Cycle of Cinder is a roguelite card game with a puzzle-solving game play loop, in which you solve encounters using resources and spells. Cycle of Cinder is easy to learn, but hard to master. Choose between three different modes and grow with the game as the challenge and complexity gradually increase with your progress.

Each level confronts you with a row of Encounter Cards blocking your path forward.

To move on, you must clear all Cards one after another by paying their costs with limited resources.

To prevail, you must manage more than just resources. Action sequencing, card effects, positioning, timing, and spell synergies decide whether you advance or fall. Every choice reshapes the board. A single move can open new paths — or quietly lock you into failure.

As much as the game is about the Encounter Card row, it is about your Spell Cards. They are the tools that let you intervene directly in the system itself — bending, breaking, and rewriting the rules of the encounter.

They allow you to swap positions, shift cards along the row, send obstacles flying, generate resources, reduce costs, or transform cards into something entirely new.

And this is only the beginning. Spell Cards emerge in many archetypes, each channeling a distinct feel and playstyle. Some reward careful planning, others thrive on risk and momentum — but all of them let you shape a strategy that feels uniquely your own.

The game offers 3 modes:

If you enjoy solving intricate puzzles that test your understanding, Challenge Mode is made for you. You can retry each Challenge Encounter as often as you like until you figure out how to solve it.

Rogue Lite Mode offers a different kind of experience. It is less about finding a single solution and more about efficiency and strategic decision-making. If you get stuck in one of its procedural Encounters, you can use the Pass action to gain new fuel.

But be careful: throughout a run, your Time resource is limited. Once all of your Time is spent, the run comes to an end. Playing more efficiently will therefore let you progress deeper into the run. But that is not all. Rogue Lite Mode adds another layer of strategy through Loadout building. Customize your Loadout by upgrading your Spell Cards and choosing additional ones.

If you feel especially creative, you can use the Encounter Editor to craft your own Encounters and share them with others.