Gloomgrave
- September 25, 2023
- netmancer
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Gloomgrave is a single-player Horror Role Playing game available on Google Play, iOS, and Steam. The demo version offers 50+ items, 15+ monsters, and 15+ perks across 9 challenging depths. With its retro pixel aesthetic and awesome soundtrack, it takes approximately 2 hours to beat."
PC
Web Browser
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and nostalgic dungeon crawler that captures the essence of classic roguelikes.
- Simple mechanics that are easy to learn, making it accessible for both new and experienced players.
- Great value for the price, offering enjoyable gameplay with randomized levels for replayability.
- Lacks depth and content, with many players feeling the game is too short and repetitive.
- User interface and mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion about stats and effects.
- Some technical issues and bugs, including movement problems and class resets, detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of accessible mechanics and charming presentation, though many players find it shallow and lacking depth. While some mechanics are intuitive, others are inconsistent or poorly explained, leading to confusion about their effects. Overall, the game offers a basic experience that could benefit from improved enemy AI, clearer mechanics, and more strategic elements in future installments.
“The mechanics have just the right amount of complexity for the length of the gameplay.”
“The game's core mechanics were easy to get into and understand.”
“While the controls took a little to get used to, once I got the hang of it, the flow of the actual gameplay is amazing.”
“It's a charming presentation, but the gameplay is pretty shallow, and some mechanics (cloaks, dodge+weight+perks, accuracy) are either inconsistent in their behavior (accuracy seems to affect melee, but not ranged), or simply unclear what (if any) gameplay effects they have.”
“As it is, the enemy AI is extremely poor, and the gameplay boils down to 'get bigger numbers'.”
“I really do like this game, however, there's no in-game tutorial or explanation for the mechanics.”
- music14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and relaxing qualities, creating a comfy and immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as enchanting and addictive, with a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of classic video game music. Overall, the music is considered a top-notch element that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack is great, sitting somewhere between comfy and immersive, sort of reminding me of 'rainy day' type of VGM.”
“The music is so good that it literally probed my brain and set off my nut storage in my frontal lobe.”
“The music is by far my favorite part of the entire thing.”
“Developed by one person and one musician?”
“Very chill, low-stakes runs (with accompanying chill dungeon music).”
“One for the game itself and the other for the music.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by charming and simple 2D-3D pixel art, which enhances the fun and quirky nature of encounters. While the visuals are generally appreciated for their retro appeal and cohesive style, some users find the art style lacks uniqueness and are bothered by the flat color palette. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though opinions on their distinctiveness vary.
“It has a charming yet simple 2D-3D pixel art graphics, making each encounter fun and even a bit goofy at times depending on what you fight.”
“The pixel aesthetic is very cool, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the new areas and monsters look like.”
“Super simple, cohesive art style makes it very easy on the eyes.”
“I also feel like the art style isn't very unique, and the flat purple color palette bothers my eyes.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art and music, creating an immersive experience that enhances the dungeon crawling and exploration elements. While some find the combat simplistic and exploration tedious, the overall ambiance is described as charming and atmospheric, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Fantastic small scale rogue-like/dungeon crawler that is dripping in atmosphere.”
“A beautiful game with a beautiful atmosphere.”
“Runs are fairly quick and the music is very nice and atmospheric.”
“The art and atmosphere are cute, but the combat is extremely simple and the exploration is tedious.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a playtime of 4-8 hours, enhanced by randomized levels that contribute to its replayability, especially at its low price point of $4. However, some users feel it lacks depth, which may limit long-term replay value.
“Currently lacking depth and replayability.”
“I don't think it needs any more content at this price - for $4 it's pretty much perfect for a solid 2-8 hours of play depending on how much replay value you find (I also play on my phone).”
“You can finish it in 4-8 hours, but I really don't mind that because the levels are randomized, making it comfortably replayable.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with repetitive movement and simplistic combat detracting from the otherwise charming art and atmosphere. Exploration is also noted as a monotonous experience, contributing to the overall sense of grind.
“The movement can be tedious.”
“The art and atmosphere are cute, but the combat is extremely simple and the exploration is tedious.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is currently a concern, with users reporting bugs and glitches that hinder enjoyment, such as inventory display issues that prevent scrolling past certain items. Overall, the experience feels incomplete and lacking polish.
“It reminds me a bit of Barony, but in its current state, it is just too empty and a little buggy to enjoy.”
“There are some glitches as well; for example, if you upgrade your inventory to hold 30 items, the screen will only show 20 and will not let you scroll past the last 20 items you picked up.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is seen as having potential, but it currently lacks depth and variety, with players suggesting the addition of more environments, enemies, weapons, and quests to enhance the overall narrative experience.
