SANCTUARY: Iovela is a free gothic action brawler that runs in your web browser. You play Iovela, guard a sanctuary gate against waves of undead, smash them with a heavy iron bell on a chain and turn a trap-filled cathedral against them. The game is made by the developer Nully with Phaser 4 and Three.js, which makes it a rare example of a full 3D-looking action game built on web tech.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Game | SANCTUARY: Iovela |
| Genre | Gothic third-person action brawler |
| Developer | Nully |
| Technology | Phaser 4 + Three.js (web) |
| Price | Free to play |
| Where to play | In the browser at the official SANCTUARY: Iovela site; it was also approved for launch on CrazyGames around Halloween 2026 |
| Input | Keyboard and mouse, controller supported |
| Modes | 10-round Story, New Game+, Survival |
What kind of game is SANCTUARY: Iovela?
Think of it as a compact arena brawler with a tower-defense twist. Every round, the undead push toward the sanctuary gate. Your job is to keep them out. You fight up close as Iovela, but your real weapon is the Sanctuary Bell, a heavy iron ball you can drag through crowds or launch at attackers.
Between rounds you place and upgrade traps. During combat you trigger them at the right moment. Skeletons fly with ragdoll physics, balconies break, and the rubble they leave changes the routes enemies can take through the room. The result is a game where positioning and timing matter as much as fast clicking.
Controls
The default layout is the classic third-person setup. All keyboard and mouse bindings can be changed in Options, and a controller also works.
| Action | Default control |
|---|---|
| Move | W A S D |
| Look around | Mouse |
| Attack | Left mouse button |
| Tether the Sanctuary Bell | Hold right mouse button |
| Lock on to an enemy | Q |
| Activate the selected trap | E |
The Sanctuary Bell: your main weapon
The bell is what makes SANCTUARY: Iovela feel different from other browser brawlers. There are three basic ways to use it:
- Drag it. Pull the heavy ball through a group of enemies to knock them over.
- Launch it. Throw it at a single attacker who is getting too close to the gate.
- Tether it. Hold the right mouse button to tether the bell. While it is tethered, a charged attack turns into a Bell pulse.
Because the bell is heavy, it is strongest when you plan where the crowd will be, not where it is now. That is also the link to the trap system.
Traps and combos in the cathedral
Traps are placed and upgraded between rounds, then you activate them during combat with E. The fun comes from chaining them with the bell. The developer highlights two combos:
- A floor kicker can throw an enemy into a swinging ram.
- A harpoon can hold an enemy in place so you can land a clean Bell hit.
The trailer also shows a magnet floor trap and a front-and-back battering ram in action, so expect more than two tools as you progress.
Remember that the room itself changes. Destroying balconies leaves rubble, and rubble changes the routes through the hall. A trap that is perfect in round two might sit in a dead corner later.
Modes: Story, New Game+ and Survival
| Mode | What you do | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Story | A 10-round campaign defending the sanctuary | Learning the bell, traps and bosses |
| New Game+ | Replay the campaign after finishing it | Players who want a harder second run |
| Survival | Endless waves while you protect the gate | Chasing a high score |
The trailer shows a boss called The Inquisitor and a “flashback” replay screen that shows a key moment from several camera angles, a nice touch for a browser game.
Beginner tips to hold the gate longer
These tips come from how the game’s systems work, so they apply to every mode:
- Learn the tether first. Holding the right mouse button and charging a Bell pulse is your best crowd tool. Practise it in the first Story rounds.
- Place traps on the path, not near the gate. Traps work best where enemies walk in groups, so the bell can clean up what the trap misses.
- Build combos, not single traps. A floor kicker next to a swinging ram, or a harpoon where you like to swing the bell, is worth more than spreading traps everywhere.
- Use Q in boss fights. Lock-on keeps the camera on a dangerous target while you dodge.
- Watch the rubble. After balconies break, check whether enemies take a new route and move your traps between rounds.
- Rebind keys if your hand hurts. Every mouse and keyboard binding can be changed in Options, and a controller works too.
What web game developers can learn from it
SANCTUARY: Iovela is listed on the official Phaser 4 page as a game built with Phaser 4 and Three.js. For developers this is the interesting part:
- Mixing engines is fine. Phaser handles a lot of the game structure, input, UI and 2D layers well, while Three.js is a common choice for 3D scenes. Using both lets a small team pick the right tool for each job.
- Phaser 4 is built for heavier visuals. The Phaser team describes a new renderer, a unified filter system (bloom, glow, blur, colour grading and more) and simple lighting, while keeping an API close to Phaser 3 with a migration guide.
- Browser games can carry real “console” ideas. Replays from several angles, rebindable controls and controller support all make a web game feel complete.
If you are starting a Phaser project, read the official migration notes before moving a Phaser 3 game to version 4.
FAQ
Is SANCTUARY: Iovela free?
Yes. It is free to play in the browser, with no download.
Who made SANCTUARY: Iovela?
It was made by the developer Nully, using Phaser 4 and Three.js.
What are the controls in SANCTUARY: Iovela?
WASD to move, mouse to look, left click to attack, hold right click to tether the bell, Q to lock on and E to activate the selected trap. You can rebind them in Options.
Can I play SANCTUARY: Iovela with a controller?
Yes, controller support is available besides keyboard and mouse.
What modes does it have?
A 10-round Story campaign, New Game+ and an endless Survival mode.
What engine does SANCTUARY: Iovela use?
It combines the Phaser 4 web game framework with the Three.js 3D library.
