Black Beacon May Well Be The Next Big Name In The Gacha Space

Black Beacon has just landed on mobile devices, and we've had the privilege of diving into this Mythic Sci-Fi Action RPG ahead of most. Here's our take on this intriguing new title.

Shh! This Is A Library!

The game opens in the Library of Babel, a vast and enigmatic structure drawing inspiration from the biblical Tower of Babel and Jorge Luis Borges' short story, where the library houses every conceivable combination of letters, thus containing every book ever written. You awaken here with no memory of your arrival, alongside a colorful cast of characters who share your confusion. It seems you're destined for something great—but first, you must survive a giant spinning orb that threatens to annihilate everyone in twenty-four hours. Welcome to your first day as a Seer! Hope you like bookshelves.

Despite the ominous start, the setting and story have a delightfully chaotic charm. A library filled with nonsensical books, time travel, and numerous mythological references (we won't spoil too much, but keep an eye on that bird) immerse you in a bewildering narrative. The game's approach to storytelling works well, throwing you into the deep end. If you're confused, that's exactly the point.

Send Me In, Coach

Black Beacon's core gameplay is an engaging ARPG dungeon crawler, offering a customizable camera viewpoint—choose between top-down or a free camera setup. We preferred the latter, but it's really down to personal preference.

You navigate the Library's corridors, progressing through the story divided into short, episodic sections, each containing multiple maps. Accessing these sections requires energy, but the game is quite generous with its allocation, allowing ample playtime.

Your journey involves exploring areas, 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 satisfyingly button-mashy, yet challenging enough to keep you engaged. Timing is crucial; a perfect dodge grants invincibility frames, while a well-timed heavy attack can interrupt an enemy's move, sparing you the need to dodge.

The game introduces a unique character-swap mechanic, turning battles into tag team matches. You can switch characters mid-fight, benching tired fighters and bringing in fresh ones, even during an attack. Mastering this rhythm feels rewarding—until a mistimed dodge sends you flying down the hallway courtesy of a giant monster.

Characters And Weapon Rolls

As a gacha game, Black Beacon features character and weapon gacha systems, where weapons are tailored to specific characters. Both can be leveled up, and although the variety of resources needed is significant, much of the process can be automated for ease.

You might encounter characters through the gacha before meeting them in the story, adding an element of variety and intrigue. The flow of time in the game is intentionally convoluted, enhancing the overall experience.

Our overall impression? Black Beacon is a quirky gacha game with an ambition to tell a unique, esoteric story, supported by solid gameplay. We're eager to see how it evolves post-release.

Does this sound like your kind of adventure? Or perhaps a journey through the endless shelves of a giant library? Check out Black Beacon now on the official website, App Store, or Google Play.