Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree (Beta)

Introduction

This preview explores “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree,” an upcoming roguelite action game with beautiful Japanese-inspired visuals and dynamic co-op gameplay.

Core Gameplay

Towa, the protector of the sacred tree. This is a roguelike adventure game where we take on the role of Towa, the leader of the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. Together with brave companions, Towa sets out on a journey to forge powerful bonds and craft mighty swords to fight against the forces of Magatsu, ultimately deciding the fate of the village. Every battle is unique, since each guardian has their own special skills and distinct sword sets. This creates countless possible pairings and playstyles, while the dungeons themselves constantly shift and change.

On this occasion, I had the chance to join Towa and the Guardians during the Beta test, and of course, I could not miss the opportunity to bring you this preview.

Please note, this preview was based on the PC version. By the time you read this in the future, some of the points mentioned here may have already been improved or adjusted.

Preview: Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree

• Beautiful Japanese-style graphics that are so detailed and stunning, they deserve a thumbs up.
  One of the most striking highlights of this game is its Japanese-inspired art style, which immediately captures attention. The hand-drawn details are incredibly refined, the coloring is unique, and every scene is filled with elements that radiate an authentic Japanese atmosphere. It is truly enchanting.

For anyone who appreciates distinctive artwork that stands apart from the rest, this game is sure to win you over. After trying it out myself, I can honestly say I had no hesitation giving it a double thumbs up.

• Choose your characters and dive into thrilling roguelite gameplay with exciting two-person party mechanics.
  One of the most captivating features of this game is the ability to choose a guardian partner to accompany you on your journey. The first character takes the role of the main attacker, wielding a sword with two standard attack moves and a powerful ultimate skill to clear anything in the way. The second character serves as a supporter. While they cannot fight with a sword, they bring valuable abilities such as boosting attack power, creating protective barriers, or providing other support to help the team survive.

The control system is also well designed. Players primarily control the main attacker, while the support character follows automatically. However, support skills must be activated manually, although some can be set to auto-cast. For those who enjoy more challenge, you can switch to directly controlling the support character. It may feel a bit confusing at first, but it adds variety and excitement to the gameplay.

When venturing into the dungeon, players must battle through one room after another, each filled with waves of monsters. Along the way, there may be encounters with mini-bosses before facing the showdown with the main boss. The fun lies in being able to choose your path. Each room clearly shows what kind of rewards await. Some rooms provide card-like items that can be used to upgrade your character during that run, while others grant items to strengthen your character permanently. There are also food shops where you can boost abilities, and sometimes extremely difficult special rooms that, if survived, reward you with valuable treasures.

Players need to understand that this game is not about charging in recklessly. Enemies are dangerous enough to defeat you easily if you fail to dodge or defend properly. Learning to read and time the boss’s attacks is the key to survival. From personal experience, it took me four attempts before finally defeating the boss, and that hard-earned victory felt all the more rewarding.

Overall, the writer is very impressed with the gameplay. The ability to choose a companion to join you on each adventure, combined with the Roguelite mechanics, creates a well-balanced experience that feels smooth and genuinely fun to play.

• Supports local co-op, making the experience even more enjoyable when played together.
  
  Continuing with another highlight, the two-character party feature adds even more charm to the game. Not only can you pick a companion to join you on your adventure when playing solo, but you can also plug in a second controller and invite a friend or family member to play together on the same screen. This is something quite rare in today’s gaming landscape. The first controller handles the main character, striking enemies with sword attacks, while the second controller takes on the role of the support character, casting skills and coordinating attacks to keep the combat flowing smoothly. This part genuinely surprised me and even made me smile, because it brought back that old-school joy of sitting next to someone, laughing together (and maybe yelling together) while playing.

Of course, those who expect the second player to grab a sword and slash enemies just like the first player might feel a bit disappointed, since the support character cannot attack directly with weapons. However, I can confidently say that once you upgrade the support character, their skill casting becomes just as satisfying as swinging a sword. It adds even more color and strategy to the overall combat experience.

• A detailed and impressive sword-crafting system that captures your attention from the very first try.
  Aside from the thrilling combat gameplay, this game also delivers fun in another dimension through its “character upgrade system,” which offers plenty of options for players to enjoy. One of the main highlights, and truly the heart of the system, is the “sword forging” feature. It’s not just about choosing primary and secondary materials to craft a new sword, but also about immersing yourself in the full forging experience.

Players can select the type of blade, its shape, and many other details, making the process more engaging. Watching a sword that you forged with your own hands gradually transform into a weapon far stronger than the starter blade brings a mix of pride and excitement. What makes it even more interesting is the mini-game within the forging process, where your accuracy and skill directly affect the results. The more precise you are, the higher the quality of the sword, and the greater its attack power will become, even breaking past the usual limits.

Of course, if anyone feels that the sword-forging minigame is too complicated, the game generously provides an auto mode that calculates the quality of the sword for you. However, from my own experience, I have to say that forging the sword yourself is always more rewarding. The quality of the sword turns out noticeably better, and the satisfaction of crafting it with your own two hands is something that the auto mode simply cannot give.

• Flexible character upgrades that allow players to develop their heroes in many different ways to match their playstyle.
  

Another feature that makes this game truly impressive is its highly detailed character customization system. Players can upgrade skills, enhance power with special stones, and freely develop their characters to match their own playstyle. At first, it may feel simple and easy to understand, but once you dive deeper, you’ll discover many layers of detail worth exploring. This makes it perfect for those who enjoy customization and strategic planning.

For casual players, there is no need to worry. Even though there is a lot to learn, the system is designed to be approachable and easy to grasp. The more you play, the more enjoyable it becomes, often making it hard to put the game down.

Preview Summary

Overall, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is another Roguelite game that’s worth trying. Aside from its beautiful visuals, the gameplay is fun, packed with details to explore, and most importantly, it can be played with friends on the same screen. This makes the experience both exciting and chaotic in the best way possible.

Highlights

• Beautiful and distinctive graphics
  
• Fun gameplay with detailed systems that remain easy to grasp
  
• Local co-op play on a single screen
  

Points to Note

• Many character skills in the early stages don’t feel very different from one another, which makes the uniqueness of each character less noticeable
  
• Boss battles can be quite challenging, requiring focus and patience to overcome
  

Finally, we’d like to thank Bandai Namco Entertainment for providing and supporting us with this game for preview. Stay tuned to see which title we’ll be covering next.

Release Info

“Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree” is set to launch on September 18 or 19, 2025, across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

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Final Thought

This game takes the familiar roguelite structure and infuses it with meaningful emotional stakes, artistic polish, and deep storytelling. The blend of strategic choices and narrative resonance is rare and compelling. I suspect “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree” could become one of this genre’s most memorable entries next year.

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Hashtags

#TowaGuardians #Roguelite #GamingPreview #BandaiNamco #BrowniesInc #RogueliteWithHeart #IndieEmotionalGames