Spire of Ash

Spire of Ash

Released Mar 2026

Spire of Ash is a dark-fantasy run-based dungeon crawler with deep itemization, tactical combat, and escalating key-driven challenges. Build your team, refine your strategy, and push deeper into deadly endgame runs.

54% positive · 123 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Evaluation

Spire of Ash launched on March 12, 2026 as a free-to-play dark-fantasy dungeon crawler. In the roughly two-and-a-half weeks following launch, solo developer Aaron Lilla shipped an extraordinary volume of updates: three major content patches (v1.1.0 marketplace launch on March 22, v1.1.3 cloud saves and leaderboards on March 25, and v1.1.4 SSF mode and soundtrack on March 26), a sweeping hero rework on March 23, and numerous feature and bug-fix patches on top of that. The most significant developer communication came on March 28, 2026, when Aaron posted a detailed statement explaining that the game has hit the technical ceiling of its JavaScript architecture. He confirmed he is actively rebuilding the entire 3D portion of the game in the Godot engine — working on it every single day — and promised all existing customers will receive the rebuilt version as a free update at no extra charge. That Godot rebuild commitment is the clearest signal of the game's current status. It is a substantial, ongoing development undertaking explicitly described by the developer as his primary focus. All news posts available are from the March 2026 launch window; there are no updates between March 29, 2026 and today (October 1, 2026). This six-month silence is notable, but it is consistent with what the developer described: a deep engine rewrite is the kind of work that produces long quiet periods before a major release. The developer gave no indication of wrapping up, and explicitly warned that the rebuild "will take some time." The only DLC on the store is the "Full Game Unlock" premium access tier, which released March 17, 2026 — there are no announced-but-unreleased DLC packs.
Evidence
Developer Aaron Lilla announced he is actively rebuilding the entire 3D portion of the game in Godot, describing it as his primary focus and promising existing customers will receive the rebuilt version as a free update.
news post · Mar 28, 2026 source development ongoing
high
Major update v1.1.4 shipped Solo Self-Found mode, a new 7-track soundtrack, and an Aether Deck overhaul — one of three major content patches shipped in the week of March 22–26.
news post · Mar 26, 2026 source content shipped
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Aaron Lilla
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer

About this game

Spire of Ash

A dark-fantasy auto-battler dungeon crawler where strategy is everything. Build your team, forge your gear, and push deeper into an ever-scaling spire — where every decision compounds and every run tells a different story.

Inspired by the depth of Path of Exile's crafting, the tactical positioning of TFT-style hex combat, and the endless scaling of Mythic+ dungeons.


Assemble Your Heroes

Choose from 36 unique heroes spanning Defensive, Offensive, and Support roles. Each hero brings a distinct identity to the battlefield — tanks that anchor the front line, assassins that exploit positioning, healers that keep your squad alive through impossible odds.

Build a 5-man team from your unlocked roster. Composition matters: the right synergies turn a good team into an unstoppable one.

144 Skills. Infinite Builds.

Every hero wields a deep toolkit of skills, ultimates, stances, and party buffs. With 144 unique skills across the roster, no two teams play the same way.

Watch your squad execute in real-time hex-based combat — positioning, timing, and ability interactions all matter.

Gear Up

Equip your heroes with powerful gear enhanced by 42 distinct affixes, each scaling across 8 tiers of power. Chase the perfect rolls. Stack the right stats. Turn a solid hero into a force of nature.

Six elemental influences shape your gear's identity — build around fire, ice, lightning, shadow, holy, or poison to amplify your strategy.

Deep Crafting

A crafting system built for theorycrafters. With 290 crafting currencies, you have granular control over every piece of equipment. Reforge, augment, and fine-tune your gear to exact specifications.

This isn't random-and-pray crafting — it's a system that rewards knowledge and planning.

Aether Cards

Collect and build decks from 988 Aether cards across 3 types and 4 rarities. Cards provide powerful passive bonuses and build-defining effects that reshape how your team fights.

Rip open booster packs to expand your collection. Chase rare cards that unlock entirely new strategies.

Dungeon Runs

The core of Spire of Ash. Push through procedurally challenging dungeon floors, fighting enemy packs and collecting loot along the way. Every run scales with infinite key levels — the deeper you go, the harder it gets, and the better the rewards.

Dynamic affixes modify each run, forcing you to adapt your strategy on the fly.

Loot That Matters

Every enemy pack is a chance at meaningful drops. Gear, crafting materials, Aether cards, and currencies flow through a loot system designed to keep every run rewarding — whether you're on key level 1 or key level 100.

Four Game Modes

- Dungeon Clear — Push through floors of enemies and bosses. The classic dungeon crawl, endlessly scaling.

- Boss Rush — Skip the trash. Face a gauntlet of bosses back-to-back. Pure mechanical challenge.

- Survival — How long can your team endure? Waves of enemies with no end in sight.

- Gauntlet — A curated challenge run with preset conditions. Prove your mastery.

Each mode supports both Softcore and Hardcore variants. Hardcore means one life — no second chances.

Challenges & Objectives

Unlock rewards through a progression system of challenges that push you to explore every corner of the game. Master each hero, conquer specific modes, and hit milestones that test your depth of play.

Global Leaderboards

Compete against players worldwide with per-mode global leaderboards. See how your deepest clears, fastest boss rushes, and longest survival runs stack up.

Every mode. Every key level. Ranked.

Key Features

- 36 heroes across Defensive, Offensive, and Support roles

- 144 unique skills — ultimates, stances, buffs, and more

- 988 Aether cards with booster pack collection system

- 290 crafting currencies and 242 affixes across 8 tiers

- 4 game modes with Softcore and Hardcore variants

- Infinite key scaling with dynamic run affixes

- Global leaderboards for every mode

- Real-time hex-based auto-battler combat

- Deep team composition and build crafting

Last evaluated Oct 1, 2026
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