Diablo Franchise

News June 8, 2026

Cursemark, the latest roguelike action RPG from developer Clyde Games, launched into early access on Steam today—and according to hands-on impressions, it delivers a fully-powered build in roughly 15 minutes of play. The title draws comparisons to Diablo's signature power fantasy of mowing down screen-filling monster hordes with devastating skill combinations, though Cursemark achieves this accelerated satisfaction through its rune augmentation system rather than traditional gear grinding.

The studio behind Cursemark previously developed Into the Necrovale, another pixel-art action RPG known for hundreds of unique items combining into powerful builds. While that title catered to players who enjoyed steamrolling enemies with minimal resistance, Cursemark leans more toward soulslike design with dodge rolls and tanky foes—meaning characters take longer to ramp up but reach similarly explosive power levels once the build clicks.

What's New

Cursemark launched in early access today with a playable demo available on Steam. The game is currently priced at $12.74 (reduced from $14.99) through June 22, offering players access to its first few levels and core systems while Clyde Games adds more content over the coming months.

Key features highlighted in early coverage include:

Rune system allowing real-time spell augmentation mid-run, upgrading abilities with damage boosts, size increases, and status effects

Permanent unlockable elemental spell schools available from a hub vendor, including shock-focused spells with increased critical hit chance

Ultimate ability unlocks purchasable during runs, such as hornet-summoning cloud attacks that chase enemies

Dictionary of keywords explaining effect synergies for players to master buildcrafting concepts

Secret passages, shortcuts, and optional challenges in each run providing route optimization depth

What This Means for Players

For Diablo fans seeking that satisfying moment when a build finally comes together, Cursemark offers an accelerated version of that experience. Rather than grinding through dozens of hours to acquire the perfect item combination, players can stack runes onto basic spells like fireballs and watch damage numbers explode within their first quarter-hour of play.

The roguelike structure means every run provides meaningful progression through permanent upgrades or learned knowledge about optimal routes. Dying doesn't reset progress entirely—each attempt contributes either to a growing pool of unlockable abilities or an understanding of how rune synergies interact. The game rewards buildcrafting brains who can rapidly identify broken combinations, such as scaling spell size to repeatedly apply damage-over-time effects before finishing enemies with bonus damage to affected targets.

One noted concern involves visual clarity during high-power states: stacked runes create so many on-screen effects that tracking enemy attacks becomes difficult, potentially leading to unexpected deaths from attacks players couldn't see through flames and particle effects.

What's Next

Clyde Games plans substantial content additions over the early access period, with new spells and areas promised in coming months. Players interested in sampling Cursemark can grab a free demo on Steam immediately or purchase the full early access build at its current discounted price before June 22.