Indie game fans, put this on your radar immediately. Rising indie publisher Digital Bandidos and Toronto-based developer Hilltop Studios (the team behind the critically acclaimed, award-winning 2024 hit Lil’ Guardsman) have officially unleashed the first playable demo for their next title, Curse of Resthaven.

Headlining the official Six One Indie Demo Days line-up on Steam, this release marks the very first time the public can get hands-on with the gothic narrative roguelite since its reveal earlier this year.

Here is everything you need to know about this intriguing new title and why you should download the demo today.

What is Curse of Resthaven?

Curse of Resthaven is a unique genre mashup that blends narrative mystery, time-loop roguelite progression, card-driven deckbuilding, and town management.

You play as Ambrose, the newly appointed governor of a struggling island colony. You arrive at Resthaven to investigate the mysterious disappearance of your niece, Amalia, on the eve of a catastrophic event. However, there’s a catch: the island is doomed to be destroyed at the end of every cycle.

When catastrophe strikes, a fading local goddess intervenes, casting you back in time to the moment of your arrival. With your memories intact, you must repeatedly live through the loop, using knowledge gained from past lives to break the curse.

Core Gameplay Mechanics:

• Interrogation & Mystery: Interrogate over 25 fully voiced, secrets-keeping NPCs, trade with merchants, and restore the colony’s failing businesses.
• Card-Driven Expeditions: Venture past the town walls into the island’s wild interior. Build a custom deck of companion and resource cards to tackle unpredictable encounters and eldritch horrors.
• Time-Loop Progression: Retain your knowledge between loops. Invest in permanent skill trees (Tradecraft and Fieldcraft) and take on powerful goddess boons to tailor your strategy.
• Gothic Comic Art Style: Features hand-drawn visual novel-style artwork backed by an atmospheric, dynamic soundtrack.

What to Expect in the Steam Demo

While the full game will feature a 6-day cataclysmic time loop, the newly released Steam demo offers a focused, 2-day hands-on slice of the action (roughly 1 to 2 hours of playtime).

The demo gives players a complete test run of:

• The initial town-management economic loop.
• The early narrative leads and character interrogations.
• Card-based wilderness expeditions.
• The roguelite skill progression and boon system between resets.

Bonus Incentive: Players who complete the demo will unlock a head start in the full game, carrying over starting currency and extra skill points when Curse of Resthaven officially launches!

How to Play

The Curse of Resthaven demo is available to download right now on PC and Mac via Steam.

If you’re a fan of narrative-heavy mysteries (Overboard!, In Stars and Time) mixed with deckbuilding and roguelite progression (Slay the Spire, Hades), this is definitely one to add to your Steam Wishlist.

Find out more here

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