Betrayal At Club Low
- March 15, 2022
- Cosmo D
- 6h median play time
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Betrayal At Club Low" is a tactile dice-driven game taking place in a surreal nightclub setting, where you must sneak in to save a trapped colleague. With multiple ways to approach your mission and tense decisions, the game offers 11 possible endings. Inspired by tabletop RPGs, it provides a unique, immersive experience, putting you in the shoes of an undercover agent in a cosmic-noir universe.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Extremely charming with a unique and engaging dice-rolling mechanic that adds depth to the gameplay.
- Offers a surreal and humorous experience, filled with quirky characters and a fantastic soundtrack.
- High replayability with multiple endings and different paths to explore, making each playthrough feel fresh.
- The game can feel short, with a complete playthrough lasting only a couple of hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- The dice mechanics can lead to frustrating failure spirals, where one bad roll can significantly hinder progress.
- Some players may miss the exploration and narrative depth of previous Cosmo D games, as this title focuses more on mechanics than on expansive environments.
- gameplay153 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Betrayal at Club Low" has been widely praised for its innovative dice-rolling mechanics, which blend RPG elements with strategic decision-making, creating an engaging and addictive experience. While some players appreciate the shift from previous exploration-focused titles to a more mechanics-driven approach, others find the gameplay overly complex or less appealing. Overall, the game offers a unique and quirky atmosphere, with humor and replayability that resonate well with fans of tabletop RPGs and narrative-driven experiences.
“The dice rolling mechanic is always exhilarating, and even with the challenge modes, it never gets too frustratingly difficult.”
“The gameplay is engaging enough to keep you going but light enough to not feel overwhelming.”
“Betrayal at Club Low captures that same night feeling as his previous installments while bringing new, addictive game mechanics into the mix.”
“I dislike the dice-rolling mechanic of this game so much, I find it unplayable.”
“It looks like a bunch of store-bought assets thrown together with janky animations, and the gameplay is purely dice rolls based on your stats.”
“The dice/stat mechanics are overly complicated and frustrating.”
- music88 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and integration into the gameplay and atmosphere. The soundtrack is described as eclectic, vibrant, and a significant enhancement to the overall experience, often compared to previous works by Cosmo D, which are known for their strong musical themes. Overall, players find the music to be not only enjoyable but also a crucial element that elevates the game's unique charm and replayability.
“The soundtrack transcends its medium and is a legitimate creative masterpiece.”
“The music is fantastic, the visuals and atmosphere are amazing, and the writing is great.”
“As always, the music in the game is a massive highlight.”
“The gameplay mechanics of Disco Elysium minus the fantastic writing, character design, world building, atmosphere, soundtrack, dialogue, and RPG elements.”
“I do think that the Off Peak games and Norwood Suite have a bit more character in terms of the environment and music, likely due to the fact that they're played in first person and take place in larger areas, with more to see.”
“Overall I think this game has much of the same surrealist vibes, bumping music, and weirdness as the rest of the series, but with the caveat of it being a story that takes place in a single location.”
- story44 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Betrayal at Club Low" is a quirky and surreal espionage narrative that involves infiltrating a nightclub to rescue a fellow agent, featuring a unique blend of humor and strategy through dice-rolling mechanics. While the game offers multiple branching paths and replayability, some players feel the story is too short and could benefit from deeper world-building and more scenarios. Overall, it presents an engaging experience with a distinctive atmosphere, though opinions vary on its depth and impact.
“An intriguing, somewhat humorous story with a fun dice-rolling mechanic.”
“Betrayal at Club Low is fun, clever, and a joy to replay to experiment with the many different winding paths you can take on your very special mission.”
“The music is fantastic and there is a wild amount of replayability with the dice roll mechanic and branching nature of the storytelling.”
“This, along with the fact that there isn't really a straightforward story, really makes the game a hit or miss, depending on who you ask.”
“The overarching story and writing won't blow your mind, and I think it's a bit too short to really leave an impact.”
“Usually in a game like this, the story would be the main drive, but because Betrayal is relatively short, it has to rely more on its humor.”
- humor39 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, absurdist style that blends seamlessly with engaging gameplay mechanics, particularly the dice-rolling system. Reviewers highlight the sharp, witty writing and charming characters, noting that the humor feels natural and enhances the overall experience without being forced. Overall, the game is described as a delightful mix of fun, challenge, and laughter, making it an enjoyable choice for players seeking a lighthearted adventure.
“A surprisingly challenging and engaging dice game with the same unique style of humor expected from the developers.”
“The writing is delightfully understated and humorous.”
“Short, but amazing story, great atmosphere, hilarious writing, funny characters, and really interesting gameplay systems that blend the forbidden fun of gambling with the forbidden fun of min-maxing.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique surreal aesthetic that blends quirky, absurdist visuals with a cohesive style, reminiscent of previous titles by Cosmo D. While some reviewers noted that the graphics may not be technically impressive, they praised the consistency and charm of the art direction, which enhances the overall experience. The combination of vibrant visuals, engaging character designs, and a fantastic soundtrack creates an immersive atmosphere that resonates well with players.
“An incredible tabletop experience with a unique surreal aesthetic that I loved from front to back.”
“Brilliant central dice mechanic that keeps the player bouncing around among oodles of provocative visuals and sound design.”
“10/10, absolutely aesthetic surreal experience, lots of replayability, fantastic soundtrack and a beautifully created world!”
“I've been aware of the Cosmo D series of games due to their occasional featuring on Rock Paper Shotgun and Eurogamer, but while I could dig the 3D zine-style visuals, there was never really anything in the features to draw me into the games.”
“Cosmo D's style is here and pizza is involved; however, I do find the overall visuals rather weak compared to previous games. It's all kind of too... normal? Maybe it's because of the new perspective that makes it harder to show off cool stuff, or maybe I'm just too used to it by now.”
“Don't let the cheap graphical style fool you; this game is worth your time.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is consistently praised for its unique blend of engaging music, surreal visuals, and quirky sound design, creating an immersive experience that encourages replayability. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place and mood, often comparing it favorably to previous titles by the developer, while also noting some variations in atmospheric depth depending on gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances the enjoyment of the gameplay and storytelling.
“Somehow the atmosphere, the gameplay, the music, and the dialogue all come together to create this brilliant little gem.”
“But what truly surprised me was just how atmospheric yet engaging 'Betrayal at Club Low' ended up being.”
“The music is fantastic, the visuals and atmosphere are amazing, and the writing is great.”
“Doesn't quite have the atmosphere of his previous games but the new mechanics are interesting and enjoyable.”
“The atmosphere and world building just is not the same experience in 3rd person view.”
“A smaller environment than previous games but the same type of surreal atmosphere.”
- replayability24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its multiple endings, diverse character builds, and adjustable difficulty settings, allowing players to explore various paths and experiences. While some reviews note its relatively short playtime, many appreciate the depth and variety that encourage repeated playthroughs. Overall, it is recognized as a compact yet engaging RPG with significant replay value.
“In my opinion, this was a great format, and because of how there are multiple different ways to play the game, and therefore different endings, this game has high replayability.”
“The experience is short, but offers a good amount of replay value, allowing players to experiment with new character builds, endings, and modes.”
“This game is immensely replayable, with a large handful of endings and a variety of modifiers to change the game up.”
“Not very replayable, but a cool experience.”
“The game is a bit short if you just want to get one ending, but the new gameplay adds multiple endings and replay value to it.”
“While it is fairly short, betrayal has a lot of replay value due to build variety and quite a few endings.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The character development in Cosmo d's latest game shows promise with its freedom and alternative paths, encouraging repeat playthroughs. However, it struggles due to weak writing and a lack of depth in character design, ultimately falling short compared to its inspirations like Disco Elysium. The gameplay mechanics may offer variety, but they do not effectively support the role-playing experience.
“Cosmo D generally made their name with broadly music-themed, surrealist walking sims, always strong on environmental and sound design, but their next venture into the genre of Disco Elysium clones showcases impressive character development that exceeds expectations.”
“The freedom in character development encourages repeat playthroughs, particularly because there are some Deus Ex-style alternative paths that enhance the role-playing experience.”
“The character development is enriched by fantastic writing, character design, world-building, atmosphere, soundtrack, dialogue, and RPG elements.”
“Unfortunately, there are some issues with the system: the freedom in character development encourages repeat playthroughs - particularly because there are some Deus Ex-style alternative paths - but ultimately the gameplay fights the role-playing in this respect.”
“Cosmo D generally made their name with broadly music-themed, surrealist walking sims, always strong on environmental and sound design, but burdened with weak writing and a unique approach to character design.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a wholesome experience that, while enjoyable, may lack immersion due to its third-person perspective. Players appreciate the emotional weight of certain interactions, such as delivering difficult news, which adds depth to the narrative. Overall, the balance between exploration and emotional engagement varies among players.
“Very wholesome concise experience.”
“You don't want to break bad news to an up-and-coming DJ, but sometimes you need the emotional leverage.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's dice management and optimization mechanics, highlighting them as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
“I personally really liked the dice management and optimization that comes with this game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game engaging rather than tedious, as the element of chance adds variety and keeps the experience fresh.
“Circling back through the game is not tedious because the chance factor keeps things interesting.”
Critic Reviews
Betrayal At Club Low Review (PC)
Betrayal at Club Low might not the best-looking game and its gameplay might sometimes feel limited or unfair. But the game has plenty of weirdness, a clear goal, great moments, and the ability to get players to explore, take risks, and deal with failure. A small universe and well-defined mechanics make this one of the first titles I have played through three times (with another run planned) in quite some time. The title could benefit from a decrease in the difficulty of the first sequence before gamers actually get into the club, but its other limitations are clear and well-communicated. I encourage players who like a good narrative and dice-focused gameplay to get past the limited graphics and potential initial failures to see as much as possible of what Betrayal at Club Low has to offer. Review code provided by the publisher.
85%Betrayal at Club Low
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
90%Betrayal at Club Low GBAtemp review
With Betrayal at Club Low as its latest addition, the Off-Peak saga from Cosmo D is shaping up to be one of the most unique and engrossing video game series.
85%
