First of all, thank you to everyone who played the demo, left a review, or shared detailed feedback. This was our first chance to see so many different players experience BloodSworn, from roguelite veterans to complete newcomers, and your feedback has been invaluable.
BLOODSWORN'S GENRE
One of the first things we realized is that we need to communicate the game's genre more clearly. Some players expected a traditional single-player campaign and didn't realize BloodSworn is a roguelite. We'll make this much clearer on the Steam page and throughout the game.
AMOUNT OF CONTENT IN THE GAME
The biggest piece of feedback was the lack of content. Expanding the game has always been our top priority, and we're already making good progress. Since the demo, we've added new Relics, and a brand-new level is currently in development. At the same time, we're continuing to improve the existing systems.
We've also added our first Elite enemy, it's a stronger version of the existing bloated enemy with new visuals and abilities, designed to offer a greater challenge.
MORE PLAYER DECISIONS
Another common request was giving players more choices during each run. We're redesigning the levels to include branching paths, and later we'll expand them further with unlockable routes and hidden doors.
BIGGER LEVEL LAYOUTS AND PARKOUR
Many players also asked for more platforming challenges, so parkour sections will be added alongside the combat-focused rooms. We've also redesigned the level layouts to provide players with more freedom of movement while placing a greater emphasis on vertical gameplay.
TUTORIAL FOR NEW PLAYERS
Since BloodSworn introduces several unique mechanics, we've also created a full tutorial. It teaches movement, dashing, jumping, Relic and Weapon Chests, and both session-based and permanent progression, helping new players understand the game much more quickly.
DAMAGE FEEDBACK
We've also improved combat feedback by adding flinch animations and hit flash effects, making every shot feel more satisfying.
These are the biggest improvements we're currently focusing on. Some are already finished, while others will keep us busy over the next month or two. If everything goes according to plan, we'll be back soon with a much more polished and satisfying experience.
In the meantime, if you'd like to chat with us or share your ideas, we'd love to see you on our Discord server!
Once again, thank you for all your support and feedback. We couldn't improve BloodSworn without you. See you again soon!