When the names Phil Shenk, Erich Schaefer, and Peter Hu are attached to a game, ARPG fans know it is probably worth paying attention to. These known Diablo and Torchlight veterans have reunited under Moon Beast Productions to create a gritty, folklore-inspired ARPG where you can reshape destructible worlds, mix melee and magic in freeform combat, and even mod the game from day one!
I got to play an early pre-pre-alpha build, and even though it is still in its early stages, the mix of procedural maps, hybrid combat, and persistent world changes already feels like something special.
Worlds That Feel Alive and Remember You
The overworld is procedurally generated, so no two runs will feel the same. But MoonBeast takes this a little further, because the world is fully destructible and persistent. You can smash through dungeon walls, carve new paths, or open hidden rooms. Leave a crater or build something, and it will still be there the next time you return. I do not know why digging holes would be important, but if you want to, you can do so!
The developers also plan to expand this with more player-built structures, making the world feel like something you can truly influence.
Combat That Feels Free From the Start
Movement skills are often locked away in ARPGs, but MoonBeast’s game gives you jump and dash immediately. Being able to hop over obstacles instead of walking around them is surprisingly refreshing.
The first revealed class, a sort of witch-type character, mixes melee and magic. You can stab enemies with quick knife attacks or blast them with spells, then adjust your abilities using glyphs. Slotting three glyphs triggers different effects – Bone, Blood, Shadow, and more – letting you blend damage types and styles however you like.
Healing and mana recovery come from dropped orbs, keeping the action moving without constant trips to town. Of course, there are also healing potions, but for mana, you will either have to collect dropped orbs after slaying enemies (not every mob drops these, though) or destroy blue crystals along the way to replenish your resources.
Events That Can Change the Map
One of the most dangerous and memorable features I saw early on was large-scale events like the Necropolis. This creeping purple fog wipes out NPCs, blocks waypoints, and fills the area with dangerous enemies. If you do not take down the Necropolis boss, it will keep spreading. Literally.
Even low-tier enemies here are tough, and the fight is challenging. However, builds that use fire or bleed effects seem to work especially well in this zone.
Core Systems and Progression
MoonBeast wants to deliver a classic ARPG feel with a few twists. Leveling grants 5 attribute points and 1 skill point, with four core attributes:
- Strength – boosts blunt crit chance and resistances.
- Dexterity – boosts slashing and lightning crits, resists fire.
- Vitality – boosts HP, shadow crits, and cold/slash resist.
- Magic – boosts fire/cold crits and shadow resist.
Skills have multiple upgrade paths, letting you customize abilities further.
Itemization includes classic affixes, rarities, and sockets, as well as unique systems like Gems and a Tattoo System that inscribes runes directly on your character to alter abilities.
Elemental Combat currently covers six damage types: Blunt, Slashing, Shadow, Fire, Lightning, Cold – each with unique crit effects, allowing for creative build combinations.
Crafting & Runes mix deterministic and random crafting, with rune words that vary in effect depending on your class.
A Gritty, Folklore-Inspired World
Instead of angels and demons, the monsters here come from folklore – goblins, trolls, and even stranger creatures, such as brambles and trees. The setting feels grounded and grim, and exploration already seems to be a huge part of its identity.
Modding Built Into the Game
This is not just a game you play – it is one you can reshape. Literally. MoonBeast’s game will launch with a live in-game world editor. You will be able to build, modify, and create entirely new modes without leaving the game. The team already stated that they are encouraging the community to experiment, even creating content that the developers did not plan for.
Early Days, Big Potential
Funding in 2024 allowed the team to expand from a tech demo into a playable game with designed levels, skill systems, and itemization. Unfortunately, there is no release date yet, but the developers are sharing progress and running early tests through their official MoonBeast Discord server, so anyone curious can follow updates or get involved.
From what I have played, the destructible worlds, hybrid combat, and progression systems already feel very good. Especially the jump and vertical traversal possibilities were a lot of fun!
Naturally, we will be following MoonBeast’s development closely and sharing updates as it grows into a full ARPG experience.
For more updates on ARPGs and other games, make sure to head back to our main gaming news hub.
