Prelude Dark Pain

About Prelude Dark Pain

Prelude Dark Pain is a turn-based tactical RPG with strategy elements set in a dark fantasy universe. Developed by QUICKFIREGAMES and released on June 30, 2026, it runs on PC and Mac. You play Soren, a blacksmith thrust into a rebellion against the Ash Crusade. The game emphasizes deep story choices and tactical combat with 8 playable species and 70+ enemies. It’s a slow, methodical experience focused on unit positioning, resource management, and a branching narrative that ties into a countdown mechanic. Think of it as a mix of Fire Emblem and Crusader Kings, but with a grim tone and intricate worldbuilding.

Gameplay

Combat unfolds on hex-grid maps with real-time countdown timers for actions, forcing careful planning. You manage a team of up to 6 units, each with unique species traits and skills. Turn-based battles require balancing offense, defense, and terrain to outmaneuver enemies like ash-creatures and corrupted knights. Outside fights, you explore maps to gather resources, recruit allies, and make dialogue-driven choices that alter story outcomes. The game’s pacing is deliberate; a 2-hour session might involve two battles and a few decision points. Controls are clunky at first but streamline after 10, 15 hours. The countdown timer adds tension but can feel punishing during tough encounters.

What Players Think

Prelude Dark Pain holds a 73% on Metacritic and 82% on Steam (mixed reviews). Average playtime is 20 hours, with 42% of players completing the main story. Community moods are split: 35% hopeful, 20% frustrated, 15% curious. One Steam review notes, “The world feels alive but the combat UI is a mess.” Players praise the 70+ enemy types and 20+ cultures but criticize repetitive dialogue and slow pacing. Achievement data shows 28 total, with 1200 points; 60% of players unlock 10+ within 25 hours. The game’s difficulty spikes in mid-game, leading to a 30% dropout rate after Act 2.

PlayPile's Take

Prelude Dark Pain is a niche pick for strategy fans who want a dense, story-driven TBS with high risk/reward. At $39.99, it’s a mid-tier buy but demands 20+ hours for a full run. Skip it if you dislike clunky menus or prefer fast-paced action. The 1200 achievement points and branching choices make it replayable, but the learning curve is steep. It’s not perfect, but for players craving a dark, tactical saga with a large world, it’s worth the grind.

Storyline

PRELUDE DARK PAIN is a TACTICAL RPG set in a dark fantasy world where you will become one of a group of heroes, determined to save reality from the evil that has afflicted it for generations. Choose the fate of a world in danger: you will feel the real weight of your decisions that will change the story that is being told in front of you, accompanied by a countdown that will take you to complete the adventure unifying more than 20 nations and cultures, 8 different playable species among all the realities and more than 70 different enemies in this exciting adventure.