Why Early Access?

“Gridholm is a tactical card battler built by a solo developer working with community input. Early Access is the right fit because the game benefits from real player data: card balance, faction viability, matchup meta, and deck archetypes all need feedback beyond what simulation can provide. We believe the best TCGs are shaped by their communities, and Early Access lets players help us build the game together. We're launching with a complete core experience and will continue expanding content, polish, and features based on what players tell us matters most.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We plan to remain in Early Access for approximately 6 months, though this timeline may extend based on community feedback and content scope. We'd rather take the time to get the game right than rush to a 1.0 release that doesn't meet our quality bar.”

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

“We plan to expand Gridholm over the course of Early Access with the following goals:

Additional card sets that introduce new mechanics and deepen faction strategies
Expanded Adventure Mode with new chapters, bosses, and card rewards
Competitive ranked seasons with rewards and leaderboards
New Draft formats and rotating formats for variety
Quality-of-life improvements to deck building, replay systems, and match review
Ongoing balance updates based on community data and tournament play
Additional cosmetic customization for champions, boards, and card backs

We'll prioritize based on community feedback. Some planned features may evolve or change based on what players enjoy most. We plan to involve the community in roadmap decisions through regular developer updates.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version of Gridholm includes:

200+ cards across four factions (Light, Primal, Mystic, Dark)
Full single-player Adventure Mode with roguelike progression, boss encounters, and card upgrades
Online ranked multiplayer with matchmaking
Draft mode with node-map pool selection
Four unique champions with faction-unlocked abilities
Full tutorial and new player onboarding
Collection building through packs, gold, and dust crafting

The game is fully playable end-to-end. Balance tuning, card additions, and feature expansions will continue throughout Early Access based on player feedback and game data.”

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

“We plan to gradually raise the price as we add new content, features, and polish throughout Early Access. Players who purchase during Early Access will get access to all future updates included with their purchase, at the lower initial price.”

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

“We're committed to building Gridholm with our community. Here's how we plan to engage:

Regular developer updates on the Steam Community Hub covering upcoming features, balance changes, and design philosophy
Active participation in community discussions, especially around balance and gameplay
Discord server for real-time feedback, playtesting, and discussion with players
Transparent patch notes detailing every change and the reasoning behind it
Community-driven balance decisions for contested cards and mechanics
Early access to new content through test builds for engaged community members
Regular developer streams or videos discussing design decisions

We believe the best games are built in dialogue with their players. We're a solo developer, so direct community feedback has outsized impact on what gets built and when.”