Steelrising - Cagliostro's Secrets is an action RPG adventure expansion for the PC title Steelrising. Set in an alternate version of the French Revolution, the base game follows a mechanical automaton named Aegis as she navigates a world dominated by the King's alchemical creations. The expansion adds a self-contained quest that requires players to first complete the Bastille section of the main campaign before accessing the new content through the Cordeliers Convent.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on third-person combat against mechanical foes and larger threats. Players control Aegis with responsive movement that emphasizes dodging, parrying, and timed strikes using a selection of weapons that differ in reach, speed, and elemental properties. Resource management plays a key role through Anima essence, which players lose upon death and must recover from the spot where they fell. Exploration involves navigating interconnected areas with backtracking elements that reward thorough searching for upgrades and shortcuts.
Character progression allows customization through attribute allocation, weapon upgrades, and consumable items that restore health or provide temporary buffs. An assist mode lets players adjust damage output, enemy aggression, and resource loss to suit different skill levels without affecting the core experience for those who prefer standard difficulty. The expansion introduces new enemy types powered by Mesmer-inspired machinery, additional weapons, armor sets, and costumes that alter appearance and offer minor stat variations.
Game Modes
Steelrising operates as a single-player experience focused on story progression and optional side content. There are no multiplayer components or separate competitive modes. The campaign unfolds through linear main objectives punctuated by exploration opportunities in detailed environments. The Cagliostro's Secrets expansion extends this structure with a new quest line that leads players to the Hôpital Saint Louis area, where they confront fresh challenges tied to the Comte de Cagliostro and the alchemical secrets behind the King's automatons.
Progression in the expansion follows the same checkpoint system as the base game, with enemies respawning after each rest point. Players encounter a new boss encounter and must outmaneuver specialized machinery while uncovering the quest's narrative threads. Completion grants access to the added weapons and cosmetic options for use throughout the full campaign.
Story and Setting
The expansion builds directly on the main narrative by involving the King's agent, the Comte de Cagliostro, in a plot centered on hidden experiments at Hôpital Saint Louis. No major new factions appear, but the content deepens the existing conflict between revolutionary forces and the automaton army. The new area presents a self-contained mystery that players access only after sufficient main story advancement, ensuring narrative consistency.
Is It Worth Playing?
Steelrising delivers a competent action RPG experience with Souls-like combat that rewards patience and build experimentation. The unique alternate-history setting stands out among similar titles, and the assist mode broadens accessibility for a wider range of players. The Cagliostro's Secrets expansion provides several hours of additional content including new weapons, a boss fight, and exploration in a fresh district, making it a solid addition for those who have already reached the required story point.
Reception has been mixed to positive, with praise for the art direction, weapon variety, and overall atmosphere alongside criticism of occasional imprecise enemy behavior and repetitive encounters. The game runs well on PC and offers a complete single-player package without ongoing seasonal content or live-service elements. It suits players who enjoy methodical combat and exploration in a compact campaign lasting roughly 15 to 20 hours for the base game plus the expansion. Those seeking a fresh take on the genre with adjustable difficulty will find the most value here.
