Black Beacon: The Rising Star in Gacha Gaming

Black Beacon has just landed on mobile devices, but it found us a little sooner than most! We’ve been fortunate enough to get hands-on with the Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG, and we’re eager to share our insights with you.

Black Beacon is an action RPG that emphasizes fast, smooth combat and integrates a unique character-swapping feature.

Shh! This Is A Library!

The game kicks off in the Library of Babel, a vast and mysterious structure inspired by the biblical Tower of Babel and the Jorge Luis Borges short story. This library supposedly contains every possible combination of letters, housing every book ever written within its shelves.

You awaken in this strange place with little recollection of how you arrived, joined by a colorful cast of characters who share your confusion. It seems a great destiny awaits you, but with a twist: everyone faces annihilation by a giant spinning orb within twenty-four hours. Welcome to your first day on the job, Seer! Hope you enjoy bookshelves.

Despite the humor, the setting and story have a wild charm. The library filled with nonsensical books, time travel, and numerous mythological references (we won't spoil the bird mystery!) immerse you in a deep narrative. The game's approach to storytelling is to throw you right into the thick of it. If you're feeling confused, that's intentional and part of the experience.

Send Me In, Coach

Black Beacon offers a moment-to-moment experience reminiscent of an ARPG dungeon crawler, with a customizable camera viewpoint. You can choose between a top-down perspective or a free camera setup, which you control with your other hand. We found the latter more enjoyable, though it's largely a matter of personal preference.

As you navigate the Library's passageways, you progress through the story, which is divided into short, episodic sections. Each section features multiple maps and requires some energy to access, though the game is generous with its energy mechanics, allowing ample playtime.

Your journey involves exploring the area, solving puzzles, hunting for hidden treasure chests, and battling enemies—distorted entities that are remnants of individuals the Library has not fully "digested." The combat is fast-paced and engaging, with a satisfying mix of button-mashing and strategic timing. Perfectly timed dodges grant iframes, while well-timed heavy attacks can interrupt enemy moves, adding depth to the action.

A standout feature is the character-swap mechanic, which allows you to switch characters mid-fight. This transforms battles into a tag-team match, enabling you to bench exhausted fighters and bring in fresh ones, even mid-attack. Mastering this rhythm enhances the gameplay, though mistimed dodges can send you flying down the hallway.

Characters And Weapon Rolls

As a gacha game, Black Beacon features a character and weapon gacha system, where weapons are tailored to specific characters. Both can be leveled up using various resources, and the game streamlines much of the management process.

You might encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the storyline, adding variety and enhancing the narrative flow. The game's approach to time and character progression is intriguing and adds to the overall experience.

In conclusion, Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game with an esoteric story and solid gameplay mechanics that support its narrative. We're excited to see how it evolves upon full release.

If this sounds like your kind of game, or if you're intrigued by the idea of living in a giant library, you can check out Black Beacon now on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.