Denver, USA – June 8th, 2023 – Independent game studio Yarrow Games, in partnership with leading independent video game publisher Versus Evil, has released an all new demo for its upcoming narrative driven roguelike Tamarak Trail on Steam, ahead of its launch on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox Series consoles this summer! “Tamarak Trail is a deck builder’s dream come true, with unprecedented depth, a haunting autumnal aesthetic, an engrossing story, and a completely novel dice-building mechanic,” said Steve Escalante, general Manager of Versus Evil. “This demo lets players come to grips with its basic mechanics and early stages, offering a taste of what’s to come when Tamarak Trail launches on PC and consoles later this year!” |
Tamarak Trail is a turn-based deck-building roguelike that uses customizable dice instead of cards. As a member of a secret society named the Sturgeon Lodge it’s up to you to piece together the mystery of a decaying earth, hunt down the source of this corruption and put a stop to it at all costs. Embarking on this adventure, you can choose one of three characters; The Magician, the Tracker or the Detective, each with their own unique abilities and traits. Depending on your preferred playstyle, the character’s different skills and attributes allow you to craft a unique strategy for your character as they navigate the ominous trail. Procedurally-generated paths create a myriad of possibilities where you can encounter events, monsters, campsites, treasure and more. Every new discovery reveals new bonuses and strategies to explore. |
To combat the monsters and nefarious foes you’ll encounter, you’ll have to be tactical in your dice-building, as each face could mean the difference between victory or defeat. Different dice sides can be used to attack directly, apply buffs and debuffs, inflict damage over time, defend yourself, to “flip” them to another side for combo awesomeness and much more. You can even apply “dice cores” to secure passive abilities. You’re given direct control of your dice rolls, and getting them to smack together allows you to create killer combo attacks. In true deck-builder fashion, dice faces can be customized with more abilities after each victory, adding new attacks, defenses and combinations to take forward into future battles. |
With a beautiful hand-drawn illustrative style, the game’s art direction has many inspirations, including the Group of Seven, the Canadian landscape painters of the 1920’s, and illustrator Ivan Bilibin. Tamarak Trail takes its inspiration from roguelike deck builders like Slay the Spire, and pays homage to innovative titles like Dicey Dungeons and Peglin, which have influenced the game’s feel and mechanics. Add to that a diverse and horrific bestiary influenced by Northern Ontario’s wildlife, it culminates in a treacherous trail where danger and intrigue hides in every corner. |
Tamarak Trail on Socials |
Versus Evil on Socials |
About Yarrow Games Yarrow Games was founded in 2021. Tamarak Trail is the studio’s first title, although members Piotr Lipert (Programming, Game Design), Lynden Joudrey (Art, Animation) and Michael Noble (Music, SFX) had worked together in the past. |
About Versus Evil Founded in 2013, Versus Evil, LLC is the US based video game publisher behind critically acclaimed video games First Class Trouble, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and The Banner Saga trilogy. Publishing games on all major mobile, PC and console platforms, Versus Evil works with independent development studios from around the world. The corporate philosophy is to champion for the independent game developer. For more information visit versusevil.com |