The first thing you need to know Endless dungeon is that it’s not your standard roguelite. There are familiar components to your gameplay, but this isometric sci-fi shooter requires you to strategically plan your defense just as bravely as you strategically plan your offense. I found out exactly why in a recent hands-on with the upcoming game.
Endless dungeon is a sequel from 2014 dungeon of infinity, but it is described to us as a “spiritual successor” rather than an uncompromising sequel. It looks and plays very differently, with a more vibrant 3D aesthetic and a new player control system. The first game, on the other hand, unfolds mainly in a turn-based style Endless dungeon gives you direct control over your characters’ movements and attacks. But this change is only part of what makes it Endless dungeon an intriguing new experiment in the genre.
The core dungeon loop is still present in Endless dungeon; Your character will be dropped on an abandoned space station and the only way to escape is to escort your Crystal_bot to the core. While we’re not sure what’s inside The Core, we do know it’s absolutely necessary to reach it unscathed. Unfortunately, there are waves upon waves of monsters between you and The Core, and it’s up to you to take them out while most importantly keeping your fragile robotic companion safe. This constant back and forth is what sets this game apart from its competitors. Endless dungeon is a dance between charging forward to uncover as much loot as possible while making sure your defenses are top-notch and capable of protecting your Crystal_bot, Research Stations, and – if you’re playing with a party – other teammates.
Endless dungeon stands out from the roguelite crowd because your defenses require foresight and initiative; You need to be prepared for threats before they even arrive. A room full of bugs will benefit from a cleverly placed flamethrower, or a swarm of robots can be kept at bay with an electric EMP blaster turret. However, you’ll need to research how to create these and make sure you have enough resources to commit to before the waves start. All of this makes this the rare roguelite that’s not just about direct combat, but learning how enemies work and countering them.
In classic roguelite fashion, you go through the station room by room, clearing the area and hunting for resources to help you on your journey. This can be attack inventory, such as B. devastating elemental weapons; it can be revealing in the form of new lore; or you can add upgrades to the turrets that can be placed as a defense in any area you’ve previously been in during your current run.
Your team’s resources are also shared. So when components are scarce, you have to work together on what you want to spend them on. Perhaps the decision to move to another room becomes a fatal mistake when your resources are misplaced – collaboration is truly a necessity, and sticking together can sometimes be more important than moving forward.
It’s that blend of tower defense, tactical gameplay, and roguelite that makes it stand out Endless dungeon feel unique. The main objective is to hunt your way through the station room by room as you mow through the hordes along the way while finding a safe way to escort the crystal bot out of the area and into the next. Some rooms contain monster spawners, and the more you unlock, the more overwhelming these waves become. Even opening doors requires strategy; If you enter a new room that is too close to your Crystalbot, swarms can reach and chew it up faster. If you’re unlucky, you’ll unleash a rare, deadlier wave with much more powerful enemies. This is an extremely rare occurrence (although we experienced this in our third wave, which added some chaos).
Once your character dies (and it will), you’ll be transported back to a central world called The Saloon, brimming with space-western vibes. Creative Director Jean-Maxime Moris tells us that this area was inspired by scenes like Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars Cantina to create a space that attracts a crowd of oddballs.
Here you can change your character’s appearance, have a drink at the bar, which offers you a selection of upgrades, or search the library for the monsters you’ve encountered. While you don’t necessarily need any prior knowledge of this world to jump in Endless dungeon, existing fans will also find connections to previous installments in this loosely connected universe. And of course, the more you know about your enemies, the better equipped you’ll be to take them down and help your team survive just a little bit longer next runthrough.
It’s all the more motivating to get back into another round, and if our playing time was a bit short, there are many, many more rounds to come Endless dungeon when it launches on May 18th.
ENDLESS™ Dungeons
Amplitude STUDIOS
$29.99
Pre-order ENDLESS™ Dungeon now and get exclusive content in your hands (or tentacles)! – Basic Game – Pioneer Elite Skin Pack (3 Hero Skins, 4 Weapon Skins, 1 Crystal Bot Skin) (Early Adopter Bonus) WE HAVE TURRETS AND WE HAVE GUNS You are stranded on an abandoned space station infested with monsters and secrets. To get out you need to reach The Core, but you can’t do that without your Crystal Bot. This crawling creature is your key to surviving in the procedurally generated rooms of this space ruin. Unfortunately, it’s also a fragile soul, and every monster in this place wants a piece of it. You need to think fast, plan well, place your turrets and then… fireworks! Bugs, bots and blobs will stop at nothing to turn you and this crystal into dust and debris. With a wide range of weapons and turrets to choose from, the right equipment makes the difference between life and death. RIDE SOLO OR FAST WITH FRIENDS You can face the horrors of the station by driving solo, or team up and master the gauntlet in 3-player co-op. Once you have your party, plan your moves. Choose your weapons from a wide range ranging from flamethrowers to poison snipers. When you’re done, enter the station to accept a character’s quest, make an attempt to escape, or just go after the locals. You’ll probably die trying, but hey, that’s how it works in this space dungeon! BUILD YOUR UNBEATABLE SQUAD Prepare to encounter a group of colorful heroes all aiming for the same goal: get out of Hell! Everyone brings their own cards to the table. There’s the tanky Bunker that soaks up damage, the fiery Blaze that loves to blow things up, or maybe Shroom that heals her squadmates with her “unusual” incense. Choose your heroes to build the team that works for you. As you get to know them, you’ll find that they all have their own motivations and secrets… MONSTERS, DANGERS, SECRETS AND TREASURES, OH MY! Escape means overcoming all dangers of the station. Yes all. Deadly robots, merciless monsters, loot and giant beasts await you around every corner. The deeper you delve into this junkyard, the more you’ll discover its tragic history. Why does the station stagger any ship that flies too close? Why do you come back every time you kick the bucket? No matter how familiar you are with the ENDLESS™ universe, the station still has more stories to tell. THE MORE DIE THE MORE GROW I hate to tell you, this won’t be easy and you might die…often. But that’s okay, because every time you do that, you’ll be loaded back into the saloon. Think of it as your operations (and drink) hub, where you can upgrade your heroes and weapons, unlock new routes to the core, chat with the locals, listen to tunes, and sip invigorating (and delicious) libations. Then jump back into the station and try to get out again.
