Some games grab you at first glance, and that’s exactly what happened to me with Wretch: Divine Ascent. A PvP roguelite that blends what looks like a classic fighting game with mechanics drawn from today’s hottest trends, backpack (inventory-management) systems, and autobattlers, to deliver brutal, engrossing PvP showdowns.
Developed by Ogopogo and published by SapStaR Games, the title now offers a demo that lets players sample this innovative genre mash-up, which also happens to be gorgeous to look at.
The demo features three playable characters, the Knight, the Ronin, and the Assassin, while the full game will include many more, plus a wide array of items and equipment that form the backbone of its combat system.
For those unfamiliar with backpack mechanics, the idea is to slot items into your inventory and arrange them just right to unlock different attack types for your character.
Because Wretch is an autobattler, once you’ve slotted your loadout, the only thing left is to watch the fight unfold and see whether your build delivers.
The goal is to rack up a 10-win streak to qualify for a bracket packed with the game’s top players worldwide. You can jump into matches whenever you like; your armed avatar stays online, ready to be challenged even when you’re not.
“With Wretch, we set out to take everything we love about tactical inventory battlers and fuse it with the stark intensity of dark fantasy,” said Sea Zhao, Chief Producer at Ogopogo.
“We wanted to create something precise, brutal, and endlessly replayable, where every item, every fusion, and every attack chain can mean the difference between victory or defeat. It’s been a thrill to watch players around the world peel back the layers of strategy to uncover devastating combinations and unexpected synergies.”
The visual style, a dark medieval mash-up of characters and elements, is right up my alley, and that look carries through the entire UI.
In my view, Wretch: Divine Ascent is a genuinely compelling project, even though I’m not much of a PvP fan; I’d love to see this setup explored in a single-player RPG someday.
There’s still no release date, but in the meantime, give the Steam demo a try; it’s well worth it. Below you can find more details about the game and gameplay trailer.
About This Game
Wretch: Divine Ascent is a 1v1 tactical auto battler game in a dark medieval style that was inspired by Backpack Battles and developed with Unreal Engine. Mix and match items in your backpack to create powerful combos.
Purchase a variety of helpful items such as equipment, accessories, and moves from the shop, and fuse them to obtain special items that cannot be bought. Be careful—some moves can counter each other! Getting the right combination of moves and equipment will be your key to victory.
Strategic Backpack Management
You dive into backpack management right from the first match. Purchase moves, items, and equipment from the shop and formulate your best strategy.
Your items can be combined to give powerful effects, and you can even fuse items to gain unique creations that no shop can provide off the rack. Choose your combinations carefully to give yourself the sharpest edge in your battles!
Multiple Characters and Combo Customization
You get to choose from multiple character types which include the Knight, Ronin, and Assassin in the current demo version. New characters are in the works, so keep an eye out for updates!
The characters have distinct features and cool styles that are further emphasized in the strategies and moves employed in battle.
Use your backpack items to give your attacks unique buffs such as critical hits, speed boosts, and block enhancements. Connecting moves well will be crucial for victory—avoid moves that might counter each other, and build combos to allow you to quickly launch follow-up attacks after breaking through your opponent’s guard.
Ten Trials of Steel-on-Steel Combat
You undergo up to 10 battles per game, each against real players. Slash and slice your opponents in a bloody 1v1 fight to the finish. Players can battle at any time with no need to wait for an opponent to be online. After you win 10 battles in a game, you gain the chance to challenge the best players on the global leaderboard.
The current demo version includes a 10-Win Honor leaderboard, where you can keep an eye on the enemy and make plans to rise to the top in Divine Ascent. Stay sharp—they’re watching too.
About the Demo Version
This demo includes three characters and over 100 different items, equipment, and moves to choose from for your combat combinations. We will continue improving and updating the demo as we progress in our game development. We look forward to bringing you the official release soon!
