The gods of Ávalt have made a terrible mess of things. One of their own has betrayed them, an ancient darkness is spreading across the land, and the warriors sent to put things right have a habit of getting themselves killed. Their solution is to create a magical raven, bind it to a succession of unfortunate souls, and hope that eventually someone survives long enough to save the world. It’s not the most reassuring arrangement, especially when you’re the latest volunteer. Still, at least you get to fly right?
In today’s Rogue Discovery we explore Ravenbound, an open-world action roguelite developed and published by Systemic Reaction, part of Avalanche Studios Group. Originally released on March 30, 2023, it combines fast-paced melee combat, deckbuilding, and exploration in a fantasy world inspired by Scandinavian folklore.
With deadly creatures, powerful equipment, and a progression system built around passing knowledge between fallen warriors, there’s plenty here for players who enjoy a difficult adventure with a little freedom to choose their own trouble.
One Raven, Many Unfortunate Heroes
At the center of Ravenbound is a magical weapon created by ancient gods to defeat a powerful enemy known as the Betrayer. Rather than taking the form of an enormous sword or some other impressive artifact, this weapon is a raven that inhabits mortal warriors known as Vessels.
Each Vessel gets one life to complete the mission. When they die, another takes their place, inheriting some of the progress made by those who came before. Every new attempt introduces opportunities to strengthen your character, discover equipment, and unlock abilities that could help future Vessels survive longer.
You’ll also encounter different character types and weapons, giving you reasons to experiment with approaches that suit your preferred fighting style. The ultimate objective remains the same: free the imprisoned gods and confront the Betrayer before Ávalt is consumed by darkness.
A Bird’s-Eye View of Trouble
Unlike many games in the genre that send you through a sequence of connected rooms, Ravenbound gives you an open world to explore. Ávalt is filled with forests, snowy mountains, ancient ruins, and settlements scattered across its landscape. You can travel on foot, searching for enemy camps and valuable resources, or transform into a raven and take to the skies.
Flying provides a quick way to cross large distances and investigate areas that would otherwise take a long time to reach. It’s also one of the game’s most appealing features. Imagine soaring over a mountain range, spotting an interesting location below, and deciding to swoop down and investigate.
Of course, whatever you’ve spotted is probably guarded by something that would love to kill you. The world is home to creatures inspired by Scandinavian folklore, including trolls, draugr, and other dangerous enemies. Choosing where to travel becomes part of your strategy, especially when wandering into the wrong encounter could bring your current adventure to an abrupt end.
Steel Yourself for a Fight
Combat takes place in real time, with an emphasis on timing, positioning, and learning how enemies attack. You’ll use different melee weapons to deal damage while dodging incoming strikes and blocking attacks that threaten to overwhelm you. Well-timed dodges can provide combat bonuses, while successful parries create opportunities to retaliate against enemies.
The challenge increases when several opponents attack together. A group of bandits may seem manageable until you’re surrounded, desperately trying to avoid attacks coming from different directions. Charging into every encounter swinging your weapon is unlikely to end well. Instead, you’ll need to recognize enemy attack patterns, choose your openings, and decide when to retreat before things get completely out of hand.
The game also includes powerful enemies guarding important locations, making preparation essential before attempting some of its tougher encounters.
Play Your Cards Right, or Pay the Price
Defeating enemies and clearing camps rewards you with opportunities to strengthen your Vessel through a card-based progression system. Cards can provide improved weapons, armor, and abilities, allowing you to shape your character’s strengths throughout a run.
You could concentrate on dealing greater damage, improving your defenses, or finding combinations that complement your chosen weapon. However, Ravenbound introduces a complication through a mechanic called Hatred. Opening certain treasure chests and acquiring upgrades can increase the corruption affecting your journey. As Hatred grows, enemies and bosses can become more dangerous. That creates a difficult choice whenever valuable loot appears.
It means that progression feels risky. Becoming stronger doesn’t automatically mean the rest of your adventure becomes easier. Sometimes the most sensible decision is leaving a perfectly good treasure chest unopened.
The Dead Have Something to Teach You
Although losing a Vessel means starting another attempt, your efforts aren’t entirely wasted. Completing challenges unlocks additional cards that become available to future characters, gradually expanding the equipment and abilities you can discover. You’ll also earn resources that help unlock different character options and weapons.
Perhaps you’ll discover a weapon that works better with your preferred approach, or unlock a card that makes a previously difficult encounter easier to manage. The system encourages experimentation, although building a powerful character can require patience, especially when you’re repeatedly starting with limited equipment.
Ravenbound is an ambitious attempt to combine open-world exploration with the repeated runs and progression systems of a roguelite. Its Scandinavian-inspired setting, raven transformation, and card-based upgrades give it an identity that stands apart from more traditional dungeon crawlers.
However, it’s worth approaching with realistic expectations. The game received mixed reviews at launch, with criticism directed toward its sparse open world, repetitive encounters, and technical problems. Some players also found its progression more frustrating than rewarding. Updates following release addressed several gameplay concerns, but its unusual combination of systems won’t appeal to everyone.