Glyphscape

Glyphscape is a handcrafted RPG adventure set in an interconnected world of wilderness, dungeons and diverse civilizations. You play as The Dreamer, a powerful being who has escaped a curse of eternal slumber and awakens to find the world in chaos. Old stories say The Dreamer was once a great hero, but you must uncover your forgotten past as you try to set things right.

The world of Glyphscape

The game’s history draws on nearly a century of documented events, factions and fables. Its world contains hundreds of distinct regions and more than 4km of playable area above and below ground. Dungeons, towns, rivers and trees are placed by hand throughout the world.

Some routes require particular items or powers, while abilities gained later can turn dead ends into shortcuts. Other paths are concealed in plain sight and require a careful eye to find.

Turn-based combat

Combat is turn-based, giving you time to plan each move. Relevant combat statistics appear on an auxiliary display screen of the ASCIIDECK, while damage from weapons and spells is determined by dice rolls.

Crafting spells

You learn component Glyphs from conjurers around the world and combine them to craft spells. Adding Glyphs can change a spell’s damage type, increase its range or alter its effects. A fire glyph, for example, can be used for fire resistance or vulnerability, applying or resisting burning, summoning fire from the sky, or creating a ring of fire.

Text-based art

The game’s sprites are built from layers of printed text assets, drawing on the constraints of early sprite-based rendering. An expanded set of glyphs is used to create detailed art for weapons, rings, amulets and apparel, alongside animated monsters, readable environments and particle effects.