Bearly Brave is out now on Steam

I’m not one for the whole Rogue-like deckbuilder games, but I won’t lie and say that Barbaric Games’ first release doesn’t slightly intrigue me. We’ll also ignore the fact that Steam wants to make a liar out of me by saying, “Similar to games you’ve played: Balatro.” Nonetheless, the “deceptively charming toy shop, where the cutest teddy bears come to life each night to fight in a no-holds-barred tournament that determines their placement on the shelves,” is surprisingly interesting. More importantly, Bearly Brave is out now on Steam.

“Barbaric Games is excited to announce that their debut title, Bearly Brave, is out now on Steam! Step through the doors of this deceptively charming toy shop, where the teddies on the shelves share a dark secret; they’ve been fighting for their lives each night,” notes the press release from the South American studio on the launch of the game yesterday.

It continues, “Now it’s your turn to help one of them escape; choose from a selection of 110 different weapon[s] and utility cards, then take on the bosses in the ultimate plushie arena. If you play your hand right, you’ll dish out devastating combos that crumble your foes and ensure you don’t wind up as spare fluff swept under the rug.

Welcome to Bearly Brave, a [R]ogue[-]like deckbuilder where the plushies are anything but cute and cuddly. Play as Toby, a timid bear with big dreams and even bigger fears, as he fights through a ruthless tournament in a toy store filled with twisted, unhinged competitors, all determined to take his spot on the shelves.

With hand-drawn 2D art at its core, and inspired by genre favorites like Balatro and Slay the Spire, Bearly Brave puts a fresh spin on deckbuilding with high-stakes one-turn combos, collectible patches, and tactical strategy. Begin with a starter deck of 10 cards and carefully create deadly combinations that’ll unlock powerful synergies and deal amplified damage. Featuring fast runs, permanent death, and different opponents each time you step into the ring, Bearly Brave offers high replayability for everyone.”

It continues with a number of features listed and explained throughout the press release, mostly repeating the points or noting things you’d expect from a Rogue-like deckbuilder. As always, what caught my eye was the art direction, blending the cute and charming with the dark and disturbing, such as Snugglecrow with a bear’s head on a three-tine pitchfork and pumpkin for a face. You know, family-friendly stuff.

Bearly Brave is out now on Steam, with a 10% discount until the 22nd of December. Normally, Bearly Brave is available on Steam for $14.99 (€14.99/£12.79), but it is currently on sale for $13.49 (€13.49/£11.51). I think Bearly Brave is going to sell well, particularly this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as the discount coincides with the upcoming Steam Winter Sale.