Etheria: Restart, developed by XD Entertainment (XD Inc.), is a futuristic, turn-based strategy RPG transporting players into the remnants of civilization preserved inside a virtual world. Released globally on June 5, 2025, it’s available on iOS, Android, and PC via dedicated client and Steam wishlist.
Game Premise & Narrative Setting
Humanity survives a catastrophic global freeze by transferring consciousness into a digital realm called Etheria. Here, humans coexist with Animus—sentient beings endowed with Anima Powers. However, when the “Genesis Virus” corrupts Animus, they turn hostile, forcing humans to counter them via the Hyperlinker Union.
This conflict forms the backbone of the experience. You step into the role of a Hyperlinker, a specialized warrior capable of linking with Animus and leveraging their unique skillsets to battle against corrupted threats.
Technical Foundations & Visuals
Built in Unreal Engine, Etheria delivers cinematic lighting, real-time shadow rendering, and high-fidelity cutscenes. The dynamically controlled camera enhances combat immersion without overwhelming clarity.
Animations are character-specific, featuring smooth, choreographed battle sequences complemented by dazzling visual VFX that balance spectacle with readability.
System and Platform Support
The PC demo lists minimum requirements:
- OS: Windows 10
- CPU: Intel Core i5‑2500 / AMD FX‑4350
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 660Ti or Radeon R9 270 (2 GB VRAM)
- DirectX: v11
- Storage ca. 15 GB
Recommended specs include: Intel Core i5‑6500 or Ryzen 3 1200, 16 GB RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 2070 or Radeon RX 580. The game supports partial controller input on PC, with a native client enabling cross-play between devices.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
Turn-Based, Yet Tactical
Etheria enhances classic turn-based RPG combat by integrating:
- Real-time issuing of commands: Players can adjust strategy mid-turn.
- Deep skill synergy: Unique Animus abilities combine for amplified effects and tactical depth.
- Compact, level design: Maps are structured to reward positioning and clever skill usage
Battles rely on Sandbox exploration, giving players dynamic freedom in selecting team compositions, loadouts, and battlefield approach.
Customization: Shells, Modules, and Prowess
- Shell equipment: boosting stats and providing passive bonuses.
- Ether Modules: nearly 100 unique modules that affect abilities, supporting complex build options.
- Prowess system: animus-specific progression trees that let players specialize characters into unique roles (e.g., tanks, damage dealers, supporters).
These systems interact to form personalized combat styles—an Animus can transform roles entirely with the right modular choices.
Gameplay Modes & Content Variety
PvE Missions & Endgame Challenges
Players begin with Main Quests then progress into harder PvE zones:
- Threshold
- GP Outposts
- Investigations
- Ember Ruins: designed for elite challenge content.
Elite areas are replayable, containing boss fights, loot systems, and advancing difficulty scaling.
PvP Arena & Competitive Play
Etheria offers 1-on-1 PvP in its battle Arena, characterized by:
- Real-time duel play
- Leaderboard ranking
- Strategic live-show combat
Players can climb competitive ranks, test synergy, and craft counter-strategies in an active competitive system.
Monetization & Gacha Systems
The game includes fully-featured gacha mechanics:
- Limited pity timers (8 multis until exclusive banner pity)
- Fair summons, generous free-to-play currency drops
- Dupe system: duplicates remain usable in RTA after clarifications from devs in Closed Beta.
Players report balanced mid-game progression with resource-friendly systems. Reddit threads highlight a guest account requirement and lack of reroll ease by design.
Community & Developer Philosophy
XD Entertainment’s Track Record
XD originates from VeryCD and later created TapTap. They’ve released successful titles: Ragnarok M: Eternal Love, Sausage Man, and now Etheria.
Their core philosophy is rooted in craftsmanship, full ownership of creative direction, and player-first design, favoring long-term engagement over short-term monetization.
Early Community Reception
- App Store: 4.9★ from 3.1K ratings.
- Google Play: 4.5★ and half a million installs.
- Reddit: mixed enthusiasm—praise for polish and performance, concerns about reroll deterrents.
Future-Ready & Expandable
With playable clients across mobile and PC, controller support, and cross-platform play, Etheria positions itself as a durable, long-term project.
XD’s roadmap includes:
- Tier-based Shell and Animus updates
- Tiered PvE content additions
- Advanced competitive features (e.g., modes like Cubic Game).
HellHades and similar outlets already host tier lists and in-depth guides, signaling an ecosystem of community-driven content and strategy sharing.
Our thoughts
Etheria: Restart is shaping up to be XD’s most ambitious project, promising a compelling mix of:
- Visually stunning Unreal Engine-powered graphics
- Strategic combat grounded in customization systems
- Variety of modes including PvE campaigns and PvP duels
- Fair monetization backed by a respectful gacha design philosophy
Backed by XD’s proven record and community tools, Etheria: Restart stands as a polished, long-term-ready RPG. Whether you enjoy turn-based strategy, PvP competition, or deep character customization, Etheria offers players the freedom to build, explore, and compete in a rich virtual cityscape.
In summary, Etheria: Restart delivers a robust RPG experience with modern visuals, strategic depth, and thoughtful monetization—positioning itself as a major entry in the genre and a worthy successor to XD’s legacy.