Northanda Chronicles Opens First Playtest, Inviting Players Into the Fallen City of Valmire

Sydney, Australia – July 7 2026: Hyperfocus Interactive has announced that the first public playtest for Northanda Chronicles, the party-based roguelike deckbuilder, will run from July 8 at 7:00 PM AEST to July 15 at 10:30 PM AEST on Steam.

Players can join the playtest now through Steam, wishlist the game, and share feedback through the Northanda Chronicles Discord.

The playtest opens a major new section of the game, inviting players to survive Act I: The Whispering Wildwoods before breaching the fallen city of Valmire in Act II. Players will test new card and party combinations, hunt down deadly new enemies, and share feedback to help shape the game ahead of its Early Access launch later this year.

Three Heroes, One Shared Deck

Northanda Chronicles is a roguelike deckbuilder where three heroes share a single deck, making the RPG “holy trinity” the core of the deckbuilding. Instead of building around a lone character, players command a Defender, Slayer, and Support.

Your Defender pulls danger away from the party, while your Slayer turns openings into executions and your Support weaves your plays together. Each hero has their own mana, but shares a single deck so the whole party acts together when players sequence their cards strategically. Every hand is a unique deckbuilding puzzle of role synergy, clever sequencing, and explosive full-party combos.

The Fallen City Playtest Opens July 8

“Valmire twists under the Void’s corruption. Its people turn mad, the dead will not stay buried, and at its heart, something stirs within an ancient tomb.”

Players will have one full week to try new party combinations, push deeper into Valmire, test Dorian’s shifting playstyles, and share feedback through the Northanda Chronicles Discord.

Act II introduces new enemies, events, and encounters designed to test the party’s bonds. Players will face increasingly difficult tactical decisions as they confront the forces of Varoth.

Playtest Content Overview

The Fallen City Playtest gives players access to a large section of the early game, including:
• Two Full Acts: Battle through The Whispering Wildwoods and Valmire, the Fallen City.
• Six Heroes: Boltrik, Zorya, Flint, Haldor, Kaelin, and newcomer Dorian.
• Four Difficulties: Start on Explorer, complete runs on Adventurer, unlock Master, conquer the brutal Voidwalker difficulty.

“Northanda Chronicles is a labour of love that grew from our deep appreciation for role-based combat in RPGs, MOBAs, and MMORPGs, and a desire to bring that feeling organically into a roguelike deckbuilder,” said Kim Boulton, co-creator of Northanda Chronicles. “This playtest is our chance to share a substantial slice of that experience, see how players respond to the roles, balance, and synergies, and hear where they’d like the game to go next.”

Introducing Dorian, the Duality
The playtest also introduces Dorian, the Duality, a new shapeshifting hero.
Cast out from Valmire after a dying guardian wolf’s spirit fused with his own, turning him into something monstrous, Dorian now returns to its corrupted streets to hunt the risen dead and grant them mercy.

Dorian is a Slayer / Defender who switches between two forms in battle:

• Gunslinger Form: Load up on power and unleash it at the right moment with precise, devastating gunfire.
• Werewolf Form: Draw focus, wear foes down with damage over time, and rely on raw endurance to defend the party.

1. Visit the Northanda Chronicles Steam Store Page.
2. Click Request Access in the Steam Playtest section.
3. Install Northanda Chronicles Playtest from your Steam Library.
4. Play, test new builds, and share feedback through the Northanda Chronicles Discord.

• Title: Northanda Chronicles
• Genres: Roguelike, Deckbuilder, Strategy
• Release Date: 2026 (Early Access)
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Engine: Unity
• Developer: Hyperfocus Interactive