There have been a few ‘golden ages’ of gaming, and during one of them, RPGs reigned supreme. In fact, they reigned so much that many developers to this day still look to them for inspiration for the video games they make. Case in point, the team at R-Factory has revealed a new fantasy RPG based around deck-building mechanics called Astral Dive, and it’ll drop on console and Steam next year. The team made it clear that this is a tribute to the games of the past, and when you hear what the game will be like, and what the trailer shows it looks like, you’ll see the resemblance:

“Astral Dive invites players to step into the shoes of Atlas, a young mage, as he investigates mysterious events that shook the foundations of his magic academy many years ago. To uncover the truth, he’ll need to cross into new, fascinating dimensions by traversing astral portals. Along the way, he will befriend more allies, each with a unique past to discover and special abilities to add to the party.

Astral Dive’s combat blends the tactical planning of classic JRPGs with an original system of magical cards known as Stellar Tiles. During your journey, you’ll collect new spells to customize your deck and exploit lethal synergies to defeat bizarre creatures and colossal bosses. Players will need to approach each battle strategically and dynamically – every decision matters.

Through the astral portals, players will visit seven different locations, each with its own characters, mysteries, and fragments of lore to uncover. Astral Dive celebrates the golden age of two-dimensional role-playing games with detailed, entirely hand-drawn pixel art. From character animations to spell effects, every frame has been crafted with care to bring a vibrant, memorable world to life. Each new area is a key piece in understanding the events that shaped the magic academy and will influence Atlas’s fate.”

And here are the game’s main features:

• Tactical Card Combat: Build complex strategies by creating custom spell decks and manipulating the battlefield with an interactive Stellar Tile system. Combine elements to trigger devastating magical combos.
• Hand-Crafted Pixel Aesthetics: Be immersed in detail-rich, multi-layered environments, expressive character animations, and spell effects made entirely by hand.
• Interdimensional Narrative: Travel through mysterious astral portals to discover hidden lore, interact with memorable companions, and uncover the magic academy’s mysteries.

As you can see, this RPG will try to stand out from the rest, while honoring those that came before. No definitive window for the title has been given, outside of Q2 2027, but you can wishlist it on Steam, should you desire.