Elements from a beloved fan-created Pokémon challenge have made their way into a new indie game that’s quickly gaining traction on Steam. Game Freak’s iconic RPGs might not pose the same level of challenge to long-time players as they did three decades ago, but the gaming community has crafted various self-imposed challenges over the years. Among these, the Pokémon Nuzlocke challenge stands out, characterized by two primary rules: you can only capture the first wild Pokémon encountered in a given area, and any Pokémon that faints is deemed dead and must be released—essentially creating a permadeath scenario for those critters.
Currently, the adorable “Pokémon-inspired creature collector game” known as Aethermancer is in playtesting, and it’s threatening to derail my productivity.
This charming roguelike JRPG incorporates deck-building mechanics into a Pokémon-like formula that I never knew I needed.
With a premise echoing both Pokémon and Slay the Spire, Aethermancer is positioning itself as a powerful contender in the realm of roguelike deck-building JRPGs.
I’ve always imagined that the Nuzlocke rules could transform beautifully into a standalone creature-collecting game, and Aethermancer does just that by combining permadeath mechanics with a roguelike structure. The game’s early access description on Steam notes, “If a monster dies in combat, you’ll lose it. Permanently. However, you possess the ability to defy death by rebirthing their souls. Don’t lose hope! Your monsters might evolve in their new forms, but they’ll retain the bond you once shared and grow stronger from their past lives.”
At present, players can explore three different biomes, discover a total of 28 monsters, and engage in a “deep skill system to create unique builds during 3v3 combat.” The developers anticipate that the title will remain in early access for roughly one year.
As noted in one of the approximately 500 ‘Very Positive’ user reviews, “There are tons of strategies to explore, a wide array of monsters (including their evolved variants!) to capture, and an intriguing synergy system that ensures that seemingly disparate monsters might complement each other far better than expected.” Additionally, the pixel art is visually stunning. “Buy this game.”
For additional insights, be sure to check out the upcoming indie games scheduled for 2025 and beyond.