Boss rush games aren’t usually my cup of tea. While I like the idea of round-based fights against powerful bosses, I prefer the hero’s journey and eventually power up to the point that beating said boss becomes an afterthought. But something is compelling about Rubinite’s fluid combat that has somehow made me want to play it. If what I saw in the demo was anything like what the full game is going to be, I’m sure it’s going to be a good game.
Rubinite is a boss rush action game set in the dark fantasy world of what was once the Scarlet Kingdom. Players take control of Ruby, a princess who embarks on a journey of revenge after her entire family was slaughtered by an evil entity. Her wish is to reclaim her kingdom and defeat the evil that infests the land. To achieve this, she must master both the blade and “Focus”. Focus is a mechanic that allows the player to pinpoint enemy weaknesses and opens them up to devastating thrust attacks.
The demo covers the first encounters of the game and features fights between the bosses, The Beast and The Guardian Faye. It is in this demo where you will learn what it means to steady your focus and strike while the iron is hot. Outside of battle, we share a brief moment of reprieve with our companions, Roy and Wichiwi.
Rubinite utilizes a “Focus” meter that allows Ruby to pinpoint the location of enemy weaknesses and to deliver critical attacks once enough charge has been built. But therein lies the rub: Ruby has to stand still and concentrate on the enemy while under pressure. If she is hit by any attack, she loses her charge, and you’ll have to repeat the process again. At 3 charges, she can unleash a heavy-hitting thrust attack that deals a good amount of damage.
Ruby cannot hope to sustain much damage, so evading attacks is highly recommended. If Ruby dodges at the very last second while she focuses, she will instantly gain one full charge. Players can choose to go for all three charges or go for the safer, less risky route. It doesn’t matter “how” Ruby takes down bosses; all that matters is the successful kill in the end.
When outside of battle, Ruby retreats to her castle hideaway with her companions. Roy is the one who saved her from death and is currently teaching her how to fight and guiding her on her quest. Wichiwi does everything else in the base: he handles R&D, converts your spoils of combat into Talismans and perk slots. The only thing he doesn’t do is the cooking; that appears to be Roy’s domain.
There are a couple of things I really like about Rubinite after playing the demo. I like that the combat is buttery smooth and there is tech that allows us to grow stronger despite dying multiple times. Those are the two things that stood out the most throughout my playthrough.
Combat in this game is so fluid. There is little resistance every time Ruby attacks, dodges, and does a thrust attack. The deadly dance she displays during these fights has been some of the most intense and satisfying things I’ve done in a 2D arena fighter. It goes without saying that I was instantly hooked the moment I first fought The Beast. However, death is still a common sight in this game, and somehow, I don’t feel the slightest bit of frustration whenever I was a hair away from taking down my prey.
In case you didn’t catch it, if you reduce the enemy’s health to around half health, that will result in a bunch of Blood Dust going straight to your pockets. I cannot immediately recall a game that rewards you for progressing and allows you to retain your resources after losing the fight. If you find yourself losing one too many times, you can always retreat to the hidden castle and spend your Blood Dust on Wichiwi’s wares to unlock more Talismans and perks. Doing this should increase your chances of defeating your enemy while allowing you to further shape your preferred playstyle.
Though I should mention that you cannot unlock new skills currently. The option is greyed out in the demo. A shame, really. I would have liked to see what kind of playstyles are open to us.
I have a feeling that the game will have a runtime of 8-10 hours with the base. Your mileage may vary, and you can certainly take on the Challenge Mode Fights for a chance to make it big on the game’s online leaderboard. Regardless of how you want to extend your time in the Scarlet Kingdom, I do hope that the game will not overstay its welcome.
The game will also not be impossibly difficult, by my estimate. I know that I will die a whole lot of times, but it’s in the knowing and discovering that really excites me, and if that comes with repeat runs, then so be it. The only sense of frustration I see is when players don’t get to achieve their own personal goals during fights. I’d imagine someone getting frustrated that their “No Focus” run is getting ruined. That’s practically a given with these sorts of games. In any case, regardless of the game’s actual length on release, I will be enjoying every second I spend in it for as long as I can.
Aside from the intense combat, the game’s 16-bit pixel art is praiseworthy. We haven’t seen much of the kingdom beyond the forest and bridge gate, and already the environments look amazing. Surprisingly, the background music was calmer than I expected. I suppose it’s all in the interest of making us focus more. I do not know. On a side note, The Guardian Faye’s BGM had no business being this good. I didn’t fully appreciate it until I rewatched my footage of the fight. Performance-wise, I’d say Rubinite ran without so much of a hitch. I hope that continues to be the case when the game releases.
I am very much looking forward to the release of Rubinite. With everything I’ve seen in this 30-minute demo, I can say with confidence that the game will be well received by players who are into this genre of game. I can think of a few more things that would sour the experience, but I’d rather go through the whole base game first before passing judgment.
Rubinite is set to release on July 22, 2026, exclusively on PC (via Steam).
