A downloadable Beta Version for Windows

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Blackthorn Winter

You were chosen to break the icy chains that shackle the land! Feel the pulse of Slavic folklore beating in tandem with the thrill of arcade games and the depth of RPG character development. Alone or in pairs, craft skill trees to overcome an ever-changing world where no two adventures are alike.

Battlefield view

Hear me, warriors of winter's chill!

Blackthorn Winter calls you to a saga of shattered ice and twisted magic, where the heart of Slavic myths beats strong. Morena's curse has turned our world to frost and shadow; hearths grow cold, flames dance with death's green light, and trees crumble under the ice's cruel embrace.


Take your hammer, your wit, and your courage. Alone or with your brothers and sisters in arms, fight through the frozen wastelands and dark dungeons. Awaken Vesna's spirit, shatter Morena's chains, and let the seasons turn once more. This is our quest, our battle, our story. Will you answer the call?

Stand valiant, alone or amidst comrades in arms, in local or networked battles where unity triumphs over rivalry. Overcome a land where each attempt by brave heroes is met with unexpected twists and elements of surprise. Venture through a realm where every new adventure reshapes the land, drawing ever nearer to the cryptic Baba Yaga. It is she, cloaked in enigma, who may bestow the key to Morena’s sanctum for the ultimate showdown.


Plunge into the depths of dungeons, where a tabletop perspective lets you strategically choose your battles and challenges in a classic setting. Tread thoughtfully, deciding whether to engage fearsome beasts, uncover arcane spells within the dusty pages of forgotten tomes, or face the enigmatic Monolith—a test of your mettle that reflects the core virtues of the game: Praise, Salvation, and Honor.



In this shadowed land, every step is a dance with danger as the insidious Lurker creeps ever nearer, urging haste in your dungeon delve. Yet, caution beckons, for only the well-prepared dare to descend into the abyss. Each choice, each encounter weaves the fabric of a tale thick with tension, cloaking your quest in an aura of otherworldly enigma.


Choose among four classes

Forge a strong partnership as you progress, making crucial decisions together to build complementary skillsets. Work in unison to maximize your strengths and overcome the challenges that lie ahead in your quest to defeat Morena.


Wardens are highly skilled and dedicated individuals who have sworn to protect and defend their allies and the innocent, often at great personal risk.

Wardens excel at defense and support. They are able to use their specialized skills and abilities to protect their allies, heal their wounds, and enhance their combat abilities.
Wardens are stoic, disciplined, and selfless. They are willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect others, and are often seen as the embodiment of honor and duty.



The Huntress is characterized by her deadly precision and ability to deal massive damage, often at great personal risk. She excels at using her weapons to even out the playing field.
The combination of ranged attacks, critical hits, and agility make her a versatile and exciting choice.
She is a lone wolf, preferring to work alone rather than as part of a team. She is fiercely independent and self-reliant, and her abilities reflect this.





Elementals are versatile and resourceful spellcasters who command the raw power of the elements, shaping them into devastating spells and transformative abilities.

The core of an Elemental's power lies in their passive effects that do not require resources at the start. As they grow stronger, these passive abilities evolve into fearsome active spells that can turn the tide of battle.
Whether focusing on frosty spells to slow and debilitate enemies, or fiery AoE abilities that engulf the battlefield in flames, Elementalists are adaptable and creative, making them a formidable force in any situation.



Summoners are enigmatic and powerful warlocks who harness the dark arts and ancient rituals to bend the forces of nature and the spirit world to their will.
With unique abilities centered around sacrificing resources to gain the upper hand on the battlefield, they overwhelm their enemies with numerous summoned minions and disable foes through the use of dark magic.
Drawing from the traditions of seers and necromancers, Summoners are often seen as mysterious figures. They are masters of manipulation, using their knowledge of the spirit realm to control powerful familiars and command the forces of darkness.



As you delve into this treacherous journey, remember that only the bravest and most disciplined adventurers can hope to conquer the ever-changing challenges brought forth by the procedural generation of content. Each run presents a new and unique experience, testing your wits and resolve in this unyielding battle against the forces of darkness. May fortune favor you, valiant warrior, as you strive to restore balance and vanquish the icy grip of Morena's curse.



Updated 13 days ago
StatusIn development
PlatformsWindows
Rating
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
(1 total ratings)
AuthorDercetech
GenreAction, Role Playing
TagsArcade, Breakout, Local Co-Op, Multiplayer, Multiple Endings, Pixel Art, Roguelite
Average sessionAbout an hour
InputsKeyboard, Mouse, Joystick
LinksSteam

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Click download now to get access to the following files:

Blackthorn Winter - Beta 1 (2024 02 15) 139 MB

Comments

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(1 edit) (+1)

Absolutely pleasant idea, with a visually amazing style...only spoiled by the oversight that the player gets little to no time to react to events due to:

1-Events immediately happening, orbs get teleported without warning, other Brick Breaker games have fixed this issue by having the ball move to the paddle then waiting for a moment before releasing.
2-Simply space: you get no time to react to new balls, balls teleporting, or worse of all enemy attacks.
see:

But overall, this is an excellent beta, and only thing I could suggest is more ambience or a music choice.

(+1)

Hello Sicave!

Thanks so much for sharing this nice feedback.
Good point regarding the lack of empty space. We designed the base levels with 2 player layout in mind, and you remark is spot on. We need to work on two separate sets so that 1P and 2P modes have a better feel.

Regarding the teleport, good point too. We've implemented that as a way to reduce the time waiting when the orb is stuck bouncing off walls / stuck in infinite loops. A spell / ability allows the orb to "stick" on the paddle, so there be a common ground we can use here. We first simply returned the orb in the inventory, but then the orb would loose all its buffs.

Last point is also more than valid. We're lagging behind in terms of soundtrack! Will work on that too, hopefully releasing a first in-game soundtrack in the next beta.

Cheers!