What if, instead of controlling a hero in an RPG, you crafted their every flaw, memory, and motivation—then sat back and watched them try to survive a brutal fantasy world without you? That’s the bold pitch behind The Guiding Spirit, a newly announced indie game from solo Hungarian developer Mate Lukacs under the studio name Dice Impact. Slated for release on Windows PC via Steam in 2026, with a free demo dropping later this year, The Guiding Spirit is a rich interpersonality simulator that blends narrative-heavy RPG elements with the unpredictability of tabletop storytelling and player-driven chaos.
A Fantasy RPG Where Your Choices Shape—But Don’t Control—The Story
At its core, The Guiding Spirit is unlike any other party-based RPG you’ve played. Instead of directly controlling your heroes, you serve as their Guiding Spirit, an unseen force shaping their personalities, quirks, relationships, and motivations. But once they’re created, it’s up to them to navigate the monstrous dungeons, shifting biomes, and moral grey areas of the mysterious world of Anderelm.
Each decision you make during character creation—whether you craft a party of noble warriors or flawed misfits—echoes throughout the game. Heroes will fall in love, form rivalries, betray one another, or even refuse your guidance entirely if their defined traits lead them elsewhere. Every new game promises unique dialogue, branching paths, and over 1,000 handcrafted story scenes where every detail matters.
Create Deep, Flawed, Memorable Characters
What sets The Guiding Spirit apart is the staggering depth of its character generation. Whether you handcraft every aspect or let the dice decide, you’ll shape everything from ancestry and career to childhood trauma and quirky flaws. Here’s a glimpse of what’s possible:
- 14 ancestries (including fire-juggling nixes and stone-skinned ofeys)
- 30+ professions, from wizards and warriors to shopkeepers and gravediggers
- 160+ personality traits like snarky, jealous, impatient, or fearless
- 70+ survival traits, including sleepwalking or having a missing eye
- 65+ background events, from forgotten memories to lifelong rivalries
- 170+ skills and specializations
- 100+ unique spells and abilities
- Followers, constellations, factions, domains, and more
These traits don’t just define your characters’ stats—they influence how they talk, think, fight, and even how they interact with other party members. Your paladin might be brave but loud. Your rogue may be clever but deeply paranoid. And yes, they will argue, break down, or leave the group if the tension gets too high.
Dynamic, Ever-Changing World of Anderelm
From haunted ruins to scorching deserts, The Guiding Spirit features procedurally reactive environments and shifting weather systems that challenge your party in unique ways. Depending on your party’s makeup, even how NPCs treat you will vary. Some may ally with your magic-wielders, while others may fear them outright.
A key in-world mechanic is the use of Arcane Intellect, or “AI”—a rare magical force viewed with suspicion by some cultures and reverence by others. It’s a subtle nod to today’s AI discourse, cleverly integrated into the game’s lore.
Narrative Chaos Meets Dice-Driven Tactics
As any good tabletop RPG fan knows, sometimes everything hinges on a single dice roll. The Guiding Spirit embraces this, integrating dice-based checks for stealth, persuasion, survival, and more. Picture this: your party sneaks past a sleeping monster—until your clunky paladin rolls a critical fail, armor clanking loudly. Chaos ensues.
Combat and events evolve dynamically based on your heroes’ personalities, party cohesion, and a bit of luck. And when things fall apart—as they often will—you’ll be eager to start fresh, because…
No Two Playthroughs Are the Same
Replayability is at the heart of The Guiding Spirit. Every time you create a new party or alter just one decision, new plot threads, characters, betrayals, and world events emerge. Die? Start over. Make peace instead of war? See what changes. Grow your followers, uncover ancient magic, or try a party made entirely of drunk bards. The game actively encourages experimentation.
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, unique gameplay modifiers and creative challenges unlock to reshape how the story unfolds.
An Ambitious Solo Project with Community Roots
The Guiding Spirit is the brainchild of Mate Lukacs, a passionate solo developer from Hungary who’s pouring his love for TTRPGs, fantasy lore, and narrative complexity into this debut title. Built entirely in Unity, with music by Kristóf Réty and contributions from fantasy illustrator Krisztina Boros, this game is already drawing buzz for its bold design and rich storytelling.
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Coming 2026 — Demo Available Later This Year
The Guiding Spirit will launch on Steam in 2026, with a free demo expected later in 2025. Whether you’re a hardcore CRPG veteran, a narrative adventure fan, or just someone who loves watching deeply flawed heroes try to survive your bad decisions, this is one to watch.
Gather your party, shape their fates, and let the dice decide—are you ready to become The Guiding Spirit?
