MidBoss

About

MidBoss is a single player casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Eniko and was released on May 25, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

MidBoss is a possession-based roguelike game where you play as a weak imp, seeking to become the dungeon's final boss by defeating and possessing enemies to gain their abilities. With over 60 unique abilities to discover, players can choose between different game modes, including Hardcore and 1UP, to challenge their skills in this turn-based, procedurally generated death labyrinth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 239 reviews

gameplay57 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Unique possession mechanic allows for strategic gameplay and customization of abilities.
Charming art style and humorous writing enhance the overall experience.
Death card system adds replayability by allowing players to carry over items and share experiences.

Repetitive level design and limited enemy variety can lead to a lack of engagement over time.
Controls and interface can be clunky, making inventory management cumbersome.
Initial difficulty spikes may frustrate new players, as some encounters feel unfair.

gameplay
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The gameplay of Midboss is centered around a unique possession mechanic that allows players to take control of enemies and utilize their abilities, adding depth and variety to the traditional roguelike formula. While the mechanics are generally well-received for their creativity and strategic potential, some players note a lack of enemy variety and clarity in certain mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its engaging combat, charming aesthetics, and the replayability offered by its innovative systems.
- “The possession mechanic adds a ton of variety to what you do as you dungeon crawl, the aesthetics and music are quirky and lighthearted, and the grave goods system that allows you to carry over magic items you've collected in previous runs to your next run makes the sting of death feel a little bit lighter.”
- “The gameplay is really solid and the possession mechanic is fun and balanced at just around the right level that you can get by trying out all sorts of beasties.”
- “Possessing enemies to fight and learn their abilities is an extremely fun mechanic that allows for a huge variety of strategy and flexibility.”
- “The mechanics are unique, but it is not always clear what all the mechanics and stats do.”
- “It has a deluge of numbers and meta-stats, while it fails to show their significance in the gameplay.”
- “You will want to wait for a sale to try this one, as there is not much content outside the core gameplay and graphical assets.”
graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and cute, with a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia without feeling overly reliant on it. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and find it visually appealing, others note issues with optimization, lack of variety in dungeon designs, and occasional difficulties in item visibility. Overall, the graphics are considered serviceable, with potential for improvement through a complete overhaul or more diverse visual elements.
- “A roguelike with great pixel graphics and a really neat primary gameplay mechanic (stealing the bodies of enemies to make their skills your own).”
- “The graphics are nice, but items can be hard to spot at times.”
- “The graphic style is incredibly evocative of older PC isometric RPGs, and successfully manages to capture the retro feel while not feeling like it's pandering to nostalgia.”
- “Good little roguelike, poorly optimized graphically speaking - but shouldn't affect you unless you're on a toaster.”
- “A complete graphical overhaul could make this game absolutely nuts.”
- “There wasn't any graphical variety in the dungeon floors.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
28%
9%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its enjoyable and fitting nature that complements the game's lighthearted atmosphere. While some noted that the tracks can be repetitive and loud, others praised the soundtrack for its quality and unique style, likening it to a playful orchestral theme. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic and gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding its variety.
- “This is both a challenging and well-balanced roguelike with a bit of a 'Disgaea flair' in the aesthetics and music.”
- “The music is enjoyable, the control scheme is easy to pick up, and the possession system gives you the option to mix abilities between forms to better fight enemies.”
- “The music, sounds, and visual effects are also spot on--everything feels like it fits, and characterizes the game as being both light-hearted and fairly tense.”
- “The music is repetitive and loud.”
- “There are only very few music tracks, but the general theme has a sort of Soviet orchestral feel to it, like something you might expect to hear while watching Cossack dancers.”
- “The music isn't varied, but feels right.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, characterized by a snarky and charming tone that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, diverse comedic elements, and the engaging character interactions, which contribute to the game's overall appeal. While some feel the humor is enjoyable, they note that the game's brevity may limit its impact as an artistic masterpiece.
- “The mechanics work well, the humor is nice, and the items are diverse.”
- “Midboss is a fun, engaging game with a delightfully snarky sense of humor and a welcoming approach that many of its fellow rogue-likes seem to fear.”
- “The game also features a fun sidekick character called Mid, who always calls you 'boss', which gives the game additional charm with funny quips and helpful tips.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the randomly generated dungeons and unique mechanics that enhance replay value, others find it lacking due to limited content and challenges. Features like item retention from previous playthroughs and innovative mechanics contribute positively, but issues such as tedious backtracking and a perceived lack of depth in comparison to traditional roguelikes detract from the experience. Ultimately, the game is recommended for its replayability, but it may not satisfy all players seeking long-term engagement.
- “This combined with the randomly generated dungeon and loot makes the game highly replayable and a must-buy for anyone lucky enough to discover it.”
- “Excellent roguelike, a perfect example of how depth and replayability can grow from very simple mechanics.”
- “Overall, I would definitely recommend this game; it's a great little dungeon crawler with a ton of replayability!”
- “Which outright ruins replayability once you've seen and possessed every monster, even if you did not beat the game.”
- “As a roguelike, it is merely okay, due to the low replayability.”
- “That being said, despite having more of the fixing of a traditional roguelike than many of the roguelites you see on the market, the game is the 'lite'est roguelike I've ever played, in that as a veteran roguelike player, it offered me almost no challenge and has comparatively little replayability.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and unengaging, with many players noting a lack of depth and character development. While some appreciate the simplistic plot, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that those seeking a strong narrative should look elsewhere. A few players mention that there are minor story elements at the beginning and through interactions, but these do not significantly enhance the gameplay.
- “As dumb as my story of how I found this game is, it doesn't change the fact that Midboss is one of the best overlooked games on Steam.”
- “The idea of a story can also be conveyed through your game where the player could die and get a death card, in which the card talks about your death.”
- “There isn't much of a story.”
- “Not much of a story going on in the game but more of the idea that you just want to get out of the dungeon.”
- “While I can enjoy a simplistic plot, I felt the characters' cute design begged for more backstory.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can be tedious and time-consuming, especially after deaths that reset progress. The early game is described as monotonous, with repetitive backtracking and large levels contributing to a sense of frustration. However, upcoming updates, including map adjustments and a fast travel feature, are anticipated to alleviate some of these issues.
- “The early game is very tedious and monotonous since it's always exactly the same.”
- “It's satisfying enough although starting at zero again can get tedious.”
- “This roguelike is tedious af, eschewing all the common quick play features of even the oldest roguelikes.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's optimization is generally considered poor in terms of graphics, but it performs adequately on most systems, including budget laptops, without significant slow-downs or stuttering. Players with lower-end hardware may experience some issues, but overall performance remains stable for the majority.
- “The game is a solid roguelike experience, though it could use some graphical optimization. However, this shouldn't be an issue unless you're using very low-end hardware.”
- “The optimization is decent, allowing for smooth gameplay even on mid-range systems.”
- “I appreciate the effort put into optimization; it runs well on a variety of devices without significant performance drops.”
- “Good little roguelike, poorly optimized graphically speaking - but shouldn't affect you unless you're on a toaster.”
- “I played it on a 2-year-old budget laptop without any notable slow-downs or stuttering.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a playful and non-serious tone, enhanced by decent music and charming graphics. This lighthearted approach stands out in contrast to the often grim atmospheres found in many rogue-likes, making for an enjoyable experience.
- “The music is decent, and the game's non-serious atmosphere is a welcome change, especially since many roguelikes tend to be quite grim.”
- “The possession system is fun, the graphics are nice and cute, and the music creates a playful atmosphere.”
- “The music's decent, and the game's non-serious atmosphere is welcome, given many rogue-likes are kind of grim.”
- “The possession system is fun, the graphics are nice and cute, and the music gives the game a playful atmosphere.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, citing frequent bugs that hinder functionality and overall performance.
- “Plus, they seem to be very buggy - as mentioned above, they don't even work properly for me.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I've encountered numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character design is highly praised, with users highlighting the exceptional quality of the sprites, indicating a strong visual appeal in character development.
- “Character design is top-notch, and I really loved the sprites.”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing for meaningful choices that impact the story.”
- “I appreciate how each character evolves throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”