It may not have gotten as much press in recent years as the Nintendo eShop, but Steam is very much still a hotbed for shovelware, so much so that it can be incredibly difficult for players to separate the wheat from the chaff. While AAA games from major publishers have the marketing and brand recognition to rise above the slop and take a spot onSteam’s front page, there are countless indie games that aren’t nearly as fortunate. These games need to get by on their own merit and good word-of-mouth, andRogue Loopsis already making quite a name for itself.
Announced back in November 2024,Rogue Loopsis an isometric action roguelite that wears itsHadesinfluences on its sleeve. But while it may look and play quite similarly toHades,Rogue Loopsis far from a cheap copy, and there are a handful of unique features that make it worth keeping an eye on.
Rogue Loops is a Hades-Like With a Few Twists
Rogue Loops' Gameplay Will Be Familiar to Fans of Hades
The general premise ofRogue Loopssees players take control of a family who have been trapped inside an endless cycle. The family must battle their way through this loop, gaining strength with each run, and facing new challenges along the way.
For fans ofSupergiant’sHadesduology,Rogue Loops' gameplay is going to seem familiar, at least at first glance. Players will descend from the starting safe area into the game’s first ‘loop,’ where they’ll be greeted by a handful of enemies. From an isometric perspective, players will need to slash, shoot, dodge, and use magical abilities to defeat their foes. Clearing a room will reward them with currency they can eventually use to purchase upgrades.
Rogue Loops' Give-And-Take Upgrade System and Its Defining ‘Loop’ Mechanic
But whileRogue Loops' moment-to-moment gameplaymight feel very familiar toHadesfans, they’re quickly presented with quite a big mechanical difference. Rather than gain an upgrade at the end of a room like inHades,Rogue Loopssees players choose from two possible upgrades as soon as they enter a room.
But a key thing to note is that these upgrades don’t come for free. Each potential boon has a curse to go alongside it. So, while players can unlock a powerful spell to use in combat, that might trigger a mini-boss to appear in the room they’re in, or spikes to suddenly shoot out from the floor nearby, or a poison-spewing enemy to move across the chamber.
This give-and-take upgrade system goes hand in hand withRogue Loops' eponymous ‘looping’ mechanic. After defeating the enemies in a room, players move onto the attached chamber. After players have chosen an upgrade and defeated the enemies in the next room, they move on again. But inRogue Loops, these rooms are cyclical, meaning that players rotate between the same few rooms multiple times during the same ‘loop’.
Each time the player enters the same room, they’re forced to choose a boon and a curse, both of which continue to stack as players progress. This means that after a few rotations, one room could contain spike traps,a mini-boss, and a poison-spewing foe (among other curses), all working simultaneously to hinder the player. These rotations continue until a boss eventually appears, and defeating them will see the player progress to the second, even more challenging layer of the loop.
Much likeHades,Rogue Loopscan be a very difficult game, and thankfully, there are a handful of non-cursed upgrades that players can unlock to assist them in battle. Before beginning a loop, players can use the “Well of Wishes” to acquire a bonus for the entire run, such as an increased chance to find rare and epic upgrades. Using the “Witch Emporium” and its special currency allows players to permanently upgrade the Well of Wishes.
A demo forRogue Loopsis available now on Steam ahead of the game’s Q2 2025 launch.
Rogue Loops Offers Multiple Player-Characters
Another unique feature ofRogue Loopsis that it offersmultiple playable characters. There are four family members trapped in the same never-ending cycle inRogue Loops, all of which are playable, and all of which have a unique weapon and a set of associated upgrades. The father, Gabriel, uses his fists, the daughter, Amber, uses a bow, the son, Aiden, has a sword, and the mother, Circe, uses magic.
Hades
WHERE TO PLAY
Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre.BATTLE OUT OF HELLAs the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you’ll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.UNLEASH THE FURY OF OLYMPUSThe Olympians have your back! Meet Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more, and choose from their dozens of powerful Boons that enhance your abilities. There are thousands of viable character builds to discover as you go.BEFRIEND GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERSA fully-voiced cast of colorful, larger-than-life characters is waiting to meet you! Grow your relationships with them, and experience thousands of unique story events as you learn about what’s really at stake for this big, dysfunctional family.BUILT FOR REPLAYABILITYNew surprises await each time you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld, whose guardian bosses will remember you. Use the powerful Mirror of Night to grow permanently stronger, and give yourself a leg up the next time you run away from home.NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLEPermanent upgrades mean you don’t have to be a god yourself to experience the exciting combat and gripping story. Though, if you happen to be one, crank up the challenge and get ready for some white-knuckle action that will put your well-practiced skills to the test.SIGNATURE SUPERGIANT STYLEThe rich, atmospheric presentation and unique melding of gameplay and narrative that’s been core to Supergiant’s games is here in full force: spectacular hand-painted environments and a blood-pumping original score bring the Underworld to life.
