Few are still alive who remember the glory days of Colwell Academy, the once-renowned magic school which has sat dormant for over half a century. Whether from a tragic magical accident or some supernatural event, no student or professor has emerged from the academy in all that time. Some say that the cursed souls of grad students will wander the halls for all eternity.
Unconvinced by the un-credible legends, Mora sees Colwell Academy the way any accomplished thief would: the ultimate payday—a treasure trove of magical artifacts—and a victimless crime to boot. Gary on the other hand… Gary just wants to convince Mora—and himself—that he isn’t a coward.
Once inside, they do indeed find long-forgotten magical artifacts—namely, a sassy, sentient, wizard’s hat. And less pleasantly: undead professors, crazed TAs, and invisible laboratory experiments with unusually sharp claws.
If Gary and Mora are going to break Colwell Academy’s curse and escape its clutches, Gary is going to need to embrace his unexpected magical potential and unravel the catastrophic academic rivalry that fractured the school all those years ago.
Gloomsday is a dark roguelite action-platformer where the mana is literally in the air. Survive the ever-shifting halls of Colwell Academy by spending its precious mana wisely. Your enemies will.
THE WORLD IS YOUR MANA BAR
There are no mana bars here. Charge your spells from the mana hanging in the air. Casting drains the region around you; stay still and the world greys out, your spells die, and then you die. But it recovers, slowly. Enemies cast from the same field, so every fight is also a fight over ground: bleed a caster's corner dry, or watch him do it to you.
BUILD YOUR WIZARD
Fourteen spells and counting: beams you charge, heals you channel, fire you wear, summons that fight beside you. Layer on the glyphs, enchantments, and pacts you find along the way. Back in the Grand Hall, the movement upgrades you buy persist, turning Gary's meager thief skills into real mobility one death at a time. Thousands of combinations, and every build comes out different: glass cannon, tanky summoner, invisible assassin.
WEAVE AGILITY AND SPELLS
Standing still is how casters die. Movement feeds everything here: repositioning keeps your mana flowing, a double jump refunds spell charge, and tight platforming is how you line up the perfect cast. Find your own rhythm — move, cast, move — and turn the room's hazards against your enemies.
COLORFUL CAST
Mora has a plan. "Hat", the hat that talks, has... suggestions. And of the horrors in the academy's depths, some are beginning to remember Gary's name. The bosses remember you between attempts, win or lose. Friends and enemies alike will have things to say.
EARLY ACCESS WITH US
Gloomsday relaunched into Early Access in July 2026 with the first region and its boss: 14 spells, four enemy types plus a miniboss, the Grand Hall hub, a practice arena, and dialogue that progresses with your wins and losses. That's about 2–3 hours today, and it grows every update. Updates arrive every two to four weeks. The free demo is the practice arena: try every spell against the basic enemies. We'd love for you to get involved in active development! Join the Discord and give your input. We read everything!
In Colwell Academy, death is only the beginning.
