Now you can die anywhere, anytime with ease. The Switch version of Chrono Ark comes with all DLCs and is portable [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/945/G094579/20250928048/
Editorial Department: Mikazuki Aki | 2025/09/28 10:44 (UTC)
At the KONAMI booth during Tokyo Game Show 2025, PLAYISM showcased a playable demo of “Chrono Ark Deluxe Edition,” a Nintendo Switch game scheduled for release on January 29, 2026.
This game, developed by South Korean indie team Al Fine, is a deck-building roguelike. It began early access on Steam at the end of 2019 and was officially released on May 3, 2024. The Deluxe Edition features all previously released downloadable content (DLC) compiled into the Switch port.
As a fan who even traveled to Kyoto at my own expense after hearing the developers were visiting Japan (related article), and have been writing about it since early access, I’d like to share what makes this game so enjoyable.
Related Articles
I want to talk about “Chrono Ark,” where you can enjoy intense battles with deck-building, party combat, and tough bosses. The characters and story are great, but I especially love the perfect balance of how easily you can die
Want to suffer horribly in a game that’s designed for you to die? So, I’d like to talk about the RPG “Chrono Ark,” currently available on Steam in early access. It’s an ambitious title combining deck-building roguelike mechanics with party combat, character depth, and story—yet it delivers satisfying gameplay and excellent battle balance.
[December 31, 2022, 12:30]
- Keywords:
- PC: Chrono Ark
- PC
- RPG
- Al Fine
- Cards
- Fantasy
- Player count: 1
- South Korea
- Feature article
- Editor: Miketsu Akira
Related Articles
Deck-building roguelike RPG “Chrono Ark” officially released and swimsuit DLC launched. The brilliant combat balance developed since 2019 is finally complete
Today, Al Fine officially released the deck-building roguelike RPG “Chrono Ark” on Steam. The DLC “Summer Twilight” is also now available. After beginning early access in December 2019, this game has finally been completed and offers a challenging yet well-balanced combat system. It features an ambitious main story and high replayability thanks to its 20 unique characters.
[May 3, 2024, 6:00 PM]
- Keywords:
- PC: Chrono Ark
- PC
- RPG
- Card game
- Al Fine
- Cards
- Fantasy
- Player count: 1
- South Korea
- News
- Editor: Miketsu Akira
This title is one of the well-established entries in the now-standard genre of deck-building roguelikes—following “Slay the Spire” (though it appears to have been influenced by “Hearthstone”). Players explore a realm known as the Fractured Lands, improving their deck and striving to defeat bosses. If you’re wiped out completely, everything is lost and you must start over—but what makes this game special is that your knowledge grows with each attempt. The most critical factor in progressing isn’t raw power, but experience in uncovering boss gimmicks. Even if all data is reset after death, the gameplay progressively becomes more favorable.
Two standout features of this deck-building roguelike are particularly notable.
First, it uses party combat. Players start with two party members and can expand to a maximum of four as they progress through stages. While synergy between characters is minimal, each has clearly defined roles—attackers, healers, etc.—leading players to carefully consider “How many cards from which character should I include?”
Simply filling your deck with high-damage attacker cards may backfire: you might end up unable to draw healing cards, causing the party to collapse, or a key attacker could be defeated instantly by an incompatible boss gimmick. With 20 playable characters available, deciding on effective team compositions adds another layer of fun.
The second distinctive aspect is the strong narrative. The protagonist, Lucey, repeatedly experiences (roguelike-style) total wipeouts while exploring the Fractured Lands. As she does so, her world and circumstances are gradually revealed through well-crafted story progression. Intriguing plotlines and new bosses introduced along the way will undoubtedly spark your desire to keep advancing.
Since this game emphasizes storytelling, you can choose a lower difficulty if desired—but personally, I strongly recommend playing on Hard Mode. Hard Mode isn’t just about higher enemy HP; boss behavior patterns and gimmicks are completely reworked, making battles significantly more challenging. The gameplay becomes tense and strategic—each card choice and turn-by-turn decision matters intensely. When you finally defeat a boss in this mode, the sense of accomplishment is truly overwhelming. Later bosses become increasingly difficult, so I highly encourage players to take on these challenges.
The Deluxe Edition, as mentioned earlier, includes all DLCs. This means you can enjoy “Summer Twilight,” a swimsuit-themed expansion, and “High Roller,” a casino-inspired DLC—both adding new character skins, skills, equipment, and short stories.
Thumbnail image No.007 / Now you can die casually anywhere. The Switch version of Chrono Ark is portable and includes all DLCs [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.008 / Now you can die casually anywhere. The Switch version of Chrono Ark is portable and includes all DLCs [TGS2025]
Having played the Switch version, I found the controls are optimized for gamepads—but those used to PC may find button inputs slightly excessive. Still, the key point is that you can now carry this game with you anywhere. With its high difficulty and replay value, it’s a title you’ll want to play again and again—making it perfect for playing during commutes or travel. Of course, since it’s easy to die if you’re not careful, poor Lucey might end up suffering even more than before—but that also means you can torment her more casually now, and dying has never been easier.