Once destined to lead the grand library of Aris, scholar Clyde now faces its ruin. Appointed overseer of Atramancy—the study of the mysterious substance known as Ink—he must confront the very power that once promised knowledge but delivered madness. With his mentor lost to corruption, Clyde descends through the crumbling halls of Aris, battling warped scholars and monsters born from the Ink’s influence to restore reason to a world consumed by obsession.
Set in a Victorian-inspired world of arcane academia, Aris Arcanum blends roguelite progression with deliberate, spell-based combat. Players experiment with the Ink’s unstable essence to craft and customize thousands of unique spell combinations, beginning with simple base spells that can be expanded and reshaped through modifiers discovered deeper within the Library. Every new modifier can completely transform a playstyle—turning a familiar spell into something unpredictable and powerful. Each death brings wisdom rather than defeat—unlocking new possibilities, revealing hidden lore, and deepening mastery over the occult forces that define the library.
“We drew inspiration from Hades for its roguelite structure and from Bloodborne for its haunting atmosphere,” said the team at Broken Cane. “But Aris Arcanum became something entirely different once Clyde’s cane entered the picture. It defines how he moves, how combat flows, and even how the story unfolds. That single design choice reshaped everything, and it gave Aris Arcanum its own rhythm—slower, deliberate, and grounded in the idea that power comes through knowledge, not brute force.”
Blending the elegance of hand-painted dark academia visuals with a narrative steeped in cosmic horror, Aris Arcanum offers a fresh take on the roguelite genre, one where intellect and restraint are as vital as reflex and power.
Players can wishlist Aris Arcanum on Steam today ahead of its October 27 launch, and prepare to descend into the Library of Aris, where every spell written risks unraveling the mind that cast it.
Follow Broken Cane on TikTok for lore deep-dives and join the community on Discord to discuss theories from the Library.
ABOUT BROKEN CANE STUDIOS
Broken Cane is a small indie team of international professionals based in Espoo, Finland. United by a shared vision to create high-quality PC-first games with personality, the studio focuses on rare aesthetics and inventive mechanics that bring novel experiences to players. Their debut title, Aris Arcanum, embodies that mission — blending a Victorian arcane setting with hand-painted art and a distinctive approach to action and spellcraft.
Find out more on their official website.
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