Windblown, the early-access roguelike from Motion Twin (the minds behind Dead Cells), keeps the surprises coming. The studio’s latest beta, ‘From the Leapers,’ lands on PC via Steam with a slew of quality-of-life upgrades and some inventive twists that deepen the game’s replayable chaos-all while hinting at just how far this evolving adventure might go.
Motion Twin knows what makes a roguelike tick: unpredictability, skill mastery, and juicy rewards. With Windblown’s ‘From the Leapers’ beta, player agency and challenge are both turned up a notch, while technical polish keeps pace with the game’s growing ambitions.
First up: the Memory Deck. This simple but powerful system lets you decide what “memories”—Windblown’s version of loot and upgrades—can appear during your next run. It’s a small change with big consequences: you can now chase specific builds or experiment with oddball strategies, echoing deckbuilding elements found in genre favorites like Slay the Spire, but with Windblown’s frenetic action at the core.
Fans of Motion Twin’s earlier work will appreciate the new timed biome chests, a nod to Dead Cells’ famous challenge rooms. Each biome now dangles a reward at the finish line—but only for those who can blitz through quickly. These chests encourage high-skill, high-speed play, adding an extra layer of mastery for veterans while giving newcomers a reason to hone their runs.
The update doesn’t stop there. Incentivized biomes—areas that offer richer rewards if you choose them—inject a dose of on-the-fly strategy into every expedition. It’s a clever riff on player choice, asking: do you play it safe, or risk a tougher route for a potentially game-changing boost?
Cosmetic rewards also get some love. The new Bird, Rabbit, and Tiger skins aren’t just handed out; you’ll need to earn them by braving some of the game’s tougher challenges. For style hunters, it’s another reason to dive deep. On the technical side, AMD FSR 1.0 upscaling and improved mouse aiming bring smoother visuals and more precise controls—key for a game where every twitch can mean life or death.
Accessing the beta is straightforward for Steam users: right-click Windblown in your library, select Properties, then opt into the beta branch. Just remember to back up your save. These changes may not look seismic at first glance, but together, they make Windblown’s core loop tighter, more personal, and more rewarding with every run—a promising sign as the game moves through early access.
TL;DR: Windblown’s ‘From the Leapers’ beta update is live on Steam, introducing a memory deck for loot customization, timed biome chests, new animal skins, incentivized routes, and crucial technical improvements—collectively deepening both gameplay and replay value for roguelike fans.
Source: Motion Twin via GamesPress