What is Arcane Ascent?
If you're hunting for a new deckbuilder to sink your teeth into, Arcane Ascent is a sleeper hit you shouldn't ignore. You'll forge your own destiny by mastering elemental paths to conquer a magical tower and claim the Primordial Orb.
Gameplay
You're climbing a magical tower to take down the Primeval Witch, and the loop is all about picking a specialization that fundamentally changes how you play. You'll choose between being an Elemental, a Summoner, or a Blood Mage, and the synergies actually hit. If you go Blood Mage, you're playing a high-risk game with your own HP; if you go Summoner, it's more of a board-control puzzle. You'll spend your runs tinkering with card combinations to see what breaks the game, which is where the real fun lives.
Run variety is solid because those three paths keep you from feeling like you're playing the same build every time. It's definitely got some Slay the Spire DNA in the tower-climb structure, but the mage specializations give it its own identity. Meta-progression is there to keep you coming back, though it's not as deep as Monster Train just yet. You'll need to master alchemy and navigate unique events to reach the Primordial Orb.
Just a heads up: it's tough. Like, actually punishing. It rewards patience and skill over just getting lucky with a few high-roll cards. At $14.99, it's a fair price for the depth, but you've gotta accept that it's in Early Access. There's some jank, the UI isn't always seamless, and it's clearly still being polished. It's a bit raw, but the core loop is strong enough to carry it.
Key Features
- Three distinct mage specializations
- High-risk Blood Mage HP mechanics
- Summoner board-control puzzles
- Alchemy and unique random events
- Punishing difficulty curve
Video Review
Screenshots
Verdict
“It's a really fun game—especially playing as the Summoner, which is super entertaining because you can summon creatures to fight for you. I also liked that she can stun enemies, which helps you beat t…”
I give this an 8/10. Grab it if you love a challenge and want a magical twist on the genre, but skip it if you prefer breezy games or can't stand unpolished Early Access UI.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 12.07.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.