Boons & Burdens

About

"Boons & Burdens" is a single-player action-roguelike game set in a hellish dimension, where you battle demons and collect magical gems to purchase powerful abilities. Each level introduces a new challenge in the form of a "burden," increasing the difficulty and requiring strategic choices. With multiple character classes, rings, talents, and super spells to unlock, the game offers depth and replayability in its pixelated, action-packed scenes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a solid retro vibe, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience.
There are interesting mechanics involving boons and burdens that add depth to gameplay and encourage strategic decision-making.
The developer is actively engaged with the community, regularly updating the game based on player feedback, which shows promise for future improvements.

The game currently lacks sufficient content and variety, making it feel repetitive and underwhelming.
Progression can feel slow and frustrating, with long combat rounds and minimal upgrades between them.
There are numerous bugs and balancing issues that detract from the overall gameplay experience, leading to moments of confusion and frustration.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced twin-stick shooting mechanics with a variety of choices and distinct class systems, though some players find the balance and overall experience lacking. While the graphics and smooth controls are praised, issues like stuttering performance and a lack of engaging feedback detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its unique mechanics and potential, many reviewers feel the gameplay is underwhelming and could benefit from additional content and refinement.
- “This is a twin-stick shooter featuring short, fast-paced gameplay sessions.”
- “Overall, this game is a great choice when you're looking for some fast-paced gameplay in a short amount of time.”
- “Does a really interesting job straddling the line between pure survivor-likes and more traditional twin-stick bullet hell shooters - you can actually enable or disable both auto-fire and auto-aim which allows for a pretty wide range of gameplay feels.”
- “Balance between the classes and trees, and in the gameplay in general, is all over the place.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay sucks.”
- “The gameplay is pretty underwhelming at the moment.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and effective retro aesthetic, with many users highlighting the vibrant art style and well-executed interface. While some find the visuals generic, the pixel graphics and overall design contribute positively to the gaming experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, even if the gameplay itself may not be as well-received.
- “The graphics are beautiful, including the game elements and the interface, particularly the many icons.”
- “Graphics and UI are top notch.”
- “Well-executed retro vibe: although I'm not usually a fan of retro aesthetics, this game pulls it off nicely.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, but the gameplay sucks.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
While the game features nice sprites and generally performs well, players have reported significant issues with stuttering and FPS drops, which can severely disrupt gameplay despite having capable hardware.
- “Nice sprites, generally good performance, good variety of positive and negative choices to make during gameplay.”
- “The game is plagued by stuttering and FPS drops during gameplay, which is game-breaking for me, especially since my PC can handle it.”
- “Optimization is severely lacking; I experience constant frame rate issues that ruin the overall experience.”
- “Despite having a high-end system, the game runs poorly with frequent lag and performance dips.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect somewhat irritating, especially when grindy achievements remain after completing skill-based ones. However, they suggest that frustration can be alleviated by experimenting with different strategies to enhance the experience.
- “It's a little irritating when there are still grindy achievements left to complete after finishing all the skill-challenge-based achievements, but that's a minor issue.”
- “If you start to get frustrated with your circle strafe farming, consider what's not working and try mixing things up.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music is highly praised for its nostalgic 16-bit vibes, complementing the game's unique mechanics and beautiful pixel art with an engaging and energetic soundtrack.
- “Love the 16-bit vibes and the music.”
- “Unique combination of mechanics, beautiful pixel art, and a banging soundtrack.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of uniqueness and depth, with a focus on gameplay over narrative. While the mission-based level system is appreciated, the overall storytelling feels bland and typical for the genre and price point.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its stunning pixel art, complemented by well-crafted writing and an immersive ambiance, creating an engaging experience for players.
- “The wonderful pixel art really sells the atmosphere, and the writing and ambiance of the setting create an engaging experience.”
- “The immersive sound design and detailed environments draw you into the world, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The combination of haunting music and stunning visuals creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”