Shard Squad: Onyx Rising is a roguelike auto-battler strategy game for PC in which players recruit elemental creatures known as Shards, assemble teams around powerful synergies, and adapt formations across increasingly difficult runs. The experience centers on buying Shards, leveling them, equipping items, and positioning the squad before battles unfold automatically, with every decision shaping survival against tougher opposition.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around building and refining a squad of elemental Shards drawn from nine types: Fire, Electric, Water, Nature, Crystal, Prismatic, Ice, Wind, and Onyx. Players purchase Shards, raise their levels, attach equipment, and arrange positions on the field before each encounter. Positioning carries real weight because enemies can pull targets, apply freezes, or leap toward vulnerable squad members, requiring constant adjustments to keep key units safe.
Branching maps present choices between safer paths that preserve team health and riskier routes that yield more experience and superior rewards. Battles occur automatically once the formation is set, allowing the focus to shift to long-term planning rather than moment-to-moment control. Relics alter combat rules, economy, or experience gain for the entire run, while equipment and consumables provide targeted tweaks to individual Shards. More than 100 pieces of equipment, more than 100 Relics, and over 15 consumables support extensive experimentation, ensuring no two runs follow identical patterns.
Higher difficulty levels scale enemy strength and force tighter optimization of synergies and routes. Damage carries over between fights, so injured Shards may need benching while the squad recovers or reroutes around threats.
Game Modes
The main mode consists of roguelike runs across branching maps filled with standard battles, elite encounters, events, shops, campfires, treasure chests, and bosses. Each run demands fresh squad compositions and route decisions as difficulty rises.
An asynchronous multiplayer system lets players pit their completed builds against others through rankings. This setup enables comparison of strategies and squad performance without live queues, turning successful runs into competitive benchmarks.
Elements, Synergies, and Progression
Shards from the listed elements combine in specific ways to unlock bonuses that define run viability. Returning characters from the prior game join new recruits, expanding options for team building around the central conflict involving the Onyx Shards and the Desoulment event. The roster grows across every element, supporting varied compositions that emphasize different strengths.
Progression systems reward repeated play through permanent unlocks and meta choices that influence future runs. Equipment fine-tunes individual performance, while Relics reshape broader strategy such as economy or experience flow. Multiple difficulty tiers test how well builds hold up under pressure.
Is It Worth Playing?
Shard Squad: Onyx Rising suits players who enjoy roguelike structure combined with deliberate team composition and positioning in an auto-battler format. The emphasis on synergies, route selection, and adaptive formations rewards experimentation and careful planning over pure reflexes. Those drawn to games that blend collection, economy management, and strategic depth will find the branching paths and relic variety engaging across multiple attempts.
The asynchronous ranking system adds a layer for comparing builds with others, appealing to competitive-minded players who prefer asynchronous competition. Because the game remains in pre-release development with a release date still to be announced, interested players can follow updates on its Steam page to assess final balance and content volume before committing.
