[Press kit] Astral Ascent

Credits

Astral Ascent is a 2D platformer roguelite set in a modern fantasy world. As one (or two in local co-op) of 4 Heroes with colorful personalities, you must escape from the Garden, an astral prison guarded by 12 powerful and vicious bosses: the Zodiacs!

Story

For centuries, the galaxy has been ravaged by an unending war, waged by a ruthless conqueror known as the Master. Leading an unstoppable army of soulless creatures, he invades entire planets in an instant, leaving only a handful of survivors: those deemed strong, brave, or intelligent enough to serve him. The rest are given a grim choice: obedience or death.

The prisoners of the Master are scattered across astral prisons, twisted monuments to his violent conquests. Guarding these prisons are the Zodiacs, twelve supernatural beings of immense power, ensuring that no captive ever escapes.

Meet Ayla, Kiran, Octave, Calie, Yamat and Arven, six prisoners who refuse to submit. Determined to reclaim their freedom and rescue their cherished friends from the Garden, they will rise against impossible odds, facing the Zodiacs and defying the Master’s reign in a battle that will shake the very fabric of the galaxy.

Features

SPELL-BUILDING GAME: Unlock dozens of unique spells for each of your characters. Craft your own build, experiment with new combinations, and grow progressively stronger to match the dangers ahead. Each run will challenge your skills, your adaptability, and your instincts.
12 ALMIGHTY BOSSES: The Zodiacs are 12 formidable guardians spread across 4 gorgeous worlds. Each comes with their own attack patterns, combat style, and backstory to uncover. They will not go easy on you.
6 UNFORGETTABLE HEROES: Choose from 6 playable characters, each with a completely distinct playstyle and a story worth fighting for. Master one or try them all.
AN UNFOLDING STORY: Astral Ascent is a roguelite built around narration. The story reveals itself run after run, uncovering the characters’ motivations, secrets, and the truth behind the world they are trapped in.
DON’T GO ALONE: Too heavy to carry alone? Bring a friend. Fight side by side in local co-op or online via Steam Remote Play Together.
A BEAUTIFUL MODERN FANTASY WORLD: Dash across hand-crafted landscapes, explore stunning environments, and lose yourself in a universe brought to life through gorgeous art and fluid frame-by-frame animation.
EVER-GROWING CONTENT: Astral Ascent keeps expanding. Multiple DLC collaborations, including crossovers with Dead Cells, Ravenswatch, Children of Morta, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, bring new boss fights, new lore, and new reasons to return to the Garden.

About the project

Astral Ascent, which began development in late 2019, is the second project from Hibernian Workshop, an indie game studio founded by self-taught developers and known for their previous title, Dark Devotion. After four years of development and a successful Kickstarter campaign, the game launched to strong critical acclaim. Its positive reception allowed the studio to expand and grow its team, further fueling development. Since then, it has maintained a steady stream of updates, with new content arriving almost every month, driven by the support of its passionate community.