LONE RUIN
- January 12, 2023
- Cuddle Monster Games
- 3h median play time
Lone Ruin contains great and mysterious power for anyone capable of surviving its waves of magical madness.
Get on Steam"Lone Ruin" is a rogue-like, action-packed shooter game that takes you through ancient ruins filled with mystical creatures. As a lone explorer, you must harness your abilities and weapons to battle and evade your way through the ever-changing labyrinth. With each run, you'll uncover new secrets and increase your power, striving to unravel the mysteries of the Lone Ruin.
Reviews
- The game features great visuals and a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, with a variety of spells that can create interesting combinations.
- The soundtrack is well-suited to the game's atmosphere and adds to the enjoyment of playing.
- The game lacks content and variety, with repetitive gameplay and limited enemy types and upgrades.
- The difficulty can feel unfair due to poorly telegraphed enemy attacks and a lack of audiovisual feedback.
- There is no meta progression, making it feel shallow and less rewarding after completing runs.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its addictive core loop, smooth mechanics, and stylish visuals, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped and repetitive compared to other roguelikes. Although the game offers a simple and engaging experience, many players feel it lacks depth and content, suggesting that it may improve with future updates. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable for some, it may not meet the expectations of those familiar with more polished titles in the genre.
“Lone Ruin mixes frenzied pacing, stylish audio and visuals, and twin-stick shooter gameplay into an addictive roguelite package.”
“The overall gameplay is simple in a good way, leaving you to focus on the action without getting bogged down in mechanics, and, like Hades, you'll clear waves of enemies before choosing one of two rooms you'd like to enter next based on which displayed reward you'd prefer.”
“The gameplay is extremely smooth and the power-ups are fun (they need to add more, however, and I'm sure they will).”
“However, in terms of gameplay, this is just severely undercooked and underdeveloped.”
“The game is a mishmash of mechanics from other roguelikes, and you would be much better off spending your time and money on any of those games.”
“The gameplay loop is too repetitive and boring.”
- music20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its immersive and therapeutic qualities, as well as its ability to enhance the overall gaming experience. The soundtrack, often described as a pumping electronic or drum & bass style, is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to the game's unique ambiance and visual appeal. While some opinions vary, the consensus leans towards the music being a significant asset that adds depth and enjoyment to the gameplay.
“The soundtrack is really nice, easily the best part of this game.”
“The snappy controls combined with the art and music make this a deeply immersive experience.”
“Oh yeah, and salt in the wound: the music is bland.”
“Music isn't my genre but it fits the game well and it can be therapeutic for some people, I'm sure.”
“A pumping electronic soundtrack sets the pace as you tackle the titular ruin, and, while there's not a ton of lore or story, the style is intriguing enough to give the game a unique ambiance.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their cool visuals, retro CGA color palette, and smooth animations, contributing to an engaging aesthetic. However, some players noted issues with visual clarity, such as indistinct enemy designs and the use of chromatic aberration, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the art style and graphical design are considered strong points, enhancing the addictive gameplay and overall enjoyment.
“Lone Ruin mixes frenzied pacing, stylish audio and visuals, and twin-stick shooter gameplay into an addictive roguelite package.”
“The graphics and colors are big dopamine hits and the gameplay is very smooth.”
“I absolutely love the pixel art style, and unlike Hades, you exclusively cast spells in this which I quite enjoy.”
“I get you are going for a certain aesthetic; however, hiding an actual stat number behind something abstract like an image just makes it harder to know how much damage you are taking.”
“I think the game has a neat art style, but the use of chromatic aberration and not making enemies visually distinct (or visible through indestructible scenery) are two visual elements that felt really lacking, when all other games in the genre do this so well.”
“I will say I expected more from the game when I saw the price tag and art style, but I'm afraid that the budget for the game has been misplaced.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, primarily hinging on unlocking harder difficulty levels and a survival mode, rather than offering new content or variety in gameplay elements. While some players appreciate the sense of progression and find the gameplay satisfying, many feel that the short length and lack of diverse upgrades and challenges diminish its replay value.
“Post-fool's errand update: the game is better now with a good sense of progression and more replayability, still a few bugs/nits.”
“I beat the game in around 30 minutes, but it has satisfying gameplay with some replayability and there's still plenty more for me to try out.”
“The only 'replayability' comes from unlocking harder difficulty levels, but that's it - no new powers, weapons, enemies, nothing, even the landscapes are repeated ad nauseum.”
“The replay value just isn't there as the spell, upgrade, and blessing variety are all lacking.”
“Overall, I believe it is worth the price, but the game is short and the replayability really comes in through the survival mode, not the standard mode.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game features minimal lore and lacks a coherent plot, leaving players without context for their journey through the titular ruin. However, its intriguing style and electronic soundtrack create a unique ambiance that somewhat compensates for the absence of a detailed story.
“A pumping electronic soundtrack sets the pace as you tackle the titular ruin, and while there's not a ton of lore or story, the style is intriguing enough to give the game a unique ambiance.”
“There is little to no story as of yet to explain how you came to be in the ruin and what you are seeking.”
“No plot or any context at all.”
“Story mode?”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the optimization of loadouts improves as they progress through the game, with performance varying significantly between different runs, adding a dynamic element to gameplay.
“The performance and feel of your loadout will evolve as you delve deeper into the ruins, and it will vary wildly from run to run as well.”
“The optimization options allow for a highly personalized gameplay experience, making each run feel unique and tailored to my playstyle.”
“I love how the game encourages experimentation with different builds, leading to a satisfying sense of progression and optimization.”
“The performance and feel of your loadout will evolve as you delve deeper into the ruins, but it will vary wildly from run to run.”
“The optimization in this game feels inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
“I often find that the game's optimization issues result in significant lag and stuttering during critical moments.”
Critic Reviews
Lone Ruin Review – The Next Great Indie Roguelike Hit
Lone Ruin is a hardcore, action-packed roguelike game to its core, and it absolutely shines on the Switch. If more content is added later on, this could be an early front-runner for the top indie game of 2023.
80%Lone Ruin Review
Lone Ruin has taught us that you should never pooh-pooh a game’s Steam store description.
80%A descent into colorful combat
Lone Ruin contains great and mysterious power for anyone capable of surviving its waves of magical madness.
90%
