Firesquid and Quickfire Games have announced that Prelude: Dark Pain launches in Steam Early Access on July 27. A free demo is available now.
The game is set in the dark fantasy world of Stater, ravaged for years by a mysterious force called the Dark Pain. Players take on the role of Soren, a former warrior and blacksmith leading a rebellion against the Order of the Ashen Crusade to liberate the war-torn lands.
The Early Access launch includes the first story act — around 15 hours of content — with nine playable heroes, a fully open world map, and finalized cutscenes.
The full release will expand the roster to 20+ characters, each with two talent branches and around 25 skills. Squads of five can be assembled from eight classes including support mages, assassins, and ranged specialists. Grid-based combat takes place on varied arenas — some with elevation bonuses, others with moving elements that can shift the tide of battle. Each mission also offers an optional challenge with valuable rewards.
Between missions, players develop their own settlement — crafting gear, sending companions on expeditions, gathering resources, rescuing civilians, and unlocking additional quests. Some choices permanently affect which heroes remain available.
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