Conan: The Black Pyramid brings Robert E. Howard heroes into a shifting action roguelite with two-player online co-op, a 2027 PC launch window, and some unanswered roster questions.
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Conan enters the roguelite arena, with one big comparison already attached
Conan: The Black Pyramid has been announced as a licensed action roguelite RPG from developer Games Farm and publisher Grindstone, with a PC launch planned on Steam in 2027. Multiple outlets, including Gematsu and MonsterVine, report that the game supports two-player online co-op and was revealed around the Golden Joystick Awards. That gives the announcement a clear hook: Conan is being rebuilt for the run-based action space, and the shadow of Hades is already hanging over the pitch.
The comparison is not subtle in the source material. Rock Paper Shotgun described Conan: The Black Pyramid as an action RPG that looks as if it studied Supergiant’s Hades, while Wccftech, after a remote press presentation and gameplay demo, said its room-based structure is in the vein of Hades or Curse of the Dead Gods. Polygon framed it as Diablo meeting Hades, pointing to the combination of action-RPG combat, roguelike runs, and cooperative play.
The confirmed setup is pure Robert E. Howard pulp filtered through roguelite structure. According to the Steam overview republished by Gematsu, the Black Pyramid calls warriors across time and sends players into eldritch chambers that ignore the logic of space and time. Each run offers new routes, new combat possibilities, and new story events as the heroes try to learn who summoned them. MonsterVine similarly describes a shifting labyrinth pulling warriors from different centuries into a place outside normal rules.
That is the immediate tension around this Hades-inspired Conan game. The announcement is easy to understand at a glance, but the details are where it gets interesting. Conan: The Black Pyramid is borrowing from one of the most influential action roguelites of the last decade, yet it is also leaning into a broader Howard roster, online co-op, darker cosmic horror imagery, and a build system with dice, artifacts, permanent upgrades, and character-specific loadouts. For roguelite players, the question is not whether the influence is visible. It is whether the game can turn a familiar structure into something sharp enough to survive repeated descents.
The Hades comparison starts with rooms, routes, rewards, and return trips
The Hades read comes from structure first. Wccftech’s demo report says runs in Conan: The Black Pyramid are room-based, with players clearing spaces one at a time and choosing the next destination based on the reward on offer. Rock Paper Shotgun points to the pyramid changing form with each descent, alongside abilities and buffs picked up along the way. Gematsu’s Steam-page overview says every run presents new routes, new combat possibilities, and new story events, which is the familiar loop of fight, choose, adapt, die or escape, then return stronger.
Games Farm’s framing adds a darker skin to that loop. The Black Pyramid is described through the Steam listing as a shifting labyrinth of ancient ruins, ravaged kingdoms, and occult halls pulled from different eras. Polygon’s write-up emphasizes sword-and-sorcery crossed with cosmic horror, including ancient beings, reality-warping sorcery, and otherworldly threats. That matters for tone because Conan is often associated in games with broad survival fantasy or brawny action, while this announcement leans into Howard’s stranger material.
The game also appears to be using a hub and meta-progression structure. Wccftech reports that entering the pyramid brings players to the Nexus, described as the game’s hub, where lore, permanent skill trees, and meta progression sit between runs. Gematsu’s Steam overview mentions permanent upgrades unlocked with Wakestones, as well as hero leveling. That positions Conan: The Black Pyramid closer to a modern roguelite than a traditional roguelike, since repeated attempts feed long-term power and options rather than resetting everything to zero.
The biggest confirmed departure from Hades is the playable roster. Instead of one central protagonist with different weapons, the Steam overview says players can choose from five distinct characters, with Conan, Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes, and more named as part of Robert E. Howard’s shared universe. If Games Farm can make those characters feel mechanically distinct rather than cosmetic, that is where the Conan roguelite has its clearest chance to build identity.
Combat is being pitched as brutal, flexible, and build-heavy
The most concrete combat details come from Wccftech’s report on a remote press presentation with a live gameplay demo. According to that report, Conan: The Black Pyramid uses primary melee weapons built around three-hit combos, specifically two slashes followed by a finisher. Secondary ranged weapons reportedly follow a similar structure, and both weapon types can be charged for area-of-effect attacks. Wccftech also says the game includes a dash, parry, execution mechanic, and dismemberment system.
That toolset matters because Hades-style action games live or die on feel. A run-based structure can carry curiosity for the first few hours, but the dodge timing, hit impact, enemy readability, and reward pacing decide whether players want to start another run at midnight. The parry details are especially notable. Wccftech reports that parries can stagger enemies, that tougher enemies may require repeated parries to floor, and that projectiles, including magic bolts, can be parried and reflected. If that survives into the final build, Conan: The Black Pyramid may have a more deliberate defensive rhythm than the pure dash-heavy shorthand its genre comparison suggests.
The build layer has several named systems. Gematsu’s Steam overview says each character has multiple Warrior Memories, each with its own combination of weapons and abilities that can change playstyle. It also names ancient artifacts, Combat Masteries, status effects, relic switching, and Wakestones for permanent upgrades. MonsterVine adds that fighting builds toward an execution, but the player chooses when to trigger it rather than having it fire automatically.
Then there are dice. Gematsu’s Steam overview says players collect dice while searching for items, using them to improve chances for better loot. Players can add more dice to a result for extra rewards immediately or save them for later when the stakes rise. MonsterVine describes the same risk-reward decision: spend dice now for better loot or hold them until a more valuable moment. That is a small but promising lever for run texture, because it gives players a reason to think about timing instead of grabbing every upgrade as soon as it appears.
Co-op is confirmed, but it is online only in the announced details
Conan: The Black Pyramid co-op is confirmed as two-player online cooperative play. Gematsu’s Steam-page overview says players can fight alone or with a friend, and MonsterVine reports that co-op players earn individual rewards and keep separate progression while tackling the same descent. Rock Paper Shotgun also notes that the co-op is online, adding that local couch co-op has not been presented in the announcement details.
That distinction is practical. Two-player online co-op changes the expected pace of a roguelite run. It can make room-clearing more chaotic, open up complementary builds, and smooth over difficulty spikes, but it also puts pressure on encounter design. Enemies need to remain readable when two heroes are stacking melee attacks, ranged shots, magic, status effects, executions, and relic effects in the same space. The announced individual rewards and progression should help avoid one of co-op’s common friction points, where one player feels dragged through another player’s save file.
The roster design also feeds into co-op. The Steam overview says the game has five distinct characters and multiple Warrior Memories for every character. Rogueliker reports that players will be able to mix and match across the roster, while MonsterVine says separate rewards and progression allow partners to develop their characters while sharing a descent. The sources do not yet spell out whether two players can choose the same hero, whether co-op changes enemy scaling, or whether any abilities are built specifically for team synergy.
For now, the safe read is straightforward. Solo play is confirmed. Two-player online co-op is confirmed. Local co-op is not confirmed in the provided announcement coverage. Cross-play, matchmaking, save transfer, and console co-op support have not been detailed. If you are looking at Conan: The Black Pyramid as a duo game, the encouraging part is that co-op is part of the core pitch rather than a vague future feature. The unanswered part is how much the combat and progression have been tuned around two players rather than simply allowing a second body into the run.
The hero roster is exciting, but the launch lineup needs clarification
The announced fantasy is bigger than Conan alone. Gematsu’s Steam overview says players will take control of iconic Robert E. Howard heroes such as Conan, Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes, and more. MonsterVine says the roster includes five playable characters, though the announcement names only Conan, Solomon Kane, and Dark Agnes. Polygon similarly reports Conan aligning with Solomon Kane, Dark Agnes, and two other unannounced heroes inside the Black Pyramid.
There is one point of ambiguity worth flagging. Wccftech’s presentation report says Conan is playable at launch, with other heroes from Howard’s universe arriving later, including Solomon Kane, Kull of Atlantis, Dark Agnes de Chastillon, and others. That wording does not line up cleanly with the Steam overview’s broader phrasing about choosing from five distinct characters. It may reflect staged availability, demo scope, post-launch plans, or simply a distinction that needs more official explanation.
Until Games Farm or Grindstone pins it down, the confirmed public-facing roster information is this: Conan is central, Solomon Kane and Dark Agnes are named, five distinct characters are advertised in the Steam overview, and the full list of playable heroes has not been completely revealed in the provided sources. Kull is reported by Wccftech from the press presentation, but the other sources supplied here emphasize that some heroes remain unannounced.
The character choices are clever on paper. Conan brings the obvious melee fantasy. Solomon Kane opens the door to gunplay and grim Puritan monster hunting. Dark Agnes suggests a different swordplay identity, and the wider Howard library gives Games Farm room to vary eras, weapons, and mythologies without leaving the licensed universe. Wccftech also reports that this Conan is an aging version who has stepped down from the throne of Aquilonia and follows whispers toward the Black Pyramid, which gives the setup a late-legend mood rather than a simple early-career brawl.
For players, the roster question is tied directly to replayability. A five-character action roguelite can feel generous if each hero has meaningful weapons, timings, and build paths. It can also feel thin if characters share too much of the same rhythm. The Warrior Memories system is the piece to watch because it may let each hero carry several internal playstyles rather than one fixed kit.
The 2027 plan is PC first, with consoles and timing still unsettled
The release window for Conan: The Black Pyramid is 2027 on PC via Steam, according to Gematsu, MonsterVine, Rock Paper Shotgun, Rogueliker, and Wccftech. MonsterVine reports that console versions are planned to follow after PC, but specific console platforms are unannounced. No exact release date, price, PC system requirements, editions, or early access plan has been provided in the supplied source material.
There is a small source conflict around the year. Polygon’s article contains a line saying Conan will return in 2028, while the same broader announcement coverage from other outlets, including the Steam-linked Gematsu overview and MonsterVine’s report, points to 2027. Given the consistency across the Steam-facing coverage and multiple announcement reports, 2027 is the supported launch window here, while Polygon’s 2028 mention should be treated as an unresolved discrepancy in the source text rather than a confirmed delay.
Players can already take one practical step. MonsterVine and Rogueliker both report that playtest registration is available through the Steam page. MonsterVine says access will roll out in waves and that the first test is described as starting soon, but no date is given. That makes the Steam page the place to wishlist the game and apply for early testing if you want hands-on time before launch.
The developer context is also worth noting. Wccftech identifies Games Farm as a Slovakian studio based in Košice with more than 50 staff and more than 20 released titles, including Vikings: Wolves of Midgard and Shadows: Awakening. Rogueliker adds that Games Farm previously developed Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel and worked with Grindstone on Conan DLC for that game. This is not a studio suddenly grabbing a famous barbarian without any action-RPG background.
Still, 2027 is far enough away that restraint is useful. The announcement gives Conan: The Black Pyramid a strong elevator pitch: a Conan roguelite with Hades-like run structure, two-player online co-op, five advertised heroes, brutal combat, dice-driven loot decisions, and cosmic horror trappings. The next questions are the ones that decide whether it becomes a regular rotation game: how the characters differ, how co-op scales, how cleanly the combat reads in crowded rooms, and whether the final launch roster matches the promise now being sold on Steam.