Endlanders: First Encounter

Endlanders: First Encounter is a grid-based game with real-time combat, deck-building and exploration. You play as Cosmos and Quls, two characters with separate storylines in the same universe, as they fight and investigate the strange substance called Source across different planes. Source appears on living—and sometimes non-living—forms, and each character approaches its mysteries differently.

Story and exploration

As you explore, research and interact with the world, your thoughts are recorded in a log that is updated throughout the game. You can collect runes to translate unknown languages and advance the story, and glitch through terrain and objects to find hidden areas. The two characters may seem like opposites in both their actions and ideas, but the story reveals that matters are more complicated.

Real-time combat

Combat takes place on a grid, with spells represented by cards that you can play instantly. The game pairs fast-paced, tense battles with a wide variety of enemies, while Cosmos and Quls each use a distinct combat style.

The two characters

Cosmos focuses on combos. Their Tempo cards build combo points, while Finisher cards deal more damage according to the number of points built up. If Cosmos goes too long without landing a hit, the points reset to zero; since Finisher cards deal most of their damage, letting a combo lapse reduces the damage it can deliver. Cosmos's log explores questions of why, including purpose, faith and existentialism.

Quls uses a more reactive, calculated style. Combiner cards fill their chemtank with gas, while Diffusant cards deplete it. Reaching either edge—an empty or full tank—can cause unexpected effects such as explosions or debuffs, but Quls's attacks also deal more damage when the tank is empty or full. Quls's log focuses on how to use and create Source, and how it interacts with other things.

Prologue

The prologue takes place only on the first plane and features Cosmos as its sole playable character.