careful positioning and the exploitation of enemy weaknesses. Beyond combat, heroes suffer from stress, which can manifest as afflictions that hinder their performance or even lead to madness. Managing their physical and mental well-being is as crucial as their combat prowess. Death is permanent, adding significant weight to every decision.

What Makes This Game Unique?

The defining feature of this title is its innovative stress system. Unlike many RPGs where character health is the primary concern, here, a hero's mental state is equally, if not more, important. Heroes can develop afflictions and quirks based on their experiences, leading to unpredictable and often detrimental effects. This psychological layer adds a unique dimension to party management and combat strategy, forcing players to adapt to the evolving mental landscape of their adventurers. The permadeath of heroes and the roguelike elements ensure that each playthrough offers a fresh and demanding challenge.

The Cycle of Recruitment and Loss

The game emphasizes the cyclical nature of heroism and despair. You will recruit heroes, train them, send them on dangerous missions, and inevitably lose some along the way. The estate serves as your base of operations, where you can upgrade facilities, manage your roster, and prepare for the next descent into the darkness.

Key Features

Turn-based tactical combat
Permanent hero death
Deep psychological stress system
Procedurally generated dungeons
Roster management and estate building

Additional Content

The game features 5 downloadable content (DLC) packs that expand upon the core experience, introducing new heroes, enemies, dungeons, and gameplay mechanics.

Basic Game Information

Type: Main Game
Release Year: 2016
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation Vita, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Adventure, Indie