- Blightstone arrives in Early Access Steam with launch discount and playable demo
- Dark fantasy tactical roguelite RPG with grid-free movement and dynamic weather
- The mission revolves around the living crystal Earthglass and the defeat of Korghul in the Infernal Rift
- Extensive roster of classes, status effects, and persistent progression based on dying and learning
Blightstone, the new tactical RPG with a roguelite soul created in Spain by the Barcelona-based studio Unfinished Pixel, has made his debut in Early Access on Steam with a launch price of around 13 Euros thanks to a 20% temporary discountThe premiere is accompanied by a Free demoso anyone can try out their dark fantasy offering before embarking on the full adventure.
The title opts for an unusual combination: Turn-based combat, free movement without grids, and a world that warps with every attemptInstead of following the classic tactical RPG formula, Blightstone relies on a system where the position, the climate, and the terrain itself They carry as much weight as the heroes' statistics, seeking a demanding approach but one that, game after game, leaves the player with the feeling of having learned something new.
A tactical roguelite made in Barcelona
Unfinished Pixel, an independent studio based in Barcelona, made up of developers with previous experience in large companies, signs its signature here first major proprietary intellectual property in the field of Tactical RPG (Spanish)After smaller projects, the team is taking the leap to a more ambitious production, focused directly on the European PC scene through Steam.
En BlightstoneThe players lead a group of heroes linked to a living crystal called Earthglassthe true heart of the campaign. The world is on the brink of collapse due to rampant corruption, and each incursion represents a new attempt to escort the Earthglass to the Infernal Rift to face Korghul, lord of demonsand try to eradicate the plague known as Blightstone.
The game follows the philosophy of roguelite: die, learn, and try againEach defeat leaves a kind of "scar" on the world, altering the conditions of subsequent attempts and opening new options for progression, skills, or synergies. Far from being a simple reset, Each game shapes a universe that remembers your mistakes., forcing a rethink of routes, strategies and team compositions.
All of this is wrapped up in a Dark fantasy with a very oppressive toneWith its cracked landscapes, ruins consumed by corruption, and a tone reminiscent of darker tactical RPGs, but with a hand-drawn 2D art style that gives it its own unique identity. The atmosphere isn't just visual: The narrative revolves around the advance of corruption and the erosion of time.and is designed to accompany that continuous cycle of falling and overcoming.
Grid-less turn-based combat and interactive terrain
The playable hallmark of Blightstone is its turn-based tactical combat with free movementInstead of moving across squares, heroes and enemies move organically across the stage, completely changing how positioning is understood. Finding cover, flanking an enemy, or maintaining distance no longer depends on counting squares, but on... interpreting space and angles of attack.
The environment becomes another tool. Tall grass can be used for hiding… or it can will burn if fire is used, leaving anyone exposedPuddles and flooded areas offer an opportunity for enhance electrical attacks...provided it's kept in mind that allies can also suffer. The terrain itself, map objects, and even enemy positions are integrated into a system where One miscalculated move can cost the entire expedition.
This approach is reinforced by the constant presence of elemental effectsFire, ice, lightning, and fog aren't just decorative: they can block paths, alter lines of sight, or modify the damage of specific abilities. The studio's intention is for players to feel like they're playing "with" the environment, not just "in" it, which fits quite well with the idea of a living, changing world.
To round out the system, the game incorporates dozens of altered states These effects affect both heroes and enemies: bleeding, poison, stun, immobilization, burn, and others that can tip any encounter in one direction or another. Managing these states, combining them, or avoiding falling into them is an essential part of the game.
Dynamic climate and a constantly changing world
Another element that makes the difference in Blightstone is its dynamic climate systemwhich modifies combat behavior and forces strategy to be adapted on the fly. rain It amplifies the power of electricity and turns certain areas of the map into veritable traps; Dense fog reduces visibilitymaking it difficult to use ranged attacks; and the strong winds can affect the accuracy of certain shots.
Far from being a mere visual effect, these weather variations are integrated with the rest of the game mechanics. A storm can be an ally if the group is prepared to exploit it, but it can also be a liability. to undermine a strategy based on aiming or control of spaceThe result is battles where it is not enough to know your own skills, but you have to read the overall situation of each encounter.
The cycle of life and death that defines the genre is also reflected in the world itself. Every failed expedition leaves its mark: The advance of corruption distorts the mapsNew threats appear, routes change, and progression possibilities open up or close. For PC players accustomed to the most challenging roguelites in Europe, this design aims to maintain a sense of freshness even after many hours of gameplay.
This layer of variability is combined with a narrative structure that plays with the idea of a broken timeIn this game, failed attempts are not merely a formality, but an integral part of the world's history and the heroes' stories. Thus, the game encourages players to accept defeat as a step towards the long-term construction of power and knowledge.
Classes, synergies, and roguelite progression
At the squad level, Blightstone allow recruit heroes of different classeseach with their own skills and role within the group. Among the available categories are the fighter, hunter, arcanist, druid, and priest, accompanied by teammates and specific talents that influence the team's composition.
The progression system offers a wide range of active and passive skillsThis applies to both the characters and Earthglass itself. It's possible to specialize in melee attacks, ranged options, or area-of-effect abilitieslooking for combinations that allow you to finish off groups of enemies, control the space, or better protect the crystal.
The beauty lies in how these abilities intertwine with the rest of the systems. A druid who manipulates the terrain can set the stage for an arcanist to unleash a devastating chain of lightning, while a hunter takes advantage of the fog to move undetected. The developers' goal is that Synergies arise more from experimentation than from following a fixed template, something that fits with the changing nature of each run.
Like other roguelites, progress isn't just about improving stats. As you accumulate attempts, you unlock... New hero building options, permanent improvements for the Earthglass and variations that affect how subsequent games are approached. In this way, although the game punishes mistakes, it also rewards them. There invested with increasingly varied tools.
Early Access, Pricing and Focus for PC in Europe
Blightstone has arrived Steam in Early Access with a base price around 15 euros, although its launch has been accompanied by a 20% temporary discount which places it in the range of 12-13 euros in European territoryIn markets like Mexico, the title has been set on 178,99 MXN, also with an initial discount, thus seeking to adapt to different levels of purchasing power.
The study has made it clear that this Early Access phase will serve to Refine mechanics, adjust class balance, and expand content with direct feedback from the PC community. The plan involves introducing more heroes, additional challenges, and variations in the world as development progresses, maintaining constant communication with players who join from the beginning.
For those who prefer to try before they pay, the Demo available on Steam It allows you to get a fairly clear idea of the tone, difficulty, and type of decisions each run requires. It's a reasonable way to see if it's right for those who enjoy demanding tactical RPGs and a pace of progress based on trial and error, very much in line with other benchmark titles of the genre.
With his mix of turn-based strategy without grids, dynamic weather, roguelite progression, and dark fantasy with a Barcelona accentBlightstone stands out as a unique offering within the European PC gaming landscape. The game aims to carve out a niche for itself among those who appreciate challenging tactical experiences, where strategic decisions matter more than luck, and where every defeat leaves the feeling of having taken at least a small step towards the next victory.
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