Abyssus Brings Brinepunk Action and BioShock Vibes to FPS Roguelikes

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Ever since its initial trailer unveiling in December, the upcoming action roguelike game “Abyssus” by Double Moose and The Arcade Crew has been building anticipation, gradually amassing Steam wishlists. Now, “Abyssus” is all set to launch on PC on August 12, promising an immersive “Brinepunk” experience. This entails blending the shooting mechanics of a first-person shooter with the randomized upgrades, meta-progression, and other typical features found in games like “Hades”. Upon playing it, it appears that “Abyssus” is well on its way to creating a comparable impact.

Before the scheduled release of Abyssus on August 12, we had an opportunity to play a complete version of the game, excluding access to its online multiplayer mode. Based on our playtime, Abyssus is offering a swift and intense FPS roguelike experience that effectively utilizes its distinctive environment and enjoyable combat mechanics, even if it doesn’t explore uncharted territory too much compared to predecessors in the genre. Moreover, the game’s robust technical performance on PC bodes well for its compatibility with the platform’s player base when it releases in about two weeks.

Abyssus’ ‘Brinepunk’ Setting Makes it Feel like Witchfire-Meets-BioShock

Among numerous exceptional first-person shooter roguelikes, Witchfire stands out as a notable point of comparison for Abyssus. Although they differ in genre, both games exhibit similarities in structure and gameplay dynamics reminiscent of The Astronauts’ popular Early Access title. In Abyssus, players embark on various expeditions into the titular abyss from a central hub area where they can spend gold, modify equipment, join multiplayer sessions, train, and more before venturing out in the Diving Bell to delve into the depths. The gameplay loop involves navigating increasingly difficult rooms as you advance deeper into the caverns.

In the spirit of action roguelikes you might be accustomed to, Abyssus presents a twist with its distinctive game environment. Known as “Brinepunk,” this game combines aspects of BioShock and Tomb Raider, resulting in an original feel within the first-person shooter roguelike category. As you venture into the enigmatic abyss, you’ll find yourself navigating a blend of flooded caverns and dilapidated Aztec temple remains. Even within the initial environment, you encounter stone automaton adversaries that seem oddly out of place, eerily alien. The game’s supernatural slant gives it a resemblance to Witchfire, while its underwater setting echoes that of BioShock. This fusion makes for an irresistible pull, compelling you to return for another playthrough.

In the spirit of BioShock, the gameplay progression and skill system in Abyssus is strikingly similar. Following the defeat of a group of enemies, players often discover radiant green Altar of Blessings that offer two potential rewards. These benefits are typically associated with various elemental damage types (such as wind, fire, or spirit) and present a choice between enhanced damage for that type and an affinity for either primary, secondary, or special weapon firing, or the character’s unique abilities. Each of these elements offers a distinct experience, reminiscent of plasmids in BioShock, making it engaging to test out these skills to discover the most effective loadout for combating enemies within Abyssus.

Ahead of Its Release, Abyssus Is Already Showing Plenty of Promise

One additional aspect that reinforces the similarity between Abyssus and Witchfire is their shared difficulty level, which remains formidable even for frequent players of first-person shooters and roguelikes. The adversaries in Abyssus are swift and erratic, with attack patterns that echo certain enemies from the bullet-heavy genre, such as those found in Returnal. This means you must remain ever vigilant and agile to dodge the game over screen. Despite the inherent challenges of roguelikes and Abyssus‘s commitment to testing player skills, it skillfully maintains a fun and rewarding balance that ensures it never feels unjustly demanding.

Players’ primary strategy to overcome Abyssus’ formidable obstacles, apart from their physical weapons, lies in the game’s progression system, which employs an economic model tailored for diverse power levels. By completing challenges, players unlock a variety of upgrades and modifications for their weapons such as alternate firing modes, new color schemes, and more. However, the most valuable items to gather during each expedition are Soul Fragments. These tokens can be exchanged at the central hub area, known as the Wheel of Souls, for permanent upgrades. In our playthroughs, these upgrades have proven to significantly enhance survivability in subsequent runs.

In each journey, the formidable adversaries you face at the second and fourth levels, known as bosses, are initially nearly insurmountable. However, with time, you’ll find yourself gaining an advantage over them. It’s a testament to how finely-tuned the gameplay in Abyssus is that even after multiple setbacks against these challenging encounters, it remains enticing to dive back in.

Co-op Is a Key Component of Abyssus, But Even Solo, It’s Still a Blast

One standout feature of the game Abyssus is its multiplayer mode, which allows up to 4 players to join forces. This not only changes the challenge level but could be a significant draw for many gamers. Although we were able to test the multiplayer aspect in our complete preview build of the game, an older client caused some problems with public matchmaking. However, our time with Abyssus was long enough to give us a strong sense that players who prefer to play alone will still find plenty of enjoyment from its unique offerings. With so many first-person shooter roguelike games available, Abyssus stands out by sticking to the classic gameplay elements while offering a fresh take on its environment and ambiance.

Abyssus releases August 12 for PC. Game Rant was provided with a code for this preview.

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2025-08-04 18:29