How Endless Dungeon Redefines Roguelite With Tower Defense Tactics

First, you must know what it is. Endless DungeonIt isn’t your typical roguelite. While there are some elements that you know, this game is not your standard roguelite. However, you must plan your defense as well as your offense in order to win. In a hands-on experience with the game, I discovered exactly why.

Endless Dungeon is a follow-up to 2014’s Dungeon of the Endless but it is described to us as a “spiritual successor” rather than an all-out sequel. The game looks and feels completely different. It features a vibrant 3D aesthetic as well as a brand new control system. While the first game is turn-based, it unfolds in an essentially turn-based fashion. Endless Dungeon puts you in direct control of your characters’ movements and attacks. However, that’s only a part of the magic. Endless Dungeon A fascinating experiment in the genre.

In the core dungeon loop, there is still a lot to do Endless DungeonYour character gets dropped onto an abandoned space station. The only way to get out of this situation is to send your Crystal_bot to The Core. While we’re unsure what is in The Core, we do know that’s absolutely imperative to reach it unscathed. Unfortunately, there are waves upon waves of monsters in between you and The Core, and it’s up to you to take them out while, crucially, making sure your fragile robot companion remains safe. The game’s uniqueness is reflected in its constant back-and forth. Endless Dungeon is a dance between blasting forward to discover 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 group — fellow teammates.

Endless Dungeon stands out from the roguelite crowd because your defenses require forethought and proactivity; you’ll need to be prepared for threats before they even arrive. You can use a flamethrower to control a room full of insects, and an electrical EMP blaster turbine to keep swarms of robots under control. However, you’ll need to research how to build these, and make you have enough resources to dedicate to it before the waves begin. All of this makes this the rare roguelite in which skill isn’t just about the moment-to-moment combat, but in learning how enemies work, and countering them.

You’ll progress through the station room by room in classic roguelite fashion, clearing the area while hunting for resources that’ll aid you in your journey. This can be offense inventory such as devastating elemental guns; it can be revelatory, in the form of new lore; or you can add upgrades to the turrets than can be placed as defenses in any area you’ve previously been to during your current run.

Your team’s resources are also shared, so if components are scarce, you’ll have to collaborate on what to spend it on. Perhaps the decision to push on into another room will turn into a fatal mistake if your resources are misplaced – collaboration is truly a necessity, and sticking together can sometimes be more important than progressing.

It’s this blend of tower defense, tactical gameplay and roguelite that makes Endless Dungeon feel unique. It is your primary mission to make it through the station one room at a time, while cutting through the hoards of enemies along the way. Then, you must create safe passages to take the Crystalbot from the area to the next. There are monster spawners hidden in certain rooms. As you unlock more, these waves can become more daunting. Even opening doors requires strategy; if you enter a new room that’s too close to your Crystalbot, it might allow swarms to reach and chew it apart faster. If you’re unlucky, you’ll trigger a rare, deadlier wave with much tougher enemies. This rare phenomenon is quite common (though we experienced it in our third wave).

Once your character dies (and they will) you’ll be transported back to a hub world known as The Saloon, which is oozing with space western appeal. Creative Director Jean-Maxime Moris tells us that this area draws inspiration from the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars’ Cantina scenes to create a space that attracts a humdrum of oddballs.

Here, you can switch up your character’s look, grab a drink at the bar that will give you a selection of enhancements, or check out the library to read up on the monsters you’ve encountered. While you don’t necessarily need prior knowledge of this world to jump into Endless DungeonFans who are already familiar with the series will find connections to other instalments. 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 that little bit longer in the next run.

It’s all the more motivation to get stuck back into another round, and if our playtime was anything to by, there will be many, many more rounds of Endless DungeonWhen it goes live May 18.

ENDLESS™ Dungeon

Amplitude STUDIOS

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-Order ENDLESS™ Dungeon now and get your hands (or tentacles) on exclusive content!
– Standard Game
– ‘Pioneer Elite’ Skin Pack (3 hero skins, 4 weapon skins, 1 Crystal Bot Skin) (Early Adopter Bonus)

We GOT GUNS AND WE GOT TURRETS

Your space station is abandoned and you are stuck there, full of mysteries and monsters. Your crystal bot will be your key to getting out. The key to getting out of the space ruin is that scuttling animal. Unfortunately, this scuttling critter is also fragile and all the monsters in the area want to get a piece. You’re going to have to think quick, plan well, place your turrets, and then… fireworks! To turn that crystal and you into dirt and debris, bugs, bots, blobs are at your disposal. You can choose the gear that will make all the difference in your life.

RIDE SOLO, OR GIDDY-UP WITH FRIENDS

The Station’s horrors can be faced solo or in a team of three players. Plan your actions once you have your group. Choose their weapon from the wide range of flamethrowers and poison snipers. After you have your weapons selected, head to the Station for a quest or to escape. It’s likely you’ll die, but that’s how it works in this space dungeon.

ASSEMBLEZ YOUR RECKLESS QUAD

Expect to be surrounded by colorful characters all striving to achieve the same goal, which is to win! Each person brings their own set of skills to the table. The tanky Bunker will absorb any damage while the fiery Blaze loves to explode things. Shroom can heal her fellow squad members with her unique incense. Choose your heroes and build the team that suits you. As you get to know them, you’ll learn that they all have their own particular motivations and secrets…

You will find MONSTERS, DANGERS and SECRETS as well as TREASURES!

To escape means to conquer all of the dangers in the Station. They all. You’ll find them all: deadly robots, merciless beasts, loot and huge beasts. You’ll learn more about the tragic past of this heap the deeper you go. What is the purpose of the Station pulling in every ship which flies too close by? What makes you return every time you get up to kick the bucket? No matter how familiar you are with the ENDLESS™ Universe, the Station has more stories to tell.

THE MORE YOU DIE, THE MORE GROWING!

Hate to break it to you, this won’t be easy and you might die… a lot. You get reloaded into the Saloon every time that you make a mistake. It is your hub of operations and beverages. Here you can get upgrades for your heroes, weapons and unlock new routes to The Core. You also have the opportunity to chat with locals and listen to music. Then, jump back into the Station and try to get out — again.