Summary
Despite 2023 having already been chock-full of quality releases, things don’t seem to be slowing down at all in the latter half of the year. While many likely have their eyes set on the remaining AAA titles set to launch, there’s one indie arriving in October that’s showing quite a bit of promise. Developed by Amplitude Studios and published by Sega,Endless Dungeonis a new addictive-looking action roguelike that takes place in Amplitude’s Endless Universe. With its release just a month away and featuring a unique blend of twin-stick shooting and tower defense mechanics,Endless Dungeonis filling a void for high-profile roguelikes left by the wait forHades 2’s early access launch in 2024.
Endless Dungeonis actually the spiritual successor to Amplitude’s 2014 titleDungeon of the Endless, which was also a roguelike but stuck strictly to the tower defense format rather than blending it with the fast-paced andfrenetic twin-stick shooting promised byEndless Dungeon.Dungeon of the Endlesswas well-received by both players and critics, giving cause for fans of both theEndlessgames and roguelikes to be excited about its follow-up. The closed beta for the title just wrapped yesterday, helping the picture to fall into place regarding what players can expect inEndless Dungeonwhen it launches in 4 weeks.
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Earning itself a place among some of the best titles in the roguelike subgenre,Endless Dungeonallows players to venture into its procedurally generated areas as either a solo squad member or with up to 2 friends in 3-player co-op. While many of the most highly-regarded roguelikes are solo affairs (such asHadesorCurse of the Dead Gods), some of the genre’s best titles are co-op. This includes absoluteclassics likeThe Binding of IsaacandRisk of Rain 2. As anyone who has spent dozens of hours playing these games with friends can attest, a great roguelike can often be even better with companions.
To help add some variety and a true roguelike approach to each run, the various squad members that players can choose from inEndless Dungeoneach have their own unique designs and classes. Not only do these characters each look appealing to play for various reasons, but they also help facilitate a variety of play styles, helping to add a layer of strategy to players' squad composition and character selection. There are currently6 available characters inEndless Dungeon, with more planned for future updates as part of the game’s roadmap.
The Roguelike Gameplay of Endless Nation Blends Two Unlikely Genres
Of course, none of this would matter if the game didn’t successfully nail down the fundamentals of what makes a good roguelike. Thankfully, Amplitude Studios has usedplayer feedback to driveEndless Dungeon’s development, resulting in what appears to be an addictive blend of two unlikely genres as players die, upgrade, and die again. Amplitude already had experience with strategy and tower defense, but now is attempting to fold in real-time twin-stick shooting. This mix of its previous work and the mechanics of something likeEnter the Gungeonlooks to be an unexpected turn that pays off in the game having a unique identity among roguelikes.
As in most roguelikes, death is a regular part of theEndless Dungeonexperience. However, every time players die (whether solo or in co-op), they launch back to the Saloon – ahub area similar toHades' Temple of Styx. Here, players can upgrade their characters, stock up on consumables, and chat with NPCs to get a little more insight into the overarching narrative.Endless Dungeon’s blending of twin-stick shooting and tower defense promises that players will have opportunities for upgrade paths for each, and the variety of characters and classes promises there to be plenty of build-and-run variety in this upcoming roguelike.
Endless Dungeonwill be available October 19 for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Endless Dungeon: Beginner Tips and Tricks
