Black Beacon: The Rising Star in Gacha Gaming

Black Beacon has recently made its debut on mobile devices, and we've had the privilege of diving into this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG ahead of the general release. Here's our take on this intriguing new game.

Shh! This Is A Library!

The game opens in the Library of Babel, a vast and enigmatic structure drawing inspiration from both the biblical Tower of Babel and Jorge Luis Borges' short story. In Borges' tale, the Library of Babel contains every conceivable combination of letters, theoretically holding every book ever written. In Black Beacon, you awaken in this mysterious library with no clear memory of your arrival, alongside a cast of colorful characters equally puzzled by their circumstances. You're soon informed of a looming destiny and an ominous deadline: a giant spinning orb threatens to obliterate everyone within 24 hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer in a world of bookshelves!

Despite the humor, the setting and narrative are refreshingly unique. The library, filled with nonsensical books, time travel elements, and nods to various mythologies (including a mysterious bird), plunges you into a deep and engaging story. The initial confusion is intentional and adds to the charm of the game.

Send Me In, Coach

Black Beacon offers a thrilling action RPG experience, reminiscent of a dungeon crawler with a customizable camera viewpoint. You can opt for a top-down perspective or a free camera setup, which we found to be a personal preference. As you navigate the Library's corridors, you'll progress through short, episodic story sections, each comprising several maps. Accessing these sections requires energy, but the game is generous with this resource, allowing ample playtime.

Your journey involves exploring areas, solving puzzles, uncovering hidden treasure chests, and battling enemies—distorted remnants of people the Library has "not fully digested." Combat is fast-paced and engaging, requiring a balance between button-mashing and strategic timing. Perfectly timed dodges grant iframes, and well-timed heavy attacks can interrupt enemy moves, adding depth to the fights.

A standout feature is the character-swap mechanic, which lets you switch fighters mid-battle, turning combat into a dynamic tag-team experience. This system allows you to rest exhausted characters and bring in fresh ones, even during attacks. Mastering this rhythm can be satisfying, though mistiming a dodge can send you flying down the hallway.

Characters And Weapon Rolls

As a gacha game, Black Beacon features a system for acquiring characters and weapons, with weapons tailored to specific characters. Both can be leveled up, and while the game involves various ingredients for progression, much of the management can be automated.

You might encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the story, adding a layer of variety and unpredictability to the narrative. The flow of time in the game is convoluted, enhancing the overall experience.

In conclusion, Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game with an esoteric story and solid gameplay that supports its narrative ambitions. We're eager to see how it evolves post-launch. If this sounds like your kind of adventure, you can explore Black Beacon now on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.