I’m often asked to highlight turn-based games with a strong PvP focus, and the game I’m introducing at the start of this week might be one to keep a close eye on if you’re looking for a way to challenge other players.

Curse of the Dragonbeast takes the usual “wait your turn” problem in tactical PvP and flips it into something sharper, faster, and built for people who enjoy thinking three moves ahead with four other players yelling in voice chat.

Developed by two-person studio Black Phoenix Software, it is a turn-based 5v5 MOBA with roguelite structure, hex-grid combat, and a focus on builds that evolve mid-match.

Each match drops ten players onto dense hex-based maps threaded with forests, rivers, and cover, where both position and pathing matter, but tempo is king. You choose from more than twenty professions that slot into familiar roles like tank, damage, control, support, and healer, then start piecing together a build from over a hundred fifty randomized loot drops earned by hunting neutral monsters and contesting objectives.

Items are shared at the team level, which means draft, rotation, and communication directly decide who spikes when. That shared economy plus the changing pool of gear is what gives Curse of the Dragonbeast its roguelite heartbeat: every match pushes different synergies, so the “right” comp is never locked in for long.

The most important system sits under the turn structure. Rather than taking turns one by one across ten players, both teams act in coordinated waves.

All five players on a side input their actions during the same team’s turn, then watch the results resolve. That design keeps games moving while preserving full-information tactics.

You still read intentions, track cooldowns, and set traps, but you do it with real coordination: lining up focus fire, chaining disables, or setting protective zones as a proper squad. It tackles the usual pacing issues of large-scale turn-based PvP without drifting into real-time chaos, and it leans into that semi-synchronous feel as a core identity rather than a gimmick.

Risk and identity come from Cursed and Holy items. Many of the strongest effects are tied to these aligned artifacts, giving big spikes in power at a cost.

Lean on them too long, and a character drifts toward a permanent alignment, unlocking hybrid professions such as Dark Paladin or Divine Rogue, with toolkits that reshape how you contribute to fights.

Modes are built to support both testing and organized play. Standard matches deliver the full strategic loop, while a Deathmatch / ARAM-style mode compresses the map and tosses players into constant skirmishes with accelerated itemization.

Custom and Solo options give space to experiment with professions, interactions, and routes without subjecting teammates to theorycrafting gone wrong, with ongoing additions planned for professions, transformations, maps, and systems.

Curse of the Dragonbeast has a free single-player demo already available on Steam, with a multiplayer beta planned for December 2025 to January 2026 and an Early Access launch targeting early 2026 on PC at a projected price of 20–25 USD. Below are more details about the game and the announcement trailer.

About This Game

Curse of the Dragonbeast is a turn-based MOBA with Roguelike elements. Choose from 20+ playable professions, master over 130 unique items, and outthink your rivals in unpredictable hex-grid battles that reward adaptable strategy.

Strategic Gameplay

• 5v5 matches on expansive hex-grid maps filled with forests, rivers, bushes and terrain that demand smart positioning.
• 20+ playable professions (with more planned), each with roles like Tank, Damage, Control, Support, and Healer. Synergize with your team for victory.
• Monsters and loot drops provide over 130 unique items at random — a unique build every match.
• Choose your match length – 45 min full length matches or 15 min arena matches.

Hoard items for your Dragon to win

• Share items with your team in a team-owned inventory.
• Wield powerful Cursed and Holy items, but use them for too long and you will be consumed by their power.
• Hidden item interactions that reward outside-the-box thinking.

Replayability

• Shapeshifting transformations and ever-changing items ensure no two matches are alike.
• Three multiplayer game modes and 10+ maps to keep gameplay varied.
• Every match is a new puzzle — experiment, adapt, and surprise your opponents.
• Extensive future content plans.

Break the Curse. Master the Madness.

Whether you’re a strategist who thrives on careful planning or a casual competitor who enjoys quick PvP matches, Curse of the Dragonbeast offers depth without overwhelming complexity. Outthink, outlast, and outplay in a world where even the weakest item could hold the key to victory.