What is Five Elements Illusion Realm: Forsaken Wasteland?
If you're bored of the same old deckbuilder tropes, you've got to check out Five Elements Illusion Realm: Forsaken Wasteland. It's an Eastern fantasy roguelike where you manipulate elemental laws to survive a brutal wasteland.
Gameplay
You'll spend your time diving into the Wasteland, fighting through encounters, and dying—a lot. The core loop is all about the Five Elements system. Instead of just stacking raw damage numbers, you're managing elemental laws to create synergies. It's a puzzle; you'll dig this if you love the feeling of 'solving' a fight by building a deck that specifically counters the enemy's elemental type. It doesn't feel as streamlined as Slay the Spire, but that's actually where the variety kicks in. Each character offers a genuinely different playstyle rather than just being a skin with a few new starting cards.
Meta-progression is the glue here. You use what you've learned from failed runs to grow stronger for the next attempt. The variety is solid, and the Eastern fantasy aesthetic gives it a fresh coat of paint compared to the usual tropes. However, you've got to deal with the Early Access jank. The UI is clunky and lacks polish, which can make the experience feel a bit disjointed. It's a $9.99 entry fee right now, which is a fair price for the depth provided, especially since the cost is expected to climb once it hits 1.0.
If you're a deckbuilder junkie, the complexity of the elemental meta will keep you coming back. You'll find yourself experimenting with different character combinations to see how the laws of the elements interact. It's not a masterpiece yet, but the foundation is strong enough to justify the time investment if you can stomach the rough edges. Just don't expect Balatro levels of polish this early in the game's life.
Key Features
- Master the Five Elements system
- Diverse character playstyles
- Eastern fantasy roguelike setting
- Die, learn, and grow loop
Screenshots
Verdict
Grab this if you're a hardcore deckbuilder fan who wants a complex elemental meta and doesn't mind some Early Access jank. If you need a polished, seamless experience, wait until it leaves Early Access and hits 1.0.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 09.07.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.