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0 The Book of Aaru, out now on Steam, starts strong; you get to play as a cat. A CAT! With slow-mo time powers in a glowing Egyptian sci-fi tomb. Say what you want about the game’s bugs (and we will), when a game lets me roleplay as a cursed feline adventurer in an ancient, future labyrinth, I’m in. Developed and published by Amenti Studios, The Book of Aaru pitches itself as a roguelite in the style of Hades and Curse of the Dead Gods, with destructible environments, time manipulation, and multiweapon combat. It’s a bold entry from a passionate indie team, blending Egyptian mythology with cosmic tech and feline acrobatics—but does it land on its feet?
The Book of Aaru needs more than just a rewrite.
Let’s hear it! What’s your favourite game where you play as an animal? Bonus points for obscure ones. And yes, we’re excited. You’re a time-bending cat in The Book of Aaru. That alone deserves a tail flick of praise.
Gameplay
Controls are standard WASD, with combat built around dual-wielding combos, parries, and the star feature: a time-slowing ability that recharges on successful hits. This should make for tactical chaos, but in reality. It mainly lets you engage in endless fights that are easy to cheese. Combine that with lightning, fast projectile recovery, and the result is a difficulty curve flatter than the Sahara.
The environment is breakable, and smashing up the scenery is a joy. Treasure hides in rubble, secret paths invite exploration, and explosions are meaty and satisfying. That said, beneath all that sand, the game’s core feels dusty. Despite its ambitions, The Book of Aaru struggles to pull you in beyond that initial “this could be cool” moment. The tutorial glitched not once, not twice, but three times. At one point, I was stuck in a portal that claimed enemies were near, even though the room was empty. The upgrade menu crashed, equipping medallions didn’t work, and several buttons (V, I’m looking at you) just gave up entirely. Even after the post-release patches, bugs continued. The “All-Knowing Halls” remain unknowable and unopenable.
Want to play around with character builds? Tough. Once you assign Glyph points, they’re stuck. No reset, no confirm, no mercy. Combat-wise, it’s all flash and no fang. The bosses are forgettable, and the parry system is so vague that it’s hard to tell whether you mistimed it or if the game ignored you. (Or, real talk, I suck. That too.) On top of that, all dungeons start have a distinct feeling of déjà vu—same spike traps, same glowing masks, same lifeless layouts. There’s no map, no variety, and no spark to drive momentum forward.
Graphics and Audio
Let’s give credit where it’s due: the Egyptian sci-fi aesthetic of The Book of Aaru is genuinely intriguing. There’s a mystical, mechanical vibe reminiscent of Stargate, mixed with Curse of the Dead Gods. If you squint past the rough textures and dated assets, there’s beauty buried beneath the bugs.
The soundtrack, meanwhile, is an Arabic and Egyptian-inspired score with atmospheric rhythms that set the tone nicely. It’s immersive, hypnotic, and by far the game’s strongest element. It makes you feel like you’re uncovering forbidden secrets in ancient catacombs, even if the actual gameplay is less fun than quicksand. The lack of voice acting, story, and real-world building elements did not hinder the immersion. There’s mention of Emily Sands and a 1926 expedition, but that thread never gets pulled. You’re mostly left wondering who you are, what’s going on, and why everything keeps crashing.
Longevity – Nine Lives, One Loop
Being a roguelite, you’d expect The Book of Aaru to keep you coming back for just one more run syndrome. But after a few hours, repetition and frustration set in. With only one weapon unlocked post-patch (where you previously had access to all of them), the game becomes a grind, especially when crafting is a chore and resources are poorly explained.
The blessing/saving mechanic is baffling. It takes materials from you to save progress, but the numbers never seem to add up. Sometimes it says 8%, then lets you bless 100%, but also tells you you’re too poor to do it. It’s like being gaslit by a glowing obelisk. Progression, when it works, is slow and unrewarding. The environments are supposed to be randomly generated, but they feel far too familiar, far too fast.
Final Thoughts
There’s something curiously promising about The Book of Aaru. The concept is fantastic—a cursed feline in a techno, mythic Egyptian underworld with destructible tombs and time, manipulating combat. It should work. But for now, it’s buried under a tombstone of glitches, clunky design, and uninspired combat. The charm of the setting and music can only carry it so far.
Roguelites thrive on tight gameplay loops, juicy upgrades, and a reason to keep returning. Sadly, The Book of Aaru fumbles on almost every count. Hopefully, future patches can resuscitate this title and grant it the nine lives it deserves. Until then, it’s a fascinating but broken relic.
The Book of Aaru gets the Thumb Culture Bronze Award
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you enjoyed this review, why not check out my review of PaperKlay
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