GameWiki
GET YOUR BEARINGS
About Draft of Darkness
Draft of Darkness is a roguelike RPG set in a post‑apocalyptic world that blends survival horror, deck‑building, and resource management. Players select a survivor, assemble a starting deck, and enter procedurally generated maps that grow darker as enemies are slain.
Each encounter uses an ammo‑focused turn‑based card battle system, and every run ends with credits that can open booster packs for new starting cards. Story decisions affect a meta‑story that carries over between runs.
01 / THE GUIDE
Roguelike Structure
Every playthrough is treated as a separate run; when a run ends—by success or death—players receive credits that can be spent on booster packs to unlock new starting cards for future runs. This loop encourages trying different strategies each attempt.
The game records choices made during a run, allowing those decisions to influence the meta‑story that continues across subsequent runs. Even failed attempts contribute to overall progression.
- Experiment with different survivor archetypes to see how their decks affect early encounters.
- Note which cards helped survive darkness spikes and reuse them in later runs.
02 / THE GUIDE
Deck Building & Weapon Cards
Cards are linked to weapon types; equipping a weapon enables the use of its associated cards. Players can combine cards from multiple weapons to create unique combos, and each survivor brings a personal deck of abilities.
Trading equipment and cards lets players improve both their own and their companions’ decks, shaping combat tactics for the turn‑based battles.
- Mix cards from weapons with complementary mechanics for higher synergy.
- Trade for cards that fill gaps in your party’s collective abilities.
03 / THE GUIDE
Procedurally Generated Maps
Each map is generated anew for every run, offering fresh layouts in locations such as the Residence, Streets, and Lair. Enemy placement, hazards, and loot differ each time you explore.
Environmental threats like radiation and infection are mentioned, requiring players to manage party status while navigating unknown terrain.
- Scout early rooms to gauge map difficulty before committing resources.
- Observe how radiation and infection appear in different areas to plan movement.
04 / THE GUIDE
Darkness Level Mechanic
Defeating enemies raises the darkness level, making later areas more dangerous but also more rewarding. Higher darkness introduces tougher foes and harsher environmental effects.
Balancing aggression with caution is essential: pushing too far can overwhelm the party, while stopping early may miss the rewards tied to darkness progression.
- Weigh the extra rewards against the increased enemy difficulty before advancing.
- Consider pausing to heal or upgrade before moving deeper into darkness.
05 / THE GUIDE
Meta‑Story Progression & Choices
Decisions made during a run influence the overarching narrative, unlocking new story branches or altering future encounters. Some choices have serious consequences that persist across runs.
The system encourages replaying with different decisions to uncover alternate outcomes, making each run’s story component as important as its combat.
- Record major choices to track how they affect later story events.
- Experiment with opposite decisions on subsequent runs to see divergent paths.
COMMUNITY
Player discussion