From Press Release:
3 APRIL 2026 – Lightbulb Crew is thrilled to announce that Ex Sanguis, their blood- and strategy-rich game, will release on Steam in Early Access on May 21st!
So what’s Ex Sanguis all about? You’re here to lead elite warriors, called Stillae, to save a dying world from the forces of stasis. And how do you do that? Through many blood-filled turn-based battles, of course!
While engaging in turn-based combat, you’ll be able to strategically trigger a chain of events across the battlefield to turn the tide. Use Timeline Effects that can hasten, delay, or swap time positions to impact the turn order in a way that favors you and disadvantages foes.
As with any XCOM-style game, you can also use your surroundings to your advantage: explode objects, ignite enemies, or block the enemies’ path. Use spatial effects like knock-backs, forced facings, flanking bonuses, and damage-over-time to gain the edge!
The 30-second trailer hits fast with gameplay snippets, ending on a release window, now set for May 21 2026.
Ex Sanguis adapts a pleasing roguelite loop into the turn-based combat. Defeat the challenging enemies to gain bonus ‘Corrupted Blood’ you can use to get access to epic bosses earlier, or to spend in the Map Events to gain upgrades for customising your deadly squad. The further away you venture toward the outer rim of the map, the harder the standard Missions become.
As you play, the cycle never repeats. With each return, each playthrough, you carve new strength from failure and victory alike, unlocking forgotten powers and braving ever darker depths, where your greatest enemies await.
Developer Lightbulb crew plans for a six-month stay in Early Access:
“We’ll take the time needed to deliver a polished and complete experience. As such, the timeline may adjust based on player feedback and development progress. We plan to expand the game with additional content, improved balance, new features, and overall polish. We’re also exploring the possibility of new game modes. Our aim is to build on the core mechanics and continue refining the game’s performance and quality.”
About The Game
From the creators of Othercide, Ex Sanguis delivers what the studio is known for: dynamic & epic turn-based combat in a visually striking world. Bleed the world to life; fight the agents of perfection and stillness through strategic blood baths in this evolved roguelite tactical RPG game!
Command the Stillae, elite warriors born from the Sanguis of the Mater, and lead them in a battle to save a dying world. Fight in tactical combat against the forces of Stasis and restore the flow of life.
In a world drained by the Purge, blood is defiance. Each drop of it paints the world in reds and blacks, as a reminder that life fights back. This is not just violence, it’s a vivid rebellion in a pale, colorless world.
Key Features
- Unique Visuals – Contrasting black & white surroundings are your tapestry as you use your blood-infused powers and slash open your enemies.
- Use timeline effects – Speed up, delay or swap time position to impact turn order and outsmart your enemies.
- Play with your surroundings – Use objects around you, explode them, ignite enemies, or block their line of sight. Making clever choices dramatically changes the outcome of each battle.
- Leverage spatial effects – Use knock-backs, forced facings, flanking bonuses, and damage-over-time to dominate every encounter.
- Choose your own path – Pick your own difficulty through the map. Take on high-risk, high-reward missions, head straight for boss encounters, or slow down to gather resources to increase your chance of success.
- A Roguelite loop adapted to turn-based combat – Breeze through the procedural levels to beat unique bosses and understand the world in Stasia. Even if you fail a mission, some progress is retained, opening new opportunities in subsequent runs.
For more updates on Ex Sanguis, follow Lightbulb Crew on Twitter/X or BlueSky or join their Discord
About the Studio
Created in 2013, Lightbulb Crew is a Franco-Swedish studio, with most of the team based in Paris. They are an indiegame studio with distinctive design and strong art direction. They make games that tell a story, while the mechanics stay front and center. Their previous work includes Othercide and Nova Hearts.
