An isometric Action RPG sandbox in a collapsing world. Explore a global map, fight in intense real time combat, absorb soul cores and perform ascension rituals. Find rare gear, develop unique paths and strive to overcome the inevitable end.
Key Features
The World is experienced across two distinct levels, blending strategic movement with intense tactical combat:
Global Strategic Map: Traverse an overworld map inspired by classic strategy games (Mount & Blade, Heroes of Might and Magic). Travel between settlements, accept dynamic contracts, collect rumors, and interact with taverns, quest boards, and factions.
Local Tactical Areas: When entering dungeons, engaging enemies, or entering procedural areas, you transition to a detailed isometric perspective for fast-paced, high-stakes combat.
Progression by Cultivation: Breakthroughs & Rituals. Your journey to power is defined by cultivation rituals:
Tarot Card Character Origin: Craft your hero’s backstory using Tarot cards (Past, Present, Future) to define starting attributes, gear, and affinity for fundamental Laws.
Ascension Through Circles: Advance through 11 Circles of Power (with up to 3 Circles available in Early Access). Transitioning between Circles requires a Breakthrough Ritual.
Alchemy & The Trial of Will: Gather rare herbs, ores, and monster cores to brew a specialized Breakthrough Potion. The quality of your potion dictates your odds in the Ascension Trial—a battle of endurance against mental projections or enemy waves. Flawed alchemy increases trial difficulty and risks severe consequences.
Soul Cores & Spirit Coins: Absorb cores of defeated foes or trade them for Spirit Coins—the primary currency used for cultivation, trading and gear upgrades.
Deep Tactical Combat, Weapon Mastery & Laws - Combat in Aetherium demands discipline, positioning, and posture control, drawing inspiration from tactical Souls-like titles:
Methodical Combat System: Utilize dodges, blocks, parries, combos, and active weapon abilities across diverse weapon classes (one-handed swords, greatswords, bows, shields, and more).
Weapon Mastery: Build proficiency with specific weapon types to unlock advanced maneuvers and other techniques.
12 Fundamental Laws: Master forces like Space, Time, Death, and Transmutation. Cast unique Law-based abilities that scale directly with your Spirit and Law Understanding. Reaching certain Weapon Mastery level allows you to imbue these Laws directly into weapon strikes for game-changing synergies.
Environmental Combat: Turn the battlefield into your weapon. Kick objects to stagger enemies, manipulate liquids, and exploit environmental hazards to disrupt enemy posture.
Equipment and Power
You will search for items to empower your character, each with unique properties. Equipment is categorized with enchantments, powerful blessings, and dangerous curses that can dramatically alter your playstyle.
Crucially, items possess a Class (the same as the Class of creatures), which determines the amount of its properties, and a Sequence (the same as the Sequence of creatures), which determines the overall power of the item. This allows you to intuitively gauge their power and seek out gear that matches your current stage of progression.
