Curry Croquette’s retro-style dungeon crawler, Crescent Tower, has just unleashed a playable demo on Steam, courtesy of AMATA Games.
For fans of simple yet addictive 8-bit RPGs, this looks like a serious blast from the past — with a modern twist.
Initially making waves in early access since last November, Crescent Tower proudly wears its 8-bit heart on its sleeve. We’re talking authentic pixel art, and a top-down dungeon view that’ll feel instantly familiar. This also features strategic turn-based combat that demands more than just button mashing.
What is this game about?
The premise is pure classic RPG goodness. Every 50 years, the mysterious Crescent Tower appears in the Imperial Capital Mayirdoam. It brings with it with rumors of wish-granting jewels and immortality potions. Naturally, a throng of brave (greedy?) adventurers, are intrigued. Of course, you are one of them (in-game, of course!), and flock to its entrance, eager to uncover its secrets.
The demo lets you delve into the first three levels of this treacherous tower, giving you a taste of the old-school exploration, trap-dodging, and monster-slaying action. You’ll even get to tinker with the character creation system, choosing from 3 distinct races and 9 different classes at the Adventurers’ Guild. The ability to change jobs and carry over learned skills sounds like a fantastic way to build a truly unique hero.
But be warned: progress in the demo won’t carry over to the full release, and those coveted Steam achievements are sitting this one out for now. Also, keep in mind that translations outside of Japanese might still be a little rough around the edges.
While the demo gives us a solid three hours of retro adventuring, the full game promises a 10-level dungeon to conquer. The key to survival? Lighting torches to expand your view and meticulously mapping out each floor to avoid those nasty traps!
Follow Gaming Retro on Google News to get the latest retro gaming news in your feed.
For those rocking modern rigs, the system requirements are surprisingly gentle, needing just Windows 11, a modest processor, 8GB of RAM, and basic integrated graphics. Steam Deck compatibility is currently unknown.
Highlights of the Crescent Tower demo
So, if your thumbs are itching for some authentic 8-bit RPG action, head over to the Steam store now and grab the Crescent Tower demo. You can expect:
- Explore the first 3 levels of the Crescent Tower.
- Approximately 3 hours of gameplay.
- Create your character from 3 races and 9 classes.
- Experience classic turn-based combat.
- Navigate the dungeon from a 2D top-down perspective.
This could be the retro fix you’ve been looking forward to this weekend.
Keep your joysticks ready, 8-bit aficionados! We’ll be keeping a close eye on Crescent Tower‘s full release in 2025!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
This writer contributes retro gaming news to the site.
