Fatal Exception (BETA)

A deckbuilding roguelike about desperate salvage operations where your choices literally shape your deck, for better and worse. Restore critical systems on abandoned vessels while managing limited resources. Cards evolve through use. Discards return as consequences.

This is an early BETA release. The core mechanics are solid, but expect placeholder art and rough edges. I'm looking for feedback on whether this concept is worth expanding. 

CORE LOOP

Each turn:

• Cards are drawn to hand up to refill limit (initially 4)
• Discard cards for RAM
• Play cards using RAM
• End Turn triggers top destructor card's effect

Your discarded cards form the destructor deck, the game's enemy system, built from your choices.

Environmental effects from both threats and restored systems shape each vessel's unique challenges and boons

Average run: 10 - 15 minutes

CARD EVOLUTION

Discovery is driven by experimentation.

Cards transform based on unique triggers to:

• Optimize: Play a card repeatedly or meet specific conditions to unlock safer, more powerful versions.
• Corrupt: Trigger alternative conditions to unlock corrupted versions with cheaper costs but dangerous side effects.

Cards can unlock both evolution paths offering powerful flexibility at the cost of increased risk. 

WHAT I'M TESTING

• Is the core loop engaging? Does it make sense?
• Does the tutorial teach effectively? Is it too long? Too short?
• Do the vessels feel meaningfully different?
• Is card evolution discovery satisfying or frustrating?
• How does the destructor deck feel as an enemy?
• What's confusing, broken, or tedious?

Your feedback will determine if this becomes a full game

CURRENT STATE

This is a BETA focusing on core gameplay validation

What's Working:

• Guided tutorial
• 2 playable vessels + tutorial vessel
• Card evolution (optimize/corrupt paths) system with 3 unlockable cards
• Builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux

What's Still In Development:

• Art polish and animations
• Additional audio/SFX, music
• Additional vessels and cards 
• Meta-progression (planned: deck carries over across multiple vessels with escalating difficulty)

HOW TO GIVE FEEDBACK

• In-game reports (opt-in during profile creation or options menu)
• Email: admin@archlichmedia.com
• Comments below on this page

I read everything and respond to all feedback.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM:

• OS: Windows 10 / macOS 10.14 / Ubuntu 20.04
• Processor: Dual-core
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: Integrated graphics
• Storage: 100 MB

CONTROLS

• Mouse: Right click to discard/Left click to Play cards and End Turn.
• Keyboard: Various hotkeys in-game

GETTING STARTED

1. Download the version for your platform
2. Extract the ZIP (or mount .dmg on macOS, also see here: https://support.apple.com/en-za/guide/mac-help/mh40616/mac)
3. Run the executable
4. Create a profile
5. Don't skip the tutorial :)
6. After tutorial, try the other vessels and unlock all 3 cards!

PRIVACY & DATA COLLECTION

This game includes optional reporting. Opt-out is the default, you can opt-in during profile creation, in options menu, and on crashes (to send only that crash report).

What's collected (only if you opt-in):

• Crash reports with game state for debugging
• Basic session data (playtime, runs completed, evolution unlocks)

Data is used solely for development. No personally identifiable information is collected. You can toggle this in options at any time.

STREAMING & CONTENT CREATION

Feel free to stream, create videos, and share content. Monetization allowed.

Please link here instead of redistributing the game files themselves.

Thank you for playing Fatal Exception!

If you find the core concept engaging, please leave a comment or rating. Your feedback directly shapes whether this becomes a full game.

Contact: admin@archlichmedia.com