As the tension mounts and enemy forces draw near, a father’s instinct drives him to send his young daughter into an escape tunnel, urging her to flee into the safety of the woods. Meanwhile, he prepares to confront the imposing commander who has arrived at his doorstep. In the opening battle of Prelude: Dark Pain, the stakes are high, but the timely arrival of old friends offers a glimmer of hope. Moments later, they find themselves atop an armored caravan, pulled by colossal horned beasts, as they fend off their pursuers. Utilizing knockback skills, the father sends enemies tumbling to the ground, creating a brief moment of respite amidst the chaos.
Engaging Tactical Combat
Prelude: Dark Pain weaves a dark fantasy narrative into a tactical turn-based RPG format that echoes the captivating gameplay of titles like Into The Breach and Mewgenics. The game rewards strategic thinking and clever maneuvering, with battles that balance on a knife’s edge. Players step into the shoes of Soren, a former warrior turned blacksmith, whose life is upended by the abduction of his wife, accused of witchcraft by the Order of the Ashen Crusade. As revolution brews across Statera, Soren is compelled to ignite the flames of rebellion.
Gameplay unfolds on an overworld map reminiscent of classic RPGs, where players traverse the land, engaging with settlements, NPCs, and enemy patrols. Approaching an enemy or encountering trouble in town can lead to grid-based battles. Players can assemble a squad of four characters, each offering unique potential based on their leveling and equipment choices.
During each turn, players can execute movement, a basic attack, and utilize various skills depending on their available action points. In just a few skirmishes, players can establish their preferred playstyle. For instance, Tammais, a high-health bruiser, draws enemy attention, while Hunter Maya employs her owl companion to harass multiple foes, blinding them and exposing them to increased damage. If enemies cluster together, she can unleash a barrage of arrows to strike them all.
Soren adopts a rogue-like approach, maneuvering behind enemies to inflict bleed debuffs through flank attacks. Striking from the side or rear inflicts greater damage, especially when leveraging high ground, while his attacks become even more potent against bleeding targets. Meanwhile, his son Tizon deploys mechanical turrets that target nearby enemies, sets bear traps to hinder movement, and utilizes heavy knockback from his rifle shots to reposition foes.
Specific story encounters introduce additional characters who can join the adventure, each bringing unique mechanics to enhance gameplay. Gunslinger Gala can strategically place blood crystal barrels for detonation without self-harm, while the enigmatic Sade drops a massive cross onto the battlefield, amplifying her control over zones with her abilities.
Although some menu navigation feels a bit clunky at this stage, the game remains in pre-early access, allowing players to accomplish their objectives. Overworld encounters become increasingly manageable as players level up and invest talent points into synergies that bolster existing strategies.
Major confrontations often require multiple attempts, as players learn the capabilities of formidable foes and strategize to mitigate their threats. In certain scenarios, players can even determine the fate of key adversaries after defeating them, although the long-term implications of these choices remain to be seen.
The visual presentation of Prelude: Dark Pain is striking, featuring vibrant colors and a diverse array of enemy designs, from armored warriors to surreal, eldritch creatures. While it evokes comparisons to Darkest Dungeon, Quickfire Games has successfully crafted a distinctive aesthetic that sets it apart. Players are already contemplating various character builds, and with the freedom to reset talent points at any time, many are choosing to wait for the official release to start anew.
Prelude: Dark Pain is slated for launch on Steam Early Access in the third quarter of 2026. Enthusiasts eager to experience the game sooner can request access to the playtest. It has been nearly a year since Quickfire’s Kickstarter exceeded its initial goals, and anticipation for the full release continues to grow.
Upon launch, Quickfire Games plans to offer approximately 15 hours of gameplay, encompassing the first act of the story and introducing nine heroes with a combined total of 63 skills. By the time the game reaches its 1.0 version, it will include all acts of Soren’s journey, over 20 heroes across eight class types, 20 factions, 70 enemy types (including bosses), world missions, raids, and a comprehensive crafting system. The developer has indicated that it will “gradually raise the price” as new features are introduced.
