Blizzard has launched Talebound, a free, time-limited roguelike game mode for World of Warcraft. The mode is available now on the public test realm for patch 12.1.7 and can be played by anyone, including players without an active subscription.

Unlike the main game, Talebound does not use existing characters or retail classes. Instead, players choose from three new archetypes: the Inquisitor, the Witch, and the Slayer, each with its own abilities and talent system.

After a short introduction, players can select one of three Tales: Darkhaven, Greenthistle Wood, or Greywake’s Expedition. A fourth Tale will be added when the mode officially leaves the PTR.

Each Tale features different enemies, mechanics, and three difficulty levels: Normal, Veteran, and Heroic. A run ends when players defeat its final boss or die, but they can immediately begin another attempt; only temporary boons are lost between runs.

Talebound plays more like an action RPG than traditional World of Warcraft. It uses enclosed spaces rather than an open world, with movement abilities such as double jumps and dodges replacing the usual targeting and rotation-based combat.

Players can tackle the mode solo or in co-op, and they can collect relics that improve future runs. The mode also offers rewards for players’ main World of Warcraft accounts, including mounts, pets, transmog sets, titles, and housing items.

The demo runs from October 30 through November 1. Blizzard is also preparing to launch WoW: Forever on November 4, a separate social-first MMO based on vanilla World of Warcraft but using some modern character models and features.

Talebound does not address recent criticism over expensive housing microtransactions, but it gives players a fresh way to experience Azeroth without committing to the current retail progression model. Blizzard is also expanding the franchise beyond games next week with new Dungeons & Dragons books set in the world of World of Warcraft.