Ex Sanguis Brings Timeline Tactics and Roguelike Structure to Early Access

Lightbulb's latest grid-based tactics game, Ex Sanguis, introduces a timeline-focused combat system alongside a streamlined roguelike campaign. Players command three austere bladegirls against dozens of eschatological bladespawn, facing reinforcements that hatch from eggsacs across the map. Rather than relying on brute attrition, players must pre-empt and interrupt opponents by anticipating their advance on a fluctuating combat timeline.

Combat mechanics feature a mix of instant actions and delayed abilities. Players can time artillery strikes to hit predicted enemy locations or use reaction abilities to cut off opposing moves. A Burst bar allows characters to sneak in extra attacks at the cost of postponing their next turn. Additionally, tactical positioning tools like shoves, gravity pulses, and driving kicks let players push enemies into boulders or directly into queued area-of-effect attacks.

The campaign adopts a trimmer roguelike structure compared to the developer's previous work, Othercide. Set in a world where a vampire moon has leeched vital fluids and memories, players take on the role of the Mater goddess who spawns duplicate warriors. Each run begins with the choice of three warrior classes, categorized broadly as Swordlady, Gunlass, and Time Wizardress. Players trek across a cratered world map, fighting battles and accumulating Corrupted Blood for campaign progression.

Victories award players choices of further abilities or stat boosts per character. Surviving battles and defeating chapter-break boss fights allows players to spend ethereal substances on meta-unlocks. The early access build of Ex Sanguis is slated to remain in development for at least six months on Steam, with higher difficulties and unlockable progression elements available to players.