When you’re the first person to arrive at a party, even though it started an hour ago.

For one of the final titles that I was able to pick up and play during BitSummit to any real extent, I made a bit of time with Furyu Corporation’s upcoming roguelite adventure game Crymelight. My relationship with Furyu has been a fantastic one in terms of the titles that I’ve had my hands on, as well as Furyu’s own eclectic and dynamic choices in what they publish. On the one hand, ultra granular and exciting JRPGs like Reynatis and Caligula Effect have been staples of my enjoyment on both PC and the Nintendo Switch. Such experiences really make me eager to pick up games like Crymachina and Crystar that I’ve missed. But there’s also been more offbeat titles, like Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs and MODEL Debut3 #Nicola that really caught me off guard. Furyu really isn’t afraid to try something different and it shows.

Naturally, you may notice that Furyu has several CRY titles, but this one stands apart in almost every way. While there is a shared storytelling element, Crymelight is distinctly an action roguelite (though story supervision was done by Crystar alumni Hisaya Naoki) as opposed to a traditional JRPG. In this game, Alice awakens in Wonderland and would really like to get out. But Wonderland is the land of the dead, where souls with unfinished business find themselves trapped in a cycle of rebirthing pain. While the denizens of this limbo are aggressive and want to keep you here, Alice cannot die, not permanently. So, with the Death Games looming before her and some unlikely allies appearing to support her, Alice must make her way to the Queen and defeat her to escape and, perhaps, learn the truth of how she ended up in the Afterlife in the first place.

ALICE, SERIOUSLY, WHERE IS MY GRANDMOTHER’S FABERGÉ EGG???

Roguelike titles have really taken on a distinct focus in the last several years with iteration after iteration taking on new life and influence from previous contenders. Crymelight hits a lot of great details in construction. Firstly, waves of enemies that are tight and succinct while still being challenging. Alice cannot jump, but she has a handful of different attacks that gradually change shape and effectiveness with further transmutations. You’ll have a series of cards to choose from after each wave to improve some element of your combat, and then move on. Unlike isometric approaches like Hades or Splintered Fate, Crymelight takes a 2.5D approach, allowing Alice to move about in 3D space while still remaining a somewhat flatter sprite. It makes for easier handling but also challenges you to be precise before starting up a combat combo.

From my demo at BitSummit, I can say that I really enjoyed the flow of the game when you get locked into combat. Some roguelike action titles have a forced, almost perfunctory feeling to them, but there’s an air of nuance that lets Alice move and behave in a more engaging manner. The enemies that I fought and defeated had volume to them, letting me feel like each blow was calculated instead of button mashing. Not to mention that, as you became stronger, the attacks took on an edge of barely controlled madness. Alice seemed to be losing her grip on reality as she increased in power, probably due to the influence of Wonderland itself and the creeping dread the longer she exists. After all, this is the land of the dead: how on earth did this sweet girl end up here?

…oh. Those are forks. Oh.

While the demo only lasted about fifteen minutes, you got an incredible feeling for what the loop of the game will feel like. In just a couple of short waves, I had already focused my buildout on improving throwing damage and coupling it with some added buffs to my dash. While players can craft more into a melee or ranged setup, there’s a satisfaction in getting your hands dirty with the fighting, and the excitement that comes with it. The buildup progressed until I ran into a humanoid-shaped wall that was the King of Hearts, who positively trampled me. I’m sure other players might have been able to get past in their first go, but, much like my own roguelike experiences of the past, this “boss” spelled the end for me. Still, I was ready to get back in the saddle and try again in spite of the crushing moment.

It could be the fact that Alice doesn’t resemble a traditional roguelike heroine: in an adorable dress with contrasting, black head bow, Alice moves about looking like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, carrying destruction just under a veneer of innocence. Other lost souls she meets, like the unfortunate Mary, are equally as distraught but also concealing a level of strength and frankly frightening potential. Alice’s companion is the epitome of creepy cute: a four winged skeletal animal with a glowing, pink heart-energy, always following you around and ready to deliver devastating energy blasts when the opportunity arises. Learning how to shift from Alice being the spearhead of attack to your darling sidekick will be crucial for survival.

Young girl moves literal Earth to take down totalitarian police force, film at eleven.

Plus, as a Furyu title, Crymelight is positively dripping in production value. The hand drawn avatars sparkle just as much, if not moreso, than the action on screen. The approach to having animation work as both a fluid medium during the gameplay but an almost stilted, individualized series of snapshots outside of combat is a fascinating one and really draws in the viewer. While Alice in Wonderland has been interpreted any number of ways over the years, Furyu’s approach is one that has its own edge of darkness without being too gritty from the very start. And the voice cast is positively top tier, and I love that so very much. Those of you who have been enjoying Delicious in Dungeon and adore the character of Marcille as much as I do will notice that the voice actress, Senbongi Sayaka, is also Alice’s voice.

Players needn’t wait too much longer for Crymelight if this struck your fancy. Planning to launch in November of this year, Crymelight will debut on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 simultaneously, with digital deluxe editions featuring exclusive DLC goodies being available. Be sure to hit the Steam page and wishlist this ahead of launch, and players hoping for physical editions should be patient and see what the future holds. Otherwise, if you’re ready for a bizarre and addicting world that drags you deeper and deeper into whimsical horrors, then brace yourself for Alice and all the darkness that’s revealed in Crymelight.