Games worth discovering
453 View2026-01-19
Game OverviewAnnulus is a tactical strategy RPG inspired by medieval warfare and infused with dark fantasy elements. Set on the war-torn continent of Noviseth, players take on the role of a mercenary captain, recruiting and training distinctive mercenaries, forging weapons, and building their own tactical systems to form a personalized mercenary company.In an age of cruelty and unrest, players will fight not only for survival and glory, but also against the chains of fate and the rules that bind the world itself.
About This IntroductionThis article focuses on the world map structure and main campaign gameplay of Annulus.
I. Continental BackgroundMigrants from the Old Continent arrived on Noviseth, giving rise to two civilizations: the self-reflective cultures of the north and the truth-seeking societies of the south. At first, they coexisted in peace. But as ambitions of conquest grew and religious divisions deepened, the Southern Empire launched a brutal invasion of the north, plunging the entire continent into war.Tragically, almost no one realized that this conflict had become fertile ground for a far darker scheme. Within the flames of war, the seeds of an ancient calamity—one that once brought about the end of the world—were quietly awakening once more.
II. World Map Gameplay OverviewIn Annulus, your adventure unfolds mainly through three major types of stages, supported by a wide range of interactive world map systems. Understanding this structure will make your campaign far more efficient.
- Main Campaign — Advance the Story, Unlock the World
- Objectives & Rewards: First-time completion advances the story. Completed stages can be replayed to obtain mercenary growth materials.
- Progress Indicators: Stage banners appear red before completion and turn blue once cleared, making progress easy to track.
- Key Functionality: Advancing the main campaign is the primary way to unlock new towns, which in turn open additional systems and features.
- Side Quests — Explore the World, Build Reputation
- Core Rewards: Completing side quests grants resources and, more importantly, increases regional reputation. Reputation levels directly affect which rare items become available in local shops.
- Additional Unlocks: Some side quests are prerequisites for unlocking special world map dungeons.
- World Map Dungeons — A Treasury of Resources and Challenges
- Purple icons on the map represent various types of dungeons, divided into three main categories:
- Resource Dungeons: Repeatable stages used to farm upgrade materials, weapon resources, and mercenary fragments.
- One-time Puzzle / Challenge Dungeons: Carefully designed encounters that offer generous rewards, but can only be completed once.
- AFK Resource Nodes: Once occupied, these locations continuously generate resources without requiring repeated battles.
- Towns & Other Systems — The Hub of Your Journey
- Town Functions: Unlocked through the main campaign, towns serve as central hubs for accepting side quests, shopping, and recruiting specific mercenaries.
- Reputation System: Players can view their standing with various factions through a dedicated interface. Reputation is key to unlocking high-tier items.
- Quest Turn-in: After completing stages, rewards must be manually claimed from the quest journal—be sure not to forget.
- Platform: Steam
- Test Duration: 7 days
- Start Time:
January 23, 2026, Friday, 2:00 AM (PT)
(5:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM CET / 6:00 PM CST) - End Time:
January 30, 2026, Friday, 2:00 AM (PT)
(5:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM CET / 6:00 PM CST) - Test Type: Limited access, progress will be wiped
- Test Goals: Server stability, core gameplay validation, overall experience testing, and feedback collection.
- How to Join:
Visit the Annulus Steam store page and click “Request Access” under Playtest to apply.
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