If there’s one game I’m far too excited about, it’s New Arc Line. Having replayed the opening section of Baldur’s Gate 3 again a few months ago, I’ve fallen in love with methodical, turn-based, strategic gameplay despite it being the exact opposite of my core ‘zoomer’ games like League of Legends and Valorant. Taking BG3’s combat and intense decision making and transporting it to a steampunk-and-Americana-inspired world, Dreamate has something truly special in New Arc Line, and now that the early-access release date is confirmed, I can’t wait to jump back in.
New Arc Line is a story of revolution. The titular city (New Arc) is at a crossroads: will you let traditional magic be crushed under the wheel of hypothetical progress, or will you cast aside modernity and allow mystery and wonder to thrive? As you wander its carnival-inspired central square, and bribe your way into its upper echelons, you’re always presented with two choices: lead the revolution, or crush it.
Much like Baldur’s Gate 3, in New Arc Line, your choices matter. A small decision can have lasting repercussions later on, shifting the balance of magic and technology. If an area becomes imbued with the former, mages are more powerful while with the latter, brawlers get a boost. When I tried out Dreamate’s turn-based RPG earlier this year, I quickly realized just how easy it is to destabilize, well, everything.
As you’ve likely guessed, the game’s six classes are largely split into two categories: spellcasters and traditional fighters. As a mage you can set the world ablaze as a Hellfire Occultist, curse your foes as a Voodoo Shaman, or buff allies as a Celestial Sage. In the melee-focused camp, you can become a Steampunk Mechanic, a Dieselpunk Engineer, or a Teslapunk Scientist, all of which are a lot more tanky than their magical colleagues.
You’re not alone in your endeavors, however. As you venture through the city streets, you’ll recruit a colorful cast of companions that’ll help you forge your path to greatness. Befriend them, use them as tools, or, if you’re feeling daring, romance them – whatever you choose, it’s worth remembering that you often can’t get by without a little help from your friends.
Combat is turn-based and encounter-driven, and sometimes you’ll get surprised by lurking critters or sneaky assassins. You’ll be able to level up your character, choose from an array of abilities, and equip stat-boosting items to keep you healthy. While it’s a lot less complex than BG3’s combat, it isn’t a snooze-fest, either.
In my New Arc Line preview, I call it the “steampunk Baldur’s Gate 3 of my dreams,” noting that its changeable world state, intriguing narrative, and imaginative classes help it stand out from the flood of turn-based RPGs that have sprung up in BG3’s wake. The early demo I played certainly had some balancing issues and didn’t showcase much of the combat, but its quirky feel and Americana vision make it an absolute must-try.
Dreamate has confirmed that the New Arc Line early access release date is set for Tuesday November 26. It’ll retail for $19.99, and you can wishlist it here.
While we wait (im)patiently for the boat to New Arc to arrive, we have a list of games like Baldur’s Gate 3 if you’re looking for something similar to Larian’s epic DnD adventure. Similarly, if its you’re looking for a world infused with magic and wonder, we have a list of all the best fantasy games to keep you busy.
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