PROJECT ZIRCON has been announced for PC via Steam, with no release date confirmed yet. Konami’s new game is a dark fantasy deckbuilding roguelike built around the survival of a nation, not only the growth of a card deck. Players rule a country threatened by the return of the Calamity Dragon of the Abyss and must prepare it year after year before the world is consumed.
The structure covers five in-game years, each divided between an Admin Phase and a Strategy Phase. Every cycle has a required target that must be reached; failing means letting the dragon destroy the world. Completing the Normal Route means surviving until Year 5 and defeating the final threat, but the game is not framed only around raising Military Points.
The Strategy Phase acts as preparation. This is where players expand territory, acquire Character Cards and construct Facilities to strengthen the nation. Resources are split into Commerce, Industry and Culture points, so growth depends on choosing which economy to support, which cards to pursue and which buildings can serve the current plan.
The Admin Phase focuses on deploying cards. Each Character Card has a rank and a type, while its real value comes from how it combines with existing Facilities. Strong combinations can increase rewards and shift the pace of a run, while zirpowers, with up to three equipped in a deck, add unique advantages and decisive plays to work into each build.
PROJECT ZIRCON also includes multiple endings, changing events and choices that can dramatically branch the story. Some routes may require goals beyond simply increasing military strength and defeating the Calamity Dragon, while Player Level progression unlocks new Facilities and additional starting decks. More details are available on the official website for PROJECT ZIRCON.
