New Steam Game Is Like Hades Meets Final Fantasy Tactics

Astral Throne 2: Age of the Phoenix is a new Steam roguelite strategy RPG that marries run-based meta progression with both grid- and turn-based battles. Its premise and execution naturally invite comparisons to a blend of Hades and Final Fantasy Tactics.
Developed by Ontario, Canada-based Zero Sun Games, Age of the Phoenix is a sequel to a game that's currently less than a year old—Astral Throne, originally released via Steam in early February 2025. While it didn’t achieve significant commercial success, the original was well-received by strategy RPG fans and earned widespread critical acclaim. It holds a "Mighty" rating on OpenCritic, based on an average score of 84 and a 100% recommendation rate, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all titles tracked by the platform.
The second Astral Throne title was officially announced on November 7. Subtitled Age of the Phoenix, it can currently be wishlisted on Steam. Zero Sun Games says the sequel will retain the deep party synergy, handcrafted encounters with a lot of variety, and permadeath mechanics of its predecessor, while placing a greater emphasis on narrative. Mechanically, it will still largely play like Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, featuring turn-based battles on grid-based maps.
In between Final Fantasy Tactics-like battles, the upcoming title will embrace meta progression mechanics seen in a typical roguelite. Runs that push a long-term quest forward and relationships that deepen between attempts will both be part of the package, together with class-driven builds. The game's story is penned by Shami Stovall, an award-winning novelist known for fantasy works such as Time-Marked Warlock and Frith Chronicles.
Astral Throne 2: Age of the Phoenix has so far only been confirmed for PC, i.e., Steam. While other versions remain a possibility, the original Astral Throne never expanded beyond Valve’s platform, making additional ports unlikely. Zero Sun Games has not yet disclosed pricing, though if the first game is any indication, the sequel will likely launch at around $19.99. The Canadian developer is currently targeting a 2026 release. In a recent social media post, the studio said it is finishing a demo as of early November 2025, with plans to release it early next year. Given that timeline and the lack of a firm release window, a launch in the second half of 2026 appears more likely than the first, barring any delays.