Fogpiercer is a strategy deckbuilder roguelite available for PC, macOS, and Linux. Choose your driver, engine and support carriages as you traverse the wasteland in search of a new home. Defend against an ongoing assault to reach the edge of the fog safely. Developed by Mad Cookies Studio (Cardbob) with publishing by Hooded Horse (Manor Lords, 9 Kings), you can find it on most digital store platforms and included with Xbox Game Pass.
Chugga Chugga Boom Boom
Here we are back again with another roguelite. Fogpiercer is also a strategic deckbuilder similar to Moonsigil Atlas or Slay the Spire. With a plethora of rougelites to go around, how does it shape up? Check out what I found in the review below.
Gameplay
Fogpiercer is a roguelite that combines strategic, turn-based combat and deckbuilding gameplay. Choose one of four drivers, each with their own cards and ability gain conditions. Then select an engine and carriage, also with cards of their own, to get started along your chosen path. Traverse through the frozen wasteland as bandits attempt to keep you from your final destination.
The deckbuilding mechanics in Fogpiercer fit well in a roguelite like this. The player is able to unlock and choose different sets of cards for their starting deck. They also earn cards after battles and further along as they travel. Cards make up the abilities necessary to defend and combat a constant assault from roaming bandits. Unlike my recent adventure in Moonsigil Atlas, action points play a factor in how to utilize card placement on the given grid per encounter.
In addition to the random cards chosen for upgrades and modifications, additional useable cards are unlocked from earning railroad spikes. This currency is gained from completing missions in Fogpiercer as well as a small amount earned per run. Modules, modification cards for the carriages, can also be obtained in this way. Modules act as passive bonuses to your carriages and engines and can greatly impact the progress of your run. Cards that have been unlocked may also be disabled so that they do not appear during a run as well.
Graphics & Audio
Though Fogpiercer is not available on console, it is available for each of the primary operating systems. I actually spent most of my time with the game on my Steam Deck rather than at my pc desktop, since it gives me much more flexibility to play in short spurts. It runs very well on both platforms at default settings and I believe I may have actually bumped up the graphics slightly on my desktop. The graphics are crisp and detailed regardless and the art style fits well with both the genre and setting.
The audio track matches the quality of the art. Background music in Fogpiercer is subtle but ever-present, helping provide a nice background as you traverse the frozen wasteland. Sound effects provide satisfying feedback for ability use as well. Especially when you set off a chain reaction of crashes from a well-placed artillery shell.
Longevity
Fogpiercer is another roguelite that I foresee returning to frequently. A number of times while writing this review I just started playing more instead. From what I can tell, there is a decent amount of content to keep you busy (I’ve only unlocked two of the four drivers thus far) between unlocking everything and completing all the various missions. I’m not sure what the game holds beyond that though or what is waiting for me at the end of the line – but it will take time to get there. With each run, paths and cards are random so no two runs will be the same as well.
Final Thoughts
I initially thought I was going to be overwhelmed by the mechanics in Fogpiercer. Thankfully they were easy to pick up and understand after a few short runs. The deckbuilding and strategy aspects make this roguelite stand out from others, on top of crisp graphics and audio. It’s definitely one I’m going to keep playing and I recommend you check it out as well. Well deserving of the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you enjoy this review, be sure to check out my other reviews here.
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