As We Descend

About

As We Descend is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Box Dragon and was released on May 28, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

As We Descend is a strategy roguelike deckbuilder set in a post-apocalyptic world where you manage dual-layered decks for both perilous expeditions and defending humanity’s last city. Recruit and customize unique squads using scavenged technology, tailor your forces for diverse challenges, and navigate complex city politics to secure alliances. Adapt your tactics against massive foes by mastering positioning and enemy intentions in dynamic combat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+21

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 464 reviews

gameplay57 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of deckbuilding and tactical combat, offering a fresh take on the genre.
The art style and atmosphere are stunning, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay.
The mechanics allow for a high level of strategy and decision-making, making each run feel engaging and rewarding.

The game suffers from balance issues, particularly with certain units and bosses being overly punishing.
Runs can feel excessively long, with some players expressing frustration over the pacing and difficulty spikes.
The city management aspect lacks depth, leading to repetitive choices that don't feel impactful.

gameplay
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its complex mechanics and engaging deck-building elements, drawing comparisons to popular games like "Slay the Spire" while introducing unique twists and a grimdark aesthetic. Players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay, though some find the learning curve steep due to the abundance of mechanics and a somewhat confusing tutorial. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience with a solid core loop, though it may require patience to fully grasp its intricacies.
- “The core gameplay loop is fun, the battles are long enough to be entertaining and short enough to not become tedious.”
- “Deeply rewarding gameplay and addictive soundtrack, this gets my game of the year vote!”
- “The gameplay loop becomes seriously addictive.”
- “Honestly, I don't understand what is going on in this game; the tutorial did not pop for me, and I had to learn all mechanics as I go, and damn, there are many of them.”
- “The city RPG gameplay aspect takes a little time to figure out, but I feel it becomes a bit repetitive and slightly directionless - I ended up wasting a few helpers when I could no longer upgrade any of my unit cards.”
- “There are some minor nitpicks I have with the way the game handles telling you how the mechanics work that make it a bit confusing.”
graphics
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and compelling art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic and atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the beautifully designed characters and environments, noting that the visuals contribute significantly to the gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention a lack of variety in certain battle settings and a need for further development to fully realize the game's artistic potential.
- “The art style is phenomenal.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous visuals and tons of potential on this one!”
- “Great art style that feels unique and fresh, and the user interface is very slick and satisfying.”
- “Aesthetically, the battles take place in what feels like the same cramped, bland box every time - there's very little in the art that actually evokes the theme that the game is going for, which is that the city itself is burrowing down into the earth.”
- “I really wanted to like this game, but it's not meeting any of its creative potential at all, even though the artwork would suggest otherwise.”
- “Legit aesthetics, but the gameplay sucks.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing a desire for deeper narrative content and character development. While some appreciate the interesting lore and engaging NPCs, others criticize the lack of story evolution and reliance on text to convey the world’s richness, suggesting that the artistic potential is underutilized. Overall, players are hopeful for future updates that will enhance the storytelling experience and provide more context to the gameplay.
- “I actually ended up getting pretty invested in the story, and the developers are super communicative and dedicated to making this game amazing.”
- “This game manages to be novel and exciting in an overcrowded genre while also telling a very interesting story with really cool lore.”
- “The characters around the city are interesting, beautifully drawn, and the storyline just drags you in.”
- “The descent system and the story seems to be rather thin - why exactly are we descending?”
- “But the fact that there isn't even any kind of evolution to the story beyond what may or may not have been explained at the start means that essentially there is no story, so there's no point to any of the beautiful things we're seeing through the game.”
- “The story is nonexistent, some dialogs are present to give some general background vibes, but that's all.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
34%
12%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the art style. While some noted that the soundtrack could be more dynamic, it is generally described as immersive and fitting for the game's theme, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. Overall, the combination of music, sound design, and visuals creates a captivating ambiance that resonates with players.
- “Deeply rewarding gameplay and addictive soundtrack, this gets my game of the year vote!”
- “The art and music work perfectly together and create this really immersive, eerie vibe that just sticks with you.”
- “Excellent art, music, worldbuilding, UI, everything you can ask for in a game.”
- “As you dig deeper through the run, though, nothing at all seems to change, so you're left with the vibe you get from the soundtrack and the mostly static environment.”
- “I'd say 8 out of 10, it's missing a solid soundtrack.”
- “While the textures look a bit dated, the game’s demonic yet kind of fancy, theatrical bug enemy designs impressed me, as did the unsettling orchestral soundtrack and crisp sound effects.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
24%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of art style, sound design, and world-building, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players. Reviewers highlight the strong thematic elements and adventurous feel, noting that the graphics and music effectively enhance the overall ambiance. While many appreciate the depth of the atmosphere, some express a desire for more lore and meaningful progression to further enrich the experience.
- “This game might seem like a pretty standard deck-building roguelike, but the diversity of gameplay between the two available factions so far is pretty diverse and the atmosphere is amazing.”
- “The atmosphere, graphics, sound design, and music are all clearly inspired by some of the best indie games to ever exist, and fit very well together.”
- “As we descend is a captivating blend of roguelike mechanics, deep strategy, and immersive atmosphere that has quickly become one of my favorite gaming experiences this year.”
- “The atmosphere is well crafted (we hope that in the final version, it will be further developed with a little more lore), and the bestiary is rather varied.”
- “I understand that it's similar to other games in the space and more expensive, but I think it makes up for it with atmosphere and world building.”
- “It's a lot of what we loved in older games, where what you know about the world is mostly from atmosphere, art, and other in-game context, instead of info dumps or unnecessary details that kill pacing.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, particularly within the deck-building genre, with many players noting the variety of units and deck combinations available. While some users express a desire for additional content and improvements to enhance replay value, the game's tactical nature and frequent updates contribute to a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. However, a few players mention that certain aspects, like limited factions and repetitive bosses, could hinder long-term replayability.
- “I already see a ton of replayability and I've only just started unlocking new stuff.”
- “Tons of replayability and the devs are doing small and major updates all the time.”
- “The game has a lot of replayability because it has a lot of player choices and RNG.”
- “I've already unlocked most of the game within 10 hours and there's not a lot of replayability at the moment.”
- “My only complaints right now are the lack of content - if we can get more acts, more expedition types and items, and more encounters in the city it would really increase the replayability.”
- “Only 2 of 3 factions are playable, most locations lose their value after the first visit, and bosses repeat across dives.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the core gameplay loop and battles are generally enjoyable, some feel that the grinding becomes excessive in later regions, detracting from the overall fun. Those who appreciate grinding may find it acceptable, but others might find it tedious, especially as the damage scaling issues arise. Overall, the game offers an interesting concept, though it could benefit from better balance.
- “If you like just grinding, it's okay; otherwise, pass, despite the cool art.”
- “Needs a lot of balance; the battles become too grindy by region 3 and 4, and the ability to cause damage does not scale.”
- “I think it's an interesting idea, but it feels a bit grindy at the moment.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, being well-balanced and visually appealing, with users reporting a bug-free experience.
- “The game is well balanced, fun to play, and visually appealing. As far as I can tell, it's bug-free.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues; the stability of the game is impressive.”
- “The gameplay experience is smooth and reliable, making it easy to immerse myself without interruptions.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers appreciate the character development, highlighting the engaging character designs and the rewarding gameplay mechanics that enhance the overall experience. The combination of visual style and atmospheric elements contributes to a sense of adventure and mystery, enriching the player's connection to the characters.
- “The character designs are fantastic, and I love the feeling of executing a combo perfectly while navigating through challenging situations.”
- “Gameplay is engaging, the atmosphere is adventurous, and the worldbuilding is mysterious, all of which enhance the character development experience.”
- “The visual style and character design are two aspects I really enjoyed, adding depth to the overall narrative.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players finding it genuinely funny and engaging throughout their experience.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game incorporates absurd situations and playful puns that never fail to bring a smile to my face.”
- “The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining and enjoyable.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, comparing their feelings to those experienced while playing Darkest Dungeon. Many reviewers highlight their deep investment in the game's narrative and characters, indicating that it resonates with them on a personal level.
- “This game made me feel the same emotions I felt when I played Darkest Dungeon for the first time.”
- “I don’t usually write long reviews, but I’m genuinely emotionally invested in this game and want to give it my wholehearted support.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been criticized as poor, particularly on devices like the Rog Ally, with users reporting issues such as slow screen transitions and assets popping in and out during gameplay.
- “Optimization is terrible.”
- “I am playing on a ROG Ally, so I don't know if this is a lack of optimization, but there are a lot of screen transitions and loading features where assets pop in from previous screens or other places for a few seconds before disappearing.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, initially priced at $30 to capitalize on hype before being reduced to $20 with discounts. Additionally, the developers have been accused of distributing extra copies to inflate positive reviews, further undermining trust in their approach.
- “Cash grab with a sugar coating on top. The developers initially launched it at $30 to capitalize on the hype, but after failing to meet expectations, they reduced the price to $20 and offered discounts. They even gave away extra copies to earn positive reviews.”