Match-3 might not be the first genre you’d expect to get a roguelite makeover, but Rubarb, a Norwegian indie studio, is ready to prove otherwise. Announced during The MIX Fall Showcase 2025, Basalt: The Cursed Vein takes the familiar gem-matching formula and buries it deep underground in a cursed mining town where every move takes you closer to fortune—or something much worse.
The reveal trailer sets the tone with grimy pixel art, a ruined settlement to restore, and eerie creatures lurking in the shafts. The game’s Steam page is now live, so you can add it to your wishlist before someone else mines your vein.
Digging Deeper into the Roguelite Match-3
At its core, Basalt is all about risk and reward. Each run challenges you to mine ores and rare resources by matching tiles. The loot you haul up fuels the rebuilding of a ruined mining town, unlocking new bombs, tools, and upgrades to push you further underground. But every move counts—run out, and the mine takes you.
Unlike traditional match-3 grinds, Basalt leans on roguelite progression. Runs are randomized with shifting enemy types, bomb effects, and upgrade pools, forcing you to rethink your approach. Strategic synergies are the key: stringing together bombs, perks, and tools can create devastating combos that reshape the board and your chances of survival.
Designer Jack Kristoffersen explains:
“I’ve always loved match-3, but not the free-to-play grind. Basalt turns it into a strategic roguelite loop where every dig feels rewarding.”
And it’s not just about the gameplay—artist Simon Nyhus wanted the pixel art to reflect the grit of a mining town on the brink:
“It’s dark and gritty, the kind of place where every shadow hides something, and every character knows more than they’re telling you.”
Key Features
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Roguelite Match-3 Loop – Gather ores and relics to rebuild your town and unlock new upgrades.
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Synergy-Driven Progression – Create wild upgrade and bomb combos that change every run.
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Randomized Depths – Enemy types, recipes, and powers vary every descent.
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Gritty Pixel Art Vibes – A dark, atmospheric mining town filled with eccentric characters.
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Monsters in the Deep – Face horrors like shape-shifting spiders and mineral-hungry tentacles.
Basalt: The Cursed Vein is shaping up to be a roguelite obsession for both puzzle junkies and dungeon delvers. Just remember the warning whispered in the mines: Don’t dig too deep.
Wishlist Basalt: The Cursed Vein now on Steam.
