Lamplight is a free to play deckbuilding turn based roguelike RPG set on PC. Players step into Victorian era England where dark magic has covered the British Isles in a magical darkness called the gloom. The Midnight Lantern has assembled a team of four literary figures to confront Dracula and end his reign.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on building and refining a deck of cards during runs through three distinct areas. Each turn involves selecting cards to attack enemies or apply effects while managing resources in a turn based system. The game features over 60 unique cards that players combine in different ways depending on the chosen character.
Combat pits the selected hero against more than 15 unique enemies that appear across the areas. Positioning and timing matter because the gloom creates shadows that influence how encounters unfold. Players must adapt their decks on the fly as they progress deeper into each area and face escalating threats.
Character choice shapes the entire experience. Jonathan Harker brings a grounded approach suited to investigation and steady pressure. Victor Frankenstein focuses on creation and augmentation themes. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde offer a dual identity mechanic that shifts between controlled strategy and raw aggression. Dorian Gray emphasizes endurance and long term advantages that reward careful planning.
Game Modes
The game supports single player roguelike runs that emphasize repeated attempts and deck refinement. Each run starts with a base deck that expands through card acquisitions and upgrades found in the three areas. Failure sends players back to the start with retained knowledge of enemy patterns and card synergies.
Progress carries forward through unlocks that persist across runs, allowing gradual expansion of available cards and strategies. The structure encourages experimentation with different character decks while learning how the gloom affects visibility and enemy behavior in each area.
Setting and Characters
The Victorian England backdrop blends gothic literature with strategic combat. Dracula serves as the central antagonist whose influence spreads the gloom across the British Isles. The Midnight Lantern acts as the organizing force that brings the four playable gentlemen together for a final confrontation.
Each character draws from classic stories yet operates within the deckbuilding framework. Their abilities reflect core traits from their source material while fitting the turn based combat rules. Exploration of the three areas reveals more about the gloom and the enemies that thrive within it.
Is It Worth Playing?
Lamplight remains in development with a planned release in August 2026. As a free to play title it offers no upfront cost, which lowers the barrier for players interested in deckbuilding roguelikes. The combination of literary characters and turn based card combat provides a distinct hook within the strategy RPG genre.
Those who enjoy managing decks across multiple runs and adapting to different hero playstyles will find the systems align with that preference. The limited scope of three areas and the focus on core combat loops keep the experience contained while still offering depth through card combinations and enemy variety. Early interest centers on how the gloom mechanic and character dualities integrate into longer play sessions once the game launches.
