Dead Cells is an absolutely fantastic roguelike platformer that unfortunately lacks co-op. Thus, when that developer, Motion Twin, announces a new roguelike with co-op, we take notice! Windblown is coming to Steam Early Access next year and will feature fast-paced gameplay and online co-op. It can't come soon enough!
Roguelike shooters come in many shapes and sizes. The recently announced Atomic Picnic from Brazilian developer BitCake Studio and Mad Mushroom utilizes a Splatoon-like third-person perspective and some genuinely look-looking characters. Up to four online players will get to team up and blast away at waves of enemies in colorful environments. Things are still early, but it looks like a fun, frenetic, and challenging game, and it will be coming to Steam Early Access in the spring.
Although roguelikes have become quite popular in recent years, you don't see many first-person shooter roguelikes (other than Gunfire Reborn). The genre will soon have a new entry, though, in the form of Roboquest from RyseUp Studios and Starbreeze Publishing. After a period of Steam Early Access, Roboquest will fully launch on Xbox, Steam, and Epic in early November.
Capcom has shown precious little interest in keeping the Mega Man franchise alive, hence it’s up to indie developers to carry the torch. Chief among those developers is Batterystaple Games, whose well-received 20XX first appeared on Steam in 2016 and made its way to consoles over time. After a period of early access, the sequel, 30XX has full...
Blackout Protocol is a newly-released roguelike from Ocean Dive Studio that combines elements third-person shooting, roguelike elements, and horror. Players take on the role of newly recruited security personnel for a corporation whose research base has been overrun by zombies and mercenaries. The game is built for 3-player online co-op, and it already plays really well, despite some balance issues.
Welcome back to Beyond Co-Op Reviews, our critical look at games that don't feature co-op modes....
in 1987, the arcade version of Double Dragon became the first co-op beat 'em up. After the original developer, Technos, closed down, the property started getting licensed to different developers with their own unique visions. WayForward released Double Dragon Neon, a Korean developer unleashed the awkward Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons (the game that brought me to Co-Optimus), and Arc System Works, the current IP holder, created the retro-style Double Dragon IV. Now, Secret Base Games and Modus Games are throwing their hats into the ring with Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, coming to consoles and PC this summer.
What would a Roguelike version of Borderlands be like? Chinese developer Duoyi Games have answered that question with Gunfire Reborn, a first-person shooter Roguelike that challenges players to team up and progress through increasingly tough levels, strengthening their characters with each run and unlocking new features along the way. Gunfire Rebor...
Roguelike is a sub-genre exemplified by randomized level layouts and items, steep difficulty, and the ability for players to grow stronger through subsequent playthroughs. Console gamers will soon have a new, affordable Roguelike option to enjoy when LootLite from JanduSoft comes to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. Featuring lots of playable classes,...
Almost exactly a year ago, we wrote about an in-development game called DeathRun TV from Laser Dog and Merge Games. DeathRun is a twin-stick shooter/Roguelike that takes obvious inspiration from The Running Man and, just maybe, Smash TV. Fast-forwarding to now, DeathRun TV has finally launched on Steam and Switch, but there's a catch: the co-op mode that was initially announced is nowhere to be found. Still, even as a single-player-only game, DeathRun TV is pretty solid and compelling.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams developer Black Forest Games has drastically overhauled its Early Access PC platformer Dieselstormers, announcing that it will shift away from RPG mechanics in favor of a roguelike-inspired gameplay structure.
