Obolus

Obolus is a card game where you control a party of three heroes, each with a separate deck, hand and coin to spend. Each turn, you choose what to play, which hero plays it and in what order. You can also spend one hero’s spare obol on another hero’s card, combining their actions to set up attacks and finish enemies.

The road through six worlds

Sorel the coachman takes you between lands without naming his price in advance. You travel through six worlds, each with its own rule, along a route made of cards dealt three at a time. You choose one card, such as a battle, merchant or shortcut, and the other two disappear; the road never doubles back.

Choices with a cost

Along the way, you can encounter blessings that strengthen you in exchange for something, a merchant, a scavenger and a smith’s anvil for reforging equipment. A crucible combines two relics into one, keeping the best of both. At a gambling den, you can play Eighteen to decide whether you leave with a gift or a debt; taking part is optional.

Optional cave challenges

Some caves can be bypassed. The Sovereigns sleeping inside are optional puzzle-like encounters, and they give up their armour only to a party built to defeat them.

Characters and encounters

There are 22 playable characters, each with a distinct play style. They include a bell-ringer who charges a peal, a painter who copies the moves of whatever he looks at, a smith who forges during fights and a symbiote that rots an entire line of enemies. The game includes 787 cards and 71 enemies, including elites and bosses, across six worlds.

Hardcore mode

Hardcore mode has no potions and no saves, and fallen heroes stay down. You must complete the run from beginning to end.