Black Beacon Global Beta: Droid Gamers' Hands-On Experience

If you've been following gaming news, you might have caught wind that the gacha action-RPG Black Beacon has launched its global beta test. Wondering if it's worth your time? We dove into the beta over the weekend to see if Black Beacon has the potential to be the next big mobile gacha hit.

Setting and Story

Let's dive into the setting first. Black Beacon is an action RPG gacha game set in the grand halls of the Library of Babel. This setting draws inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges' short story about a universe in the form of an endless library filled with every conceivable text, including all known books. The game's Library of Babel also nods to the biblical Tower of Babel, intertwining Judeo-Christian mythology into its narrative—a unique twist that sets it apart from typical folklore-based stories.

In Black Beacon, you step into the shoes of The Seer, a protagonist who wakes up in this mysterious place without any memory of how they arrived. You're quickly thrust into a significant role as the new custodian of the Library of Babel. Despite your arrival causing a stir, the other characters seem unfazed, though they're tight-lipped about the details.

Your presence triggers major changes within the Library, including the emergence of a monster from the depths. Coupled with time-travel elements reminiscent of Doctor Who and a looming threat from a clockwork star, you're in for a wild ride. But enough about the story—let's delve into how Black Beacon plays.

Gameplay

Black Beacon offers a 3D free-roaming experience, allowing you to explore in either a top-down or free camera perspective, which you can switch between using simple touchscreen controls. The combat system is real-time, focusing on chaining combos and unleashing special moves, with a fun twist of encouraging mid-fight character switching—even mid-combo.

The tag team strategy lets benched characters regenerate stamina faster, and there's no penalty for swapping in and out, giving you the freedom to manage your team like a strategic game of Pokémon with anime characters. Combat demands attention to timing and enemy cues, making it deep yet accessible. While you can easily handle regular enemies, more powerful foes will challenge you to stay focused or risk being knocked across the arena.

As a gacha game, Black Beacon offers a variety of characters, each with unique combat styles and moves that make every new addition feel significant. Some characters are intriguing enough to make you want to explore their stories further.

Playing the Beta

Interested in trying Black Beacon? The global beta test is available on Google Play for Android users, while iOS users can test through TestFlight, though spots are limited. You can download the game and play through the first five chapters by following the provided link.

If the beta piques your interest, consider pre-registering. Doing so via the official website grants you 10 Development Material Boxes, while Google Play pre-registration offers an exclusive costume for Zero.

It's early days to determine if Black Beacon will become the next big gacha sensation, but we're keen to see where it goes from here.