Purgatory is a dark and uncompromising strategy RPG that embraces its grim premise without hesitation. Developed by Eduard Mirica and published by New Reality Games, it drops you into the role of Xzus, a fallen warrior who awakens not in peace or oblivion but in a bleak afterlife where wandering spirits and hostile creatures rule the landscape. The game begins with a simple yet atmospheric setup: Xzus wants to return to the land of the living, but to do so he must build an army of undead followers, conquer the hostile forces of the underworld, and ultimately defeat the gatekeeper who stands between life and death. This premise sets the tone for everything that follows—bleak, fatalistic, and driven by a desire to claw back power in a world where suffering and conflict are the norm.
As a tactical experience, Purgatory leans into classic turn-based design. The game uses a grid-based battlefield where positioning, timing, and unit synergy matter more than anything else. You begin as a lone warrior, fragile and unprepared, but gradually recruit spirits and undead minions to fight alongside you. These units vary in abilities and roles, with some acting as frontline bruisers, others supporting with ranged attacks, and still others offering utility or crowd control. Xzus himself gains skill points over time, allowing you to unlock new abilities or enhance existing ones. This steady accumulation of power gives the campaign a sense of progression, even as battles remain tense and punishing. The difficulty curve is steep, forcing you to respect every encounter, plan your moves carefully, and treat every advantage as precious.
Combat is the heart of the game, and it is deliberately challenging. Mistakes are costly, and misjudging an enemy’s range, ignoring terrain advantages, or spreading your forces too thin can lead to immediate losses. Because units are valuable and the game offers little forgiveness, every victory feels earned. There’s a strong sense of incremental mastery as you learn how to coordinate your undead troops effectively, exploit weaknesses in enemy formations, and adapt your tactics to the game’s growing roster of foes. This focus on heavy strategy and hard consequences gives Purgatory an intensity that will appeal to players who enjoy tactical games that push back rather than soften blows.
Visually and structurally, Purgatory reflects its indie roots. The pixel-art presentation has a coarse charm, but it is undeniably simple, with environments built from basic tiles and limited animation detail. This minimalistic look serves the game’s grim atmosphere but also highlights a lack of visual clarity during more chaotic encounters. When multiple units crowd the battlefield, it can be difficult to instantly read the layout, distinguish characters, or identify threats. The interface and menus are functional but rough; navigating inventories, managing skills, or analyzing unit stats sometimes lacks the smoothness of more polished strategy titles. For players accustomed to modern UIs, the experience may feel dated or cumbersome.
Narratively, Purgatory takes a reserved approach. The world is intriguing—a hostile afterlife governed by forgotten powers—but the storytelling is minimal, relying mostly on brief text interludes and basic screens rather than fully fleshed-out dialogue or cinematic exposition. Xzus’s motivations are clear, and the overarching plot provides direction, but the game rarely expands on its lore or introduces deeper emotional connections. This sparse storytelling creates a mood of isolation and desolation, but it also leaves the narrative feeling thin. For some players, this stripped-down style will be part of the game’s harsh charm; for others, it may feel like a missed opportunity to enrich the world.
Despite its limitations, Purgatory succeeds on the strength of its ambition and its raw, tactical focus. It offers a grim but compelling loop: survive, grow stronger, raise a larger undead army, and push deeper into a hostile realm that wants you to fail. It rewards patience and discourages recklessness. The feeling of emerging victorious from a brutal battle—knowing you endured only because your plan held together—is satisfying in a way few modern RPGs attempt anymore. For those who crave an old-school, challenge-heavy strategy game set in a bleak world of death and resurrection, Purgatory offers an experience that is rough but earnest, demanding but rewarding.
Ultimately, Purgatory is a game that knows its identity. It does not chase widespread appeal or modern production values; it instead delivers a punishing tactical journey through a sparse, hostile afterlife. While it may be too unrefined or difficult for some, players who appreciate tough, mechanics-driven RPGs will find an experience that embraces its deadly tone and stands firm in its commitment to challenge.
Rating: 6/10
