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Effulgence RPG

Effulgence RPG is a party-based RPG set in a unique character-based world where enemies are more than just obstacles - they ARE the resource. 💀 Destroy them to forge better gear!

All Reviews:

Very Positive (52) - 90% of the 52 user reviews for this game are positive.

Release Date:

Dec 2, 2025

Developer:

Andrei Fomin

Publisher:

Andrei Fomin

	Interface	Full Audio	Subtitles
English	✔
Russian	✔
Ukrainian	✔
French	✔
Italian	✔
German	✔
Spanish - Spain	✔
Japanese	✔
Korean	✔
Portuguese - Brazil	✔
Simplified Chinese	✔
Traditional Chinese	✔
Polish	✔

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?

“I'm releasing Effulgence RPG in Early Access because I want to improve the game with player feedback. As a solo developer, this helps me refine the combat, controls, and accessibility step by step. The main parts of the game are already in place: ASCII 3D visuals, globe exploration, and the core loop of turning enemies into resources. Early Access lets me keep building the game openly and focus on what players actually like and use.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“About 6 months. The full release is planned for around June 2026. This should give me enough time to add several content updates with new locations and encounters, improve combat and balance, and make the interface and controller support better. I want to keep Early Access focused and not make it longer than necessary. If the game needs more time, I will clearly say so.”

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

“Early Access begins with a short but polished version of the game that already shows the main loop: explore, fight, break enemies into particles, print gear, and move on to new encounters. The full version is planned to include more locations and mini-quests on the ASCII globe, more enemy types and mechanics, more party build options and tactical cartridges, and more story scenes that connect the whole game better. The goal for the full version is a 3–5 hour campaign with more replay value and more ways to experiment.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The first Early Access build is already playable and stable. It is designed as a compact version of the game.

A first full run takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on how much you explore. It includes a focused set of locations that forms a short but complete gameplay loop. The main systems are already in place: party combat, particle crafting, the matter printer, save system, basic settings, and controller support. The ASCII 3D visuals, lighting, and animations already represent the direction of the final game.

Areas that still need more work include combat variety, advanced tactical options, additional locations and encounters, better controller mapping, and more accessibility and readability options.”

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

“Yes. The Early Access price is lower and will increase for 1.0 to reflect the added content and polish. If you buy during Early Access, you'll get all updates up to full release at no extra cost.”

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

“I develop the game alone, so player feedback is very important for me. During Early Access, I plan to keep pinned “Feedback & Bug Reports” threads on Steam Discussions, add short feedback forms inside the game, share a public roadmap, and post update notes after major changes.

I also plan to regularly summarize what players told me and how it affects the next steps in development. If you like Effulgence RPG, your feedback can directly help me decide what to improve first.”

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About This Game

Early Access Note: Effulgence RPG is a compact sci-fi party RPG in a unique ASCII 3D style, where defeated enemies become raw material for new gear.

If you checked Effulgence RPG during the previous sale but decided to wait, the game is now better and more polished. Recent updates brought major performance improvements, a brand-new custom font, support for multiple writing systems at once, and new display modes like LCD-style screens and Black Paper mode.

The game is still available at its Early Access price, but the base price is planned to increase closer to the 1.0 release in June. That makes this sale one of the best chances to get the game at its current lowest price.

A first run currently takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on how much you explore. The current build is short, but polished and fully playable. It already includes the core look of the game, the ASCII globe, party combat, and the main loop of breaking enemies into particles and printing gear.

If you want to wait for the full release, feel free to wishlist the game and come back at 1.0. But if you want to play a strange, focused ASCII RPG now — and help shape it during Early Access — you are very welcome.

🎧 Early Access bonus: Everyone who gets Effulgence RPG during Early Access receives the original soundtrack by Sergey Eybog as a free DLC. If the OST becomes paid later, Early Access owners keep it forever.

░▒▓▒░ Why Effulgence RPG stands out ░▒▓▒░

★ A truly unusual ASCII 3D visual style that feels alive in motion.

★ A compact RPG instead of a huge hundred-hour game.

★ Turn-based party combat with readable tactics and unusual tools.

★ A core loop built around destroying enemies, collecting particles, and printing gear.

★ A world of shimmering symbols, fragments of a broken signal, and dark sci-fi humor.

░▒▓▒░ Recent improvements ░▒▓▒░

★ 50–100% performance improvements in many situations, depending on the scene and hardware.

★ A new custom font built specifically for the game.

★ Support for multiple scripts at the same time, including CJK characters.

★ New visual modes, including LCD-style screens and Black Paper mode.

These changes improve the game today and also make future updates more ambitious and easier to build.

░▒▓▒░ Game overview ░▒▓▒░

Effulgence RPG is a party-based, turn-based RPG where enemies are more than obstacles - they are a source of resources.

Defeat creatures to break them into particles, then feed those particles into a matter printer to create weapons, gadgets, and mechanisms.

★ Explore a stylized ASCII globe of locations.

★ Travel between combat zones, events, upgrades, and shops.

★ Fight as a small squad in turn-based, party-focused combat.

★ Break enemies into particles and print gear during your run.

★ Watch environments and creatures shift and change through animated text symbols.

░▒▓▒░ What is in Early Access right now ░▒▓▒░

★ A compact, replayable slice that already shows the full core gameplay loop.

★ Roughly 1-1.5 hours for a first complete run.

★ A focused set of combat locations, exploration spots, and game systems.

★ Core systems already in place: party combat, particle-based crafting, the matter printer, saves, settings, and controller support.

░▒▓▒░ Planned toward 1.0 ░▒▓▒░

★ More locations and mini-quests on the ASCII globe.

★ Additional enemy types and new mechanisms such as special encounters and bosses.

★ More tactical cartridges and more ways to build your party.

★ Expanded story scenes and quality-of-life improvements.

★ An overall target of a 3-5 hour campaign with room for experimentation and replay.

░▒▓▒░ What Effulgence RPG is (and isn't) ░▒▓▒░

Effulgence RPG is:

★ A short, visually striking party RPG built entirely from text symbols.

★ Focused on atmosphere, strange sci-fi, and a unique look.

★ Tactical, readable, and punchy rather than huge and exhausting.

Effulgence RPG is not:

★ A giant open world or a content-complete hundred-hour RPG.

★ A hyper-complex tactics simulator packed with too many systems.

★ Finished at its current stage - this Early Access build is a polished slice that will continue to grow.

░▒▓▒░ Planned toward 1.0 ░▒▓▒░

★ Gather crafting resources by defeating creatures and breaking them into particles.

★ Use those particles in a special matter printer to create weapons, gear, and mechanisms even in the middle of combat.

★ Use tactical cartridges to twist battles in your favor with bursts, shields, special effects, and more.

★ Experiment with different party builds and printed gear in a short, focused format designed for replay.

★ Plays well with a controller and has been tested on Steam Deck via Proton, with ASCII readability tuned for handheld play.

░▒▓▒░ What the gaming press says about Effulgence RPG ░▒▓▒░

PC Gamer: "Sure, the ASCII art is cool, but I'm pretty into what the game seems to be doing with its RPG mechanics, too."

The Escapist: "Effulgence RPG is an ASCII-based party RPG that has visuals that remind me of both Dwarf Fortress and Geometry Wars at the same time, except it's an RPG."

Alpha Beta Gamer: "Effulgence is an incredibly cool looking ASCII-styled 2D RPG adventure where players explore a mysterious alien world rendered entirely through text symbols."

GamingOnLinux: "It looks like nothing else I've seen before, it really is quite impressively made."