Demonbane: Ascension Demo · published
Today, we are thrilled to reveal our first look at Demonbane: Ascension, a Cultivation Roguelite set in a "Post-Deification War" universe! Our Steam store page is now live:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4047520/
Every wishlist is the greatest support we could ask for, fuel that drives us to keep refining and enriching this world of gods and demons.
After the Great War of the Gods, the echoes of heaven and earth have yet to settle. As the Red Moon rises, calamities emerge.
You will step into the desolation as a "Banebreaker", exploring secret realms left behind by the ancient war. Collect legendary artifacts, forge your own path through cycles of reincarnation, and uncover the mysteries and truths hidden beneath the grand name of divinities.
We wanted to create a game where you truly "command magical artifacts and fight with spells" like the heroes of the Defication War.
In Demonbane: Ascension, we have faithfully recreated various legendary artifacts from the Deification War mythos, such as Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, Shadowbound Sword, Golden Brick, and Qiankun Hoop. You can not only collect and equip these artifacts to automate combat and upgrade skills, but also encounter enemies wielding their own artifacts for intense, high-stakes duels! Artifacts are not mere passive stat-boosts; a well-timed strategy can mean the difference between life and death.
The Spell system breaks the "linear build" rules of traditional roguelites. The Five Elements, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, can be freely combined, allowing them to fuse and react into entirely new spell factions with great powers.
Furthermore, the Artifact and Spell systems are deeply interconnected. This variety of synergies ensures that your treasures and magic complement each other, creating a rich and nuanced combat experience.
We aim to create more than a simple hack-and-slash roguelite. Demonbane: Ascension is a living, breathing world shaped by the mythos of the Deification War. Its maps encourage back-and-forth exploration, filled with enigmatic events and unexpected encounters. Every meeting, every choice, can reshape your run. Death does not always come from monsters, sometimes, it comes from the wicked heart.
Our inspiration is rooted in the classic Chinese mythic novel Investiture of the Gods. However, what fascinates us isn't just the epic war between the dynasties, but the divinity power plays behind the "Deification List" and the endless imaginative space that follows.
As an indie team that loves deep gameplay and Eastern mythology, we yearned to create a work where players can experience breakthroughs in cultivation, challenge legendary immortals, and enjoy the thrill of roguelite builds. Thus, the concept for Demonbane: Ascension was born.
We have already established the core framework and gameplay loops. Approximately one-quarter of the full version's content is complete, with many more map chapters, artifact builds, playable characters, and exclusive weapons in the works, alongside "Thunder Tribulations" and other independent events.
We expect to open our first playtest in March-April 2026, inviting you to explore this fictional Great Desolation and experience the core combat and progression.
Wishlist now to unlock a special artifact "Purple Ribbon Immortal Garb" in advance during the upcoming playtest and demo!
Our goal is to launch it within 2026. We believe a vibrant cultivation world must be shaped alongside our players, so we would like to invite everyone who loves action roguelites and the "Defication War" to join our community, discuss gameplay suggestions, and help us perfect this new legend.
Join our communities:
Discord (Demonbane Ascension Channel): https://discord.com/invite/xdindie
We will continue to share devlogs, testing plans, and more exciting content. Banebreakers, walk this desolate path with us and help shape what's to come!
Howkey Deer Studio