Ravenswatch Early Access Gameplay Guide

Ravenswatch has just entered Early Access on Steam and already has the makings of a promising roguelite. The gameplay is reminiscent of Hades, and if you’re getting Curse of the Dead Gods vibes, that makes sense, as Developer Passtech Games is also responsible for that title. With this in mind, let me give you a guided tour of Ravenswatch’s Early Access Gameplay.

Even by Early Access standards, Ravenswatch is a little light on content, but what is there should provide hours of fun for fans of the genre. Ravenswatch is punishing if you’re unprepared, and you’ll quickly meet your demise if you brazenly stroll across the map.

Related: All Ravenswatch Characters Ranked

Ravenswatch: Best early access tips & strategies

Embrace the difficulty

Ravenswatch is a roguelite, and titles of the genre pride themselves on slapping the player until they memorize attack patterns and get a feel for combat. There’s a lot to learn and very little hand-holding, but there’s a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you start to improve. 

In Ravenswatch, dying is inevitable, and it’s important not to get disheartened. Even if you die quickly, you still earn valuable exp. When you beat the game, you’re rewarded with harder difficulties to test your mettle, but there should be more to do in future updates. This game can be enjoyed solo or co-op, and pressing the “+” buttons on the menu will let you invite from your Steam friends list.

You have my sword, my dagger, and my flute?

Image by PC Invasion

Before you go out adventuring, you need to pick a character. Each has a unique skill set, and it’s worth trying all of them to find what suits you. Even in Early Access, Ravenswatch really stands out with its hero selection, and they all feel completely different.

If you keep playing as a specific hero, you’ll unlock new powerups for them. These have a chance to appear in future runs.

If you’re stuck on who to pick, The Pied Piper is a solid choice to start with, as he has a simple game plan. You can stay out of harm’s way with Piper’s ranged attacks and deal a ton of burst damage once you combine his abilities. Fortissimo lays down an area of effect (AoE) that makes all foes standing inside it take increased damage. Combine that with Solo and Infestation, and you’ll quickly dispatch even the scariest enemies. 

There are four Heroes to try out in the Ravenwatch Early Access build, with an extra two that will unlock as you play.

A world of horrors and combat

Image by PC Invasion

Ravenswatch has a day-and-night cycle that affects enemy behaviors as well as your own. If you’re still alive by the end of the fourth day, you’ll be ready to face the boss.

Surviving is your top priority, but you should focus on gathering as many power-ups as possible. Many points of interest are scattered across the map, offering new abilities, health bonuses, and Dream Crystals. The latter is a currency you can spend with the Sandman where you started. 

Expect heavy resistance around points of interest. If you want those prizes, you’ll have to fight for them!

Compared to other titles in the genre, Ravenswatch favors methodical combat. It’s tempting to play aggressively and quickly finish off weak enemies, but it’s not worth it if you get hurt in the process. Even basic enemies do a shocking amount of damage, and a few tiny mistakes will empty your health bar. 

If you’re dying in basic encounters, my best advice is to slow down. Most enemies telegraph their attacks a few moments in advance, and once you learn those tells, you can employ more risky strategies.

Time is of the essence, as when the fourth-day ends, the Master Nightmare awakens and drags you into its lair, whether you’re prepared or not!

Beat The Boss

Image by PC Invasion

You can imagine the four days before this battle as a training montage. It’s possible to beat the Master Nightmare without upgrades, but the stronger you are, the easier the fight will be. 

That gross tentacled monstrosity in the center is the Master Nightmare. You can hurt it, but you’ll have an easier time if you deal with the tentacles around the edges first. If you can destroy all of these, you’ll have a few seconds to throw everything you have at the boss uninterrupted.

There are a ton of attacks to avoid, but fortunately, they are all telegraphed a while in advance. The Tentacles often drop health when defeated, but be ready to move as the spot where they died won’t stay safe for long. If you’re good at dodging, you’ll be able to stay out of harm’s way for most of the battle. Just beware, the boss has access to a mighty attack that can kill heroes in a single hit. The marker for the attack displays well in advance, so do everything you can to escape its reach.

What’s next for Ravenswatch?

Image by Passtech Games

PassTech games are active on Social Media and recently posted the Roadmap pictured above. As with any Roadmap, this is subject to change, but throughout 2023 we should see several updates that will flesh out the title. 

Most complaints I’ve read about Ravenswatch concern its lack of content. Many are unhappy that the game only sports a single Chapter. If the Roadmap is accurate, we should see another Chapter in Summer, with a third later in the year.