Ready for an adventure that combines the charm of pixel graphics with a surprisingly deep turn-based combat system? Get ready to explore a vibrant, yet corrupted, labyrinth known as the Mall District in a game focused on friendship and exploration.
Introduction
Cubenen Gardens: Befriend is an upcoming story-rich RPG developed by TheGamedawg and published by Shepherd Armory, scheduled for release on PC on 2025-07-10. This game promises a colorful, fantasy world seen from a top-down, 2D perspective, focusing on Michael's linear journey to form an unusual alliance with a specific monster.
What Makes It Special
The heart of Cubenen Gardens: Befriend lies in its unique narrative premise. Players follow Michael as they traverse the hidden, often terrifying, depths of the Mall District, specifically the abandoned offices of Gems Incorporated. The core mission is driven by a fascinating, linear story: befriending a particular monster, the Bear Repeating, nicknamed "Adust," as part of a theory regarding how monsters are related to the memories of the deceased.
The game seamlessly blends its cute, Pixel Graphics and Colorful aesthetic with an underlying Atmospheric fantasy setting. While the world is populated by friendly cube people (cubenen) and cartoon animals, the adventure takes place in offices that have sprung back to life, run by a haywire force that is more powerful than any monster, ensuring the journey is filled with peril.
Gameplay & Features
As a strategic RPG, combat is centered around the multifaceted Order Turn Battle System. This system requires players to act in a set order, of which you can manipulate through clever use of skills and abilities. Strategy is key, allowing you to use "Seamless powers" to act without consuming your turn, or charging Michael's robot to unleash powerful attacks on subsequent rounds. You must examine adversaries to exploit enemy weaknesses and turn the tide of battle!
Michael and their party possess a wide variety of abilities and magic, which you unlock as you progress through the Story Rich narrative. Beyond abilities, customization is robust: with over 100 pieces of equipment and dozens of food items that change your statistics on the fly, there are countless ways to modify your team and approach challenges entirely on your own terms.
Why You'll Love It
If you appreciate 2D and Top-Down perspective games that pair charming design with depth, you'll love exploring the bizarre remnants of the abandoned corporate world. Your adventure takes you through a unique, corrupted snippet of the Mall District that most citizens never attain the opportunity to see. This means traversing cluttered storerooms, cafeterias, cubicle farms, and H.R. departments—all twisted by magic.
The game emphasizes a Singleplayer experience focused on the central relationship between Michael and Adust. This focus on story, exploration, and highly customizable team builds ensures that every puzzle and battle overcome feels earned, making it an excellent choice for fans of classic, Fantasy role-playing games.
Final Thoughts
Cubenen Gardens: Befriend offers a compelling mix of strategic turn-based combat and a surprisingly deep narrative quest set within a seemingly cute, pixel-art world. Whether you're drawn in by Michael’s quest to befriend Adust or the challenge of the Order Turn Battle System, this Singleplayer RPG looks like a great addition to the PC gaming library. Look for it when it releases on 2025-07-10!