When Hilltop Studios announced Curse of Resthaven, I had two thoughts. One was an immediate “OH MY GOSH YAY!” and the second was “man, that seems a LOT different from Lil’ Guardsman.”
Lil’ Guardsman is one of my favorite indies of the past five years. Between the Papers, Please-inspired gameplay, hilarious writing, and wonderfully colorful cast of characters, it became one of those games I couldn’t stop recommending. So, naturally, my expectations for their next project were pretty high when publisher Digital Bandidos reached out to me with an opportunity to play the demo early.
And after spending close to five hours playing, I’m happy to say my expectations were not only met, but exceeded.
I love it when a dev team steps outside their comfort zone. Where Lil’ Guardsman was bright, funny, and delightfully cartoony, Curse of Resthaven embraces something much darker. It’s a narrative roguelite wrapped in mystery, political responsibility, and an ever-present sense that something terrible lurks just beneath the surface.
Turns out that feeling is pretty justified.
And I’m hooked.
A Time Loop Worth Getting Stuck In
I’ve always had a soft spot for stories that use the Groundhog Day trope well. (Like the Stargate SG-1 episode “Window of Opportunity.) There’s something so satisfying about watching characters who know they’re in a time loop slowly piece together what’s going on while everyone else remains completely unaware.
Curse of Resthaven scratches that same itch. You’re that character.
You play as Ambrose, a newcomer to Resthaven, appointed to serve as its Governor while also searching for your missing niece, Amalia. (What happened to the previous Governor is part of the mystery.)
However, you find yourself on a bit of a deadline. In a few days, the town will be wiped out, and you’re seemingly the only person to know it.
The prospect of finding out what’s ruining the town was enough to grab my attention, but the demo shows there’s far more to the game than simply repeating a few days over and over again.
Resthaven’s Seen Better Days
Resthaven isn’t exactly thriving. An ominous cloud hangs over the town, but its people, there because of the promise of a new life and new opportunity, either don’t want to leave or simply can’t. The residents, even just the few I met in the demo, are all very distinct and well written, with excellent voice acting to boot. One of Hilltop’s biggest strengths from Lil’ Guardsman was making characters, even minor ones, memorable, and based on the demo, that hasn’t changed a bit. Make time to visit the Tavern in the demo; you won’t regret it.
Of course, you’re not just in Resthaven to solve what happened to Amalia. You’re in charge, and as the man in charge, you’re mandated to improve the colony by exploring the island (more on that later), upgrading businesses, and of course, improving the financial standing of the town.
As Governor, you’re in charge of handling trade with other kingdoms. Each business in Resthaven contributes at least one free item to trade with the outside world, sometimes two with the right upgrades. You can set prices and barter, though they’ll walk away if they feel the deals aren’t in their favor. The outside kingdoms will also have things for you to buy. The trading encounters were like little bites of worldbuilding that left me hungry for the main course.
Resthaven’s ‘Aha!’ Moment: Expeditions
I wasn’t quite sure of the Expeditions mechanic until my second time going through the demo. Again, the card-based Expeditions are your way of fulfilling one of your mandates as Governor, but it’s also another way to try and figure out what happened to Amalia.
With the supplies you’ve gathered, whether it’s through trade or from Resthaven’s shops, as well as with the help of hired companions, you’ll venture into the wilds. For some expeditions, you’ll need a companion with a different skill set than yours, and for others, you’ll just need a specific resource. The cards themselves hold clues, but you can also consult with one of the town’s oldest residents, Agata, to get a clearer picture of what they may require.
Like Ambrose, I just needed a few loops to get the hang of Expeditions under my belt.
Just One More Loop, Please
The biggest compliment I can give the Curse of Resthaven demo is that I didn’t want it to end. Sure, I feel that way about most demos, but it wasn’t that Resthaven felt incomplete. The demo convinced me there’s so much more waiting beyond the walls of the seemingly cursed colony.
I want to explore more. I want to uncover more of its Lovecraftian-inspired tale. I can’t wait to meet the rest of Resthaven’s residents, experience more Expeditions, and hear whatever song the town bard decides to get permanently lodged in my head next.
As much as I loved Lil’ Guardsman, I’m glad Hilltop Studios didn’t make their next game a sequel. They took a big swing for the fences, and if the demo is any indication, it’s heading for home run territory.
I’m more than ready for the next loop.
Keep in mind, though, if you pick up the demo, there’s mature content, with the developers stating, “Curse of Resthaven is a narrative horror game intended for mature audiences. It contains illustrated black-and-white depictions of violence and murder, references to suicide, and themes of war and colonial oppression. The game also includes references to alcohol and substance abuse, psychological distress, and other subject matter that may be disturbing to some people.”