What to Expect From Rogue Loops

In recent years, Steam has garnered more media attention than the Nintendo eShop, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from low-quality games often referred to as “shovelware”. In fact, finding quality games among the vast selection on Steam can be quite challenging. While big-budget games from major publishers have marketing and brand recognition to help them stand out and appear on Steam’s front page, many indie games struggle to gain visibility. However, one such game, Rogue Loops, is already generating a positive buzz.

Introduced in November 2024, the game titled “Rogue Loops” is an action-packed roguelite set in an isometric view, bearing obvious resemblances to the popular game “Hades“. However, despite its similarities in appearance and gameplay to “Hades“, “Rogue Loops” is not a mere clone, boasting several distinct features that make it an intriguing prospect.

Rogue Loops is a Hades-Like With a Few Twists

Rogue Loops’ Gameplay Will Be Familiar to Fans of Hades

In the game Rogue Loops, players find themselves managing a family caught in an unending sequence. Their objective is to fight their way out of this loop, growing stronger with each attempt, while encountering fresh hurdles as they progress.

For enthusiasts of Supergiant’s two-part game, Hades, the gameplay of Rogue Loops may initially seem familiar. Upon starting, players will venture from a safe zone into the first ‘loop,’ where they encounter various adversaries. Viewing the action from an isometric viewpoint, players must hack, fire, dodge, and employ magical powers to vanquish their opponents. Successfully clearing a room yields currency that can be saved for future upgrade purchases.

Rogue Loops’ Give-And-Take Upgrade System and Its Defining ‘Loop’ Mechanic

In contrast to the experience that fans of Hades might expect, Rogue Loops presents a significant mechanical change right off the bat. Instead of receiving an upgrade upon completing a room like in Hades, players are given the choice between two potential upgrades when entering a new room in Rogue Loops.

An important point to remember is that these enhancements don’t come without their costs. Every advantage comes with a drawback. Therefore, although players can acquire strong spells for battle, they might also inadvertently summon a mini-boss into the same room, or cause spikes to erupt from the floor, or set loose a poison-spewing enemy across the chamber.

In the interactive process of upgrading, known as the system in Rogue Loops, is tightly connected with its signature looping mechanic. Upon vanquishing adversaries within a specific room, players advance to an adjoining chamber. Following their selection of an upgrade and defeating enemies in the subsequent room, they progress again. However, unlike traditional gameplay, the rooms in Rogue Loops cycle, allowing players to repeatedly visit the same handful of areas during a single ‘loop’.

Every time I step into that room, I’m compelled to select a blessing and a burden, with each selection adding up as I advance. So, after several rounds, that very same space might be filled with spike pits, a mini-boss, and an enemy spewing poison – all causing trouble simultaneously for me. This cycle persists until I manage to vanquish the boss, at which point, I’m rewarded by moving on to the second layer of this loop, where the challenges become even more daunting.

Similar to the challenging realm of Hades, Rogue Loops presents a difficult gaming experience. Fortunately, there are several uncursed upgrades that players can earn along the way to aid them in combat. Prior to embarking on a loop, players have the option to draw from the “Well of Wishes” for an advantage throughout their journey, such as a higher likelihood of discovering rare and epic upgrades. The “Witch Emporium,” with its unique currency, provides a means for players to enhance the Well of Wishes permanently.

A demo for Rogue Loops is available now on Steam ahead of the game’s Q2 2025 launch.

Rogue Loops Offers Multiple Player-Characters

One distinctive aspect of Rogue Loops is that it allows players to control various characters. In this game, there are four family members, Gabriel, Amber, Aiden, and Circe, who find themselves stuck in an endless loop within Rogue Loops. Each character is playable, and they each possess a unique weapon and corresponding upgrades. For instance, the father, Gabriel, fights with his bare fists, while the daughter, Amber, uses a bow. The son, Aiden, wields a sword, and the mother, Circe, employs magical abilities.

Rogue Loops is set to launch in Q2 2025 on PC.

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2025-01-15 17:44