Roguelike Review Archives

Currently Playing – Curse of the Dead Gods

3Dec

By PaulNo Comments

Currently Playing – Curse of the Dead Gods

In the past couple of weeks, when I've found myself with a short amount of time for gaming, I've returned to a comforting, familiar place. That place is Curse of the Dead Gods. Time and time again over the years since I reviewed the game for release, I've returned to the cursed temple to take on it's remaining challenges and edge ever close to the coveted Platinum trophy. The Game That Sparked A Fire Curse of the Dead Gods was the first roguelike that I ever played, I'd not paid the genre any mind previously. The art direction looked great, and the combat seemed crunchy and quick, so I picked it up for review. I was instantly hooked on the premise of starting with very little power, progressing little by little through a gauntlet, and gradually upgrading various aspects to try different ...

2Dec

By KatNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Ravenswatch – PS5 Review

Ravenswatch is a top-down roguelike action game in which you play as heroes of tales and legends that must slay hordes of nightmarish creatures. Ravenswatch was developed by Passtech Games and published by Nacon. You may recognise Passtech Games as they have made their mark with Ravenswatches' predecessor Curse of the Dead Gods. Another fantastic roguelike game. They have now returned with even more ideas and creativity! Now you can jump into Ravenswatch where you can play as 9 heroes, each with a unique twist and individual gameplay. The premise? The Nightmare has invaded the world of dreams and is corrupting everything in its wake. Faced with this evil, the Ravenswatch is gathering heroes from tales and legends from all over the world to lead a crucial battle and restore the fragile b...

19Nov

By KatNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

[REDACTED] – PS5 Review

[REDACTED] is a fast-paced isometric roguelike developed by Striking Distance Studios and published by KRAFTON, Inc. Yes, the same developers that brought you the controversial but highly anticipated Calisto Protocol. Available on the PlayStation store as well as Steam, Xbox Series S/X, [REDACTED] presents a follow up of sorts. Essentially set in the same universe but taking a vastly new approach. A shadowy agent watches Black Iron Prison spiral into chaos and you take the role of guards trying to escape the prison's monstrosities and rivals. The game takes on the Black Iron Prison with a complete new twist of battling through rooms and rooms of monsters while upgrading weapons and learning about a vast amount of characters along the way. Not sure how the devs managed to get hold of th...

11Nov

By FinchNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Ballionaire – PC Demo Preview

It's not surprising that indie game devs can create experiences that delight us consistently. Many indie projects in recent years have been a direct result of game jams during the pandemic years. However, what does surprise me is the growing genre of rogue-like score attack games that take influence from casinos. Ballionaire, created by newojbect and published by Raw Fury, aims to be one of the most cartoonish and fun in this emerging genre. The House always wins Vampire Survivors famously draws its repeatable gameplay loop and old-school graphics from casino psychology. We've seen Balatro and Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers bring poker and blackjack off the table and onto Steam Deck. Ballionaire adds penny drop machines/pachinko to the list, being self-described as a "fast-paced, kin...

4Nov

By Tyler DenyerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Karate Survivor – PC Review

Ever wanted to be an ‘80s action hero but with a twist of absurdity? Enter Karate Survivor, where the streets are your dojo, your fists are your tools, and the teeth you collect from fallen enemies are the key to growing stronger. Developed and published by Alawar, this roguelike is most similar to Enter The Gungeon and Binding of Isaac, but focuses on an arcade feel and using your fists and melee weapons instead of more ranged ones. With heart and humour, it's perfect for anyone who dreams of clearing out bad guys with a plastic flamingo. The game is available on Steam for the introductory price of £3.86. Karate Survivor: Tooth Collecting, Bread Breaking, and ‘80s Arcade Action Karate Survivor is calling your name if you’re ready to dive into a roguelike that trades bullet hell chaos fo...

Commander Quest Steam Next Fest Demo News

6Oct

By CharlotteNo Comments

News & Updates

Commander Quest Steam Next Fest Demo News

Flyway Games is excited to announce that its roguelike deck builder Commander Quest, will join the fight with a demo during Steam Next Fest this month. If you can’t wait, though, you’re in luck. The 10-hour fully playable demo is actually available right now ahead of Next Fest. Surprise! Strategise that win Embark on a journey of conquest across a classic yet fantastical medieval landscape. Experience this one-of-a-kind roguelike that combines deck-building with real-time strategy combat. Become historical heroes such as Zhuge Liang and Saladin as you lead armies to victory in battle. Playful fantasy meets brutal war as you plan your strategy in advance, watch the combat play out in real-time, then determine your next step to subdue the enemy using deck synergy and more. Watch your...

Kernel Hearts: A Magical Girls Roguelike Announced

6Oct

By CharlotteNo Comments

News & Updates

Kernel Hearts: A Magical Girls Roguelike Announced

Accessible games publisher Whitethorn Games together with developer EPHEMERA have announced their brand new title Kernel Hearts. A co-op multiplayer roguelike game like no other! Battle your way up a deadly celestial tower and use your arsenal of skills to eradicate monstrous angelic enemies and ultimately dethrone a god. All to save the world. Magical Girl Power If the only way to bring a world back from the edge of the apocalypse was to destroy its god, would you have the power to do it? As a member of M.A.H.O.U Unit — an elite fighting force of super-powered android magical girls — you and up to three allies are tasked with one thing: destroy a god to save the world from the brink of extinction. Starting from the base of the mythical Tower of Babel, you’ll fight your way through a...

TMNT: Splintered Fate Gets PC Launch Date

4Oct

By CharlotteNo Comments

News & Updates

TMNT: Splintered Fate Gets PC Launch Date

Demos are for not just for Steam Next Fest. At least that's the case for Super Evil Megacorp! That's right Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate has a Steam demo available to download and play right now. The good news doesn't stop there, as an official PC release date has also been announced. The game will launch on Steam, Steam Deck (verified!) and the Epic Games Store on November 6, 2024. Meaning very soon ninjas everywhere can dive into the turtles’ only roguelike adventure on PC for the very first time! Radical! In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate players will take their favourite crime fighting turtle brothers through inter-dimensional portals to rescue their abducted master, Splinter. This roguelike action game features fast-flowing combat, a diverse build sy...

23Sep

By CharlotteNo Comments

News & Updates

Wildkeepers Rising Revealed

Lioncode Games has unveiled its upcoming roguelite RPG: Wildkeepers Rising. The game combines the ever-growing power curve of a survivor-like with the compulsive fun of a creature collector. See it's frenetic bullet-heaven gameplay in the colourful reveal trailer below. What if you took Vampire Survivors and threw in some Pokémon? Wildkeepers Rising offers snowballing power curves and satisfying monster synergies. As your Guardians grow stronger on a buffet of outlandish mobs at the heart of the breakout survivor-like/bullet heaven subgenre. Wildkeepers Rising sees the introduction of RPG elements to the genre, with charming creatures, storytelling, and art inspired by the great Akira Toriyama, Hayao Miyazaki, and Jim Henson. “We’ve seen survivor games adopt some twists since the ori...

10Sep

By Kat3 Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Vampire Survivors – PS5 Review

Vampire Survivors is a 2022 roguelike shoot'em up game developed and published by Luca Glanace. The game has been so popular that Glanace went on to found 25 person strong studio Poncle, who work solely on the game. Vampire Survivors is initially set in Italy, where hordes of monsters have been summoned by the face of the game, our very own evil Bisconte Draculó. Which very closely resembles the tale of Count Dracula. He has set monsters upon the land to ravage. The Belpaese family and other heroic survivors take it upon themselves to hunt down and defeat Draculó. The later introduced DLCs include more heroes, more locations and even more chaotic fun than before! The game had been in an early access period from December 2021 and has now finally hit the PlayStation storefront. After a lo...