Escape Ruin is a dark-fantasy roguelike deckbuilder where you explore interconnected Lairs, choose how to approach encounters, and carry your progress beyond each run. Permanently upgrade cards, stack lasting powers, and grow strong enough to escape the Ruin.

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Early Access Game

Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.

Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“Escape Ruin is built around interconnected systems: deckbuilding, exploration, persistent progression, events, quests, encounters, and long-term character growth.

Early Access allows us to develop and refine those systems alongside the people playing the game.

Player feedback has already had a major impact on Escape Ruin. After observing how players interacted with our original run structure, we redesigned exploration around open, interconnected Lairs to give players greater freedom and reduce repetitive combat.

We intend to continue using Early Access in the same way: testing ideas, listening to feedback, and improving the game as it grows.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We do not currently want to commit to a fixed release date while major systems and content are still being developed.

Escape Ruin will remain in Early Access until we believe its core systems, content variety, progression, balance, and overall level of polish are ready for a full release.

As a small development team, our priorities may also evolve based on player feedback throughout development.”

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

“Our goal is to expand both the amount of content in Escape Ruin and the depth of its existing systems throughout Early Access.

Planned development includes additional areas to explore, enemies and bosses to encounter, cards and relics to build around, events and quests to discover, character options, progression systems, balance improvements, visual improvements, and additional ways for the world to react to the player's actions.

The exact scope and priority of these additions may change throughout Early Access as we evaluate player feedback and the needs of the game.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Escape Ruin currently contains the core systems that define the game, including turn-based card combat, deckbuilding, interconnected Lair exploration, events, enemy interactions, quests, shops, relics, the Hub, and persistent progression between runs.

Players can earn Soul Slivers during their expeditions and use them at the Hub to unlock permanent improvements, including card upgrades that affect the cards available during future runs.

Escape Ruin remains in active development. Content variety, balance, progression, UI, visuals, animations, and existing systems will continue to be expanded and refined throughout Early Access.”

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

“We currently plan to keep Escape Ruin at the same base price when it leaves Early Access.

If this plan changes during development, we will communicate that clearly with the community beforehand.”

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

“Community feedback is an important part of Escape Ruin's development.

Players can use our official Discord and Steam Community to share feedback, report bugs, discuss balance and builds, suggest improvements, and talk directly with the development team.

We also use polls, playtesting, player feedback, and discussions to help us evaluate new mechanics and changes to existing systems.

The redesign of Escape Ruin's exploration system is one example of how player experience can directly influence the direction of development.”
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About This Game




DEATH ENDS THE RUN. NOT YOUR PROGRESS.

Escape Ruin is a dark-fantasy roguelike deckbuilder built around exploration, choice, and long-term progression.

Venture into interconnected Lairs, manage a limited number of Steps, build your deck, pursue quests, and decide how far you are willing to push each expedition.

When the run ends, return to the Hub with Soul Slivers and permanently strengthen yourself for the journeys ahead.

EXPLORE THE RUIN

There is no single path through the Ruin.

Travel across the world and enter sprawling Lairs made of interconnected rooms. Choose your route as you search for enemies, events, shops, places to rest, quests, and secrets hidden deeper within.

But every movement costs Steps.

Push deeper in search of greater opportunities, find ways to extend your expedition, or turn your attention toward the objectives that matter most before your run comes to an end.

GROW STRONGER BETWEEN RUNS

Gold disappears when a run ends.

Your progress does not.

Bring Soul Slivers back to the Hub and invest them into permanent upgrades that reshape future runs.

Upgrade cards at the Forge, and from that point forward, the upgraded versions become the cards you can encounter during your adventures.

Unlock lasting powers that stack with the upgrades you have already earned.

Run by run, the version of Escape Ruin you play changes alongside you.

FIGHT, SNEAK, OR SPEAK

Finding an enemy does not always mean drawing your weapon.

Attempt to sneak past dangerous encounters and continue deeper into the Lair without fighting.

Or greet those you meet.

Some may have nothing to say. Others may reveal interactions, opportunities, or consequences you would never discover with a blade in your hand.

And when words and stealth fail...

Draw your cards.

THE RUIN REMEMBERS

Choices do not always end with the event that created them.

The decisions you make can echo through future encounters. A choice made earlier may unlock an opportunity later, close another path entirely, or cause something within the Ruin to take notice.

You may not always know when a decision will return to haunt—or help—you.

PURSUE QUESTS ACROSS MULTIPLE RUNS

Not every objective can be completed in a single room—or even a single expedition.

Discover quests that take you across different parts of a Lair and continue progressing them across multiple runs.

Some may reveal secrets, introduce new threats, or open paths into previously inaccessible areas of the Ruin.

Death may end your expedition.

It does not erase what you have discovered.

BUILD YOUR DECK

Collect cards and relics as you explore and shape your strategy around what you find.

Spend Gold during a run to expand your arsenal, create synergies, and prepare for the enemies waiting deeper within the Ruin.

Then permanently improve the cards you rely on most and change the possibilities available to you in future runs.

ESCAPE THE FALSE GODS

The Ruin is a place between life and what comes after.

Its realms are ruled by twisted False Gods and the creatures that serve them.

Challenge their followers, hunt the powerful beings standing between you and freedom, uncover the truth of the Ruin...

And become powerful enough to escape it.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

The game contains mild, non-graphic depictions of violence consistent with a dark fantasy setting. Combat encounters may feature small amounts of blood when attacks are made, along with basic death animations where enemies fall or collapse before disappearing.

There are no depictions of sexual content, sexual violence, drug use, self-harm, or extreme gore. Violence is presented in a stylized and restrained manner and serves gameplay and atmosphere rather than shock value.

System Requirements

    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: Intel HD4000+
    • Network: Broadband Internet connection
    • Storage: 4 GB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: Nvidia GTX960 / AMD RX560
    • Network: Broadband Internet connection
    • Storage: 4 GB available space
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