Hero Manager

Coming soon

Cupkek Games

Planned release: To be announced
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Last updated: 14 Sep 2026, 21:48 GMT

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5 posts

18 Oct 2025Developer post
Scouting Cruios - New Heroes & Combat Overhaul - Base Comes Alive
It’s been a while since the last update — the “demo on the horizon” post didn’t quite age as planned. But development hasn’t stopped for a second. I’ve been focusing on improving how the game feels to play and look at, and it’s finally starting to come together. The Base Feels Al
It’s been a while since the last update — the “demo on the horizon” post didn’t quite age as planned. But development hasn’t stopped for a second. I’ve been focusing on improving how the game feels to play and look at, and it’s finally starting to come together.
The Base Feels Alive
The management base has received a big upgrade. NPCs now move around, heroes have new idle animations, and the environment finally feels like a space where people actually live and work — not just a static menu.
https://x.com/cupkekgames/status/1908912793295651303
Combat and a New Hero
Combat has been reworked for better feedback and clarity. Ultimates now slow time and darken the surroundings for more dramatic impact.
Two new heroes have joined the roster:
Gunner, a ranged damage dealer specializing in precision shots.
Fighter, a melee powerhouse with wide swings and heavy impact.
https://x.com/cupkekgames/status/1979415497322922129
Scouting and Curios
Added curios to scouting! They make each trip less predictable. You can now find strange objects that offer rewards or risks.
https://x.com/cupkekgames/status/1979472412405104715
I’ll be posting updates more often from now on and hope to launch a playtest soon.
Original post
15 Aug 2024Developer post
We’ve Been Quiet, but the Demo Is on the Horizon!
Hello everyone, It’s been a while since our last update, and we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes. We’re excited to announce that we’re getting closer to our first closed demo! Major Feature Additions We’ve made substantial progress with numerous detailed improvements. Here
Hello everyone,
It’s been a while since our last update, and we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes. We’re excited to announce that we’re getting closer to our first closed demo!
Major Feature Additions
We’ve made substantial progress with numerous detailed improvements. Here are the main features we’ve recently implemented:

Autobattler: Battles are now in real-time instead of turn-based! We originally started with a turn-based combat system and then switched to an autobattler format. But it was still turn-based, just automated. Moving to real-time combat was a significant task, requiring us to code many features from scratch. We’re excited to say we’ve successfully made the change! Additionally, we’ve upgraded to a better animation system, improved the skill system, and refined AI behaviors for a smoother combat experience.
Scouting and Gathering: Explore new areas and gather valuable resources. These materials are essential for cooking and potion brewing. After gathering, you can choose to return home or continue exploring, though there’s always a risk of monster attacks. Will you take the risk for more valuable materials?
Farming: Cultivate and manage your own farm. It’s a safer alternative to scouting, providing essential resources for your heroes.
Cooking and Brewing: Use the resources you’ve gathered to prepare meals and brew potions. Meals are vital for keeping your heroes’ hunger at bay, and potions can be lifesavers during tough battles.
What’s Next
We’re nearly finished with all the features required for the demo. Our next steps involve creating content and polishing the game in preparation for our first closed demo test.
Thank you for your continued interest and support. We look forward to your feedback on the upcoming demo!
Original post
29 Mar 2024Developer post
Progress Update, Upcoming Debut Trailer
It's been a while since our last update. We've been heads-down working on the core mechanics of the game, focusing on the logic that drives the gameplay experience. Let's delve into our progress, current status, and plans. Here are the key milestones we've achieved: Finished desi
It's been a while since our last update. We've been heads-down working on the core mechanics of the game, focusing on the logic that drives the gameplay experience.
Let's delve into our progress, current status, and plans. Here are the key milestones we've achieved:

Finished designing enemies for the first area. (5 enemy types total)
Implement functionality of morale and personality trait of heroes.
Add 2 new heroes, currently we have 4 heroes in total.
Add hero list to the UI in base, allowing you to monitor their heroes' current conditions.
Developed UI elements to display changes in heroes' attributes (health, morale, personality, exp) in response to events.
At the end of the day, show UI that reports changes.
Designed and introduced the initial version of personality traits. (40 traits total)
Redesign travel mechanic to make it faster and smoother to use
Added ambient sounds to enhance immersion
Implemented experience and leveling systems for personality traits, enhancing their effects as they level up.
Display element type(fire, water etc) and unit tier on UI
Add particles for expressions that will be used during dialogues
Implement Inkle Ink, a valuable tool for crafting dialogues efficiently. With this we will be able to write dialogues with ease.
Add animations to show heroes in action during various activities, such as training or drinking in tavern.
Apologies for the long list, it details the significant progress we've made. We've successfully completed functionality of the core gameplay loop! However, we still need to develop content for testing and play. Currently, we're focusing on creating missing environments, NPCs, heroes, and enemies.
Once we have enough content, we'll shift our attention to our debut trailer. Stay tuned!
Original post
18 Dec 2023Developer post
Designing the core game loop
In the previous devlog, I discussed the game design challenges and the decision-making process to overcome them. This time, let's explore how we refined and addressed flaws in the core game loop design. Calendar and Time Management The calendar plays a crucial role in controlling
21 Nov 2023Developer post
Game design challenges from blending two games
Originally, the game concept emerged from a mix of Potionomics and Darkest Dungeon (DD). I combined key elements of both, which led to a design challenge regarding the in-game time mechanic. In DD, time only progresses through fights, so you can't use busy heroes. Potionomics all
Originally, the game concept emerged from a mix of Potionomics and Darkest Dungeon (DD). I combined key elements of both, which led to a design challenge regarding the in-game time mechanic.
In DD, time only progresses through fights, so you can't use busy heroes. Potionomics allows time to advance whenever you want, but forces a boss fight after 10 days, so you'll need to be careful with your time. I preferred the potions approach, but that created a problem because there are no mandatory fights. Time was of no importance, it became an endless resource. For example, during a hero's recovery in hospital, time can be freely advanced without any consequences.
Various attempts to introduce new mechanics have only resulted in ancillary features that do not solve the core gameplay problem. Ultimately, I decided to remove the ability to start fights of my own accord. Simultaneously, I moved from turn-based combat to an automatic combat format where fight times are predetermined and visible on the calendar. This has made time a limited resource and necessitated strategic time management.
In summary:

Fights are no longer started at will; They occur at predetermined times that can be seen on the calendar.
Combat has moved from turn-based to auto-battle, making gameplay easier.
The removal of turn-based combat and the campaign map significantly narrowed the game's development scope. While challenges remain, these changes move the project closer to completion and alleviate recent burnout. The end is now on the horizon, motivating continued progress.
Original post

Updates & announcements

Scouting Cruios - New Heroes & Combat Overhaul - Base Comes Alive

The Base Feels Alive

Combat and a New Hero

Scouting and Curios

We’ve Been Quiet, but the Demo Is on the Horizon!

Major Feature Additions

What’s Next

Progress Update, Upcoming Debut Trailer

Designing the core game loop

Calendar and Time Management

Lose Condition

Game design challenges from blending two games