Lavapotion’s New Fantasy Game Blends Incremental Progression, Base Building and Bullet-Heaven Combat
Fans of survival-style action games will have a new fantasy title to watch later this year. Swedish developer Lavapotion and publisher Coffee Stain Publishing announced that Wielders of the Essence will officially launch on Nov. 5, 2026.
The release date was revealed during the PC Gaming Show, one of the gaming industry’s major annual online presentations. The game builds on the universe established in Songs of Conquest while shifting into a different gameplay style inspired by the growing “bullet heaven” and incremental survival genre.
New Game Combines Action Survival With Incremental Strategy
Fantasy Setting Meets Popular Survivors-Style Gameplay
Unlike the turn-based tactical gameplay of Songs of Conquest, Wielders of the Essence focuses on fast-paced combat, progression systems and repeatable runs through procedurally generated maps.
Players venture into randomized environments where they battle waves of enemies while gathering resources to strengthen their home base. Progress earned during each run carries over, allowing players to unlock new abilities, buildings and playable characters known as Wielders.
The game combines several mechanics that have surged in popularity on PC platforms in recent years, particularly among Steam players in the United States. Titles blending roguelike progression, automated combat and long-term upgrades — often referred to as “Survivors-like” games after the success of Vampire Survivors — have become a rapidly growing niche within indie gaming.
Base Building and Progression Drive Long-Term Gameplay
According to Lavapotion, every building players construct unlocks new gameplay opportunities, including special powers, combat skills and additional Wielders for future runs.
The developers said the progression system is designed to encourage experimentation with different builds and strategies over time.
Since launching its demo in February, the game has continued evolving through community feedback and feature additions. Recent updates include:
New Features Added Ahead of Launch
- Additional spells and trinkets that expand gameplay variety
- New superpower systems designed to alter character builds
- Twitch chat integration that allows viewers to suggest upgrades during streams
- Expanded end-of-run statistics and summary screens
- Improved animations and enhanced visual effects
The studio said more than 25,000 players have added the game to their Steam wishlists so far, an early indicator of interest ahead of launch.
Lavapotion Expands Beyond Traditional Strategy Games
Developer Builds on ‘Songs of Conquest’ Universe
Lavapotion is best known for Songs of Conquest, a retro-inspired fantasy strategy game that gained attention for blending classic turn-based mechanics with modern visuals.
With Wielders of the Essence, the studio is taking the setting of Aerbor into a more action-oriented genre while keeping the fantasy aesthetic and world-building elements familiar to existing fans.
“Wielders of the Essence is an exciting new venture for us, taking the established world of Songs of Conquest and applying it to a new genre,” said Lord Querkius, Dungeon Master at Lavapotion.
“We’re very proud of the work we’ve done so far and we’re excited to share the finished product with both our existing Songs of Conquest fans who are keen to experience the world of Aerbor in a new way, as well as new folks that enjoy the genre. See you in November!”
Community Feedback Shapes Development
The developers said community involvement has played a major role in shaping the project throughout development.
That approach reflects a broader trend within PC gaming, where indie studios increasingly rely on demos, Discord communities and Steam feedback to refine gameplay systems before launch. Early player testing has become especially important in live-service and progression-heavy genres where balancing can significantly impact long-term engagement.
Players can currently try the demo version on Steam ahead of the full release later this year.
Looking Ahead
As incremental action games continue gaining popularity across the PC gaming market, Wielders of the Essence aims to carve out space by combining fast-paced combat with deep progression systems and fantasy world-building. With its official launch set for Nov. 5, the game represents Lavapotion’s latest effort to expand the Songs of Conquest universe into new genres and audiences.
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