LIANYAO: The Formless One is a first-person deckbuilding roguelite strategy game set in a world drawn from Chinese folklore and mountain legends. Players begin without a fixed form and refine the souls of defeated creatures into abilities that define both combat style and physical transformation over the course of each run.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on venturing into haunted mountains where players confront beasts, spirits, and corrupted creatures. Combat occurs from a first-person perspective, requiring observation of enemy intentions and careful timing of abilities to balance offense and defense. Defeated monsters yield souls that players refine into cards representing signature powers such as defensive retaliation, relentless pursuit, or rapid multi-hit attacks.
Refining these abilities does more than expand the deck. The chosen powers gradually alter the player's form, unlocking new supernatural traits that reinforce the emerging combat approach. No class selection occurs at the start. Instead, the build develops organically through encounters and refinement choices, allowing different enemy types to steer the run toward distinct directions.
Events, blessings, and relics encountered during expeditions interact with refined powers to create unique combinations. Players adapt to what each journey provides rather than pursuing a predetermined archetype.
Game Modes
The game structures play around repeated expeditions into the wilderness. Each run generates a fresh mix of battles, events, and monster encounters that shape the available refinements. Progress carries forward only within a single expedition, with the next journey starting anew and offering different combinations of creatures and opportunities.
Deeper into the mountains, familiar creatures change under unnatural forces, introducing more dangerous beings. This progression encourages players to combine abilities and relics in ways that complete a combat style specific to that run.
Core Mechanics and Progression
Deck growth stems directly from the creatures players choose to engage and the powers they elect to refine. Different monsters open varied combat paths, from defensive options to aggressive multi-hit sequences or stranger abilities tied to corrupted spirits. The absence of pre-made archetypes means builds emerge from the act of refinement itself.
Form transformation reinforces the chosen style. As powers accumulate, new supernatural forms appear that alter capabilities and match the direction the run has taken. This feedback loop ties visual and mechanical changes to player decisions without requiring an initial commitment to a fixed path.
Is It Worth Playing?
LIANYAO: The Formless One suits players who enjoy roguelite runs where builds form through discovery rather than planning. The first-person perspective and folklore-inspired creatures provide a distinct atmosphere for those interested in strategy games that emphasize adaptation and transformation mechanics.
Those who prefer fixed classes or linear progression may find the open-ended refinement system less appealing. The game rewards experimentation with enemy souls and relic combinations across multiple expeditions, making it a fit for fans of deckbuilding roguelites that evolve based on what the run presents.
