Pale Coins Update 1.1.3 Adds Goblin Arena and Faster Combat Flow

Developer Lukas Irzl has released version 1.1.3 for Pale Coins, bringing significant changes to the hand-pixeled soulslike RPG. Available now on Steam, the update aims to sharpen the opening experience in the kingdom of Grenmark by introducing a new Goblin Arena and refining core combat mechanics.

Early-Game Changes and the Goblin Arena

The most prominent addition in this patch is the Goblin Arena, located in a cave near the game's starting area. By placing this challenge early, Irzl is clearly looking to test players' nerves and combat proficiency before the open-world map fully expands. This is part of a broader effort to improve the game's pacing, ensuring that the first hour of gameplay carries more weight and provides more opportunities for players to test different character builds.

Returning players will also find reason to revisit familiar territory through new hidden underground paths. These routes offer alternative ways to progress through the main story, adding a layer of discovery that makes the kingdom of Grenmark feel more interconnected and less fixed.

Combat and Movement Upgrades

Combat flow has received a mechanical boost to make encounters feel snappier. Players can now execute dodges as a quick follow-up to attacks, reducing the stiffness that often plagues soulslike combat. To accommodate different playstyles, the update includes a new dodge direction setting, allowing players to choose between dodging toward the mouse cursor or based on their movement direction.

Exploration and movement have also been adjusted for speed. The grappling hook has been updated to function faster, which should help in traversing the world and repeating routes. Along with these mechanical tweaks, the update adds support for PlayStation controllers, providing a more comfortable experience for those playing on desktop setups or docked Steam Decks.

Technical Status

For those interested in the Linux and handheld experience, it is worth noting that Pale Coins is Steam Deck verified via Windows. While the game is playable on the device, this verification is achieved through compatibility layers rather than native Linux support. The update also includes several general bug fixes and new items, though the developer has opted to leave the specifics of these items for players to discover on their own.