Flask, a darkly comedic deckbuilding autobattler featuring art by John Kenn Mortensen, has released a playable demo on Steam. Developed by Danish studio Chop Chop Games, the title centers on a financially struggling alchemist who raises funds by assembling and upgrading a team of homunculi to battle fantasy creatures for their blood.
The core gameplay loop involves constructing decks of flasks that recruited homunculi will consume in a predetermined order during automatic combat. These potions grant various effects, and players can earn elemental bonuses by sequencing them strategically, encouraging experimentation with different "drink menus" for each homunculus.
Flask incorporates a roguelike structure into its "blood hunts." The game also features an asynchronous multiplayer component where players can pit their homunculi teams against others. A player's team can appear as a boss encounter for another player, complete with their most recent potion loadout. Defeating another alchemist's team contributes to climbing a global leaderboard based on blood earnings.
The game's artwork is characterized by a deliberate "grossness," with twisted proportions, textured surfaces, matted fur, and hollow eyes. The animations are intentionally stiff, reinforcing a papercraft aesthetic. The developers aim to capture a unique style that complements the game's grim and comedic tone.
While Flask does not yet have a firm release date, the demo is available for download on Steam. Ghost Ship Publishing, known for their work on Deep Rock Galactic, is assisting with the game's publishing.