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Is Northwind the Next Great Roguelike Deckbuilder?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Northwind to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

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What is Northwind?

Northwind is just another roguelike deckbuilder, but it experiments with a few mechanics that might make the game interesting, with a few tweaks. You can pick up Northwind on Steam early access.

You are a mercenary on the hunt for powerful monsters. Craft a deck of powerful attacks and abilities to take down everything that comes your way. With a bit of luck, some skillful deck-building, and the right equipment, there is nothing that can stand in your way. Do you have what it takes to take down the most powerful monsters?

Early Access

Early access gives you access to two mercenaries: The Duelist and Pyrotech. Everyone starts with the duelist and unlocks the Pyrotech by playing through a run. The Duelist is a melee class that hits hard with the right skills. The Pyrotech is good at stacking conditions to win her battles. There are 233 cards, 113 relics, 34 perks, 38 kinds of food, and 23 gems to ensure no two runs are ever the same.

There are three bioms ruled by a total of five bosses across them to keep players busy enough till the next major update. While the game may not be perfect yet, it shows a good amount of promise to at least be a blimp in your radar.

Roadmap

Northwind is not without its ambitions. While the game may promise a good amount of content in its current state, there are a few planned updates to keep fans excited. Planned updates for the next year include:

  • New shop: Monster Gear Engineer
  • 3rd Mercenary
  • Expanded Hazard Levels and Roguelite progression
  • Inspection feature
  • Controller and Steam Deck Support
  • Additional content: Relics, Gems, etc.
  • Visual and QoL upgrades

All we can do as wait for them the publishers to deliver.

Gameplay

Northwind has solid performance, but it does have basic minimal animation.

Players start each game by choosing one of the two mercenaries. I always picked the Pyrotech because I preferred the playstyle, but both seem equally capable of taking on the challenge. Players start with mostly the same deck, save three cards that are randomly generated each turn. Players then choose an encounter, be it combat, combat with a boss/miniboss, random event, or the campsite.

Combat

Combat is a tug-of-war style encounter between the player and the NPC. Each round, the NPC will spawn damage or an ability. A players must use choose the correct combination of cards to either match or beat the number the NPC spawns or take damage. The player looses if their health goes to zero. The player wins if the NPC’s health goes to zero.

To better visualize this, imagine the player encounters a goblin. In the first round, the globlin spawns five damage. The player looks at their hand and plays a number of cards that do five or more damage, provided they have mana.

The mana system is what makes Northwind unique. Mana does not regenerate like in other deck builders like Starvader. Instead, players must draw mana cards and spend or stockpile them strategically. Mana cards are interwoven into a players deck. A player can choose to pick up more along the adventure, but finding the balance between the number of mana cards and attack cards is key for a players success. Players can get mana flooded/screwed if they are not too careful. because of this mechanic, players are sometimes forced into taking the damage in order to stockpile for bigger attacks in a subsequent turn.

Leveling

Mana can be spent to cast attack cards, but they can also be used to level up. Players can level up their character up to level three anytime during each combat, provided they have enough mana. Leveling up a character makes them hit harder. All attacks do more damage when leveling, at the cost of sometimes spending a turn to power-up. This is not only thematic, but it adds a bit of complexity to the combat. Players will need to decide whether or not they want to spend a turn leveling their character or dealing damage. Knowing when to spend and save resources, especially on leveling is key for beating the harder bits of combat.

Relics and Items

Players will occasionally have find randomly generated items or relics to aid them on their journey. These items and relics give players abilities or boosts that give them an edge in combat. Players are either given these items are rewards in random events, paid for through currency or life, or dropped by monsters as treasure. Sometimes, players can choose from a collection of items. However these items find their way into a players, they can easily ruin a run if they aren’t good enough.

Encounters

Aside from the major Boss fights, players can choose not to fight. Throughout a run, players have the option to choose non-combat scenarios. These include but are not limited to shops and random events. A random event can be anything from encountering a stranger that gives a player a boon for a price (or free). The encounter can also be a difficult choice that can also result in a boon. For example, a player can choose to give up some of their health to upgrade one of their attack cards. There are also NPCs that allow players to edit their decks allowing them to buy, upgrade, or delete cards in their decks.

Rest

It wouldn’t be a roguelike deckbuilder without some kind of campfire mechanic. Players are given the occasional opportunity to heal their character. If a player doesn’t need to heal, they also have the option to upgrade cards in their deck and sometimes pick up a special boon to help them in their journey. The placement of these nodes, and knowing when to use them can make or break a run.

Permanant Upgardes

After a run ends, players earn in-game currency that they can spend on buying permanent upgrades. In theory, the game gets easier the more runs a player completes. I am sure there is a solvable way to buy upgrades, but I enjoyed choosing the upgrades that best fit my style. Earning these upgrades are a bit of a grind, but the built-in RNG promises to lessen a bit of that monotony.

Towns

A players will also get a chance to visit a town during a run where they can visit different vendors and buy foods, items, relics and upgrades with currencies they earn across their adventure. These upgrades are randomly generated, and can make or break a run.

Review

Northwind plays with a few interesting mechanics that make it a promising entry to the genre. While it does need a bit of tweaking, the game has enough substance to make it worth at least an add to the wishlist.

The Artstyle

The world of Northwind feels a little bare at the moment. The champions and a few of the monsters have cool design, but I feel like the world lacks flavor. There is not enough color or themes spread accorss the regions that give Northwind a tangible place in genre. People might be drawn in by the cool art for thew promotions, but will forget playing the game because the art isn’t very memorable. It doesn’t help that there isn’t much in terms of animation, but that is probable better for a game like this where the focus is card interactions. Improving visuals is part of the roadmap, so a few more updates may change things.

The Gameplay

Gameplay is where I am completely split on this game. On one hand, Northwind‘s unique mechanics are the breath of fresh air the genre needs, on the other, it has a glaring balancing issue.

Now the game runs great, as I would expect from a game with little animation. I didn’t experience any game breaking bugs, and I got all the frames I needed to play comfortable. The are also enough cards, relics, and items in the current Early Access build for a few fun and interesting decks. The RNG, while mostly fair, can end a run early. This is expected in the roguelike genre, and not enough to ruin the game.

What ruins game is the balancing in later fights. There are fights where you can do everything right, but still get hit with a 100 damage because the game decides its time. I am sure there are foods you can eat, upgrades you can buy, or decisions you can make to mitigate this, but it sucks. Having to spend mana on level feels bad when the boss can kill you with one hit. There are fights where you don’t even get the option to stockpile mana. These fights feel unfair and will turn away the player who isn’t trying to grind at a game that doesn’t have a cool memorable world or animation to distract them.

Final Thoughts?

Northwind needs a bit more time to bake in the oven. The game has a few good ideas that have me excited about its future, but it is kind of hard to recommend when you have games like Takara Cards or even Shogun Showdown. Don’t get me wrong, Northwind isn’t a bad game, it just isn’t ready yet. If you are looking for a new deckbuilder and don’t mind the roughness that comes with an early access game, it is a great way to support a publisher that is making an interesting attempt at the genre.

You can pick up Northwind on Steam Early Access.

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Deadly Days: Roadtrip Playtest Impressions

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I was asked to cover Deadly Days: Roadtrip public playtest. I understand the game is still in development and will be a bit more lenient with my criticism. That said, these will be my honest impressions.

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What is Deadly Days: Roadtrip?

Deadly Days: Roadtrip is a top down auto-battler roguelike dungeon crawler coming to PC.

The world crumbles under the weight of a zombie outbreak. Those left drive from place to place, searching for survival. Gas is finite, and sometimes you have to get out and find some more. Run across procedurally generated dungeons to collect enough gas to fill the tank and do your best to stay alive. Do you have what it takes to make it to the end of this horrible road trip?

Gameplay

All players start in the main hub where they can buy upgrades and customize their character between runs. Players then get to plan their supply runs where they can collect upgrades, weapons, and gas. Players are offered locations with different lootable supplies, so make sure you plan according. The game also features a day and night cycle that not only creates atmosphere, but adds a bit of challenge. The longer a player spends in a level, the more zombies appear. A run ends when the player runs out of health. What makes Deadly Days unique is its inventory management system. Players will always start with a limited amount of bag space, but can upgrade it either through special drops or by leveling up. When a player levels up, they can choose between a random weapon, item, or bag expansion. While the RNG does feel fair, it also means there are a lot of tough choices.

Impressions

I love this genre, and Deadly Days: Roadtrip has earned its spot in my rotation. It has a cute and playful art style, relaxing yet engaging gameplay, and solid flavor. If you want a cute casual game that doesn’t require a huge commitment, you’d be hard pressed to find better. This game is in such a good place in it’s development, and I am excited to see what a full product looks like.

The game runs well, but I couldn’t get it working on the Steam Deck. I hope it gets Steam Deck support in a later release. Combat is a lot of fun. Maneuvering through the maps is active and fun, and all the weapons feel different. Upgrades create a tangible increase in power, which is always nice to see. The procedural generated levels are well done. All the maps felt unique and they were filled with a diverse cast of zombies hungry for brains. My favorite feature of the game was the day and night cycle that made the levels feel more intense. I also love inventory management, so this game had everything I love.

I can see the game feeling a bit repetitive, especially in the early stages, but that is the charm of the genre. I feel like the maps and monsters give the game enough variety to keep things interesting.

If you’re looking for a new game to play, head to the official Deadly Days: Roadtrip Steam page and sign up for the playtest. Don’t forget to wishlist!

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Discover Rogue Waters: A Nautical Roguelite Adventure

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I was sent a free copy of Rogue Waters to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

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What is Rogue Eaters?

Rogue Waters is a pirate themed roguelite strategy game out now on Steam and Epic games, and it will be receiving its console release on February 4, 2025.

You have been a loyal officer for the infamous Blackbone until the day you encounter the artifact. Blackbone’s greed has landed you on an ominous island, and with a firm command, sends you into danger. Unfortunately, the treasure he seeks is cursed, and you are its recipient. Feeling betrayed, Blackbone sends you to your watery grave, but you do not stay there. You wake up in a strange place, alive, angry, and with a mysterious voice in your head. Gather your crew, fortify your ship, and set sail for you new adventure. Will you use this new life to get your revenge? Will you uncover the source of this new strange affliction? You’ll need to play to find out.

Gameplay

All players start in the game’s main hub where they can upgrade their ship, crew, and abilities with the loot they find along their run. Players then set sail and either play through the story or grind out random runs. During a run, players can choose to engage in combat, trigger a random event, buy equipment or heal, or find treasure.

What makes Rogue Waters a unique roguelite is its naval combat mechanic. Before a player can board an enemy ship, the ships engage in combat. Players take turns with enemy ships to attack each other’s modules. Modules include the ship’s weapons, upgrades that give units passive abilities, and crew mates. Destroying modules gives players different advantages. Destroying a weapon means the enemy ship can’t attack, destroying an upgrade removes the enemy’s passive buff, and killing an enemy unit means there are fewer units to fight during combat. The player faces the same dangers. Choosing what to attack during naval combat can be the key to victory.

Once on the ship, combat is a straightforward turn-based system, with the player performing all their actions first. Rogue Waters has a unique pushback mechanic that players need to take advantage of. When a unit attacks, both parties are pushed back to one space. Players can choose the direction of this knockback, and interact with the environment for additional effects. For example, knocking an enemy into a wall does additional damage. The coolest mechanic however is the ability to summon giant creatures from the darkest depths of the oceans to aid you in combat. Each creature has a unique ability and can easily turn the tide of a battle.

When a player’s crew wipes, the player returns to the main hub to purchase their upgrades and start their new run.

Review

I absolutely love Rogue Waters and recommend it to anyone looking for a new strategy game. This game has cool nautical flavor, a solid story with amazing voice acting, and fantastic gameplay. The naval combat mechanic gives the game some great flavor, and the pushback mechanic makes combat fun. I personally loved the ability to summon giant creatures like the Kraken to defeat my enemies.

The only complaint I have is that not all of the animation is smooth. This isn’t a deal breaker since the game performs well most of the time, but there is the occasional stutter or awkward animation that is hard to ignore.

That said, Rogue Water’s unique mechanics and solid storytelling will easily make it the pirate game you didn’t know you needed in your life. If you are looking for a new and unique strategy game that is also Steam Deck compatible, check out Rogue Waters on Steam and Epic Games. If you would rather wait for the console release, don’t forget to wishlist it for PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch.

video game reviews

Dice Assassin: Chess With Extra Steps

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I was sent a free copy of Dice Assassin to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion of the game. This will be my honest review of the game.

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What is Dice Assassin?

Dice Assassin is a 2D minimalistic roguelike card battler out now on Steam.

With a bit of tactics and luck, you are destined to be the best assassin this world has ever seen. Fight through mobs of enemies, learn powerful abilities, and leave no witnesses. Are you lucky and skilled enough to survive?

Gameplay

Dice Assassin is chess with a few extra steps. Players only control one piece, and the spaces it can move depend on dice rolls. Dice are rolled at the start of each turn. Cards give the assassin abilities. The key to this game is moving the assassin efficiently to clear the board of enemies. Like most roguelikes, players can upgrade their assassin through random buffs and abilities. The RNG for these shops seems fair, but I didn’t have it in me to test it too much.

Review

I can’t recommend Dice Assassin because it doesn’t feel finished. There are parts of this game that aren’t translated into English. There isn’t too much to read, so the lack of a complete translation isn’t a deal breaker. The gameplay is boring. Having only one action per turn and movement and attacks tied to RNG makes it less of a strategy game and more of a gambling one. Combat is boring, and it feels more one-sided the farther you get. The boss fights seem impossible, especially if you get stuck with unlucky rolls.

I am sure smarter people and people who like chess will have a better time with the game, but there isn’t much reason to play it past the first few play-throughs. I did like their choice of minimalism, but it isn’t for me.

If you care about achievements, Dice Assassin has easy ones you can earn. If you enjoy chess and want something that is a little different, sure. Everyone else can spend their $3 elsewhere.

You can pick up Dice Assassin on Steam for $2.99 (Currently $1.64 until September 3rd)

video game reviews

Lost Castle 2: The Cute Roguelite You’ll Play With Your Friends!

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I was sent a free copy of Lost Castle 2 to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Lost Castle 2?

Choose your class and make your way through the most adorable dungeons in search of treasure, money, and fame. Brave these procedurally generated dungeons on your friends online. What hilarious stories will you share around the campfire?

Gameplay

Players choose their class at the start of each run. These classes can be swapped freely at the blacksmith or through random weapon drops during a run. Players can choose between a melee, magic, or ranged class. Each class is unique, but I preferred the magic class for my play style.

Like most roguelikes, players will receive random upgrades and skills throughout their run. There are random shops within the dungeons that also sell player items. These upgrades are all RNG-reliant, which means luck can ruin a run. I thought RNG was fair for the most part.

Players will then move through the dungeon, clearing each room of its monsters. Enemies increase in difficulty with each room, but a player’s power level also increases. Players can choose the types of encounters after each room. They can fight regular monsters or elite monsters, rest and refill their positions, buy items from a shop, and eventually fight the area boss. These choices are mostly randomized. Make sure you plan your route wisely.

In between runs, players can buy permanent upgrades in town. They can level up facilities and give their character some valuable buffs for their future runs. While I am sure there is an optimal build path, I always went with what fit my playstyle the best.

If you have friends or want to make new ones, Lost Castle 2 has a built-in matchmaking system. I liked playing alone, but I can see this game being a lot of fun with other people. It definitely has a party game vibe similar to Castle Crashers.

Review

Lost Castle is incredibly cute, but that shouldn’t distract from its issues. The gameplay, while fun and engaging, can grow repetitive and stale if you let it. Multiplayer is what will extend the game’s shelf life, but you’ll at least get your money’s worth if you decide to go solo. The wacky quirky gameplay gives this game its charm, but it would be a lot better with friends. I definitely wish there was an opportunity for couch co-op.

If you’re looking for a fun party game you can only play online, this might be a solid solution. This is a cute game with a charming little loop, but one that won’t stay in your rotation for too long unless you can find a group of friends that can make the grind worth it. The grind isn’t terrible, but it gets repetitive. I enjoyed the repetition, but I also understand the value of a good friend group.

The game is in early access. While I thought the game was fine, I am sure there will be some valuable improvements on the horizon. Buy at your discretion. You can pick up Lost Castle 2 on Steam for $14.99.

video game reviews

MULLET MADJACK is a Welcomed Chaotic Kick of Nostolgia!

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I was sent a free copy of MULLET MADJACK to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a new budget headset, I got to try out the Fifine H9s and liked them. Check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is MULLET MADJACK?

MULLET MADJACK  is the fastest and most chaotic FPS you’ll ever play on PC.

The year is 2090, and the world is run by the super-rich A.I. robots known as the ROBILLIONARES. 2090 is also the birth of a new kind of man. One that has become integrated with the internet and lives his life 10 seconds at a time. These new men must now kill for entertainment if they want to live. the more likes they earn, the longer their life is. You are MULLET MAD JACK, caught in this twisted game. Fight your way through hordes of enemies and live to fight another day. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

MULLET MADJACK is the most intense game of DOOM you’ll ever play. You start each level with a basic weapon and fight your way through the colorful cyberpunk-themed maze. You start each run with only 10 seconds of life and earn time by killing enemies. After each run, you earn random weapons or power-ups for the remainder of the run. The RNG is fair. Most of the times I died were due to lack of skill poor planning and not the choices available. If you run out of time or if your hit points drop to zero, you lose. 

Runs are insane and chaotic. The world around you blurs with enemies, explosions, and color as you rush to the exit, or are desperately seeking for that next kill. Levels in this game are randomly generated. While some levels may feel familiar, there is enough variation between each run to keep things feeling fresh. Eventually, you’ll have a boss fight. These fights are creative, but that time limit keeps things intense. 

While MADJACK has a story and some terrific flavor, it isn’t going to be important to keep track of. I enjoyed the flavor and lore around the city, but it is hard to keep things straight when you only have 10 seconds to live. 

Impressions

This game became my obsession. MULLETT MADJACK is the high-octane, nostalgic kick you didn’t know you needed in your life. I am a huge fan of the ’90s anime aesthetics and retro pixel art style. The music, the color, flashing lights all come together to create this beautiful unintelligible chaos that you won’t be able to put down, even for a second. Let’s not forget about the phenomenal voice acting and some of the most amazing cheesy one-liners ever. This game goes all out to create its fun and flavorful world, and I appreciate all that effort. 

One thing to note is that this game feels incredibly chaotic in the beginning. Everything moves quickly, there are explosions everywhere, and the timer feels too short. As you get more comfortable with the mechanics, the time becomes less of a problem. The game never lost its intensity, but the chaos started to make sense. The game is fun when it is all explosions and chaos, but it got more fun when I started to get farther in a level and I got to notice some of the unique flavor of the world around me. 

MULLET MADJACK is a fantastic retro-feeling boomer shooter with amazing vibes and aesthetics. If you’re looking for a new game and don’t mind any of the chaos, go play it today!

You can pick up MULLET MADJACK on Steam for $19.99 (currently $17.99 until May 24). There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me. 

video game reviews

Dungeon Drafters is a Cute Retro Dungeon Crawling Deck Builder

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I was sent a copy of Dungeon Drafters for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Dungeon Drafters?

Dungeon Drafters is a retro-style dungeon-crawler deck-building RPG out now on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.

Play as an eager adventurer and delve through unique perilous dungeons in search of treasure, fame, and more spell cards. Do you have what it takes to conquer every dungeon?

Gameplay

Players have access to five unique characters: shinobi, monk, mage, explorer, brawler, and bard. Each has access to a unique set of cards, abilities, and playstyle.

Shinobi
Monk
Mage
Brawler
Bard

Players enter the dungeon with a deck they can customize through the adventure. While other games have you build your deck between encounters, Dungeon Drafters lets you build your deck outside of the Dungeon through the shops like you would in a traditional RPG. This is a refreshing take on the genre, and it let me concentrate on each element of the game as it came up. 

Combat is a turn-based system where players can perform only three actions per turn. A player can either move a square, use a melee attack, or cast a spell card. While it is a somewhat limiting system, it does encourage creativity. With the mage, I was often trying to bait my enemies into traps or freeze the ground so I could slide across the map. There is a bit of a grind as you build your deck to progress, but it’s the normal grind you would expect from a game in this genre. 

Players make delve through the dungeon and clear each room of monsters and treasures. Dungeons do have unique bosses that need to be cleared. Combat can get a little repetitive, but the boss fights have unique mechanics to shake things up. Players can switch between dungeons at will to keep things fresh. Each dungeon has its unique aesthetic and feels like a different delve. 

Thoughts

I enjoyed Dungeon Drafters, but it is a bit of a niche game. The three-action point limit will frustrate players, and others won’t enjoy the repetition. I enjoyed the repetition and found it a relaxing experience. Dungeon Drafters is an adorable game with solid flavor and unique gameplay.

My only complaint with the game is that you can accidentally waste your turn on movement. I would often press a direction on the d-pad, wasting my action points. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a warning for whoever needs it. You don’t want to waste your turns on a boss fight for accidentally moving towards a big attack.

If you’re looking for a chill game that isn’t a huge commitment, Dungeon Drafters is a solid choice. It has a great soundtrack, a relaxing and intuitive gameplay loop, and a very cool art and aesthetic. It certainly has enough options to refresh gameplay, but I would only pay $20 for it.

Dungeon Drafters is a solid retro-style game you can pick up now for $24.99 on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. It is currently on sale for $19.99 until March 28 on Steam, Epic Games, and Switch. Check out the Demo on Steam!

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The Viel of Shadows Demo is a Fun Retro Experience

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I was asked to cover the Viel of Shadows demo for my blog. I’ll refrain from review it too harshly because the game isn’t finished yet. That said, everyone reading this should add this demo to their rotation.  

What is Veil of Shadows?

Viel of Shadows is a retro-style action adventure roguelike coming to Steam.

Sirene wakes up in a mysterious forest without her memories. She must now venture through this strange new world and reclaim her memories. Bloodthirsty creatures lurk in the shadows, and Sirene must fight to stay alive. Can she uncover the truth and escape this nightmare?

Gameplay

Players will move between checkpoints shooting, dodging, and kiting enemies with a bow and arrow. Enemies will occasionally drop loot like potions and gear, but they are sparse so use them carefully. The biggest challenge of the game is moving efficiently to avoid attacks to stay alive. Death isn’t permanent, nor does it have a significant penalty other than resetting the level. I think the game is hard enough as it is, but maybe they’ll add harder game modes if there is demand for it.

There is a leveling system that allows players to put points into three categories: Damage, Agility, and Precision. Each level into a category provides a stat boost, but you also get a special ability for every five levels you invest in a category. This allows players to build towards their playstyle without it being overly complicated.

One thing to keep in mind is that this game, like many others in the genre, will be repetitive. You will die a lot and run through the same mobs of enemies by design. I always find this repetition soothing, but it is something to note for people unfamiliar with the genre. That said, based on the demo, Viel of Shadows doesn’t feel as grindy as other games in the genre. 

Thoughts

I’ve been enjoying the retro resurgence I’ve been going through, and Viels of Shadows is no exception. The game has a great art style, some nice flavor, and fun gameplay. The demo runs great, and while I do wish I got a boss fight, I had a lot of fun trying to get through the mobs. I like that the game offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging without being impossible. 

Viels of Shadows supports keyboard and mouse and controller configurations, but I recommend using the controller. While neither option is objectively better, playing a retro-style game like this with a controller just feels right. 

If you’re looking for a new game, you need to check out the demo. It is a fun retro game with a lot of heart and flavor. It has a promising story hook, cool art, and a chill yet challenging gameplay loop. Whether or not you enjoy roguelikes, there is no harm in trying the demo. 

No release date has been announced yet, but they are pretty active on their Twitter and Discord. Make sure you follow to stay up to date, and make sure you add Viel of Shadows to your Wishlist!

I will be getting my review copy at launch, so stay tuned for a more detailed review. So far I am excited. If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

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Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of the Phantom Mist is for the Casuals

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I was sent Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. 

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What is Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist

Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist is the first DLC for Astlibra Revision. The game picks up after the events of the first game and introduces a new character. I’ve written my review of the base game, but if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. Astlibra is a modern Metroidvania for the fans of the old-school classics for PC and Switch, but the DLC is only available on Steam at the moment. Either way, I recommend you at least check out the Steam demo. 

After the events of the last invasion, a hero’s guild has formed to keep the realm safe from evil. All was good until one day the heroes vanished. It is now up to the baker’s daughter to venture into the Cave of the Phantom Mist and bring the heroes back. Does she have what it takes to return the piece to the land?

Gameplay

Leveling in this game requires players to grind gems to purchase stats in between runs. While this gives the game its grind, it isn’t a terrible one. At least not on Normal. I like that the game continues to give players the freedom to find their playstyle through their character’s build, but I felt like I needed less guidence this time around.

While the DLC does have a unique story, it isn’t as interesting as the base game. Where the story for the base game is deep and developed, the DLC acts more as a frame of flavor for the grind. It isn’t bad, but fans of the base game will be disappointed.

Thoughts

I enjoyed Astlibra Gaiden, but I see where it won’t be for everyone. Fans of the original who enjoyed the story and complex mechanics will be disappointed by the changes. The story isn’t as good, and the game is easier. The DLC feels like a more casual entry to the series, and that isn’t a bad thing. 

Progression in Astlibra Gaiden is more like a dungeon diver roguelike where players will have to grind through a procedurally generated dungeon to progress through the story. While the story isn’t as great as the first one, it’s good enough for the casual experience that it is. I enjoyed the repetition, but I didn’t follow the story as closely as I did with the base game. 

If you haven’t played the Astlibra base game, I recommend you go do that first. It’s an amazing game that should be in your library. If you’re a fan of Astlibra but want something more casual that isn’t a huge commitment, go get the DLC. It’s not as good as the base game, but it does scratch that casual Metroidvania itch. 

You can pick the Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist on Steam for $9.99, or save on the bundle for $31.48.

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Roots of Yggdrasil: The Unique Village Builder Deck Builder

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I was sent Roots of Yggdrasil for free to review for my site. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

What is Roots of Yggdrasil

Roots of Yggdrasil is a roguelike deck builder that splashes village builder elements to create a unique gaming experience. The game releases on Steam in Early Access on January 24 for $14.99. Don’t forget to wishlist. 

Sunna and her tribe have been trapped between time, and they must find a way out. Together you must build a settlement, explore the unknown, and discover the secrets that will take the tribe to the top of Yggdrasil. But the road won’t be easy, and failure means you will have to start over. Do you have the spatial awareness to make it to the top of the mountain?

Gameplay

Players start a run of Roots of Yggdrasil with a random deck that they upgrade throughout a run. These decks summon structures that can be built on procedurally generated levels. Space and resources are limited, making efficiency a player’s most important resource. To beat an encounter, players need to complete several tasks to power up the ship for the next leg of the voyage. A player can run out of space or resources, or have a random disaster make it impossible to complete a level. For example, there is a deadly fog that slowly eats up the map, leaving players without enough space to build. 

Aside from the village builder elements, Roots of Yggdrasil plays like your typical deck builder. Heroes have special abilities players can cast periodically, there are random encounters that give players cards or resources, and there are permanent upgrades players can purchase in between runs. The hardest part about this game is building in the right order and leaving enough space for what you need. 

Thoughts

Roots of Yggdrasil is a cute game with a fun art style, amazing flavor, and interesting mechanics. I enjoyed this game a lot, but the game isn’t finished, and you can tell. It isn’t unplayable. The game never crashed, and the mechanics were fine, but it needs a little polish and more content. The gameplay started to feel repetitive after a few runs, so most people will want to wait for more biomes, mechanics, and features to be added to the game. 

If you don’t mind the roughness of an Early Access game and want to experience a unique deck builder, look into Roots of Yggdrasil. The bit I got to play is fun, and I can see the potential. I’ll be revisiting the game on a future release, so make sure you stay tuned for that. Until then, make sure you add it to your wishlist!