Chains on Sand – New Demo Out! Our “Free Early Access” – Your Feedback Wanted

Hi everyone!

We’re excited (and a little nervous) to announce a new public demo for Chains on Sand!
This is a big step for us, so we want to be super clear about what you’re getting and what we’re asking for in return: honest feedback.

Why This Demo?

This demo is not a polished, finished slice of the full game. Instead, we’re treating it like a free “Early Access” – it’s our way of getting the core gameplay into your hands, letting you break it, push the limits, and tell us what works (or doesn’t).

Chains on Sand is a tactical arena roguelike about tough choices, brutal combat, and building your fighter’s legend one battle at a time.
The full game will eventually have a lot more content, systems, story, and polish – but for now, we want to see what YOU think about the core experience!

What’s In the Demo?

• Tactical Arena Combat: Stat-driven, stamina-based, injury-prone, and always deadly.

• Character Creation: Multiple races, traits, skills, and equipment choices.

• Loot, Quality & Durability: Equipment you find, loot, and equip really matters.

• Special Bosses & Legacy Bosses:

  • Early versions are in! Bosses and “legacy” enemies who beat players get promoted and can come back to challenge you in later runs.

  • These features will be massively expanded in the full game.

• Highscores, Progression & Popularity: Survive, climb the ranks, and leave your name in the arena’s records.

What’s New in This Version?

• Major bugfixes to stat/race handling (Orc/Goblin bonuses now consistent!)

• Extra Attack feat is now working.

• Interface now shows movement & attacks left in each turn.

• Hit location selection with mouse improved (locks in like keyboard).

• Fixed trait/XP exploits; secondary stats always update.

• Weapons and spell visuals improved—sprites now point in the right direction.

• Character and equipment visuals/paperdoll updated everywhere.

• Improved AI—smarter enemies await.

• Miscellaneous UI and cosmetic polish.

What’s NOT in the Demo Yet / Feedback Needed

• No story content, only a few bosses, some incomplete features.

• Legacy/special boss systems are just getting started—expect much more in the full game.

• Save/load is experimental, not fully supported yet.

• You will find bugs or things that need improvement.
  Please leave a comment, bug report, or join our Discord!

How You Can Help

The community is what will make Chains on Sand great. We’re listening—please try the demo, share your honest impressions, report any bugs, and let us know what features you want to see next.

Wishlist, play, share, and help us build the best arena roguelike possible!

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Thanks for reading, and see you in the arena!

— The Chains on Sand Dev Team

Discord | Steam