《超時空方舟》（Chrono Ark）是由韓國獨立團隊Al Fine開發、於2024年5月3日在Steam正式推出的單機遊戲，於2026年1月29日移植到Switch。作品巧妙融合組隊式 RPG、卡牌構築與 Roguelike（更準確來說是 Roguelite）等多種玩法元素，在策略深度與重玩價值之間取得良好平衡，也因此在發售後迅速累積起相當高的人氣與討論度。

在劇情設定上，營造出帶有末世與時間輪迴色彩的世界觀。很久以前，世界被神秘的黑色迷霧吞噬，人類文明幾乎毀滅，僅存的倖存者被迫移居到漂浮於空中的巨大避難城市「方舟」。八十年間，一個名為「法洛斯教會」的神秘組織逐漸腐化世界，使地表化為充滿異象與怪物的「扭曲之地」。唯一能讓世界回復原狀的方法，是蒐集散落各地的「時空之影」，並啟動象徵時間修正的「鐘樓」。

故事主角露西是一名失去記憶的少女，她在方舟下方的扭曲之地甦醒，腦中僅存的模糊記憶不斷提醒她必須啟動鐘樓。玩家將與露西一同成立調查團，深入危險的扭曲之地，尋找時空之影，逐步拼湊世界崩壞的真相。隨著遊戲推進，不僅露西的身世與「預言之女」的角色逐漸浮現，各名隊員的背景故事與世界的矛盾衝突也會在事件與對話中慢慢展開，使整體敘事在碎片化中仍保有強烈吸引力。

在操作與玩法層面，以組隊戰鬥與卡牌構築為核心。玩家在一次冒險中最多可招募四名隊員，每位角色都擁有截然不同的技能機制、被動能力與定位。戰鬥採回合制進行，角色的攻擊、防禦、輔助與特殊能力皆以卡牌形式呈現，必須在有限的能量與抽牌資源下，仔細規劃出牌順序與角色配合。露西作為核心角色，也擁有獨立的技能系統，能與隊員卡牌形成各種戰術聯動。

Roguelite機制是本作另一大特色。每次進入扭曲之地，地圖路線、事件、敵人配置、可獲得的技能與道具都會有所變化。一旦隊伍遭到團滅，當次冒險將全面重置，角色等級與臨時強化消失，但部分系統性解鎖內容與經驗會保留，讓下一次挑戰能有不同的成長方向。這種「失敗即重來」的設計，降低了挫折感，反而鼓勵玩家反覆嘗試不同隊伍配置與卡牌構築思路。

遊戲中可使用多種資源，例如金幣、靈魂石與信用點數，用於購買裝備、升級角色或解鎖後續冒險的永久要素。裝備、遺物與消耗道具能進一步強化隊伍，與卡牌構築形成高度自由的策略組合。加上超過二十名可招募角色、數量龐大的技能卡牌與擁有獨特行為模式的BOSS，使每一次遊玩都能產生截然不同的戰術體驗，重玩價值極高。

市場評價方面，本作在Steam上獲得相當亮眼的口碑，特別受到喜愛《Slay the Spire》類型卡牌Roguelike玩家與傳統日式RPG 愛好者的青睞。玩家普遍肯定其戰鬥系統的深度、角色設計的多樣性，以及卡牌與隊伍之間的高自由度搭配。雖然遊戲難度偏高，對新手而言需要一定的學習成本，但多數評價認為這正是遊戲耐玩的核心魅力之一。此外，美術風格偏向二次元手繪風，搭配略帶陰鬱的音樂與氛圍，也成功塑造出末世與時間扭曲交織的獨特氣質。

整體而言，《超時空方舟》不僅是單純的卡牌Roguelite遊戲，更是一段結合策略思考、角色成長與世界謎團的冒險旅程。它透過高重玩性的系統設計與循序揭露的劇情內容，讓玩家在一次次失敗與重生中，不斷逼近真相與最佳戰術。無論是喜愛深度策略、卡牌構築，或是對末世科幻與時間題材有興趣的玩家，《超時空方舟》都稱得上是一款相當值得投入時間體驗的作品。

Chrono Ark is a single-player game developed by the Korean indie team Al Fine. It was officially released on Steam on May 3, 2024, and is scheduled to be ported to Nintendo Switch on January 29, 2026. The game skillfully blends party-based RPG mechanics, deck-building card gameplay, and Roguelike elements—more precisely, Roguelite design—striking a strong balance between strategic depth and replayability. As a result, it quickly gained significant popularity and discussion following its release.

In terms of narrative setting, Chrono Ark presents a world infused with post-apocalyptic themes and time-loop concepts. Long ago, the world was engulfed by a mysterious black mist, nearly wiping out human civilization. The remaining survivors were forced to flee to a massive floating refuge known as “The Ark.” Over the course of eighty years, a secretive cult called the Pharos Church gradually corrupted the world, transforming the land below into the monster-infested and distorted “Twisted Lands.” The only way to restore the world is to gather the scattered “Time Shades” and activate the Clock Tower, a device that symbolizes the correction of time itself.

The story follows Lucy, an amnesiac girl who awakens in the Twisted Lands beneath the Ark. With only vague memories remaining, she is driven by an inner conviction that the Clock Tower must be activated. Players form an Investigation Team alongside Lucy, venturing deep into the dangerous Twisted Lands to search for the Time Shades and gradually piece together the truth behind the world’s collapse. As the game progresses, not only do Lucy’s origins and her role as the “Girl of Prophecy” come to light, but the backgrounds of each team member and the underlying conflicts of the world are also revealed through events and dialogue. Despite its fragmented storytelling approach, the narrative remains consistently engaging and emotionally compelling.

Gameplay and controls center on party-based combat and card construction. During a single run, players can recruit up to four team members, each with distinctly different skill mechanics, passive abilities, and combat roles. Battles are turn-based, with attacks, defenses, support skills, and special abilities all represented as cards. Players must carefully manage limited energy and card draws, thoughtfully planning card order and character synergy. Lucy, as the core protagonist, also possesses her own independent skill system, allowing for powerful tactical interactions with the team’s cards.

The Roguelite system is another defining feature of the game. Each expedition into the Twisted Lands features changing map routes, events, enemy placements, and obtainable skills and items. If the party is completely defeated, the run is reset—character levels and temporary upgrades are lost—but certain permanent unlocks and progression elements carry over, offering new growth paths in subsequent attempts. This “fail and restart” structure reduces frustration and instead encourages experimentation with different party compositions and deck-building strategies.

Throughout the game, players can acquire and spend various resources such as gold, soul stones, and credits to purchase equipment, upgrade characters, or unlock permanent content for future runs. Equipment, relics, and consumable items further enhance party performance and combine with deck-building mechanics to create a highly flexible strategic system. With over twenty recruitable characters, a vast array of skill cards, and bosses that feature unique behavior patterns, each playthrough offers a distinctly different tactical experience, greatly enhancing replay value.

From a market perspective, Chrono Ark has received very strong reviews on Steam. It has been particularly well received by fans of card-based Roguelike games such as Slay the Spire, as well as enthusiasts of traditional Japanese-style RPGs. Players commonly praise the depth of the combat system, the diversity of character designs, and the high degree of freedom in combining cards and party members. Although the game’s difficulty is relatively high and may require a learning curve for newcomers, many reviews consider this challenge to be one of the core reasons for its long-term appeal. Additionally, the hand-drawn, anime-inspired art style, paired with a somber and atmospheric soundtrack, successfully conveys a distinctive mood that blends post-apocalyptic despair with themes of time distortion.

Overall, Chrono Ark is more than just a card-based Roguelite game—it is a strategic adventure that weaves together thoughtful decision-making, character progression, and an unfolding world mystery. Through its highly replayable systems and gradually revealed story, players are encouraged to push closer to the truth and refine their optimal strategies with each cycle of failure and rebirth. For players who enjoy deep strategy, deck-building gameplay, or narratives centered on apocalyptic science fiction and time-related themes, Chrono Ark is undoubtedly a title well worth investing time in.