Arkheron, an isometric Diablo-like battle royale where you ascend a tower, is getting a more forgiving Spire mode to prepare you for the big leagues

Arkheron's an interesting game (I'm about to throw a lot of adjectives at you, don't get scared): an isometric PvPvE battle royale-type action RPG where you and two other mates try to ascend a tower in the afterlife.

Rounds play out as you and your fellow echoes ascend a tower, having showdowns at the end of each floor where you take on another team before moving on. In the interim, you run around fighting monsters, picking up loot, and fine-tuning your build before you go onto the next bout.

But, as shown in the PC Gaming Show's exclusive interview, players had identified a large skill gap between the training mode and the game's core "Ascension" mode—which has led to the introduction of Spires.

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The Spires game mode works very similarly to Ascension, except you have three shots to get it right. Basically, it gives you far more opportunities to learn and experiment, rather than simply getting stomped by people who have mastered the high-stakes Ascension mode.

I'm personally actually pretty hyped for Arkheron—I've yet to find a game that's filled the Battlerite-shaped hole in my heart, and I think there's a huge untapped vein of isometric PvP enjoyers who are rabid for something to fill that void.

It's also great to see that developer Bonfire Studios is really making use of the playtests it's been having—more than anything, good attentiveness to player feedback is what makes or breaks these sorts of competitive games, and finding ways to properly onboard players who might be a touch afraid of a steep learning curve is even better.

Heck, it's a trick that Deadlock, my current MOBA of choice, has employed with Street Brawl—get a lower-stakes mode where folks can get their feet wet and become familiar with your cast of heroes before throwing them in the hyper-optimised deep-end.

You can sign up for the Arkheron playtest on the game's website. Arkheron plans to release properly later in 2026.

Check out everything revealed at the PC Gaming Show.

Harvey's history with games started when he first begged his parents for a World of Warcraft subscription aged 12, though he's since been cursed with Final Fantasy 14-brain and a huge crush on G'raha Tia. He made his start as a freelancer, writing for websites like Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, Into the Spine—and of course, PC Gamer. He'll sink his teeth into anything that looks interesting, though he has a soft spot for RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and weird indie titles. He also plays a shelf load of TTRPGs in his offline time. Don't ask him what his favourite system is, he has too many.