Diofru: Survivors of the Tower is an action RPG with indie roots and roguelike progression, available in Early Access on PC. Players take on the role of an apprentice climbing a collapsing tower while mastering elemental magic and managing tight time limits on each floor.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on ascending floor by floor inside a tower that threatens to crush everything below. Each level pits the apprentice against one powerful monster under a strict timer. If the clock reaches zero, the arena edges turn crimson and debris begins to fall, forcing combat to continue amid the rubble. Light and dark function as resources that directly affect spellcasting. Remaining in darkness too long seals magic, while returning to illuminated areas restores access.
At level five the apprentice selects one of nine elements: fire, ice, storm, tide, stone, poison, light, shadow, or death. This choice permanently shapes available spells and upgrades for the remainder of the run. Four weapon slots, one transformation-only signature slot, and six passive slots provide build flexibility. Two active spells can be equipped simultaneously. A total of 27 weapons with 22 possible evolutions, 27 passives, 35 active spells, and 19 relics exist, though all remain gated behind the chosen element. Evolutions occur manually at a forge where players combine weapon pairs and decide the outcome.
Between floors, three doors appear. Selecting one determines the next encounter while altering what the other doors would have offered. Chests scattered throughout the tower sometimes contain unexpected threats. Soulstones collected during runs transfer into permanent upgrades between attempts, creating steady meta progression even after death ends a run.
Game Modes
The experience revolves around repeated single-player runs through the tower. Each attempt begins in the lower sections during Early Access and focuses on reaching higher floors through quick monster kills and careful resource management. The structure emphasizes one continuous climb per run rather than separate modes, with the collapsing timer and light-dark mechanics applying consistently across every attempt.
Progression carries forward via soulstones that unlock lasting improvements, allowing players to tackle greater heights over multiple sessions. No additional named modes appear in the current Early Access build, keeping the focus on the core tower ascent and elemental mastery.
Progression and Customization
Element selection at level five locks in a long-term identity for the run while still allowing weapon and spell variety within that school. The reroll and banish options remove unwanted draws without relying on random chance, giving direct control over the card and upgrade pool. Manual evolution at the forge adds another layer of decision making, turning paired weapons into stronger forms based on player preference rather than automatic outcomes.
Light and dark management adds spatial awareness to combat. Standing too long in shadow seals spells, encouraging movement between safe zones and combat areas. This system interacts with the timer pressure, as players must balance aggressive positioning with survival needs while the ceiling threatens to collapse.
Early Access Development
Diofru: Survivors of the Tower launched in Early Access with the lower tower sections available. Additional zones and deeper elemental schools arrive through updates, expanding the climb without a fixed floor total or release date for the full 1.0 version. The developers prioritize steady growth over announced milestones, focusing on refining the existing systems of elemental awakening, timed encounters, and meta progression via soulstones.
Is It Worth Playing?
Players who enjoy roguelike action RPGs with strong buildcraft and reduced reliance on pure luck will find the controlled progression and element-gated systems appealing. The timer-driven floors and light-dark resource layer create consistent tension that rewards quick decision making and spatial awareness. Permanent soulstone upgrades provide meaningful long-term goals even after failed runs end.
The Early Access state means the tower currently covers only lower sections, with more content planned through updates. Those comfortable with iterative development and focused single-player climbs may appreciate the transparent approach to expansion. The combination of manual evolutions, reroll and banish tools, and nine distinct elemental paths offers depth for repeated attempts without forcing reliance on random outcomes.