Lightbulb Crew, the studio behind Othercide, has announced that its new tactics RPG, Ex Sanguis, will launch into early access on September 10, 2026. PC players can currently access a demo for the title via Steam to test the game's mechanics ahead of the full release.
Tactical Gameplay and Mechanics
Ex Sanguis shares several design sensibilities with the developer's previous work, focusing on a turn-based system where timing and spatial control are paramount. Players manage a squad of warriors known as Stillae to combat forces bleaching a world of stone and flesh. Key gameplay features include:
- Environmental Exploitation: Combatants can push enemies into "noxious terrain excretions"—such as blood blisters—to trigger explosive damage.
- Advanced Positioning: Abilities like Magnetic Pulse allow players to manipulate the battlefield by pulling or pushing enemies into specific zones or incoming area-of-effect attacks.
- Clock Manipulation: A character order bar governs the flow of battle, with specific skills available to accelerate or decelerate both allies and foes.
Campaign Structure
Unlike the linear progression found in Othercide, Ex Sanguis adopts a modern-day roguelite structure. Players navigate a world map featuring missions of varying difficulty. Upon leveling up, characters are granted a choice of three new abilities, allowing for distinct build paths. Players must decide whether to pursue high-risk, high-reward encounters, target bosses directly, or focus on gathering resources to improve their long-term chances of success.