Novus Orbis

About

Novus Orbis is a single player tactical role playing game. It was developed by Genryuu111 and was released on February 10, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Novus Orbis A deckbuilder roguelite: collect cards, be blessed by the gods, find pets to help you, get stronger! Chain your cards to achieve stronger effects, act before the enemy does. Do you like big numbers? We've got them as well! Explore a variety of different areas all with their theme.Go through the different pieces of this broken world, against an out of reach entity.Your goal is to expl…

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

Unique and innovative combo system combined with a countdown timer mechanic adds strategic depth and freshness to the deckbuilding gameplay.
Charming pixel art style, immersive environments, and a well-crafted soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
Developer is responsive and actively updating the game, with frequent new content, balance improvements, and community engagement.

Some balance issues make certain classes or bosses frustrating, and runs can be heavily influenced by luck in card draws and rewards.
User interface can be cluttered and unintuitive at times, with some bugs including occasional softlocks and click issues disrupting gameplay.
Limited content variety currently with a smaller card pool and enemy diversity compared to genre veterans; runs can feel repetitive and lengthy.

gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The gameplay of Novus Orbis offers a fresh and strategic experience within the roguelike deck-builder genre, highlighted by its innovative combo mechanic that rewards sequencing cards for enhanced effects and a unique enemy action countdown that requires careful turn and resource management. These intertwined systems create a challenging yet engaging combat loop that demands foresight and tactical decision-making, setting the game apart from similar titles. While some players find the countdown mechanic unforgiving and the learning curve steep, the depth and variety of mechanics—including pets, items, and class distinctions—provide lasting appeal and complexity.
- “Novus Orbis is a striking entry in the roguelike deck-builder genre, offering a thoughtful blend of familiar card-based mechanics with several inventive twists that give the experience a sharp identity of its own.”
- “The core gameplay revolves around the interplay between deck construction, combo sequencing, and a unique countdown mechanic that redefines the pace of battles.”
- “What sets Novus Orbis apart from other well-tailored deckbuilding games is the 'combo' mechanic and enemy attack countdowns - cards get stronger and cheaper if they are played in a sequence corresponding to their combo value, and each card you play speeds up the enemy's next attack. The two mechanics play into each other in an interesting way - because enemies don't necessarily attack if you just end your turn (it just decreases their countdown by the equivalent of playing 2 cards), you are often presented with a strategic choice as to whether you want to play only a small number of cards (or no cards at all!) and end your turn to 'mulligan' into a more combo-suitable hand without triggering the enemies. The countdown mechanic also encourages you to think one or two turns ahead, depending on how many cards you are playing, and it acts as a safety valve on what would otherwise be infinite combos that just finish the run for you.”
- “From a gameplay loop perspective, it would be nice if some mechanisms triggered more consistently or had some meta progression. For example, to initially hatch a pet I should have to go through the trouble of the spring water mechanism, but then there should be some meta progression that allows you to pick a pet to start.”
- “The countdown mechanic, while innovative, can also feel unforgiving to those who prefer slower-paced, tactical decision-making.”
- “Sure, there're updates at a quick pace and the gameplay is an absolute blast, but I can't really recommend it due to how frustrating it gets 50% of the time.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
44%
The music in this game is widely praised for its catchy, suspenseful, and immersive qualities, often standing out alongside the gorgeous pixel art. Players and even the composer highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gameplay experience, though some suggest adding more musical variations for different events and encounters. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major strength that complements the game's unique mechanics and atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is a standout, and the pixel art is also gorgeous.”
- “Every aspect of this game is well-thought out and executed, from the incredibly fresh combat systems, the gorgeous pixel animation, the unique enemies, the incredible variety of events, the suspenseful music, and so much more!”
- “I find the art style and soundtrack absolutely amazing.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's clean pixel-art graphics and imaginative creature designs create an immersive cosmic-fantasy atmosphere that complements its gameplay well. While not groundbreaking, the art style is praised for its quality and uniqueness, often compared favorably to AAA titles. Overall, the visuals, combined with sound and animations, enhance the engaging and surreal experience.
- “Visually, Novus Orbis embraces a clean pixel-art aesthetic that fits its cosmic-fantasy theme well.”
- “The art style is on par with many AAA games (better in my opinion).”
- “Super cool pixel art graphics, very imaginative monsters, catchy soundtrack, immersive gameplay, clever puzzles, pets to join your party, and similar to chess it's easy to learn how to play but challenging to know what and when to play.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s humor is widely praised for its clever and unexpected moments, such as playful event interactions that surprise and delight players. Additionally, its charming and catchy style enhances the overall comedic experience.
- “I absolutely love the humor and the funny interactions in events (there is an event where the game pretends to softlock for 2-3 seconds and rewards you with a blessing (relic) afterwards).”
- “It has some great catchy music and a charming sense of humor.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its minimalist yet striking visuals that evoke cosmic and dreamlike realms, creating an immersive experience without overwhelming detail. Fans of the genre are encouraged to explore and appreciate the beautiful art and ambiance.
- “Its minimalist but striking backdrops—evoking nebulas, astral anomalies, and dreamlike realms—support the game’s atmosphere without cluttering the screen with unnecessary detail.”
- “Especially if you’re fans of the genre, explore the levels, soak in the beautiful art and atmospheres, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game generally runs smoothly on modest hardware, providing good accessibility, but some users report occasional crashes in windowed mode, particularly after resizing the window during loading or previous sessions.
- “The game’s performance is smooth even on modest hardware, making it accessible for a broad range of players.”
- “I've come across some performance issues and bugs though, the one that was especially annoying was that the game crashes at start pretty often in windowed mode, especially if you resized the window while it was loading or during the last time you played.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Replayability opinions are mixed: some feel the game lacks long-term replay value, while others highlight the variety offered by two distinct classes and nearly limitless deck combinations as a strong incentive to replay.
- “There are two classes, warrior and mage that play completely differently and there's a ton of replay value because the deck combinations are near limitless!”
- “I'm going to give it a thumbs up for now, but ultimately there isn't that much replayability imo.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally acceptable but has some bugs, including resolution issues on first launch and event glitches that affect gameplay balance. A restart is sometimes needed to resolve initial problems.