The game’s monochromatic world, filled with dense forests and secluded huts, creates a somber atmosphere where every shadow hides a threat. Armed with only a few matches, you’ll navigate through the darkness, using fire to light your way and solve complex puzzles. You’ll also uncover hidden truths as you piece together clues scattered throughout the environment.

One-Eyed Likho’s unique gray-scale art style heightens the sense of dread. Simultaneously, the light-burning mechanic adds tension, requiring you to carefully manage your limited light source to solve puzzles and fend off the encroaching darkness.

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Bylina presents a vibrant and extraordinary world inspired by Slavic myths and legends. Traveling across the Land of Cities, players will explore diverse locations—from sunlit forests to dark dungeons and towering castles—each with its own distinct features and atmosphere. Unlocking new areas introduces encounters with peculiar local inhabitants, unique challenges, and intricate puzzles.

The game emphasizes skill-based combat, encouraging you to master a range of weaponry and magical abilities. Falconet’s arsenal includes swords, shields, spears, and bows, all of which can be upgraded and enhanced with magical powers. As players progress, they’ll be able to experiment with new abilities, armor sets, and items, expanding their strength and tactical options in the face of increasingly formidable foes.

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In Code Alkonost, you enter a dark and mysterious world where ancient myths come to life. In this game, you will discover the secrets of an old evil while fighting scary monsters from Slavic stories. With its unique gameplay and deep story, the game tests your ability to survive as you uncover many secrets.

Two twin sisters Vera and Milena set out to leave gifts in front of the idol of the Slavic god Perun, believing that gods would give them health and peace in the Jawia world. While Vera is handing over food to the idol, Sister Milena becomes playful and hides from Vera, leading Vera to the entrance to the Forbidden. In this place, robbers are sent when they receive the death penalty, where it was believed that demons wander.

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Everything I said about the Early Access version of this game I now retract. Deathless. Tales of Old Rus pleasantly surprised me the more I played it. Not only does it stand out with unique and well-designed characters and interesting deck-builder mechanics, but also with its visuals, quests, and the way the game evolved during the Early Access period. It has transformed into something truly quality – perhaps not perfect, but good enough to win over genre enthusiasts. It’s a shame the game hasn’t reached a broader audience because it deserves more attention.

This title is inspired by Slavic mythology and various literary works, bringing diverse mythical beings and monsters such as Bohinka, Bosorka, Rusalki, Kopitara, and others, along with challenging final bosses. However, the game's story is not particularly memorable – mostly told through textual dialogues that are easy to skip because they are short, and progress in the story only occurs when you choose a special path. Despite this, following the story makes sense as it leads you to the final boss. Each character has their unique opponent that they must defeat before the final chapter.

Four characters, four different play styles

In the game, you have four playable characters: Varvara, Vasilisa, Dobrynya, and Alyosha – two women and two men. Each of them brings a different play style and new cards. For example, Vasilisa is accompanied on her journey by fairies that grant her special abilities, while Dobrynya has a massive shield and unique types of attacks. This diversity allows players to find the play style that suits them best, but it is essential to complete the game with all characters to unlock the final part of the story.

Card mechanics in the game bring interesting combinations, but along with standard attacks and skills, there are also negative cards that can bring bad effects. Additionally, the game includes universal cards that are available to all characters, providing extra flexibility in strategy. Each gameplay is different, although certain cards repeat. However, this title contains a large number of them – each character has seven pages of cards that allow for diverse combinations and play styles. For example, Varvara has cards that move enemies, so her play style will focus on exploiting those abilities.

Do not expect revolutionary mechanics; the game relies on simplicity and does it well. The cards and their abilities are clear, without complex descriptions or hidden effects. Everything you find during the game will be available to you in future matches. The game is based on a system with three paths that you choose yourself. Each path can bring rewards such as new cards, consumables, artifacts, or opportunities to upgrade cards.

Very interesting cards, but without too many variations the more you play

The deck-building elements in Deathless sometimes feel limited. Cards can only be upgraded once, but those upgrades are not always worthwhile. The game forces you to carefully choose upgrades, but there aren't many options. An additional problem is the duration of battles. Individual fights, especially against bosses, can last up to 20 minutes as you slowly chip away at their health bar. Also, despite the large number of cards, certain cards seem to repeat too often in version 1.0.

One of the features of the game that still raises doubts is the artifacts. While there are indeed good artifacts, too many of them are not well designed. There are rarely options that only increase energy for moves. I tried to see if collecting 10 artifacts would be enough for victory, but that is not always the case as cards are still key to success. Artifacts, for example, can increase the power of your attacks, allow for the drawing of specific cards, or provide more defense.

The problem is that the game has three phases before the final showdown with the main boss, and the difference between common and legendary artifacts is very noticeable. The same applies to consumables – although you can upgrade three carrying slots, you will have to choose carefully whether to focus on items that restore health or those that allow for the addition of negative effects to enemies.

Balancing is quite well designed

The enemy balance in Deathless is generally well set. Enemies are diverse, capable of attacking you with quick strikes, magic, or projectiles like arrows. Mini-bosses also bring freshness as each of them presents a unique challenge and a different combat style. However, a potential problem for the gaming experience lies in the bonuses and effects associated with the chosen paths. Each path can offer positive or negative bonuses, but in most cases, negative effects prevail.

The more valuable the reward at the end of a path, the harder the journey to reach it. You will often face enemies with increased health, stronger hits, or simply overwhelm the battlefield with their numbers. However, this has not overly affected the gameplay dynamics. The key to success lies in how good your card deck is. Deathless finds itself in a strange position – it is a good enough game, but it struggles to compete with the biggest names in this genre.

Additionally, it is very helpful that the game allows for animation speed-up, so you won't always spend too much time fighting enemies. Another significant advantage is the quality of life features, such as the ability to see what is behind the cards or to quickly understand what each card or bonus does, along with the option to replay battles if you lose. The game does a lot of things automatically for you, while only requiring a little strategic thinking from the player.

Ending thoughts

With truly beautiful graphics of the environment and maps, as well as detailed enemies and characters, don't expect anything spectacular, as many elements will often repeat. Nevertheless, everything is executed at a solid level – without stuttering, bugs, glitches, or wasting time. In addition to the main missions, the game offers various side quests that provide useful rewards, giving you more options for gameplay. The story, although forgettable, is well enough designed not to feel silly, and each character has their own backstory that you can follow.

Replayability is one of the stronger points of this title. Although variations will decrease over time, you won't regret deciding to play the game several times. Fans of this genre will surely enjoy it, but it's understandable if you choose to complete the game only once. Keep in mind that the final story requires completing all tasks, which means you will likely have to start over several times after being defeated.

In any case, Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is, for me, a true hidden gem among indie games this year.

Review copy provided by the publisher

4.2

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Set in the magical world of Belosvet, Deathless is inspired by Slavic fairy tales and 1960s animated films. The game features a richly detailed environment that mixes whimsical charm with strategic gameplay. You can choose from four unique heroes, each with their own stories and special abilities. With deck-building, customization, and randomly generated challenges, the game promises a new and exciting experience every time you play.

The story takes place in Slavia, a peaceful land that is now in danger. You will lead four brave heroes, including bogatyrs, wizards, and sorcerers, on quests to bring back balance. These heroes will face famous enemies, like clever rusalkas and scary revenants. Each fight needs careful planning and smart use of cards, equipment, and special items.

Također možete pročitati našu Early Access recenziju here. i pogledati naše gameplay videozapise u nastavku.

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In Crown of Greed, you take on the role of Rodovia’s ruler, tasked with guiding your kingdom through treacherous challenges. The game’s unique twist lies in its indirect control system, Heroes and NPCs operate independently, influenced by incentives rather than direct commands. Advanced AI ensures that every Hero’s choices feel organic, adding depth and unpredictability to the gameplay. With traits randomized for each playthrough, no two games are alike.

The game gets even more exciting with battles against mythical creatures from Slavic folklore, like the dangerous Basilisk and the creepy Bies. These fights add risk and thrill, challenging you to manage your Heroes while protecting the kingdom. The game also features a soundtrack inspired by traditional Slavic music.

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The Thaumaturge follows Wiktor Szulski, a veteran thaumaturge with the ability to perceive the subtle marks left by human emotions—especially the darker ones. Wiktor returns to his hometown of Warsaw, where the multicultural city’s intrigue and social conflicts provide a striking backdrop to his personal quest. The game presents Wiktor’s exploration of Warsaw’s many societal layers, from the impoverished working class to elite circles influenced by Rasputin and the Imperial Court.

As a thaumaturge, Wiktor wields powers beyond human comprehension, allowing him to manipulate others’ wills and tame mystical beings known as Salutors. These creatures, inspired by Slavic folklore, aid him in turn-based combat and detective-style investigations. However, their power comes with a cost: each Salutor embodies a particular human flaw—such as Pride or Recklessness—which Wiktor must absorb to use their abilities.

You can read our review of The Thaumaturge here.

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In Bylina, you take on the role of Falconet, a young warrior destined to battle legendary creatures, unlock ancient secrets, and confront his inner fears. The game takes you across a variety of vivid and eerie locations, from dark, enchanted forests to grand, ancient castles and labyrinthine dungeons. Each area is crafted to reflect the rich and mysterious world of Slavic myth, with immersive details that make the landscape feel alive.

The game emphasizes skill-based combat, encouraging you to master a range of weaponry and magical abilities. Falconet’s arsenal includes swords, shields, spears, and bows, all of which can be upgraded and enhanced with magical powers. As players progress, they’ll be able to experiment with new abilities, armor sets, and items, expanding their strength and tactical options in the face of increasingly formidable foes.

The recently released in-game footage showcases the dynamic creature animations and diverse enemy designs, giving you a taste of the intense combat encounters that await.

The post A Slavic Folklore-Inspired ARPG Bylina Coming to Steam in 2025 first appeared on IndieGames.

Scarlet Deer Inn takes players on a journey through a world inspired by Slavic folklore. The game follows Elise, a mother of two, who embarks on an unexpected adventure. Elise is an ordinary woman with no grand heroic background, but her journey will take her through dark dungeons, mysterious lands, and encounters with both intriguing and terrifying characters.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Scarlet Deer is its art style. Every character in the game is depicted through embroidery, a unique and intricate technique that adds a layer of texture and warmth to the visuals. The backgrounds are hand-painted, creating a beautiful contrast with the embroidered characters and immersing players in a world that feels both real and fantastical.

In Scarlet Deer, your survival often depends on the light of your torch as you explore dark dungeons filled with monsters. The game challenges players to find shortcuts and hidden paths, which can make future playthroughs easier and reveal more about the game’s story and characters.

The post Scarlet Deer Inn is a unique platformer with a demo available on Steam first appeared on IndieGames.

The first update for Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is here. It introduces a brand-new hero, Vasilisa the Wise, along with three new gameplay difficulty options and Steam Achievements to showcase your progress.

Vasilisa the Wise has the unique ability to summon Nursemaids for assistance when needed or to face enemies head-on, depending on how you develop her skills. She’ll be able to deal tons of passive damage due to her Nursemaids special skills, recover AP, thin your deck and command these powerful beings.

You can read our review of the game here..

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