Conan: The Black Pyramid looks wickedly fun.
The game looks fantastically dark. Image credit: Games Farm/Grindstone
Getting to preview an upcoming game is always an exciting time as an indie gaming lover, but it’s doubly enjoyable when the game looks both spectacularly grueling and enticingly dark.
Conan: The Black Pyramid is one such title; based on a hands-off preview courtesy of the game team, I can confirm that this upcoming Conan game looks like it’ll be a bloodthirsty bonanza for fans of the titular character, as well as Lovecraftian lore, roguelite combat, and punchy visuals.
Lovecraftian lore lovers will like this title. Image credit: Games Farm/Grindstone
Conan: The Black Pyramid is an upcoming title from Games Farm and Grindstone that blends both roguelite replayability with ARPG elements. It features Conan in all his glory, along with other iconic characters like Solomon Kane, and a mighty pyramid that shifts the very nature of reality. It’s Lovecraftian in nature, oozing with cosmic horror and squid ink.
As someone who adores roguelikes and roguelites, I was keen to see if the game could stand out in the admittedly busy genre. I love roguelikes, don’t get me wrong, but every time I see a new one pop up, I wonder if it’ll be able to differentiate itself from its many, many peers. It’s no easy feat, as the genre is deeply oversaturated.
Thankfully, Conan: The Black Pyramid looks like it’ll be able to carve out a unique spot for itself, largely due to the way it blends ARPG and roguelite elements. During the digital preview, I got to see the game in action, seeing how it follows a structured, room-based format.
In the titular pyramid, Conan travels through different rooms and layers, each corresponding to a different slice of time. Fans of the wider Conan world will get to see familiar eras spread throughout the pyramid, with plenty of recognizable characters, and each room had a strikingly different energy.
There are multiple characters and builds on offer, with items called Veils that change how the player character acts in battle. Players can also find Artifacts throughout their run, with the ability to collect dice that reroll their Artifacts if desired, and there’s a built-in progression system, too.
The combat seems ferocious. Image credit: Games Farm/Grindstone
“This brings a different set of weapons and a different set of skills and combat masteries,” explained Grindstone’s Head of Publishing, Matej Hudak, as the Veils were shown off to the viewers, “Every Veil has a different playstyle, a different set of the weapons.”
The combat was a real highlight of the Conan: The Black Pyramid preview. It’s fast-paced and bloody, with enemies swarming the player in every room of the pyramid, and there’s a nasty dismemberment system. As enemies are struck, their limbs are severed in a spectacularly gory fashion.
“[We were] aiming for a kind of visceral and brutal combat with the dismemberment,” Hudak mused.
There are combos, chains, and finishers to master, along with a whole heaping of weapons to play around with. You can get up close and personal with enemies, or strike them from afar.
When discussing the game’s genre, the team emphasized how replayability and the ability to play in short bursts was important to them. Peter Nagy, Founder of Grindstone, described the game as a “mini ARPG” and highlighted that the game is aiming to feel accessible for modern audiences, playable in bites but with iconic ARPG elements.
The characters and art style stood out to me during the preview, despite not being someone who’s typically interested in the Conan world. Roguelikes and roguelites usually have a more stylized feel to them; this is lovely and some of the most legendary titles in the niche follow this, but Conan: The Black Pyramid has a more refined, elegant art style.
Towards the end of the session, I queried what fans could expect in the way of co-op and platform options. The team confirmed that players can venture into the pyramid solo or with a friend, and that the platform list will be confirmed further down the line; for now, the game is being listed as available on PC, via Steam.
Based on the preview, I’m excited for the game. Image credit: Games Farm/Grindstone
Conan: The Black Pyramid is a title that I can see resonating with both fans of the Conan franchise and diehard roguelite lovers.
I’m not sure if folks who usually dislike roguelites will find much to enjoy here, admittedly; the style of progression and replayability is what most players will’ve come to expect from the niche. I’d say it’s still worth trying, though, as the ARPG elements and brutal combat made the title look deeply compelling.
Conan: The Black Pyramid is slated for a 2027 release, and as a roguelike goblin, I’m already feverishly counting down the days. Fellow genre geeks should keep their eye sockets primed and peeled for this upcoming title.
DEVELOPED BY: Games Farm
PUBLISHED BY: Grindstone
AVAILABLE ON: PC via Steam
DEMO: No
RELEASE DATE: 2027
Learn more about Conan: The Black Pyramid on Steam
