After being a staple of Nippon Ichi Software America’s golden era of releases on the PlayStation Portable, NIS America has confirmed that the quirky and customisable world of Cladun is set to return in 2025. The latest entry in the pixel action RPG franchise, Cladun X3, will launch digitally on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam later this year.
Cladun X3 invites players into the peculiar realm of Arcanus Cella, where villains from across the lands have been summoned to participate in a perilous “death game” – all in the name of world peace. You’re not the hero in this story, but one of those villains vying to survive and thrive in a dungeon-riddled gauntlet filled with traps, monsters, and the occasional evil alliance.
Much like its predecessors, Cladun X3 leans heavily into player-driven creativity. Many aspects of the game is open to player customisation, from playable characters and weapons to town layouts and even in-game music. Players can select from six distinct weapon types and ten job classes, each with their own unique stats, preferred equipment, and Magic Circle formations.
Returning fans will be familiar with the series’ Magic Circle System, a strategic formation mechanic that allows inactive characters to support a main fighter with stat boosts, abilities, and even absorb damage. With clever placement and the right allies, players can significantly enhance their odds in both story-driven and randomly generated dungeons.
In terms of content, Cladun X3 promises a variety of gameplay modes. Alongside the main story, the game includes Ran-geons — procedurally generated dungeon crawls that offer fresh challenges and treasure opportunities with each run.
