As We Descend stands out as a strategy roguelike deckbuilder that blends tactical combat with city management in a post-apocalyptic setting. Players take on the role of a leader in the last human stronghold, a descending city-vault facing monstrous threats from below. This game demands careful planning, as you build squads, navigate political intrigue, and dive into dangerous expeditions. With its early access status on PC, it offers a mix of card-based strategy and roguelike progression that appeals to those who enjoy deep mechanics and replayability.
Gameplay
The core of As We Descend revolves around dual-layered deckbuilding. You assemble squads from unique archetypes, each bringing their own set of cards that you can add, remove, or upgrade using scavenged technology. These squads form the backbone of your deck, tailored for battles against massive enemies in expeditions.
Combat unfolds in a two-zone system, with a Guard Zone for frontline defense and a Support Zone for ranged or auxiliary roles. Positioning units between these zones is key to dodging attacks and setting up strategies. You react to visible enemy intents, adapting tactics on the fly to counter titanic foes. Expeditions take you through three distinct biomes, scavenging resources while pushing toward the core, where rewards and secrets await.
Back in the city-vault, gameplay shifts to management and politics. As the last bastion of humanity, it requires balancing resources, forging alliances, and navigating feudal dynamics among denizens. Time and resources are limited, so decisions here directly impact your preparedness for descents. Failure in a run reveals new secrets, unlocking knowledge and tools for future attempts.
Game Modes
As We Descend focuses on a single-player roguelike structure, where each playthrough involves building your forces and embarking on descents. There are no separate multiplayer options; instead, the game emphasizes solo progression through repeated runs, with permanent unlocks carrying over.
The primary mode combines expedition-based combat with city management phases. You choose from one of three factions at the start, influencing your starting advantages and political interactions. Each descent presents procedural challenges, ensuring varied experiences without distinct named modes beyond the core loop.
Factions and Mechanics
Three major factions define the city-vault's landscape, each offering unique starting points and mechanics. Aligning with a faction shapes your approach to politics and resource gathering, as you outmaneuver rivals to secure allies and uncover hidden truths.
Mechanics like squad sculpting allow for extensive customization, with units featuring specialized cards and abilities. The game's punishing difficulty encourages experimentation, as you adapt to enemy patterns and zone positioning. Recent updates have refined these systems, adding depth to unit interactions and biome challenges.
Is It Worth Playing?
For strategy enthusiasts who thrive on roguelike deckbuilders with tactical depth, As We Descend delivers a compelling experience. Its blend of squad management, reactive combat, and city politics sets it apart from simpler card games, rewarding players who enjoy optimizing builds and adapting to failure.
Player reception highlights the game's innovative two-zone system and replayability, though its early access nature means ongoing refinements. If you prefer turn-based strategy with meaningful progression and don't mind a steep learning curve, it's a strong choice. Those seeking lighter gameplay might find it too demanding, but for dedicated fans, the depth makes repeated descents worthwhile.
