Prelude Dark Pain

Set in the grim world of Statera, Prelude Dark Pain sees players face an ancient destructive force called the Dark Pain. This dark fantasy universe draws inspiration from games such as the Darkest Dungeon series, as well as comic books — particularly the work of Mike Mignola on Hellboy. However, the architectural and environmental designs are rooted in the Andalusian style, in tribute to the studio's origins. The game features a soundtrack composed by the Japanese musician Kumi Tanioka, who is known for her work on Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and Minecraft.

In Statera, the Order of the Ashen Crusade rules the land with blood and terror while worshipping the Lord of Pain. Some free people still fight against this evil, including Soren and the Blue Net faction. This conflict creates rifts in the veil protecting the world from supernatural forces. Through these rifts, creatures of Pain can invade and wreak havoc. Players take on the role of Soren, a retired warrior living as a blacksmith. After his family is attacked, he plays a pivotal role in the ensuing revolution. Throughout the story, players must make decisions that influence both the main narrative and which heroes can be recruited for battle.

Prelude Dark Pain is a tactical RPG. Its grid- and party-based combat system draws inspiration from classic games such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre and Vandal Hearts. Players assemble a roster of heroes, build a squad, and utilise their unique skills to unleash strategic synergies. Up to five heroes can be selected from eight different classes: Ranged DPS, Magic Support and Assassins, among others. Each character has their own talent trees and numerous abilities. Attributes and skills can be reset for free, encouraging experimentation with different builds. Factors such as elevation, cover, and flanking the enemy can have a big impact on the outcome of a battle. As players progress, they can equip their characters with better gear, which can be upgraded at their base using resources obtained from missions.

In addition to the main story, Prelude Dark Pain features side quests and other activities that allow players to influence the world beyond the main narrative. These include World Missions, which can be picked up from non-player characters (NPCs) across the world map. Players can also craft new weapons and undertake raids from their settlement to help push back enemies and gather resources. However, the user interface could be improved, as it lacks clarity and overview. Although the controls are optimised for a controller, they do not feel well thought out when using a mouse and keyboard. The camera can also be a little jerky in places.

"Prelude: Dark Pain fits within this renewed interest in turn-based combat, but it approaches it from a darker and more atmospheric perspective. Our goal was to combine turn-based strategy with a strong dark fantasy identity. One of the elements that we believe makes it stand out is the presence of synergies between characters, game modes, and mechanics inspired by games like League of Legends, which have not traditionally fit well within turn-based combat systems. We have tried to translate that kind of interaction between abilities and characters into a tactical turn-based environment, aiming to create more dynamic and strategic combat." - Arturo Martín; Co-founder & Creative/Art Director - Project Manager, Quickfire Games

Prelude Dark Pain is the debut game from Seville-based Spanish indie studio Quickfire Games, which was founded in 2020. In mid-June 2025, the studio successfully concluded a Kickstarter campaign for the game, raising €132,685 — surpassing their target of €40,000 — from 3,194 backers. In a previous interview with GamesMarket, Arturo Martín (Co-founder, Creative/Art Director and Project Manager) said: "Kickstarter has been very important for us, but not only for financial reasons. Of course, funding helps an independent studio like ours continue development, but the most valuable aspect was the validation from players. Seeing people believe in the project and choose to support it gave us a huge amount of motivation. It also allowed us to build an initial community around the game, which is incredibly valuable during development."

Pablo Castellanos (Co-founder & Music/Sound Producer) added: "As a small indie studio, our approach has been very community-driven. We aim to share the development process openly and build a relationship with players who are interested in dark fantasy and tactical combat. Kickstarter was a very important moment for us, as it allowed us to present the game to a wider audience and confirm that there was genuine interest in the project. Beyond that, we rely heavily on community interaction, frequent updates, and showcasing how the game evolves throughout development." This collaboration with the community is also set to continue during the Early Access period.

Prelude Dark Pain was released on PC via Early Access on 27 July 2026 and costs €19.50. The game offers the full first act, following the stories of nine playable heroes: Soren, Tizon, Tammais, Maya, Sade, Gala, Rufio, Urza and Rayder. Each hero has a unique play style, including four active skills, two passive skills and virtues, totalling 63 skills across all heroes. The Early Access version also includes an explorable world map and a first set of cutscenes. The full version will include every act of Soren's story, all 20+ playable heroes spanning eight class types, 20 factions and 70 enemy types (including bosses). World Missions, raids and equipment crafting will be fully implemented throughout the game's progression. It is planned that the game will remain in Early Access for a year.

Conclusion

Prelude Dark Pain is a tactical RPG with great potential in Early Access, but it still has room for improvement - especially in terms of the interface and controls.

Features

• Great art style and soundtrack
• Flexible combat system with tactical depth
• High level of character customization