Winds of Arcana: Ruination

About Winds of Arcana: Ruination

Winds of Arcana: Ruination is a 2.5D Metroidvania RPG developed by Brewed Games and released in November 2025 for PC. Set in the fractured world of Lirna, you play Aryn, a mercenary navigating a land scarred by the ancient catastrophe Ashkaton. The game blends platforming, exploration, and combat, letting you upgrade skills and magic to access new areas. Its story centers on figuring out the mystery of Ashkaton and the godlike heroes who stopped it. With a focus on backtracking and ability-driven progression, it’s a dark, myth-heavy journey for fans of nonlinear RPGs.

Gameplay

You’ll spend most of your time in tight, interconnected dungeons, fighting enemies with a mix of melee strikes, elemental spells, and dodge rolls. Combat feels weighty, with a skill tree that lets you specialize in offense, defense, or magic. New abilities often open shortcuts or let you bypass previously inaccessible sections. The map is littered with secrets like ancient tomes and loot, but progression is slow, early upgrades are sparse, and later areas demand precise platforming. Boss fights are multi-phase affairs, requiring you to adapt your build mid-battle. Sessions often involve trial-and-error exploration, with a strong emphasis on revisiting zones after gaining new tools.

What Players Think

The game sits at 82% on aggregate sites, with critics praising its lore and combat depth. PlayPile data shows 63% of players finish the story, averaging 18.5 hours, while 22% hit 30+ hours. Community moods are split: 45% call it “addictive,” 30% say it’s “slow-paced,” and 15% gripe about unclear environmental cues. Achievement completion rates are high (78% overall), but the final boss remains a sticking point for many. One Reddit thread noted, “The world feels alive, but the early game holds your hand too much.” Prices start at $39.99, with a 15% discount for pre-orders.

PlayPile's Take

Winds of Arcana: Ruination is a solid but uneven Metroidvania. It shines for players who enjoy slow, methodical progression and lore-heavy worlds, but its early-game sluggishness may frustrate newcomers. The $40 price tag is fair for the content, and the 22% of players hitting 30+ hours will find enough to justify the investment. Skip if you prefer fast-paced action or straightforward storytelling. Achievement hunters should target the 17% of players who complete every secret room, hint: save scumming helps.

Storyline

Millenia ago, the world of Lirna faced the devastating wrath of Ashkaton, a cataclysmic phenomenon that nearly tore the world asunder. Stopped by heroes who ascended to godhood, Ashkaton was eventually confined to the pages of history. With blade and magic, embark on the dark odyssey of Aryn, a lone mercenary seeking answers in a world broken by an ancient wrath.