Devlog 23: From Mortal to Cultivator

When people think of survival games, they may picture a zombie-infested apocalypse or a harsh struggle for life on a deserted island. Cultivation Realm: Card Survival takes a different approach: card-based survival in a cultivation fantasy world.

Many players may wonder: if this is a cultivation game, why is survival still necessary?

That question lies at the heart of what we wanted to explore from the very beginning. We wanted to tell the story of an ordinary person struggling to survive in an Illusion Realm, gradually taking their first steps on the path of cultivation.

In many cultivation games, players begin as powerful cultivators belonging to prestigious sects. We wanted players to start as genuine Mortals instead.

Mortals become hungry and thirsty. With only limited resources available, players must balance survival with cultivation. These everyday difficulties are not meant simply to punish the player. Instead, they represent the first obstacles on the path toward immortality.

The first time you gather Thatch, your immediate thought may be to build a Thatch Bed so you no longer have to sleep on the ground. However, Thatch can also be used to make a Meditation Cushion, allowing you to meditate and cultivate. So how should you balance sleep and cultivation?

As you explore, you will discover cultivation manuals, pill recipes, and all kinds of unusual materials. At first, their purpose may not be obvious. As your cultivation improves, however, they may become essential for Pill Refining, Artifact Refining, or breaking through to a higher realm.

For example, after finding the Xunli Breathing Manual in Sunken Bone Cave and practicing it, your character will gradually become less dependent on food and water. This is an important step in the transition from Mortal to cultivator.

Once you reach Peak Qi Refinement and raise the Art to Level 2, you can truly enter the Fasting state.

This is the experience we want to create. You do not become an immortal simply by pressing a button. Instead, you gradually overcome the limitations of mortal life and grow into a powerful cultivator.

Only after reaching Foundation Building and leaving behind the need for food, water, and sleep can you be said to have truly stepped onto the immortal path.

Even then, your cultivation journey has only just begun.

You will gradually face Heart Demons, Obsession, and shortages of cultivation resources. Only through continued exploration and cultivation, while making full use of Artifacts and every method available to you, can you overcome the challenges ahead.

If you enjoy survival games and would like to experience the journey from an ordinary Mortal to a mighty cultivator, we invite you to try the demo and share your thoughts in the comments!