Dino Citadel News

[p]Hey everyone,[/p][p][/p][p]We’re getting closer to the demo release, and before that, I’m opening up a playtest for Dino Citadel.[/p][p][/p][p]Starting November 13, you’ll be able to try out a nearly complete version of the demo. It includes most of the first Expanse (Act 1), core systems, and a full gameplay loop — from building camps and spending Coin to draw cards, to cleansing your first Kin.[/p][p][/p][p]This playtest is a chance for me to gather feedback, fix bugs, and make sure everything feels right. If you’re interested in helping shape the final demo, I’d be really grateful to have you along.[/p][p][/p][p]🗓️ Playtest begins: November 13, 2025[/p][p]💻 Available on: Steam (PC & Mac)[/p][p]🔍 Access via: Request access from the Dino Citadel store page[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you so much for all the support so far.[/p][p]If you’d like to join the playtest or just keep an eye on things, feel free to wishlist and follow Dino Citadel here on Steam.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink] [/p][p]Hope to see you in the Expanse.[/p][p]— Halit[/p]

[p]Hey everyone! [/p][p]I’m excited to announce that Dino Citadel will appear in the upcoming Monster Taming Direct 2025. A brand-new trailer will premiere during the showcase![/p][p][/p][p]📅 The event goes live on September 7, 2025[/p][p]🕙 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PDT / 3 PM BST / 4 PM CEST[/p][p]🎥 Watch it here: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]💡 What is Monster Taming Direct?[/h3][p]It’s a curated showcase featuring new and upcoming games in the monster taming genre. Dino Citadel is proud to appear alongside some incredible titles this year.[/p][p]Special thanks to @GymLeaderEd for including us.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]If you’re excited to see more, make sure to wishlist and follow Dino Citadel here on Steam so you won’t miss a single roar.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Thanks![/p][p]Halit (developer of Dino Citadel)[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Hey everyone![/p][p]Today I want to talk about one of the core systems in Dino Citadel — something that defines the entire flow of combat and decision-making: how you draw cards.[/p][p]In most deckbuilders, it’s simple. At the start of your turn, you automatically draw a hand of cards — maybe five. You play some, ignore others, and at the end of the turn, they all slide into your discard pile.[/p][p]But in Dino Citadel, there’s no auto-draw. At least, not the way you’re used to.[/p][p]Instead, you spend Coin to add cards to your hand, one by one. Every card is a decision. Every Coin is a choice. And your hand? You build it — you don’t just receive it.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]The Order Pile is Dino Citadel’s version of the draw pile, but with a twist.[/p][p]At the start of each Shard (closed-off regions with specific objectives), your deck is shuffled into the Order Pile. Then, at the start of each turn, you draw 3 cards from it — but they don’t go to your hand yet.[/p][p]To actually play one, you must spend Coin to buy it and add it to your hand. The rest go to the discard pile… unless you intervene.[/p][p]You have a few tools:[/p]

• [p]Freeze: You can freeze 1 card each turn. Frozen cards stay as an option for the next turn, giving you another chance to buy them.[/p]
• [p]Reroll: If you don’t like your 3 options, you can spend Coin to reroll. All unfrozen cards are discarded, and you draw new ones — letting you buy another card if you want.[/p]
• [p]Free cards: Some cards, especially Bounty cards, cost 0 Coin and go straight to your hand when drawn.[/p]

[p]Even once a card is in your hand, it still costs Energy to play it. So each turn becomes a three-part decision tree:[/p]

• [p]What can I afford to buy?[/p]
• [p]What can I afford to play?[/p]
• [p]What should I save for next turn?[/p]

[p]This system turns every turn into a small, evolving puzzle — where you’re not just reacting to what’s drawn, but shaping what your future turns can become.[/p][p]You’re not handed a hand. You build it — one decision at a time.[/p][p]And Yes — It All Loops Back. Like most deckbuilders, once your Order Pile is empty, your discard pile is reshuffled and recycled.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]Why This System Exists[/h3][p]Dino Citadel isn’t just a deckbuilder. It’s also a game about resource management.[/p][p]Here’s the core loop: [/p]

• [p]Use free Bounty cards to interact with the map and earn Coin[/p]
• [p]Spend that Coin to buy tactical cards from the Order Pile[/p]
• [p]Spend Energy to play those cards and survive[/p]

[p]Your economy is your draw engine.[/p][p]So you’ll need to:[/p]

• [p]Use Bounty cards to gather resources[/p]
• [p]Use purchased cards to protect them, attack, or reposition[/p]
• [p]Carefully manage your Coin between buying, rerolling, and long-term planning[/p]

[p]Take the card Harvester, for example. It’s a free card that places a unit on a productive land tile. That Harvester will passively generate Coin or Food every turn — but only if it survives.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]That’s it for drawing cards in Dino Citadel![/p][p]If you enjoyed this peek behind the curtain, please consider wishlisting and following Dino Citadel on Steam.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink] [/p][p]Thanks for reading![/p][p]Halit [/p][p][/p]

[p]Hey everyone,[/p][p] I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all the new people who’ve wishlisted Dino Citadel lately. I see every single one, and it really means a lot. I’m just one person making this weird little game about a dinosaur carrying a castle through a corrupted world, and knowing people are curious enough to wishlist it really gives me fuel.[/p][p]
📢 Now for some real news:[/p][p]The demo is coming in November 2025.[/p][p]It’ll cover the first steps into the expanse, the game’s larger world made up of shattered zones called shards. You’ll get to experience the full core loop: buying cards, playing commands, moving across the grid, managing food and energy, and even rescuing your first corrupted kin, called Moonfang, if you manage to survive as things fall apart around you.[/p][p]I’m working hard to make sure the demo feels like a true part of the full game. Not just a teaser, but a real shard of the full experience.[/p][p]
🧭 What’s next?[/p][p]We’ll be doing a playtest ahead of the demo. I’ll also share more detailed posts soon, including a closer look at the demo content and how the playtest will work. If you’re curious, keep an eye out or follow the game to stay in the loop. [/p][p]
✅ In the meantime:[/p][p]• Wishlist the game if you haven’t already. It helps a lot[/p][p]• Follow the game for updates, dev posts, and discussions[/p][p]• Follow me on Bluesky for updates and ramblings[/p][p]• Or just check back in later. I’ll be here, building[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Thanks again. Really.[/p][p]Halit (developer of Dino Citadel)[/p]