Those in the mood for some Bullet Heaven gameplay set in a Lovecraftian void can get their fix thanks to the new demo for Krystone Games’ Eldritch Escape. Fresh from a recent playtest, the new demo introduces multiple playable survivors, new long-term progression systems, boss-dropped Meta Resources, squad synergies, reworked expedition choices, and a brand-new playable character in Neon Ninja.
The story goes for Eldritch Escape sees Earth having been consumed by an ancient eldritch god. A small band of survivors has established a settlement on one of the last remnants of Earth, floating in the void. Choose three from a large roster to form your squad. Each survivor wields a unique main weapon with upgrade trees and specific stat bonuses. Promote one to lead the squad to gain access to their special ability for that expedition.
Not all survivors are brave enough to adventure out and will support you in other ways. They will upgrade equipment, enhance physical abilities, and offer tasks. Rescue new survivors on expeditions to expand the settlement and unlock more powerful upgrades.
You’ll have to navigate portals powered by ancient eldritch forces, with them forming a tangled web linking worlds and realities. Making things interesting is your limited oxygen supply, requiring your squad to navigate the portal network in just 20 minutes, jumping from world to world in search of the one escape route.
New to the demo are the mid-run Campsites, which allows you to heal and swap squad leaders, but at the cost of 2 minutes of Oxygen. Med Packs have been reworked into inventory consumables for greater control, and Places of Power in the Garden now grant permanent Blessings, making them worth seeking out.