Cursemark Brings Dark Souls-Style Combat to an Open-World Buildcrafting Twist

Soulslike players have been spoiled for choice lately, but Cursemark is aiming at a very specific overlap: Dark Souls-style brutality paired with the buildcraft chaos associated with Vampire Survivors. The new open-world contender is now in Steam early access, having launched June 8 and already drawing attention beyond its initial audience.

A new Steam Soulslike that blends open-world design with roguelike cycles

Cursemark is a new Soulslike game that entered Steam early access on June 8, 2026. The game has picked up traction thanks to Dark Souls-inspired gameplay and a buildcrafting mechanic that’s frequently compared to Vampire Survivors.

Developed by the indie studio CLYDE Games and published by Mad Mushroom, Cursemark also has an interesting industry connection: Mad Mushroom is an indie publisher co-founded by Asmongold, though he has since stepped down from his roles. The publisher is also listed as part of the OTK Network, alongside creators Emiru, Esfand, and Extra Emily.

In terms of design inspiration, CLYDE Games has pointed to a mix that includes Zelda, Dark Souls, and Hades. The studio’s description ties those influences to Cursemark’s overworld and progression systems: players traverse a handcrafted, interconnected world with consistent map design reminiscent of classic Zelda layouts. Progression centers on a seamless loop of death and revival that draws from Hades-style momentum, while still maintaining the Soulslike identity through its combat and atmosphere.

Cursemark was also showcased at the 2026 Future Games Show, where it reportedly caught the attention of Soulslike-focused Steam users.

Buildcrafting “broken” potential meets unforgiving combat

Cursemark’s most distinctive hook is how it lets players min-max builds using runes earned throughout each playthrough. The early conversation around the game suggests that rune combinations can become powerful enough to wipe out groups of enemies in seconds—an outcome that will feel familiar to players who enjoy Vampire Survivors’ tendency to snowball into overpowered, chaotic runs.

The combat is where Cursemark leans hardest into its Soulslike roots. While CLYDE Games describes the title as a hack-and-slash action roguelike, the game’s mechanics are said to borrow core elements from the Dark Souls series. Set in a dark fantasy world, it features mythological creatures, challenging boss encounters, and nameless NPCs that support environmental storytelling in a similar spirit to FromSoftware’s approach.

Combat is also notably punishing: healing items are relatively scarce, and enemy attacks remain highly lethal throughout the experience. That combination—limited sustain plus persistent threat—fits the “learn the patterns or pay for it” feel Soulslike fans expect.

Where it stands now—and what early access could change next

As of this writing, Cursemark holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, though it has only accumulated a few hundred user reviews so far—meaning the long-term picture is still forming. The game is priced around $19 on Steam, but a limited-time launch promotion running through June 22 reportedly drops it to roughly $12 for indie Soulslike shoppers.

Because Cursemark is still in early access, the developer expects bugs, glitches, and other unfinished elements. CLYDE Games also indicates the game could remain in early access for anywhere between six months and two years, depending on development progress and how player feedback shapes future updates.

Key points

• Cursemark launched Steam early access on June 8, 2026 and is already drawing Soulslike attention.
• World design is described as handcrafted and interconnected, with Zelda-like consistency.
• Buildcrafting revolves around rune combinations that can become extremely overpowered.
• Combat borrows heavily from Dark Souls, including scarce healing and lethal enemy pressure.

Confirmed details from the launch window

Expert View

Cursemark’s pitch signals where the Soulslike market is heading: not just deeper combat systems, but hybridization with buildcraft “run” design. If the rune-driven snowballing lives up to early impressions, it could pull in Vampire Survivors players who want progression and risk without losing the Dark Souls sense of danger. For the competitive scene, the most immediate impact is community-driven—players will likely trade rune setups and route strategies as soon as early access stabilizes, turning Cursemark into a build meta playground rather than only a boss-rush challenge.