Synchro Horizon

From BoardGameGeek:

Centuries ago, three worlds merged through crystal magic, an event remembered as the Synchro Horizon. For generations peace endured, until the prophecy of the “Mad Sage” reached its final day: the Fifth Calamity rises, storms coil above Stellaris, and a Celestial prepares a dark ritual to unmake the realm. Strange beasts spread across the land, and only you and your companions can stop the ritual before the last weeks of winter run out. Synchro Horizon is a 1–4 player cooperative JRPG-inspired roguelike board game of tactical combat, modular exploration, and evolving heroes. Play solo or together, guiding a party of four heroes from the capital city of Luminaria to Stellaris itself-facing monsters, leveling up, and forging synergies before the Celestial awakens in a climactic battle. Phases of Play Every playthrough unfolds across three repeating phases: • Journey Phase - Choose your path across a branching map of cities and landmarks. Each move advances the seasonal calendar and sets up the next challenge. • Battle Phase - Confront monsters in fast, tactical combat using the game's Shard system. Heroes spend crystals of raw magic to unleash skills, shift positions, and trigger class abilities. Randomized initiative and rising exhaustion make every fight tense and unpredictable. • Location Phase - After victory, visit villages to recruit new heroes, awaken items, or learn from masters, and explore landmarks offering unique rewards, risks, and legendary opportunities. What You Will Do • Travel across a branching map of cities and landmarks, each with unique challenges and rewards. • Explore villages, mines, towers, and ruins, gaining items, potions, and masterful teachings. • Battle swarms of monsters in fast, tactical combat using the Shard system-crystals of raw magic spent to unleash skills, shift positions, and trigger class abilities. • Recruit & Level Up over 30 heroes, upgrading skills and items, and combining them with masters to forge powerful builds. • Survive & Adapt as initiative order changes each round, exhaustion builds, and every decision brings you closer-or further-from your goal. • Face the Celestial in a climactic final battle to determine whether Valentia survives the Fifth Calamity. Why It Stands Apart • 30+ heroes across three classes, each with distinct shard affinities and playstyles. • 50+ skills and 30+ items to master, upgrade, and combine. • 28 monsters and 4 Celestial bosses with escalating abilities and multi-stage fights. • Dynamic landmarks and villages that reshape the journey each run. • Roguelike replayability-branching routes, evolving hero rosters, and adaptive strategies. • Play solo or cooperatively with up to 4 players (expandable to 8 with the Beyond Journey expansion). Survive through four seasons of 12 weeks each-defeat the Celestial before the final winter week, or Valentia falls to the Fifth Calamity.