Time loops are rough to make work in video games; Curse of Resthaven embraces it anyway. Here, time loop here does not feel like a chore and instead have been integrated well into the roguelite aspect of the game. Developed by Hilltop Studios, the Toronto team behind Lil’ Guardsman, Curse of Resthaven will release on 29th October, 2026. It is a narrative-driven roguelite that features interrogation, trading, deckbuilding, and roguelite progression. It portrays the gothic mystery genre extremely well. All the aspects of the game work surprisingly well together. The game is a small, hand-drawn wonder made by a tiny team. Yet it’s one of the most engaging narrative adventures of the year.
A Governor, a Missing Niece and Six Days
You play as Ambrose, the newly assigned governor of Resthaven. It’s a remote island colony on the edge of the Aurelian Empire. Your job is to revive a struggling town while your real goal is to find your missing niece Amelia. You must shuffle between running the town and keeping the trades running. You must also look for clues to investigate the disappearance of your niece. However, it quickly becomes evident that Resthaven is plagued by an Eldritch-like horror.
The island is trapped in a six-day cycle. When the sixth day arrives, the colony is destroyed. Ambrose wakes up on the day of his arrival. Everyone else forgets what happened. Ambrose does not. This loop drives the entire roguelite progression and narrative of Curse of Resthaven. There are multiple characters, each with their own stories to tell. Furthermore, you are provided with a set amount of hours each day, and you must decide how to best utilize them. You can either spend those hours interrogating, trading, or going on expeditions.
Knowledge Is the Real Currency
As you progress through Curse of Resthaven and interact with characters, you unlock topics. Topics can then be used to interrogate others. These topics do not wipe as you start the loop again. Ambrose gets stronger in the game by gathering knowledge and retaining it. It is a nice twist in making the roguelite genre narrative-driven. A character who refuses to talk on Day 1 may open up once you understand what drives them. A problem that looked impossible in one loop may become simple once you know it’s coming. It also allows players to explore dialogue options without worrying about making mistakes. You can use that knowledge in the next run.
The daily loop of Curse of Resthaven is simple, yet it does not feel repetitive. You wake up and walk through town. You interrogate townsfolk about their problems, their suspicions, and their secrets. Different topics unlock clues, resources, and new quests. You also have to handle the economy of the town by collecting resources and trading them with international ships. There is a fun little mini-gameforo the trading aspect. Each foreign state has its personal preference, as well as a daily modifier, that you can use to earn the maximum profit. The coins you earn are then used to upgrade buildings, hire help, and go on expeditions.
Expeditions are probably the most important aspect of the game. They allow you to wander outside of the town onto the island. It is a card-based story system, where you are required to build a deck according to what the expedition demands. The different aspects of the game tie well into each other. You gather clues through investigation, you gather resources, and you go out on expeditions to unravel secrets. Keeping track of important events and deadlines also adds another layer to the gameplay loop.
Beautiful and Unsettling
The art of Curse of Resthaven is a highlight. Everything is hand-drawn in a graphic-novel style. The 2D world feels cinematic. The camera moves, shifts perspective, and uses layered backgrounds and parallax to frame each scene. Color has been used smartly as well. The town appears in full color. Expeditions switch to black and white. That shift marks the moment reality starts to break down. The sound direction of the game is excellent as well. The music builds dread without overwhelming the scene. Voice acting is a major strength.
Curse of Resthaven also promotes multiple playthroughs thanks to how it is structured. There are three endings to the game, with the final ending being unlocked after all three. The game, however, prevents being repetitive thanks to its NG mechanic. It allows players to go through the playthrough without feeling tedious. It is a thoughtful mechanic and shows the depth and care that was added to the replayability factor of the game
Final Verdict
Curse of Resthaven is a rare treat. It takes a pile of ideas that shouldn’t fit together and makes them work like a charm. The interrogation, trading, and card-based expeditions flow into one another. The time loop turns knowledge into progress. The three-timeline structure gives the story depth and replay value. A few early loops can feel similar, and the full story demands a real commitment. But those are small complaints. This is a gripping, beautiful, and atmospheric mystery that deserves a wide audience. If you love narrative games with a dash of horror, step into Resthaven. Just don’t forget to take notes.
