Blightstone Review: Charming Rougelike Strategy Feels Retro In The Right Kind Of Way

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Blightstone is a promising turn-based strategy RPG with a roguelike twist. While still simple in some ways, it’s charming and creative enough to hold your interest. Inspired by popular games like Into the Breach, Slay the Spire, and Inbound, Blightstone offers a quick and easy way to dive into fantasy adventures. Each playthrough feels like a small, self-contained campaign where you lead a team of heroes against waves of monsters.

When it shines, Blightstone feels like playing a condensed Dungeons & Dragons campaign, blending the strategic combat of XCOM with the classic style of early Final Fantasy games. Being a roguelike, it’s intentionally streamlined, which can sometimes lead to repetitive moments in what is otherwise a familiar fantasy setting. Luckily, the core gameplay is solid and the game’s charming presentation keep strategy and fantasy fans engaged. Currently in early access, Blightstone shows a lot of promise and could become something truly special with further development.

Adventure, Ho!

Okay, so I’m playing this fantasy RPG where this crazy plague, called the Blight, is turning people into monsters. I’m leading a group of adventurers out into the wilderness to try and stop it. Honestly, the characters aren’t super deep – they feel more like classic RPG roles than fully fleshed-out people. But that’s kind of cool, because it gives it this old-school vibe. Each of the four characters has their own way of talking, unique gear to hunt down, and plays really differently. The gameplay is pretty simple to pick up, which is great, but there are a few twists that make combat more interesting. It’s all about where you stand and what you can see during turn-based fights. It can get a little repetitive, like most games of this type, but the game does a good job of keeping things moving. Time actually passes in the world, the environments change, and you get unexpected events – like this one mission where enemies just emerge from the fog. There’s also this crystal, the Earthglass, that you have to protect at all costs. It gives you some cool abilities, but if you lose it, your whole team is done for – game over, start a new run!

One of the game’s strengths is how it handles resources. After playing for a while, you’ll get opportunities to rest overnight, which lets you heal, gain helpful bonuses, and reduce the spread of a dangerous corruption called the Blight. These resource management choices make the world feel bigger and add depth to the strategy, because any characters lost or corrupted during a run are gone for good. While the game is easy to understand and well-made, the combat can become a bit repetitive after a while. Players who enjoy slow-paced, strategic games with a map element will likely have a lot of fun, but those looking for fast-paced action might want to try something else.

Not Quite A Storybook Success, But Charming Nonetheless

Blightstone has a unique and appealing visual style, though the characters don’t move much. They express themselves through short lines of dialogue and little sounds, which gives them personality. Despite the limited animation, the game looks lovely, almost like a moving storybook illustration. While it’s not a complex or fluid presentation, Blightstone has a charming quality that fits its lighthearted, Dungeons & Dragons-inspired fantasy adventures.

The game features a memorable group of adventurers, each fitting familiar fantasy roles, and each quest feels like a small, self-contained story. The threat of the Blight – and its spreading corruption at night – creates a sense of grand adventure that fits well within the fantasy genre. However, the game’s visuals can become repetitive, as you’ll encounter similar enemies frequently. While it doesn’t boast cutting-edge graphics, the game’s charming art style and music create an engaging atmosphere.

Blightstone offers a streamlined and enjoyable strategy experience, taking inspiration from games like XCOM but with a more accessible approach. While the core gameplay is solid and charming, adding more variety to the levels and enemy types would improve it further. A little more polish to the character movements and overall presentation would also be beneficial. Blightstone has a lot of potential, and if the developers continue to build on its strengths, it could become something truly special. Right now, it’s a great choice for strategy game fans looking for a fresh and engaging challenge.

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2026-02-03 00:13