Introducing Dwarves, Steam, and Hellfire.
When New Arc Line first arrived in Early Access, it immediately caught my attention for its unique blend of gritty steampunk technology and high fantasy magic. Developed by Dreamate and published by Fulqrum Publishing, this single-player, story-driven RPG launched players into a massive living world brimming with guns, automatons, sorcery, elves, dwarves, giants and the constant tension between the ancient arcane arts and science’s revolutionary machines and technologies.
You play as an immigrant arriving in the New World, the renowned, gleaming city of New Arc. But not all is as simple as it seems. Underneath the city’s polished chrome and golden facades, New Arc is rotten with corruption, poverty, and cutthroat politics.
Even you, the main character, is shrouded in conspiracy and mystery. New Arc Line is a CRPG that boasts an expansive world filled with themes of survival, ambition, and doing whatever it takes to shape your own destiny; whether that means becoming the people’s hope as a hero or succumbing to the sweet temptations of evil as a villain.
New Arc Line
In its Early Access state, New Arc Line already offered an enticing slice of its ever-expanding world. The game lets you play as either a Human or as an Elf, choose from a selection of backgrounds, genders, and customize your appearance, most of which would influence how others treat you in this society and how you would navigate a world riddled with prejudice.
New Arc Line isn’t simply just about stats. Your race and class will genuinely shape the various conversations and quest options that will be available to you.
The class options were pretty straightforward at launch. You get to choose between the tech-savvy Diesel Engineer and the spiritually attuned Voodoo Shaman. Diesel Engineers mastered firearms and diesel-powered gadgets, making them perfect for those who wanted a high-tech, gun-toting playstyle.
On the flip side, the Voodoo Shamans use a mystical, indirect approach to combat, making use of hexes and deadly curses to weaken their enemies while being guided by the ancient spirits of nature.
Regardless of your starting choices, the core experience remained consistent. You’d progress through the same prologue and opening areas, but your approach to quests, interactions, and battles would vary wildly depending on how you built your character. And this is true even after choosing the new race and either of its classes, the Dwarf.
There’s More Than Meets the Eye In This New Update
On May 11, Dreamate announced the first major update for New Arc Line, and while it might seem modest on paper, it’s actually shaping up to be a massive game changer, one that has already rekindled my excitement and has justified diving right back into the same world all over again.
First up, New Arc Line is introducing a completely brand new area, the Mages’ Enclave. This enchanted area, introduced through the new Step Behind the Curtain quest, opens up new mysteries to uncover and layers of magical intrigue that deepen the lore of New Arc.
The update also introduces a new companion, Claudia, an enigmatic elf who practices a form of voodoo magic. Her story promises to unravel new dimensions of the world, both literally and figuratively.
Then there’s the curious tease of a Gnome Trickster in a bright green suit popping up in New Arc. Dreamate’s keeping tight-lipped on what kind of chaos he’ll bring, but knowing this game, it’ll be memorable.
But the real showstopper? The introduction of the playable Dwarven race and two of its exclusive new classes: the Hellfire Mage, also known as the Hellfire Occultist, and the Steampunk Mechanic.
Before this update, your only choices were Humans and Elves, but now, stepping into the sturdy boots of a Dwarf completely changes the game. Dwarves in New Arc Line are known for their resilience and unparalleled craftsmanship, traits that naturally lend themselves to both of the new classes.
The Hellfire Mage brings brutal arcane destruction to the battlefield by channeling dark flames and demonic energies into devastating attacks. It’s a visceral, aggressive playstyle that lets you back up infernal spells with heavy melee weapons like maces and morning stars, fiery, laying waste to your enemies, and is ideal for those who believe that subtlety is overrated.
Meanwhile, the Steampunk Mechanic doubles down on the industrial fantasy. They’re juggernauts of invention who rely on roaring, steam-powered engines to amplify their strength, eventually becoming walking fortresses through the use of steam-driven exoskeletons, crushing enemies beneath their towering machines.
While this new update to the early access only allows you to play as the new classes while playing as a Dwarf, on the game’s full release, you’ll be able to create a character unrestricted by any race or class.
A New Way to Play, And It Feels Amazing
Naturally, I had to jump back in and see how the Dwarf race and Hellfire Mage class reshaped the experience and let me tell you, it’s not just a superficial reskin.
Yes, the overarching story and starting area remain largely unchanged regardless of your race or class, but this update subtly redefines how you tackle the game’s various challenges. As a Dwarven Hellfire Mage, I was practically a walking powder keg. Diplomacy? Not my style. This time around, I leaned fully into the “guns blazing” mentality, though in my case, it was more “blazing hammer” than firearms.
It’s incredible how liberating this shift felt. Where my previous Human Diesel Engineer relied on clever gadgets, negotiations, and deception, my Hellfire Dwarf charged headfirst into conflicts, wielding searing flames and demonic power to leave a trail of scorched enemies.
The heavy, brutal playstyle pairs perfectly with the Dwarf’s innate toughness, making each fight feel weighty and incredibly satisfying.
What impressed me the most, though, were the new dialogue options and subtle world-building details that come with playing a Dwarf. Characters react very differently, sometimes with awe, sometimes with prejudice, adding nuance and a different perspective to interactions I’d already experienced from the Human perspective. It made the familiar feel new again, proving that Dreamate is serious about replayability.
And while I’ve yet to dive fully into the Steampunk Mechanic class, the mere concept of assembling and piloting steam-powered exoskeletons has me itching to start another save. If it’s half as satisfying as Hellfire magic, I’ll definitely be hooked.
Final Thoughts
On the surface, this first major update to New Arc Line might appear small. A new race, two classes, a quest, and some additional content. But in practice, it breathes new life into the game, rewarding returning players and encouraging experimentation with fresh playstyles.
For me, revisiting familiar areas as a Dwarven Hellfire Mage turned what could’ve been a repetitive grind into a chaotic, fiery power trip and I loved every second of it.
The new classes offer distinct approaches to combat, the Mages’ Enclave adds depth to the world, and the promise of more companions and mysterious characters keeps me invested.
New Arc Line was already a compelling, morally complex RPG that let you tip the scales between steampunk tech and arcane sorcery. With this new update, Dreamate has proven they’re committed to expanding that foundation, and I can’t wait to see what they have left in store.
