Get a first look at how to traverse the unknown realms within Exploration Mode.
Look at gameplay, learn essential tips, and see the unique rewards in this exciting NEW mode!
The hardest thing that Web3 Games have to do is compete with Web2 Games for attention. This is an already-losing battle as the Web2 user does not have to jump through hoops to play Web2 games. Add to that the creativity and innovation that web2 games have. Even if we are referring to the mobile gacha games, web3 games have a long way to go.
We are getting closer in reaching the high standards of these web2 games, with our new game mode which is known as the "Exploration mode. This post will cover how this mode works, the Resources needed, Rewards and the Seasonal Leaderboard. The patch will come live on Monday, 5th May 2025.
For those who prefer to see the gameplay please look at the YouTube video below:
Exploration Mode - How to access
Once you have logged into your Astral Wars account, you can click the "Exploration Mode" button on the main menu.
Clicking on it will take you to the city of Reconditus
Exploration Mode - What is it all about?
Reconditus is an afflicted land, taken over by invaders from other worlds. Why have they taken over the world? What are their motives? What do you want to do about it? All of these questions will be answered as you progress in this mode.
Here is the fun part, depending on WHERE your progress will expose you to certain events where you will make moral decisions that will decide for you the faction you want to support (You can even go full villain if you want).
Exploration Mode - How to Progress?
As of the time of this post, there will be 2 Blue Keys that you can use per day to challenge a stage. Each stage when clicked on will use 1 Blue key, regardless of whether you win or lose. This is not a fixed decision as there will be changes made in the future. But right now we need to test the difficulty levels of this mode so that it is accessible. Blue keys refresh every day at 2 pm EST. Please note that once you complete a stage you can replay it without losing Blue Keys.
Once you complete a stage, the next stage attached with a path will unlock. Please note that by completing it is possible to unlock multiple stages. For the stages that have no path, you have to figure out through clues the combination of stages to be completed to unlock that particular boss stage.
In the case, where you have no Blue Keys or if the prerequisite level is not complete the button to initiate the stage battle will have a lock on it.
Exploration Mode - Rewards
There are rewards to be claimed each time you complete a stage. Just keep in mind these rewards are claimable only once, so there is no farming/grinding to be done on a completed stage. Rewards will range from Coins, Crate Fragments, Card Essences, Crates and Cards. For some stages, you can get some extremely rare cards. If you are Free-to-play the exploration mode will give some of the best resources to go toe-to-toe with other players.
Exploration Mode - Season Leaderboard
Of course, all of this would be incomplete without competition among players. How many levels you complete will decide where you are in the standings. Each season will be anywhere from a month to two months long. The top 10% of players in the standings will be rewarded with extremely rare types of crates called Numerian crates which are part of our next expansion. Depending on the response of this type of leaderboard we will decide on how future seasons will play out.
AMA Event
We have a hive AMA event happening on Friday in the Hive discord. Feel free to join if you are curious or have questions that you can ask the developer directly.
Updated Roadmap as of 2nd May 2025
Now, the roadmap is broken into weekly cells. This way, we will be able to get things done faster. Please note there will be other project cells mixed into this, but I will not state them here.
Cell 1 - Fixing and optimizing tutorials and uploading them on you tube, as well as connecting them with our overall post (1 week)
Cell 2 - Apply for game review and release the game into global beta (5 weeks) (in progress)(20 signups received, Week 3)
Cell 3 - Crates to be buyable with Crate Frags and Cards to be bought with Essences (1 week)
Cell 4 - Astranian and Numina cards to be completed and tested internally (1 week)
Cell 5 - Currency Exchange system (1 week)
Cell 6 - Chat system and in-game systems to be optimized for Mobile (1 week)
Cell 7 - Achievements and Badge System (1 week)
Cell 8 - Friends System Overhaul (1 week)
Cell 9 - Lands Quest system (2 weeks)
Cell 10 - In-game Items and promotions shop sales (1 week)
Cell 11 - New Alt art for certain cards (1 week)
Cell 12 - Making an error crash system, that takes the burden of reporting details away from the user (1 week)
Cell 13 - Troubleshooting certain issues of the game launch on certain processor models for mobile. (2 weeks)
Cell 14 - Whitepaper (3 week)
Cell 15 - Tribes system (1 week)
Cell 16 - Tribes Boss and Shop (2 weeks)
Cell 17 - Tournaments Constructive (1 week)
Cell 18 - Tournaments with Random Decks (1 week)
Cell 19 - Implementation of Creation Relics (1 week)
Cell 20 - Card Upgrades (1 week)
Cell 21 - Dungeons Delving (1 week)
Cell 22 - Endless and Time Attack Modes (2 week)
Cell 23 - Battle and Level passes (1 week)
Cell 24 - Events (1 week)
Cell 25 - Faction Battle Modes (2 week)
Cell 26 - Campaign mode (1 week)
Cell 27 - Base building and Autoplay (1 week)
Cell 28 - Rebuild the Marketplace with a new stack (1 week)
Cell 29 - Migrate the site and test the site (1 week)
Cell 30 - Fix Launcher Bugs (1 week)
Cell 31 - Apply and register for the launcher to not be flagged by anti viruses (1 week)
Cell 32 - Post for 2024 Review and 2025 Roadmap (5 weeks) (In Progress, delay due to data collection from parties)
Cell 33 - Exploration Mode (5 weeks)(+1 week for Art Correction) (5th week in progress)
Cell 34 - Fixing Launcher issues on windows 10 as reported by siberian13 (1 week)
Cell 35 - Attend a conference
Cell 36 - Revamp Tech Debt code for currencies (1 week)
Cell 37 - Fix loading of collection of cards (1 week)
Cell 38 - Towers of Trials (4 weeks)
Cell 39 - Revamp Collection Panel UI (1 week)
Some of the cells will be worked on simultaneously, so do not be surprised if things get done faster. We spent the whole last year optimizing, and we will just keep on doing so till we get there. Please also note the execution of the cells will not be in order but by priority and if there are any delays it will be mentioned within the #roadmap channel in the discord here.
As usual, thank you all for your patience.
How To Play
There are currently 2 ways to play Astral Wars.
a) You can go to our website and download our Windows Launcher for PC or you can use the following link. You can then install and play the game through the launcher.
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b) You can choose to play the mobile Android version which is under Google Play testing here.
You will have to let us know the email address that you are using to access your Google Play Account so that you can download it. Please join our discord here to let us know.
Tutorials
If you want to learn how to play the game feel free to see our YouTube videos below
Getting Involved
If you're just now learning about Astral Wars, come mingle in our Discord to get regular updates, ask any questions you might have, and hang out with your fellow gamers!
You can also check out some of our earlier posts below:
Astral Wars - 2024 Review and 2025 Roadmap
Astral Wars — Land Presale and Kusaku-Gun Art Preview
Astral Wars — Mobile Release, Land Details and Thuringian Art Preview
INTRODUCING: Surgent Gaming — A Web3/Hive Game Development Studio
Astral Wars — Pre-Alpha Launch and $ASTRA Staking Event
Astral Wars - Pre-Alpha Ending, Open Alpha and New Content
Stay tuned for more Astral Wars news!
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