Explore Kristala's Haunting Lore in First Developer Diary
Sink your claws into the curse-ridden land of Ailur from the Astral Clocktower Team
[Red Bank, New Jersey - August 14, 2025] — Astral Clocktower Studios, the women-led studio behind the upcoming cat souls-like Kristala, just released their first developer diary! This debut entry dives into the rich lore of Kristala, exploring the deep-rooted conflicts between Anagatvia and Kotakaya, the origins of the Sacred Kristals, and more.
In the World and Lore Developer Diary, learn more about how the Mad King's war shaped modern day Ailur and continues to disrupt throughout the land. Get an inside look into several aspects of Kristala, such as the environments that define Ailur, feline character customization options, and challenges the developers have faced while creating a unique soulslike.
Key Features:
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Challenging & Fast-paced Soulslike Combat - Master a precise and punishing combat system inspired by Sekiro and Dark Souls, with light/heavy attacks, perfect parries, well-timed dodges, and brutal aerial attacks and finishers.
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Agile Protagonists & Catlike Abilities - Play as a feline warrior from one of six clans, each master of a distinct magic specialty and lore-rich culture. These catlike characters allow for interesting traversal and stealth mechanics, which players can enhance further via the Feline Skill tree.
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Purr-sonalize your Cat - Personalize your feline warrior by choosing fur color, fur length, your clan, and your starting class. All of these choices will factor into building your unique playstyle. The paw-sibilities are endless!
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Comprehensive Magic System - Each clan specializes in an ancient/elemental magic, sourced by the Sacred Six Kristals. Unlock and level powerful spells and spell perks for each clan on a comprehensive, branching magic tree to customize your playstyle.
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Atmospheric, Story-Driven Worldbuilding - Immerse yourself in the mystical realm of Ailur, where ancient prophecies, cursed creatures, and lost civilizations weave a dark and emotional narrative.
Ready to claw into the haunting world of Kristala? Wishlist the game and play the free demo now on Epic Games Store and Steam, or dive deeper with the Early Access version — available for purchase today. To stay up-to-date on everything Kristala, join their Discord and subscribe to their official subreddit. Follow them on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky, X, Facebook, and Twitch.
About Astral Clocktower Studios
Astral Clocktower Studios is a US-based women-led indie game development studio dedicated to crafting immersive, story-driven fantasy games that speak to players on a deeply personal level. The studio's debut title, Kristala, blends dark fantasy themes with fast-paced combat and fluid parkour. Set in a rich, lore-filled world, Kristala's feline characters and unique mechanics offer a fresh take on the soulslike genre. Kristala is currently in Early Access on Steam, with release plans for PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch following a full PC release later this year. For more information, visit https://www.astralclocktowerstudios.com/.
