Stoneheart Archive is a survival roguelike about protecting the last remaining library in a ruined world. Civilization has collapsed, and the Archive is an ancient walking castle carrying the knowledge that survived. The player acts as its caretaker, traveling alongside the moving fortress while gathering resources, recovering lost knowledge, and keeping the structure alive. There is no traditional story campaign with fixed chapters. Instead, each run creates a new journey across the world, with different upgrades and decisions affecting what the Archive becomes.

Traveling With a Walking Castle

The Archive moves on its own, so the player needs to prepare the route and protect it while it travels. Leaving the castle allows the caretaker to explore nearby areas, collect materials, and search ruins for knowledge. Going farther from safety can provide better rewards, but it also means spending more time away from the Archive while enemies may be approaching.

Building Defenses Around the Archive

Resources and knowledge are used to improve the moving base and prepare it for attacks. During a run, players can:

•         collect resources from the environment;
•         explore ruins for lost knowledge;
•         repair damage to the Archive;
•         construct defensive towers;
•         unlock new tower upgrades;
•         visit settlements for supplies and repairs;
•         develop different builds through upgrade choices.

Knowledge functions as an important progression resource because it can unlock new towers and change the available upgrade options.

Enemy attacks turn the Archive into a moving tower-defense base. Defensive structures automatically help protect it, while the player decides where to invest resources and which systems to improve. One run might focus on fire-based defenses, while another can use lightning, repeated ranged attacks, or upgrades connected to healing and survival. Settlements also provide places to exchange knowledge, repair the castle, gather supplies, and unlock additional defensive options.

Risking More for Better Rewards

There are no traditional numbered levels. Progress comes from traveling farther, surviving attacks, discovering settlements, and improving the Archive during the current run. Exploring distant areas can provide valuable resources, but staying away too long increases the risk of returning to a damaged castle. Each attempt therefore requires a balance between scavenging and protection.

Stoneheart Archive is played by moving between the safety of the walking library and the dangerous world around it. The main loop consists of gathering resources, recovering knowledge, upgrading defenses, repairing the castle, and surviving increasingly difficult attacks. Different upgrade combinations allow the Archive to develop into a different type of fortress each run, making experimentation an important part of progressing farther through the ruined world.