Astrea is a DICE-deck-building roguelike that flips the script on deckbuilders by using dice instead of cards and an unique dual “damage” system: Purification vs Corruption. Build a dice pool strong enough to purify Astrea's out-of-control corruption and save the Star System.
Instead of the traditional card-based deckbuilding, the game offers a unique dice-drafting system. Players acquire six-sided dice with a range of effects, both positive and negative, across different "tiers" of safety and risk. Drafting the right dice and managing their outcomes is crucial to success, as the game introduces an extra layer of strategy compared to typical deckbuilders.
The game's damage system is a standout feature. Players don't manage a standard health bar - instead, they balance Purification (which damages enemies but heals the player) and Corruption (which damages the player but heals enemies). This creates compelling strategic decisions, as players must intentionally increase their Corruption to unlock powerful abilities, while avoiding becoming overly corrupted.
The game provides numerous ways for players to control the randomness of their dice rolls. They can reroll, discard, and even forge new die faces, allowing for a high degree of personalization and fine-tuning of their dice pool to match their preferred playstyle.
The six playable characters each have their own unique dice sets, abilities, and approaches to the game. From stealthy spellcasters to brutish berserkers, the varied character designs encourage players to experiment and master different playstyles across multiple runs.
Dice in the game are categorized into "Safe," "Balanced," and "Risky" tiers, with the riskier dice offering more powerful but unpredictable effects. Deciding how much to embrace this risk-reward balance is a core part of the gameplay, as players must weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of their dice choices.
The game offers 16 adjustable difficulty levels, allowing players to customize the challenge to their skill level. As they progress, they unlock new difficulty modifiers, called "Anomalies," that further enhance the strategic depth and replayability.