Death over dishonour: in roguelikes, you risk it all for glory – though only after lots and lots of failure. As the saying goes, eagles soar, but they also get sucked into jet engines. But roguelikes welcome the rush, happy to bash their heads until they dominate the game (or, if you’re like me, eventually give up and find something easier).
Roguelike means you can’t save, death means starting over, and you lose everything (or, in roguelites, almost everything). As Summer Game Fest 2022 exhibits, that can apply to a wide range of genres.
Desta [Steam Link]
I’m not sure how to describe Desta. Is it a story-driven game about exploring dreams? Is it a ball game that requires accuracy? Is it a turn-based tactics experience? Those all seem to apply, and the game’s reveal trailer isn’t very helpful. But it looks endearing – considering it’s from the makers of Monument Valley, Desta should be a great game.
ORX [Steam Link]
Can you beat back the hordes? ORX combines deck building, tabletop strategy and tower defence into a deceptively simple-looking game. Run multiple kingdoms with the game’s four factions, collect and use the 300 game cards, and fight off swarms of enemies.
The Unliving [Steam Link]
This title looks very impressive. You are a necromancer, returning from a long slumber to conquer by using the reanimated corpses of your enemies. Slap on some fine-looking pixel art, lots of action, a large world to explore, and you have The Unliving, a hectic RPG with hordes to command.
Ship Of Fools [Steam Link]
Ship Of Fools already gets my approval for the phrase ‘oarsome combat’. It’s a zany cartoon odyssey full of silliness and adventures, with every playthrough promising over a hundred trinkets and objects that will affect gameplay. Up to four people can play online or local, exploring the doomsday seas.
Power Chord [Steam Link]
Save the world one dive bar at a time in the ultimate battle of the bands! Power Chord is a turn-based deck-build combat game, pitting your band creations against quartets of demons and monsters. Build a group from a selection of unique characters and blast away.
We Who Are About To Die [Steam Link]
Roman blood sports gets a roguelite spin with RPG and management elements in this combat game. Your fighter only has one life, so make it count! Win fights, woo patrons, feed the crowds, master weapons and fighting, and maybe you will earn fame, glory and freedom. We Who Are About To Die looks really promising.
