Overview
The Wildlands of Faenora is a tactical, turn-based roguelite that mixes party-based strategy with unpredictable runs and a fantasy setting full of monsters, loot, and tough choices. You build a squad, fight your way across a corrupted wilderness, and gradually power up across multiple failed attempts.
The game sits somewhere between casual dungeon crawling and more in-depth tactical RPG systems. You control a small team on a grid-based battlefield, and each run includes branching paths, permadeath, and unlockable perks. With every defeat, your team gets stronger if you're paying attention and learning from past mistakes.
Game Lore
Faenora used to be a quiet kingdom, until a mysterious gate opened and unleashed creatures from the Netherrealm into the world. Some are small, some are massive, and one of them is a corrupted gryphon causing chaos across the Wildlands.
You play as a lone wanderer given a magical amulet that brings you back after death. It’s not true immortality, just a relentless cycle of trial and error. With that and whatever gear you can find, you head into the Wildlands with one goal in mind: hunt down and defeat the gryphon. Sounds simple, but it rarely goes that way.
On your journey, you’ll meet mercenaries, explore a rough town of bounty hunters, and face plenty of things that want to kill you. The Wildlands are more than just monsters though. Hidden clues, strange magic, and ancient secrets hint that something much bigger is at play.
Gameplay and Features
Combat takes place on a 3x3 grid where positioning and team roles have a real impact. You can fully control your squad in turn-based battles or let the auto-battle system handle the basics. Switching between modes is quick and easy, making it approachable whether you enjoy micromanaging every move or prefer focusing on overall strategy.
Each unit comes with specific skills and stats that affect how they perform depending on their placement. Frontline tanks, ranged archers, and fragile spellcasters all have roles to play, and keeping them in the right spot is key. Knowing when to adjust your formation can be the difference between victory and a wipe.
This isn’t the kind of game where you're expected to win on your first try. Most early runs will end in failure, and that's part of the loop. What makes each attempt worthwhile is the progress you carry over. Your hero earns experience that unlocks perks and passive bonuses, while each class you use gains experience that ranks it up across all future runs. You might also find gear or other lasting benefits, depending on how thoroughly you explore and what you manage to survive.
The Wildlands change every time you enter. Each playthrough features a different layout, with branching paths that range from relatively safe to extremely risky. Some routes lead to better loot or stronger enemies, while others offer a chance to regroup and recover. There’s no set formula, and memorizing past routes won’t help. Every run asks you to weigh your choices and adapt your strategy based on what’s in front of you.
Class System and Squad Building
There are several classes to work with, each bringing its own role to your team:
- Squire – Balanced, nothing too flashy, decent starting unit.
- Knight – Defensive tank, good at absorbing hits.
- Fighter – Melee DPS, built for aggression.
- Archer – Long-range attacker with solid damage.
- Cleric – Support and healing, useful in longer fights.
- Witch – Spell damage and debuffs, best kept safe in the back.
You can promote classes and unlock new abilities as you play. Each class also gains passive bonuses the more you use them, which helps future units of the same type become stronger.
Loot and Customization
Gear matters. Weapons, armor, and items change how your squad performs in combat. There are also cosmetics and character skins if you care about style as much as stats.
You’ll collect loot during encounters and events, and some items only drop under specific conditions. Inventory management isn’t the focus, but having the right loadout can shift the odds in your favor.
How to Get Started
- Pick your Edition: Visit Steam or faenoraverse.com to choose between the Standard Edition (full game without Web3 elements) or the FaenoraVerse Edition (includes collectibles, Hunt Mode, and cross-game content).
- Meet the Wizard, Get the Amulet: Your journey begins in a tavern, where a wizard offers you the Phoenix Amulet — a mysterious item that brings you back from death. Accept it, and prepare for the Wildlands.
- Build Your Squad: Recruit from a pool of quirky, semi-qualified mercenaries. Mix classes, experiment with formations, and build a team to take on the first hunt.
- Enter the Wildlands: The map is procedurally generated each run. Pick your path at every node, fight monsters, shop for gear, or trigger story events.