Indie developer CLYDE Games and publisher Mad Mushroom have launched Cursemark into Steam Early Access. Revealed during the 2026 Future Games Show, the dark fantasy hack-and-slash action roguelike has quickly secured a “Very Positive” user rating on Steam. The game attempts to carve out a unique niche by combining the deliberate, unforgiving combat structure of traditional Soulslike titles with the chaotic, escalating build progression typically found in bullet heaven games.
At the core of the experience is an interconnected, handcrafted overworld heavily inspired by the structural design of the original The Legend of Zelda. Progression leans on a death-and-revival gameplay loop reminiscent of Hades. Players navigate this world while piecing together runes that alter their capabilities. This mechanic mirrors the design philosophy of Vampire Survivors, allowing players to stack synergistic upgrades to create highly powerful character builds that can clear entire screens of enemies simultaneously.
Despite the potential for overwhelming player power, the game maintains a strict mechanical difficulty. The combat loop borrows heavily from Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls, requiring precise positioning and careful resource management. Healing items are deliberately scarce, and standard enemy encounters remain lethal throughout the journey. Environmental storytelling acts as the primary narrative vehicle, utilizing sparse dialogue from mysterious NPCs and distinct visual design to flesh out the dark fantasy setting.
Cursemark is currently available on Steam for a promotional launch price of roughly $12, a discount from its standard $19 retail price, with the introductory sale running until June 22. According to CLYDE Games, the title is projected to remain in Early Access for anywhere between six months and two years. The developers intend to use this period to address technical stability, refine character balance, and expand content based on player feedback before committing to a full 1.0 release.
