Basalt: The Cursed Vein is an upcoming freaking looking roguelite match-3

Enjoy the idea of match 3 games but don't like the grind? The developers of Basalt: The Cursed Vein don't either and so they're doing something different. With a gritty atmosphere and roguelite mechanics, it looks a bit on the spooky side.

Here you mine for ores and rare materials to rebuild a town unlocking new bombs, tools and upgrades as you go that let you push deeper where monsters await you. The roguelite side of it introduces a fresh game each time with different enemy types, bomb effects, and available upgrades. Personally, I think it looks great!

Check out the trailer:

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“I’ve always loved match-3, but not the free-to-play grind,” says designer Jack Kristoffersen. “Basalt turns it into a strategic roguelite loop where every dig feels rewarding.”

“I wanted the pixel art to feel as rough as the town you’re rebuilding,” says artist Simon Nyhus. “It’s dark and gritty, the kind of place where every shadow hides something, and every character knows more than they’re telling you.”

Game Highlights:

• Roguelite Match-3 Loop - Mine ores, rare minerals, and lost artifacts to rebuild a ruined mining town. Each upgrade unlocks new tools, bombs, and perks that let you dig deeper into the shafts for even more valuable resources. Still, every trip uses a limited number of moves that are persistent across the levels, so efficiency is key.
• Synergy-Driven Progression - Collect upgrades, lab-made bombs, and forgeable items that interact in unexpected ways. Build devastating combos that wipe the board, disable enemies, or chain resource extraction, turning every run into a unique strategic puzzle with different optimal builds.
• Randomized Runs - Enemy types, bomb effects, forge recipes, and available upgrades change each run. Even the extraordinary powers of the mine itself vary, forcing you to adapt your tactics and experiment with new playstyles every time.
• Gritty Pixel Art Atmosphere - Explore a dark, cold mining settlement rendered in moody, detailed pixel art. Between runs, meet eccentric and slightly unsettling townsfolk whose shady deals, odd requests, and tragic backstories add mystery to your journey.
• Monsters in the Deep - Battle strange and dangerous creatures as you descend, from horrifying shape-shifting spiders to blind, mineral-hungry tentacles that grow in length.