Indie developer Death Kumiai and publisher Flashlight Games have released Annihilated, a story-driven roguelite RPG that combines dark fantasy, dungeon exploration, card-based combat, and branching character narratives. Available now on PC through Steam, the game challenges players to venture into a cursed dungeon and rescue members of a missing hero party. However, there is a difficult condition: players can only save one of the four survivors.
Priced at $16.99, Annihilated has a 10% launch discount during its first two weeks. The game features four distinct character routes, each with multiple endings shaped by player decisions. Its narrative contains more than 200,000 words, with approximately six hours of story content per route.
The RPG also combines unsettling horror imagery with cute character designs and over 400 illustrations created specifically for the game by illustrator Sabotenshi. Its soundtrack features 27 original compositions by NINOMIYA Yuji, with music changing as players descend further into the dungeon.
Annihilated Makes Players Choose One of Four Broken Heroes
Players assume the role of the last survivor of a rescue party sent to find a missing group of adventurers. Upon reaching the cursed dungeon, they discover four survivors who have suffered devastating losses.
The Hero has lost the ability to speak, the Mage can no longer use magic, and the Warrior has lost his powerful body. The fourth survivor, a Priest, has also lost something important, although the game deliberately conceals what it is.
Players must choose one companion and attempt to escape together. Conversations reveal each character’s secrets and gradually explain what happened to the original party. Decisions influence the relationship between the protagonist and their chosen partner, leading to different endings.
The game features turn-based card battles with two available combat styles: timing-based and probability-based. Weapons and other equipment have limited uses, but their final use can trigger a powerful Fatal Strike.
By staggering enemies and breaking a weapon with its final attack, players can instantly defeat opponents and steal their equipment. Destroyed items also generate Curses, which can be spent to undo unfavourable outcomes, craft useful equipment, or gain experience.
Death does not necessarily mean losing all progress, as players restart from the dungeon floor where they fell.
The 27-track soundtrack is available separately on Steam, with an additional discount when purchased alongside the game. A physical CD edition is also available for preorder through composer NINOMIYA Yuji’s official store.
Players can try the free Steam demo, which includes the first boss, The Outcast. Demo save data carries over to the full game. The soundtrack is available in English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese text versions.
