Thistlemine

Thistlemine is a puzzle exploration RPG in which you play as Noa, a low-ranking excavator sent to navigate and clear an Exclusion Zone. The Miasma coming from the zone distorts time and space, suffocates the region’s remaining life and mutates it. Rumours of a powerful artifact have drawn many people to its location, but no one has returned.

The Exclusion Zone

The zone contains a massive garden labyrinth, mutated remains of previous visitors and guardian Anomalis that have made the land their home. You explore seven major areas filled with disorienting puzzles, secrets and combat encounters. Your decisions, use of resources and approach to solving areas can lead to small variations, including extra challenges, resources, story details or knowledge of more efficient routes through the garden.

Noa is outnumbered and poorly equipped, and survival is difficult. She can repeat short windows of time, so patience, persistence and planning are key to finding a way forward.

The excavators

You encounter members of the Excavation Corps who have spent too long exposed to the Miasma. Most are near death or mutated beyond saving, though some are still willing to help. You can recruit potential allies into your party or kill them where they stand.

Fight the Anomalis

Anomalis are Miasma lifeforms that have taken the form of plants and flowers. In combat, they produce varying amounts of Miasma, limiting the number of turns available in each battle. They also use a range of lethal abilities and can overwhelm you with their numbers. The game has over 40 unique encounters, many with multiple phases and subroute variations, each requiring a different strategy.

Artifacts and abilities

Defeating enemies can reward artifacts that grant powerful buffs, permanent stat bonuses, new skills or active abilities. Stronger Anomalis reward unique artifacts needed to conquer the Exclusion Zone. These artifacts have complex functions and uses, enabling new combat strategies, skill synergies and attack strings. Working out how to use them in each battle can itself be a puzzle, particularly alongside turn limits and different enemy groups.

Game modes

• Standard Mode: the regular experience, with plentiful checkpoints, dialogue and choices enabled, few consequences for losing and room to progress at your own pace.
• Regimental Mode: a time-attack variation that encourages routes and strategies that save turns and time. You have two hours to clear the game, and some adjustments reduce the number of frames used. The mode is optional and described as the canonical Thistlemine experience.
• The Temporal Rift: a mode equivalent to a developer room and unlocked by default. You can experiment with mechanics and optimize routes. It is also set to feature additional challenges and cut content in future updates.