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# The Beacon Roguelike Early Access: Is It Worth Playing Yet?
- URL: https://www.annazplays.com/the-beacon-roguelike-early-access-is-it-worth-playing-yet/
- Published: 2025-09-12T23:11:25.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-12T23:11:25.000Z
- Description: Tried The Beacon’s first playtest on Epic Games? Here are my firsthand impressions of its roguelike gameplay, Ronin chain move, and what’s next.
- Author: Annaz
- Tags: Early Access, Web3 / Crypto

---

The Beacon just wrapped up its **first public playtest on** [**Epic Games**](https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-beacon-866697?ref=annazplays.com)**.** The big news is that the team has finally committed to the **Ronin blockchain**, meaning they can (*hopefully*) focus more on refining the gameplay instead of dealing with backend headaches.

But how does The Beacon actually *play* right now? Here are my thoughts after running through its current build.

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## Core Roguelike Gameplay

At its heart, The Beacon is a **roguelike dungeon crawler** with a simple but fun gameplay loop.

- You start each run with zero power-ups.
- As you progress, you pick up buffs and upgrades that make you stronger.
- An NPC occasionally appears between rooms, offering a chance to power up further.

It’s the classic “start weak, grow stronger” roguelike formula. The dungeon run feels rewarding for the first run. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5d/4f/5d4f3569-1df3-4210-bc0f-18ca85f587ca/content/images/2025/09/image.png)

## The Speed Potion: Overpowered but Fun

If there’s one power-up that stood out to me, it’s the **speed potion**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5d/4f/5d4f3569-1df3-4210-bc0f-18ca85f587ca/content/images/2025/09/image-2.png)

The burst of movement makes it so much easier to:

- Weave between enemy attacks.
- Close the gap for melee hits.
- Keep momentum flowing in combat.

Right now, it feels a little *too strong*. Most of my successful runs leaned heavily on speed bursts. Balance tweaking will likely be needed, but I must admit that it makes the game feel great in motion.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5d/4f/5d4f3569-1df3-4210-bc0f-18ca85f587ca/content/images/2025/09/image-1.png)

## Content Limitations in the Current Build

Of course, this first playtest is just a **small taste** of what’s to come. Here’s what’s missing:

- No bosses yet, just standard enemies across about 10 floors.
- NPCs in the village are placeholders, no trading or progression yet.
- No permanent upgrades outside the dungeon.
- Runs end with a simple reset back to the outside.

For now, expect a **demo-level roguelike** rather than a fully fleshed-out game. I’d love to see the addition of bosses, village progression, and more long-term rewards in future updates.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5d/4f/5d4f3569-1df3-4210-bc0f-18ca85f587ca/content/images/2025/09/image-3.png)

## Login Process & Onboarding Concerns

One thing I found a bit clunky was the **login system**.

- You need to connect a Beacon account to Epic before even playing.
- Registration feels like it comes *before* the fun.

For a game hoping to attract more than just the Web3-native crowd, this could be a barrier. Most non-Web3 gamers just want to download, play, and figure out account linking later.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5d/4f/5d4f3569-1df3-4210-bc0f-18ca85f587ca/content/images/2025/09/Login.PNG)

## Where’s the Web3?

Speaking of Web3, I haven’t seen much of it yet.

- No in-game trading systems are live.
- No blockchain features except for skins from external markets.
- Nothing yet that sets it apart from a standard roguelike.

The obvious path is **skin trading** or collectible cosmetics, but I’m hoping The Beacon experiments with more unique Web3 hooks. How cool would it be to have a **shared daily dungeon challenge**, similar to *Spelunky’s Daily Challenge*, where everyone plays the exact same run for leaderboard spots?

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5d/4f/5d4f3569-1df3-4210-bc0f-18ca85f587ca/content/images/2025/09/image-4.png)

## My Wishlist for The Beacon

Here’s what I’d love to see in upcoming seasons:

1. **Boss fights** that test skill and strategy.
2. **Village upgrades** that make the hub world meaningful.
3. **Trading features** that show off Ronin’s blockchain integration.
4. **Daily shared dungeons** for competitive replayability.
5. **Balance fixes** (looking at you, speed potion).

---

## Verdict: A Promising Start but Needs More Identity

The Beacon’s first playtest gave me hope that there’s a good roguelike at its core. But if it wants to stand out in the crowded dungeon-crawler market, it needs to lean into **unique mechanics, memorable content, and meaningful blockchain features**.

- ✅ Fun roguelike core loop with solid dungeon runs.
- ✅ Speed potion feels powerful (maybe too powerful).
- ❌ No bosses, village upgrades, or long-term progression yet.
- ❌ Login process could deter non-Web3 players.

I’ll definitely be back for the next playtest to see how things evolve.