Shards of Order Roadmap 2026: Post-Launch DLC, New Laws, and Future Content Explained
When I first saw Shards of Order, I expected another deckbuilding game with a dark fantasy skin. There are already plenty of those on Steam, and honestly, it has become difficult for new titles to stand out. After spending time learning its systems and following the developers’ direction, my opinion changed completely.
This isn’t simply another roguelike where every run starts from scratch. Instead, it feels like a traditional RPG that happens to use cards as the foundation of its combat. The shared deck mechanic, the countdown-based battles, and the emphasis on rebuilding a shattered world make it one of the more refreshing releases of 2026.
Now that the game has officially launched, everyone seems to be asking the same question: what comes next?
While the developers have already spoken about supporting the game after release, I think there are several areas where Shards of Order could grow into something truly special. Some of these ideas are realistic expectations, while others are simply features I’d personally love to experience over the next year.
Why Shards of Order Feels Different
One of the biggest reasons the game has attracted attention is that it doesn’t chase the same trends as every other card battler.
Instead of collecting mana and waiting for turns, every decision revolves around time.
Each card advances combat in some way, enemies continue counting toward their attacks, and your entire three-character party shares one deck. That single design choice completely changes how encounters play out.
I found myself planning several moves ahead rather than simply asking:
“Can I afford this card?”
Instead, the question becomes:
“Is playing this card worth letting the boss attack two seconds earlier?”
That constant pressure gives every fight genuine tension.
The First Few Months Should Focus on Polish
No matter how ambitious an RPG is, launch is only the beginning.
Personally, I don’t think the developers should rush into massive content drops immediately.
Instead, the early months should prioritize improving the experience players already have.
Some of the most important areas include:
- Balance adjustments for cards and hero abilities.
- Better UI readability.
- Improved controller support.
- Localization fixes.
- Performance improvements across different hardware.
Games with complex progression systems almost always reveal unexpected strategies after thousands of people begin experimenting.
What looks balanced during testing can become completely broken within a week once the community starts sharing optimized builds.
That’s perfectly normal.
Regular balancing updates will probably have a much bigger impact than adding dozens of new cards too early.
Steam Deck Support Could Bring Thousands of New Players
One thing I’m especially hoping for is official Steam Deck Verification.
The game already appears to run surprisingly well on handheld hardware, but certification involves much more than frame rate.
Players also expect:
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Larger interface elements | Easier reading on smaller displays. |
| Better controller navigation | Faster deck management. |
| Optimized text scaling | Less eye strain. |
| Stable performance | Consistent combat experience. |
| Improved battery efficiency | Longer portable sessions. |
Considering how many RPG fans now play primarily on Steam Deck, this update could become one of the most important post-launch improvements.
More Story Is What I Want Most
The world of Shards of Order feels mysterious from the very beginning.
Ancient Laws have disappeared.
Reality itself is collapsing.
A god watches everything you do without fully revealing its intentions.
For me, that’s the strongest part of the game.
Rather than introducing endless random modes, I’d rather see the developers continue expanding the existing narrative.
Side stories exploring forgotten civilizations, legendary heroes, or the original creators of the Laws would fit naturally into the universe without feeling forced.
Dark fantasy worlds become memorable because of their lore—not simply because they contain difficult bosses.
New Hero Classes Could Completely Change the Meta
If I had to choose one feature for the first major expansion, it would definitely be a brand-new playable hero.
The current three-character structure already creates interesting strategic decisions, but introducing another class would dramatically increase replayability.
Imagine a character focused on:
- Manipulating countdown timers.
- Reversing enemy actions.
- Sacrificing health for stronger cards.
- Temporarily rewriting combat rules.
- Directly influencing divine events.
Even one additional class could create dozens of entirely new deck archetypes.
That’s the kind of expansion that encourages players to start a completely fresh playthrough rather than simply loading an old save.
I’d Love to See More Risk-and-Reward Systems
One aspect I think could become even deeper is the relationship with the mysterious god watching over the world.
Currently, divine intervention already adds uncertainty to the adventure.
But what if players had greater control?
Imagine choosing between blessings that also carry permanent drawbacks.
For example:
| Divine Gift | Hidden Cost |
|---|---|
| Stronger attacks | Faster enemy countdowns. |
| Larger deck size | Reduced healing. |
| Better loot | Harder bosses. |
| Extra card draws | More elite encounters. |
| Higher critical chance | Random status effects. |
Those kinds of permanent decisions would make every campaign feel unique.
Endgame Needs Long-Term Motivation
Completing the main story shouldn’t necessarily mean the adventure is over.
Personally, I’d enjoy seeing optional content aimed at experienced players.
Some possibilities include:
- Endless challenge towers.
- Weekly combat modifiers.
- Rotating boss encounters.
- Legendary equipment hunts.
- Special time-limited events.
- Hidden story chapters unlocked through difficult achievements.
None of these need to replace the main campaign.
Instead, they’d simply give veterans another reason to continue refining their favorite builds.
Community Feedback Will Shape the Future
One encouraging sign is that the developers appear willing to listen to player feedback.
That’s increasingly important for RPGs with interconnected progression systems.
The community often discovers interactions that developers never expected.
Sometimes those discoveries become overpowered exploits.
Other times they evolve into beloved mechanics that deserve to stay.
The healthiest approach is finding a balance between preserving player creativity and preventing one strategy from dominating every encounter.
If the developers continue communicating openly and responding thoughtfully, the game has every opportunity to build a loyal community over the coming years.
My Wishlist for a Major Expansion
If I could design the first big DLC myself, it would probably include something like this:
| Expansion Feature | My Excitement |
|---|---|
| New explorable region | ★★★★★ |
| Fourth playable hero | ★★★★★ |
| Additional story chapters | ★★★★★ |
| More legendary equipment | ★★★★☆ |
| New enemy factions | ★★★★☆ |
| Secret optional endings | ★★★★★ |
Notice that almost everything on this list focuses on expanding the RPG rather than simply increasing difficulty.
That’s because I believe Shards of Order succeeds primarily through its world-building and tactical depth.
Those strengths deserve to grow.
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Looking Toward 2027
It’s obviously too early to predict exactly where the game will go next, but there is plenty of room for expansion.
Future updates could introduce entirely new regions shaped by different versions of reality, additional hero specializations, larger collections of shared cards, and even optional mechanics that fundamentally change how time behaves during combat.
I also wouldn’t mind seeing more meaningful choices that permanently affect the state of the world, giving players a reason to replay the campaign with different decisions.
As long as new content continues building upon the game’s strongest ideas instead of abandoning them, I think the future looks promising.
Final Thoughts
After spending time with Shards of Order, I genuinely believe it has the potential to become one of the standout tactical RPGs of 2026.
Its combat constantly asks players to think differently, its dark fantasy setting is intriguing, and the shared deck system creates battles that rarely feel repetitive.
Of course, launch is only the first step. The real challenge now is maintaining momentum with thoughtful updates instead of chasing every trend. Personally, I’d much rather receive meaningful story expansions, fresh hero classes, and carefully designed mechanics than an endless stream of minor content drops.
If the developers continue refining the experience while respecting what already makes the game unique, I can easily see myself returning for every major update. For a brand-new IP, that’s probably the biggest compliment I can give—it has already convinced me that this world is worth revisiting, and I’m genuinely excited to see how Shards of Order evolves over the months and years ahead.
