Abyssal Shade

About

Abyssal Shade is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Jacob Gislason and was released on January 10, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Abyssal Shade is a deck-building roguelike where you explore a layered void, battling inner Shades with emotion-infused cards. It combines turn-based combat and top-down RPG puzzles, allowing you to summon allies and craft strategies as you progress. Though brief, its replayability shines through varied cards and evolving tactics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features interesting card battles with unique mechanics and a creative concept that blends card battling with emotional themes.
It has a spooky atmosphere complemented by cool graphics and audio, making it engaging for players looking for a unique experience.
Despite its flaws, many players found it enjoyable and worth the time, especially considering it is free.

The game suffers from a lack of clarity in its mechanics, with many players confused about how to play and the effects of certain cards.
Controls are clumsy, particularly in the RPG elements, leading to frustrating interactions and a lack of a save/load function.
The game can feel repetitive and lacks meaningful content, with some players describing it as a 'procgen nightmare' that fails to deliver a satisfying experience.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay is accessible and enjoyable, featuring simple mechanics that allow for easy pick-up, though it can become repetitive over time. While the game lacks depth in narrative and bespoke levels, it compensates with solid mechanics and is considered a worthwhile experience, especially for a free title. However, some players feel that core mechanics are not adequately explained, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “It's easy to pick up, but does get a tad repetitive; however, I didn't mind since I enjoyed the mechanics and how it was progressing.”
- “100% worth the 0 American freedom units I spent on this; surprisingly good for a free Steam game. What it lacks in story and graphics, it makes up for in gameplay.”
- “Can't play a CCG where core mechanics aren't explained.”
- “The developer chose not to do the job of a real game developer and create meaningful bespoke levels, narrative-based gameplay progression, and so on.”
- “The energy mechanic in this game is pretty simple.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing them as amateurish and reminiscent of low-quality RPG Maker assets. However, others appreciate the overall experience, noting that while the visuals may be lacking, the gameplay compensates for these shortcomings, especially considering the game is free.
- “The graphics are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The attention to detail in the environments is remarkable, making every scene visually captivating.”
- “The art style is unique and beautifully executed, adding a distinct charm to the game.”
- “The graphics aren't great, really amateurish static images and stuff... with a little RPG Maker pixel crap window dressing that looks even worse than the combat table.”
- “What it lacks in story and graphics, it makes up for in gameplay.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The music and sound effects effectively create a spooky atmosphere that complements the game's graphics, though some players find the music to be unpleasant and recommend turning it off. Overall, while the audio contributes to the eerie ambiance, it may not appeal to everyone.
- “The creepy sound effects and music track perfectly match the graphics, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, creating an immersive experience that draws you deeper into the game world.”
- “Each musical piece is thoughtfully composed, elevating the emotional impact of key moments throughout the gameplay.”
- “The creepy sound effects and music track match the graphics.”
- “No jumpscares, but it does have a spooky atmosphere; the music is terrible, just turn it off.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story is criticized for being unclear and disjointed, leaving players confused about its identity as a card game, horror game, or narrative experience. While some players find value in the gameplay, the overall consensus is that the story is lacking and does not enhance the experience.
- “Horrible game, you don't know what this game wants to be: a card game, a horror game, or a storyteller. The card matches are terrible and confuse people as hell; this game gives nothing but frustration to the player.”
- “What it lacks in story and graphics, it makes up for in gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game creates a spooky atmosphere without relying on jumpscares, although the music has been criticized as terrible, leading some players to recommend turning it off for a better experience.
- “No jumpscares, but it does have a spooky atmosphere; however, the music is terrible—just turn it off.”