- A new occult title created by a husband-and-wife development team… A reverse-concept deck-building game where you burn cards to summon demons
- A Game Jam Top 1% sensation noticed even by the creator of Inscription, its unique Deck Burner system catches the eye.
Nozomu Games, an indie game developer based in Munich, Germany, announced that it will officially release the narrative-driven deck-building game ‘Burn With Me’ on PC Steam on October 12.
This game breaks the mold of traditional deck-building where you collect and preserve ‘Burn With Me’ cards, and features a unique ‘card burning’ system as its core, where you become stronger by burning your own deck.
The game is characterized by a combination of strategic deck-building and a supernatural narrative dealing with obsession, forbidden rituals, and the price summoned by demons. The developers themselves coined the term “deck-burner” for this genre.
A free demo is currently available, allowing you to experience the game firsthand and add it to your Steam wishlist before the official release.
Burning cards instead of protecting them… The fun of unconventional deck building
The core of ‘Burn With Me’ is a unique ‘card burning’ mechanic where you burn cards boldly instead of saving them to gain powerful effects.
Players place up to five creature cards on a pentagonal pentagram-shaped board and must strategize by considering the synergy that occurs when cards are placed in adjacent or facing positions.
To summon more powerful creatures, you must permanently burn cards in your hand. Unlike the ‘Exhaust’ mechanic in typical deck-building games, a card that has been burned cannot be used again during that play, which is another notable feature.
As the game progresses, the deck you started with gradually shrinks, and deciding when and which cards to burn becomes the core strategy of the gameplay. Sacrificing cards at the right moment allows you to overwhelm the battle with powerful combinations, but conversely, burning too many cards carries the risk of running out of cards to use when needed.
The fact that one must constantly choose between the power gained by burning cards and the resulting loss aligns with the themes of obsession, desire, and cost that ‘Burn With Me’ addresses.
Six chapters set in an occult college, a story of obsession and desire
The game is set at a university dedicated to the study of the occult. Following the guidance of a mysterious professor, the player encounters the brutal story of students caught up in ancient rituals.
The students confront their own deep desires, fears, and ambitions. The player must choose whether to help them control their obsessions or allow them to eventually be completely consumed by them.
The entire story consists of six chapters. Each chapter features unique characters, mechanics, cards, bosses, and emotional themes, offering a new gameplay experience.
The visuals are also unique. Narrative designer and artist Eva Manuilovich was in charge of the hand-drawn artwork, and combined with the mysterious entity ‘Hand’ appearing in live-action footage, it creates a surreal and alien atmosphere.
The official release version is scheduled to include full English voice dubbing and support for 8 languages, and will also provide content to collect ‘Mega Collaboration’ illustrations featuring over 30 artists in the in-game encyclopedia, Bestiary.
From the top 1% of game jams to acclaim from the creator of Inscription
‘Burn With Me’ was developed based on a prototype first created at the Ludum Dare 55 Game Jam. It garnered attention by ranking in the top 1% of the competition at the time, and since then, over 20,000 users have played the prototype.
In particular, receiving personal praise from Daniel Mullins, the developer of ‘Inscryption’, served as the catalyst for the team to develop the prototype into an official commercial game.
Founded in 2023, Nozomu Games is an indie studio based in Munich. Led by husband-and-wife development team Ivan Bushmin and Eva Manuilovich, the team includes composer Nikita Melnikov, sound designers, artists, and marketing personnel.
The studio’s first commercial work was ‘Robot Detour,’ a puzzle game utilizing unique cable mechanics, and ‘Burn With Me’ is the second title that demonstrates the team’s direction of more closely integrating gameplay and storytelling.
It was recently reported that they are preparing for an official launch in collaboration with Inner Pocket, a publisher co-founded by veterans from Critical Reflex and Gaijin Entertainment.
97% Positive Demo Reviews… “So Much Thought Behind a Small Package”
The free demo released through the Thinky Direct showcase on May 28 included the entire first chapter of the game, and additional content was provided to preview the story that follows.
The demo reviews registered on Steam have recorded a 97% positive rating based on 108 reviews.
Among itch.io users who previously played the Game Jam version, there was a positive response that the game effectively implemented a concise concept and packed significant gameplay and strategic depth into a short length. It was also described as a deck-building game that is fast-paced yet offers deep strategic depth.
Overseas media also cite the system designed to make players actively sacrifice cards, unlike existing deck-building games in the style of ‘Slay the Spire’, as the most unique element of ‘Burn With Me’.
However, considering that the current positive reviews are concentrated on the demo and early versions, the key to long-term success is expected to be how the volume and system completeness of all six chapters are maintained after the official release.
‘Burn With Me’ is a notable new title that started as a game jam prototype developed in just three days, and grew into a full-fledged commercial game after being recognized for its originality.
It is expected to offer a unique atmosphere blending occult, jazz, and psychological horror, combined with a reverse-thinking system where you overcome a crisis by burning your own deck, providing a fun experience distinct from existing deck-building genres.
“Burn With Me,” developed by Nozomu Games, will be officially released on PC Steam on October 12. Attention is focused on what kind of strategic depth and tension the unconventional choice of taking risks to burn your deck will create in actual gameplay.
Burn with me ( Information related to ‘ Burn With Me ‘
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nozomu Games (Munich, Germany) |
| Publisher | Inner Pocket |
| Genre | Deckbuilding, Cards, Epic Adventure (Deckburner) |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | October 12, 2026 (Free demo currently available) |
| language | Supports 8 languages, including English (fully voice-dubbed). |
| Reactions/Evaluations | 97% positive Steam reviews (108) based on the demo, praised by Inscription creator Daniel Mullins |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
