Demo of Text-based Adventure Upheaval is Now on Steam

jasonnieva October 19, 2023

If you're in the mood for some nostalgia, then you’d better check out Upheaval. This is an upcoming text-based open world fantasy adventure roguelike created by solo developer Alex Leone. While no release date for the full game has been announced, a demo is now available on Steam.

Upheaval is a game which features a classic fantasy wilderness adventure that's turned into a roguelike. Here you'll need to master the secrets of a changing world every 30 in-game days at a time. Get to explore the wilds that's around a remote village and track down magic treasures or maybe even aid or disrupt factions. You'll also need to match wits with an enigmatic magician who seem to remember all your previous adventures.

Development of the game was started in 2018 by Leone. It was initially a simple text adventure which helped guide players through the various stages of the Hero's Journey. Working on it during his spare time, Leone was able to grow the game into the complex one that it is today. While he has been developing games as a hobby for the last two decades, Upheaval is Leone's first commercial title.

In the demo available, you get to play through the first 15 days of each adventure. After that it’s going to be cut short and send you back to the magician early. However, it’s possible to play the demo over and over again and each time you can try new strategies and even uncover new secrets. Overall, there are hours of exploration and adventure waiting for those who want to make the most of the experience with this free demo.

Talking about the game, Alex Leone shared through a statement that Upheaval is all “about living with the consequences of your choices.” You can’t really die in the game since according to Leone, dying means you don’t get to live with the choices made. That means you survive each encounter and experience the effects of the choices made. He added that if you do die in the game, you just start again and hopefully do better the next time.

Wishlist Upheaval on Steam now.