I love where this is going! You have a great foundation with the prototype for a larger release. The idea of skill trees and upgrades is fitting in this stadium-type creature collector. The auto-attack setting it neat, providing a sort of rhythmic undercurrent to the game.

I do recommend focusing some on explaining controls and conventions. It took me a little bit of time to figure out how to play, but once I did it really was a fun experience!

I look forward to seeing this project grow into its own proper, full-fledged release. The DIY hand-made aesthetic is refreshing in a sea of AI.

This is my first attempt at releasing anything game dev related. I'm a solo dev without much experience at all just trying to produce something that I can hang my hat on, but I hope you enjoy (working title) Ritual Survival! [Up until I made the placeholder opening animation, the game was called Survivors Evolved].

I know the animation is super fast - just know it's some very surface level "lore" and nothing else; I ran out of time while trying to write and opening theme and only have a six second sound byte, so...

Brief Tutorial:

- WASD or arrow keys to move.

-Avoid enemies and passively deal damage with your attacks on an auto-timer

-As you play, you'll gain experience that'll cause you to level up. For each level-up, you get a choice of either attacks or upgrades that can boost your efficiency!

-While playing, you gain currency, but be wary, if you die, you lose all the currency you gained in that run! You must Sacrifice your monster to 'cash out' on your currency.

-Once you bypass your high score (enemies defeated in a run), the Sacrifice Altar will appear, allowing you to appease the gladiatorial entity that has come to govern this fantasy world. An arrow will point your way!

There are three different bosses and nine monsters to collect (currently), each with their own evolution tree. This version has no music, other than the opening theme - I'm having to learn FL Studios and music theory simultaneously to make chiptunes, so I may not have a satisfactory music loop before the deadline.

I also intend on redoing the Tileset sprite work as it is not to a standard I like, but, once again, I don't have the time to rework it before the deadline.

I have the meta-progression and upgrade logic written, but it only works for Porc currently, so if you'd like to see how that works in its prenatal stages, feel free.

With all of that out of the way, I hope you enjoy my first ever released game!