Japanese developer 213℉ (Fahrenheit 213), helmed by former Fate/Grand Order and Dissidia: Final Fantasy creative director Yosuke Shiokawa, has recently unveiled their upcoming project Lunar Pulse. This single-player roguelite card game is slated for a 2027 release on PC (Steam).
Lunar Pulse centers on rapid, high-stakes card battles between witches. Taking place in a dark, moonlit realm that “exists nowhere,” the narrative follows protagonist Lilith of Heresy, who unwittingly becomes the unlucky thirteenth participant in a mysterious, fatal ritual. She must then confront the twelve other witches and survive the ordeal to emerge victorious.
In terms of gameplay, the “witch ritual” unfolds as a series of lightning-fast 1-on-1 duels lasting approximately 60 seconds each. Players utilize a 15-card deck and a 5-card hand to face off against rival witches. With both the player’s and the witches’ hands fully visible, both parties must simultaneously play one card each.
While the specific rules of the card game remain undisclosed, some revealed cards include Strike, Dodge, Parry, and Guard (a deliberate nod to soulslike mechanics, as the developers aim for a “souslike tension experienced through card battles”). Players must predict their opponent’s move from the visible hand and select the optimal card to counter it in a Rock-Paper-Scissors style confrontation (as demonstrated in the trailer, Parry beats Strike, while two Strikes result in a tie). Additionally, after each unsuccessful attempt, players can refine and personalize their deck to suit their preferred strategy.
The game boasts multiple branching conclusions, with the outcome determined entirely by player choices. According to its Steam store page, players will need to uncover all endings to piece together Lunar Pulse’s story and unravel the mystery surrounding Lilith of Heresy and the true nature of the witches’ deadly ritual.
Lunar Pulse is scheduled to launch in 2027 for PC (Steam).