FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What HEARTREAVE is, how it plays, and what sets it apart — in a few short answers.
What is HEARTREAVE?
A turn-based hack’n’slash where every fight is played with your heroes’ skills. You form a party of one to four heroes, solo or with up to four players in online co-op, and explore ever more dangerous lands while your heroes grow stronger from one exploration to the next.
Is it a roguelike?
No. Your heroes keep their level, skills, talents, passives, relics and Hearts from one exploration to the next: you never start over. Only Hardcore mode ends the run when the party falls.
Is HEARTREAVE like Diablo?
In its loop, yes: explore, win, collect loot and build ever more powerful builds, against a difficulty that rises with no ceiling. But fights are turn-based, one skill after another, not in real time.
And like Slay the Spire?
In its fights, yes: skills, played turn by turn, and deck choices that matter. But progression carries over from one exploration to the next, and you lead a party of one to four heroes.
Can you play co-op, and with how many players?
Yes, online, one to four players, through Steam. Each player leads one or more heroes of the same party, four heroes at most. Solo, you can lead all four.
How many heroes and skills are there?
11 heroes, each with 20 skills that evolve into nine versions: 1,980 versions in all, against 140 creatures including 11 bosses, across 26 biomes and 11 islands.
What is “Set Out to Sea”?
A mode that opens once all your heroes reach level 8: a sea of 18 single-element islands, to land on one by one. Hearts torn out along the way are only yours once you return alive, and cleared islands may leave Island Hearts, which add a bonus and a drawback to a skill.
What is the Great Journey?
The endgame mode, unlocked once you clear exploration level 100. Journeys into single-element lands, against enemies empowered by affixes, to hunt Hearts. The farther you go, the higher your score.
How do the leaderboards work?
Each season has its own leaderboards, for progression and for the Great Journey, in Free Mode and Hardcore, by party size, and by hero in solo. On the website, leagues let you compete among friends.
Is there a demo?
Yes: it’s coming soon, free, on Steam, with its own leaderboard season. Add the game to your wishlist to be notified.
Which platforms and languages?
PC (Windows), through Steam. The game is available in English, French, Simplified Chinese and Japanese.
When does the game come out?
HEARTREAVE comes out in March 2027 on Steam. Add the game to your Steam wishlist to be notified.
Who makes HEARTREAVE?
A solo independent developer, under the name Ebon Anvil. You can follow development in the devlog and on Discord.