Tombwater Devs Reveal Character Archetypes

While my relationship with Souls-likes is a little bit of a love/hate thing, Tombwater has had my attention since it was announced. Something about a Western-themed Souls-like with a bit of Lovecraftian/occult elements just hits the right notes for me. Now, the dev team has revealed the character class options ahead of the release later this year.

Seven character archetypes were revealed, detailing an array of playstyles and options for players to choose from. Here is what the press release had to say about Tombwater and its class options.

“Indie developer Moth Atlas and publisher Midwest Games have revealed a full slate of starting player archetypes for Tombwater, the upcoming 2D souls-like action RPG set in a cursed Wild West town. Each class offers distinct stats, equipment, and tactical advantages, shaping everything from combat damage to how players manage health, resources, and risk.

Set in the decaying frontier town of Tombwater, players face fast, punishing combat and a creeping madness as they search for a long-lost friend. These newly revealed archetypes are designed to support a wide range of approaches, encouraging experimentation and giving ample opportunity for multiple playthroughs.

Player Archetypes:

Soldier: Built for durability, the Soldier begins with the highest Strength and Life stats, alongside solid Gunslinging ability. Armed with the Dragoon Saber — a unique melee weapon — this class excels in close-quarters combat and rewards aggressive, front-line play.
Gunslinger: Designed for precision and firepower, this class starts with the highest Gunslinging stat and a high-damage revolver with the fastest fire rate available. The Gunslinger favors quick and efficient takedowns before the Eldritch horrors can close in.
Occultist: Masters of knowledge, Occultists begin with high Lucidity and Mind. They are resilient against madness while being able to use powerful spellcasting, and start with a Rune Knife that reduces inflicted madness when enemies are hit with it.
Tinkerer: Focused on preparation and adaptability, the Tinkerer boasts high Alchemy and begins with multiple consumables in tow. This class rewards players who thrive on crafting and clever use of resources in high-pressure encounters.

Spellblade: Blending steel and sorcery, the Spellblade starts with strong Strength, Lucidity, and Mind stats. This hybrid archetype delivers classic RPG action, balancing melee combat and utility spells for a flexible and dramatic play. Bonus: it starts with a move called “Grave Fingers.”
Drifter: A jack-of-all-trades class with balanced stats across the board. As the game unfolds, Drifter’s Saber will reward players for their adaptability to the character, including an elusive quickstep slash dash mechanic, which becomes lethal if used correctly.
Nameless: For the truly hardcore, the Nameless begin with weak equipment and minimal skill points, offering no safety net. Designed for souls-like veterans seeking a test of skill and perseverance… good luck with that Rusty Saber.”

Max Mraz, Lead Developer at Moth Atlas, commented on this reveal, stating: “We wanted each starting class to meaningfully change the way you fight through Tombwater. The classes offer the chance to mix things up on a replay, with various strengths and starting equipment making a big difference. I default to the Drifter because I love its weapon art, but also enjoy challenging myself to different builds and playthroughs. Except for the Nameless. That’s just asking for a tough run.”

I like the variety of options in this list of class options. Personally, I’ll likely lean toward the Occultist or Spellblade, just because I like a good bit of magic. However, I can see a lot of different options for different people. Hopefully, we’ll get a release date soon. Though you can play a demo of Tombwater now.