- The second title from Norwegian indie studio Filiokus, combat that combines deck-building with arithmetic operations
- Highly praised by major international media: “Looks like an educational game, but is actually a tense strategy game”
Norwegian indie game studio Filiokus released a free demo of the math-based roguelike deckbuilder ‘Talystro’ on Steam on April 29.
Inspired by Slay the Spire and Ballaro, this title features a unique gameplay style that combines the familiar deck-building genre with a completely new combat system based on arithmetic operations. The game is currently under development with a target release date of 2026.
No HP depletion, a combat system that targets ‘numbers’
The combat in Talistro boldly overturns the formulas of the existing genre. It is not a method of stacking damage with cards to reduce health to zero, like in Slay the Spire or Balaro.
In Talistro, enemies are numbers themselves, not health points. To defeat an enemy, you must generate an attack value that exactly matches that number. Only 11 can beat 11, and only 23 can beat 23. In other words, victory or defeat is determined not by simple attack power, but by the accuracy of the calculation.
Each card contains an incomplete formula, variable, or formula correction effect, and the choices available each turn change depending on the dice result. Players must consider the order of operations and respond to probabilities to create the optimal value. For example, if the enemy’s number is 21, the player must combine the dice result and card effects to produce exactly 21.
Hand-drawn animation inspired by 1920s illustrations
Talistrow boasts a visually distinct personality by applying hand-drawn frame animation inspired by 1920s illustrations and animations. A playtest reviewer from LadiesGamers described it as “a high-quality hand-drawn style reminiscent of Cuphead.”
In this demo version, new animations have been added throughout the gameplay flow, and music and full sound design have been introduced for the first time, bringing the world of Talistro to life. Accessibility is also a strong point. With no time limit inputs and a fixed camera, players can calmly strategize without rushing. It is characterized by being designed to be enjoyable without pressure, despite being a calculation-based game.
The demo version allows you to play the world’s first zone, ‘Wildlands,’ as Talist. It offers a complete chapter consisting of a total of 7 levels and a boss battle, with a playtime of approximately 45 minutes. You can enjoy the game on two difficulty levels: Normal and Expert.
Foreign Media Praises “Educational Game? Actually a Very Strategic Game”
Overseas media outlets are highly praising the originality of Talistro. While some may view it as educational content, they noted that it actually stands out for its tense and strategic combat. It is also receiving positive feedback for utilizing mathematical elements without sacrificing the inherent fun of the game.
Developer Martin Lothe Sæterdal said, “The most impressive user feedback was that it was the first time they had ever found math this fun.”
The second challenge of Filiokus, a Norwegian studio that views mathematics as art
Filiokus is a Norwegian game studio with the goal of redefining the possibilities of educational games. It focuses on highlighting the creative, strategic, and expressive aspects of mathematics through the interactive elements of games.
Founders Martin Lothe Sæterdal and Gjermund Mørkved Bohne developed Talistro based on the belief that the combination of probability-based systems and strategic computation could create a new gameplay experience. Talistro is their second title following their first title, the explosion puzzle game Cal & Bomba, and is aiming for a full release in 2026.
Information regarding ‘Talystro’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / Publisher | Filiokus |
| Genre | Roguelike Deckbuilder / Math-based Strategy / Turn-based |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Demo release date | April 29, 2026 |
| Official release target | By 2026 |
| Demo configuration | Wildlands Chapter 1, Level 7 + Boss Battle, approx. 45 minutes (2 difficulties: Normal and Expert) |
| Overall game structure | 3 Chapters, 5 Bosses, Over 80 Cards, 30 Artifacts (Planned) |
| Main Keywords | Deckbuilding, Dice, Mathematics, Hand-drawn, 1920s Animation, Educational, Accessibility |
| Similar works | Slay the Spire, Balatro |
| Steam Page | Shortcut (Demo Play and Wishlist) |
