A fast, skill-based roguelite where the wrong choice doesn’t just slow you down, it kills your run. Fight through relentless waves, react instantly, and build around two opposing forces that must be used together. Ignore one side, and the other overwhelms you.
Torch of Shadows is the debut game from Acthera Studios, a two-person indie team. Every pixel is hand-drawn. Every system has been rebuilt more times than we want to admit.
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Opposites Must Collide
Switch between Light and Dark forms instantly during combat.
Dark enemies can only be damaged by Light attacks.
Light enemies can only be damaged by Dark attacks.
Using the wrong form deals zero damage while enemies continue to pressure you from all sides.
The battlefield constantly mixes both enemy types, forcing fast reactions, target prioritization, and rapid form switching under pressure.
All attack skills fire automatically, but survival depends on movement, positioning, upgrade choices, and using the correct form at the right moment.
Core Features
15-minute high-intensity survival runs leading to the final boss fight
Dual Light & Dark combat system with 10 unlockable attack skills
Randomized build-defining upgrades every level
3 rerolls per run to adapt your build
Boss fights at critical milestones (upcoming soon: new mini-boss enemies)
Continuous enemy pressure with elite, fast, bomber, and tank enemy types
Dynamic maps with optional Pylon and Soul systems
Leaderboard support for fastest clears and competitive runs
Build, Adapt, Survive
Defeat enemies to collect Sun Particles and Moon Fragments, used for permanent progression across both Light and Dark paths.
During runs, level up to receive randomized upgrades that can increase attack speed, damage, survivability, and form efficiency.
Specializing too heavily in one side, you may struggle against the opposite form later in the run.
Enemies spawn continuously, not in isolated waves. Surviving means constantly adapting your build while managing the increasing pressure from enemies.
10 Corrupted Realms
10 handcrafted maps
10 unique bosses with distinct mechanics (5 light & 5 dark boss)
Each boss rewards a different skill and relic that can be equipped for permanent buffs
50 Pylons tied to 10 maps (5 for each map)
"Pylon Rush": Restore 5 pylons in a run to jump into the boss arena early (for speedrunners in leaderboard)
Pylon & Soul Minigames
Pylons are optional risk-reward objectives tied to each map. (grant you temporary buffs or debuffs if you fail)
20+ Pylon minigames (timing, mechanics, reaction)
Souls grant you an extra attack power for both forms and protect you from 2 hits. Get hit 2 times, and it is gone.
20+ Soul challenges (offensive & defensive rewards)
Roguelite Structure
Randomized upgrade paths every run
Light / Dark synergy-focused builds
Escalating enemy intensity and late-game pressure
Permanent progression across both forms
Higher difficulties for players seeking mastery and faster clears
The Endgame
Defeat all bosses. Restore all maps. Then something else awakens.
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WARNING: This game contains flashing lights and intense visual effects in some mini-games.
