Indie developer Lioncode Games has officially announced that their strategic creature team-building bullet heaven roguelike, Wildkeepers Rising, will launch its full version 1.0 on October 23rd, 2025, for PC via Steam.
After a successful seven-month run in Early Access, the hand-drawn game aims to evolve the survivors-like genre by shifting the focus from simple arena survival to team optimization and strategic depth through its unique Guardian-taming mechanics.
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Console players won’t have to wait long, as versions for Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 are already planned for release in the weeks following the PC launch.
What is Wildkeepers Rising?
Wildkeepers Rising aims to be more than a simple upgrade collector. Sergio Garces, Director at Lioncode Games, stated that the goal was to “evolve the bullet heaven formula in meaningful ways” by making creature collection integral. Garces emphasized that players aren’t just hoarding power-ups; they are “building a team with real synergies” since “each Guardian is truly unique in what they can do.”
The core gameplay loop centers on mastering movement and optimizing strategic building. While attacks are automatic—a staple of the genre—the player’s success hinges on their positioning, the timing of their four-creature Guardian special abilities, and the choices they make when assembling their team. With a massive variety of monsters, characters, and spells, the developers boast “near infinite possible combinations” to discover and refine.
Core Gameplay Features
Beyond the innovations, Wildkeepers Rising delivers a comprehensive roguelite experience built on a foundation of unique design choices:
- Creature Collector: Discover, tame, and train magical beasts, then trigger their devastating special attacks to shred thousands of enemies.
- Unique Maps: Break from the traditional flat-plane survival genre with intricate topography that actually affects player strategy.
- Roguelite Progression: Permanent power is acquired and unlocked within the village hub between runs.
- Endless Mode: Players can test their endurance with an uncapped Endless Mode against increasingly stronger foes, complete with additional sigil slots.
- Artistic Vision: The game features a striking hand-drawn art style inspired by works from creators like Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), Jim Henson (The Dark Crystal), and Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli).
Watch the Trailer
What’s New in Wildkeepers Rising 1.0?
The full 1.0 release introduces a host of new content and improvements, many of which stem directly from community feedback gathered during the “Mostly Positive” rated Early Access period. Lioncode Games promises a complete experience that expands on the core gameplay loop and polish.
Key additions and updates include:
- New Wildkeepers: Two new playable characters, Milo and Ivy, are joining the roster.
- New Environment: A new Fire & Ice biome, complete with five new Guardians, new enemy types, and a new boss to conquer.
- Strategic Meta-Progression: The addition of a Gear System to deepen progression outside of individual runs.
- Quality of Life: Updated accessibility features, performance optimizations, and bug fixes to ensure a smooth launch.
Wildkeepers Rising enters 1.0 on October 23rd, 2025, on Steam for PC.
