Why Early Access?

“The team behind Dala and the Cursed Forest is a small team building a roguelike deck-builder centered on the Fusion/Combine card system, along with the Transform system.

The core systems of the game (Combat, Fusion, Transform, Map Generation, and 3 starting Decks) are ready to play, but what we want most is feedback from real players on the balance of each Deck, how satisfying the results of Combining and Transforming feel, and tuning the various Status Effects to be both fun and fair. Early Access will help us design the remaining content (the 4th Deck, Talent Tree, Story) in a way that truly matches what players enjoy.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We expect to be in Early Access for approximately 3-6 months, depending on feedback and the scope of additional content we plan to add.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“We plan to:

- Add the 4th Deck
- Add a story system
- Add a Final Boss
- Improve UX, such as Combine Preview, Tier Indicator, and Archetype Tags on the Reward screen
- Unlock the Talent Tree system and add more Fairy upgrade options
- Add new Relics or Food items with a wider variety of Trigger Conditions
- Balance Cards and Monsters”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“In the Early Access version, players can:

- Play all 3 starting Decks (Guwen, Tatara, Vihok), each with its own distinct loop and concept
- Experience the full core gameplay: Turn-based Combat, the Fusion System (combining cards in hand), the Cell System, the Skill System, and the Transform System
- Explore a procedurally generated Map with various room types (Monster, Treasure, Restaurant, Shop, Mini Boss, Boss, Event)
- Access the basic Reward, Relic, Potion, and Food systems

The following are not yet available in the Early Access version:

- The Talent Tree for upgrade skills
- The 4th Deck (Vipak)
- The story system and Final Boss”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“We may consider a small price increase for the Full Release version.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We have already opened Discord and Steam Community Hub channels to gather feedback directly, focusing on:

- How satisfying the Combine results feel for each Deck
- The balance of Status Effects and their caps
- Ideas for new Relics, Cards, and Combine Recipes
- Bugs and UX issues encountered during play”